NationStates Jolt Archive

Delegates from all of the islands of the Ancient Isles have taken seats around King Amawaka and wait for foreign ambassadors to arrive to start the proceedings.

Bakey, asks if this cancels Bakey, THe Ancient Isles and Madnestan's current agreement. If so then Bakey shall join the procedings.

Frenzian Special Forces General Andrews walks in and takes a seat at the table.
''I'm General Andrew of the Frenzian Special Forces.''

King Amawaka stands to greet General Andrew. "Welcome to the Ancient Isles" he says with slight bow. (ooc to Bakey - it may change the agreement so it might be useful if you were here!)

Jon Black, National Security Advisor of Bakey joins the proceedings on videolink.

(ooc - oooh the technology!)
Princess Eledin enters the room with the other half of the video link.

General Andrews salutes the King and sits down.

''I was told we are here to talk about specialist training,what exactly do you mean by this.''

General Odaghan, the representative of Madnestan (and the commander of Special Forces), stood up, nodded to the delegates of involved nations around him, and started;

"Madnestan is indeed looking for training grounds and trainers for jungle warfare. It appears that The Ancient Isles is able to provide the trainers, and Bakey has the needed enviroment plus a base of some sort.
However, we believe that more nations we have in this program, the better for all of us. All armies have different traditions and special preferences, and learning from others is something you can't get in home no matter how big your budjet is.
However, Bakey, understandably, doesn't wan't too many foreign units on its home soil. Therefore we must ask, does anyone else have the enviroment and will needed for this joint operation, for more than two nations? Bases can always be built, that's not a problem really..."

"As you may well know, the Ancient Isles has not yet decided to take on modern advances in technology and as such has rare knowledge on the elder ways of warfare. Whilst this may seem out of place in the modern world, it has proved time and again to be unbeatable in certain conditions. As such the Ancient Isles is looking to set up permenant training camps in jungle and desert warfare to pass on essential skills and knowledge to ensure survival of troops" explains King Amawaka "There would, of course, be a small fee for such training and weapons could be sold to nations who requested them. It would also enable participating nations to build stronger links."

(ooc - sorry it overlaps....spent too long typing! Just pick out the bits that make sense and fit it in!)

"Exactly",

General Odaghan replied and nodded.

"So, you have deserts too? Even better! Madesntan is limited to mountains, dry forests and steppes. Should such permanent, larger campsite be built, we would definitely help with it, by providing modern supplies such as communications systems, runways and barracks.
About the fee, well, naturally. Nothing's free these days, now is it..."

...he added, smiling.

King Amawaka nodded back "Mind you" he said glancing at his daughter "Most of our trade is done in barter. Money isn't always needed, where as heirs are" He let the sentance hang in the air as his daughter nodded.

We would be very intersted in a reciprocal training arangement as we are just starting a major overhaul of our military to bring it up to modern standards.

However we do have a lot of experience with marsh/bog type environments as well as some very well trained alpine regiments (these being major elements in the terain of our humble nation)

"Maybe our nations could arrange a two-way training scheme whereby one would pay for the other" suggested Carnae Afflidor, the Ancient Isles International Ambassador.

At this point, the representative from Bakey seems to awake and says,
"Though our nation can offer little compared to the might of your own. We wish to also be part of this training scheme and are prepared to pay quite handsomely for your time and training."

General raised his eyebrows, just enough for it to be noticed, before hiding it. He had gone through The School of Diplomatics in Officer Academy, but sometimes he wasn't fast enough in keeping his poker face.

"Ahh... I see. Well, well. I'm sure something can be arranged..."

Meanwhile speaking, his mind worked quickly to come up with a solution.
The princes was indeed beautiful, if in rather exotic way. But beautiful nonetheless. What if... Oh, forget it, you pervert! General thought and slapped himself in his thoughts. He was too old for that girl, 47 already.

And then it occured to him.

"Yes. I know a perfect candidate. Captain Sheytan, 22 years old, one of my best men. He's a single man, and not too ugly either, I guess. We need to ask him first, but it should be ok."

King Amawaka nodded to the Bakey representative "And you would be most welcome to join our scheme of training" he assured. He turned to the General. "I do not mean to insult your generous offer, but as my only surviving child I would have hoped to marry her to a man with higher rank than a captain." Princess Eledin nodded at her father's words. She looked at the General and a twinkle of a smile came into her eyes.

"Do you think a prince would rate high?" asked the Security Advisor for Bakey, "I'm sure an attractive, young and inteligent man couldn't go far wrong."

King Amawaka nodded "It would, of course, be subject to other offers and my daughters preference" he said, watching the Princess' reaction.

General slapped himself (mentally) again, this time for his stupidity. Of course. It was indeed a princess they were talking about here... a captain wasn't clearly in the same level.
The way that girl looked at him made him shiver, and he quickly turned his head back to the King. No. No way. I'm too old. Way too old. Considering that, he was quite damn surprised when he noticed his mouth forming the following sentence;

"What about a 47-years-old General of Special Forces, step-brother of Warchief himself, holder of Star of Ultimate Gallantry (Highest possible decoration in the Madnestian society)?"

OOC: I just checked this character, in last RP I used him he was actually said to be the step-BROTHER of Warchief Tamujid :o ! Makes him about the second highest ranking individual in Madnestan.

(ooc: inteligent enough that he doesnt know how to spell inteligent)
"Because, I do believe that Prince Harry of Bakey is searching for a wife."

"Such a charming man, youll rarely meet." The Advisor said, trying to make himself heard above the General. "Love at first sight I should imagine..."

The King carefully thought out his next reply "Both offers would be very acceptable and both would be open to thought" he said, still keeping an eye on his daughter "As I have said before, Princess Eledin would have the ultimate choice and would therefore need to meet and get to know both suitors" Through her native light tan a subtle shade of pink rose to the Princess' cheeks, although it was unclear as to which offer caused such a reaction.
(ooc - puts you on better grounds then!! :P )

um...the advisor pauses to ponder. Maybe he had overstepped himself, past his authority. But he suddenly came to a descision. "Of course, we could expect nothing else of such a beautiful lady."

"May I be the first to invite her to the Kingdom of Bakey and to meet the charming Prince Harry."

The advertising of Bakeynian prince woke General Odaghan of his daydreams. Sheez... Like he'd ever had chances against a real prince. And what the hell am I even thinking... I'm too old! I should just step back, right now to avoid further embarrasment... he thought, but his mouth did again refuse to funcion properly. Instead, he said just simply

"I have no objections. She's free to come visit Madnestan at any point. Though I'm alraedy here, if a meeting is what's needed."

The Bakeynian advisor smirked behind his hand, if this all worked out he may even get a knighthood.

King Amawaka nodded "Both suits will be taken with due consideration and I would like my daughter to get to know both men well before making a decision" he noted the sparkle that stayed in Eledin's eyes "After this meeting arrangements will be made"

Althought King Amawaka didn't note the reaction of the Bakey delegate, Princess Eledin did and she made sure to remember it.

"I am sure many happy times are ahead for our prince and your daughter, now shall we return to the matter at hand?"

"Back to the subject..." Ogadhan started, desperately trying to recollect his thoughts, "...could your highness perhaps present a map of this beautiful country? The exact location of the camp sh-"

His eyes met those of the princess, and the whole world disappeared around him. The pause lasted for nearly two seconds, before he managed to turn his head and meet the eyes of the king instead.

"Ahem. Sorry. Yes. The location of the camp. Should be decided."

Never presume too much thought King Amawaka. He nodded outwardly and indicated for the proceedings to continue. "If such bases were to be set up on the Ancient Isles, which nations would hold interest in using their facilities and recieving training? As numbers would affect their positions."

"Indeed, we must decide where and when..." The advisor could hardly refrain from laughing.

King Amawaka gave the advisor a stern look "I would suggest refraining from personal jokes where millitary activity and international relations are concerned" he advised.

"Bakey, for one, would certainly wish to receive training."

"I apologize for my behaviour, oh king, I have a slight throat problem, which causes me to laugh often." The Bakeynian advisor cowered.

King Amawaka made no reply "Which other nations would join in our agreement?" he asked.

General blushed. Mentally, of course. Madnestian soldiers never showed any expressions or emotions. That was a basic rule, especially when intercommunicating with representatives of different nations and cultures. And yet, General was acting like a soft, spoiled civilian! Anything like this hadn't ever happened to him. The thought about ritual suicide came to his mind, but he drove it away. No, there were no Madnestians in the room so he hadn't lost his face in that meaning, and he was too valuable for his country to do that. Still, he felt horrible. Foreigner was laughing at him.

OOC: Sorry, slowly typer I am. He is actually LOLing? It changes the situation quite a lot...

General stood up, with a completely stoned face, and turned to the Bakeynian diplomat staring him straight in the eyes.

"Are you laughing at me, mister?"

the bakeynian looked away

The General had been sitting watching people talk to each other,his hands on the table,his face chiseled into a cold expressionless look.Years on the parade square will do that.He remembered back to recruit training when he was yelled at for smiling in ranks,50 pushups and toilet scubbing,harsh.He took another sip of water and spoke.

''We have recently aquired a colony,in the same area there is much land,uninhabited except by some natives.It is all jungle terrain and could prove useful.A question I have is what kind of ships do you use in a amphibious assualt?''

"Laughing at you, sir? Now, why would I do that?"

ooc: sorry, slow typing

General allowed himself a slight smile.

"Of, forget it. I don't know where I might have got such an impression. Very good, since if it had really been laughing, I would have been forced to challenge you."

"Gentlemen?" said a soft voice. It came as a bit of a surprise as instead of it being the King who spoke it was the Princess "We came here to agree on a way to share cultures and skills. We did not meet to take offense or create distractions."
Her father nodded at the wisdom of her words and hoped they had had an effect "If this scheme takes place do you both agree to work you nations side by side in peace?" he asked.

"As a lowly security advisor, I can only speak for myself, but I know that the King greatly wants to create a diplomatic preasance with other nations and to train our military, so I will do my level best to work alongside other members of this meeting."

The General had been sitting watching people talk to each other,his hands on the table,his face chiseled into a cold expressionless look.Years on the parade square will do that.He remembered back to recruit training when he was yelled at for smiling in ranks,50 pushups and toilet scubbing,harsh.He took another sip of water and spoke.

''We have recently aquired a colony,in the same area there is much land,uninhabited except by some natives.It is all jungle terrain and could prove useful.A question I have is what kind of ships do you use in a amphibious assualt?''


"We personally use small landing craft called forem which are similar to canoes" said King Amawaka.

Ogadhan turned, and bowed to the King. The sweet voice of princess had made him to shiver again, but finally his training and awareness of duty managed to clobber his emotions.

"Naturally, your highness. There is no problem, since he didn't laugh at me and there was no insult."

Glancing at the Bakeynian, he added;

"And even if such regrettable event would have taken place, it would have had no effect on anything but personal relations."

The advisor decided to show that he really was important by verbally attacking the King, "I feel that during this meeting, several rude and badly formed accusations have come towards me and I ask, no demand, for an apology."

''Interesting,what do they have to defend themselves with.''

"I suggest either both of you leave this topic now or negotiations will be halted and both your suits will be discounted" said Amawaka, hoping it wouldn't come to that.

To the Frenzian he added "They have supirior aim and maouverability combined with very powerful bows that provide excellent covering fire"

oops, maybe he had gone too far this time. the Bakeynian almost begged the King for forgivness, "Oh worthy King, I am deeply sorry, can you forgive me? Yes of course, lets continue."

"I deeply apologize I have have somehow insulted anyone in this room. It just simply looked like I was laughed at, and since it would have been a personal insult I would have been forced to challenge Mr./sorry, I missed his name/ to duel me. Fortunately, I was wrong. I personally have nothing against him, and would gladly continue this meeting. If expression of relief due the fact no insult has been thrown against me is seen as an insult itself, I really must say your culture greatly differs from ours, Mr. /whatever/. Which I'm not saying is a bad thing."

"Enough of tip-toeing around the edge of this" said the King "Let us leave it behind and carry on with the matter that brought us here. Do both your nations wish to take part in this?"

"Yes, me and the reperesentative from Madnestan shall make peace and drop our differences in an attempt to embrace World peace and agreement."

(ooc - the Ancient Isles have to eat now and will be back shortly! At which point I'll change this into a proper post! Hasta la vista!)

ooc: goodbye. lets start acctually talking about the post wen u get bak

"Indeed. Madnestan is, as said, willing to provide the needed material for a permanent training facilities in pointed location, including barracks, communications systems, runways for arilifts and so on. We would like to have some 1,200 men in there, at most, at the same time. Plus engineers and civilian personel, if needed."

"Your offer is very generous and I'm sure our people only need to hear your proposals to accept them happily. As for maintaince our population would be glad of a variety of jobs and would gladly help our cause." said King Amawaka. He turned to the Bakian "What is your nation prepared to offer?" he asked.

Princess Eledin quietly stood and excused herself to fetch refreshments for their guests. She walked silently and gracefully down the length of the room, her robe floating along the floor, before disappearing out of the door.

"Our King would glady supply a medical and an administrative team their to support the training team. I can also offer five of our latest MH-20 "Shadowcat" Multi-Mission Medium Utility (M3U) Helicopters." REplied the advisor after taking a moment to think.

"All of the technology that your nations have offered to supply would only be used for ease of communication with your countries as the Ancient Isles prefer to opperate without them. If this is agreeable with you" said King Amawaka.

"It's naturally your right to decide how you wish to govern your country, and none of us should have anything to complain or say about that. Should you however at some point or in some spesifical area decide to improve your level of techonology, infastructure or some other material aspect, Madnestan is more than willing to help."

"Thank you for your offer of help" said King Amawka, as Princess Eledin reentered the room carrying a tray. "Do have something to eat and drink" he offered pointing at the tray. There were an assortment of cake-like things on it with a pale blue liquid that smelt like tea in a jug.
"Refreshments?" asked the Princess, looking up through her long eyelashes as she changed her gaze from the tray to her guests.

"Bakey wishes for it to be known that The Ancient Isles should govern themselves however nessesary to themselves but that Bakey is always willing to help in any way possible." Declared Jon Black, Advisor to Bakey, as he bit into an angel cake.

King Amawaka smiled as Princess Eledin poured cups of liquid. "Don't be put off by the colour" she said warmly "It tastes very good!"

General bowed deep and took one of the cakes.

"Undoubtly, your highness."

He ate it, and smiled.

He took another one, plus a cup of the blue liquid. He tasted it, pulled a small pocket flask and "sharpened" the drink a bit. He then stood up, raised the cup and said;

"For the cooperation and friendship of our mighty nations!"

(ooc - alky!)
Eledin poured another glass for her father and one more for herself. She raised it adding "Working for closer relations" before looking into her glass as though something very interesting was in it. Her father smiled and raised his glass before drinking from it. The Princess took a sip from it before setting the cup back on the tray.

(ooc - I need to think of a name for that drink....blue liquid doesn't really work!)

The reperesntative from Bakey wandered back into the room, he had popped out to the toilet after eating too much angel cake.

(ooc - he he he....mmmmm angel cake!)

"Bakey requests that any futher conclusions may be forwarded to them. Many thanks for the food." And with that Mr Black left the room and strode out to his armoured sedan.

A bit amused for the clumsyness of the leaving of that unpleasant person, General slowly stood up, and bowed to the King.

"Your Majesty, it seems like this meeting has come to its end. It has been honour to visit your beautiful country, and I'm glad for the great results these negotiations have accomplished. I sincerely wait the next possibility to return, and that day shouldn't indeed be too far in the future due the necessary planning and practical details of the planned program."

Turning to the lady, he bowed again, this time even deeper.

"Your Highness, princess Eledin... the said beauty of this country is indeed put to shame due your existance."

He barely dared to meet the eyes of princess Eledin, but found it very hard to turn his eyes somewhere else after that had happened. His big, rough and scarred hands gently led that of Eledin's in front of his mouth, and he touched it with his lips, skilfully withdrawing backwards, towards the door.

"Oh, and about the other thing... I'm an old man, nearing my 50's. Even though that is less than half of my life (Madnestis are known to usually live well over 110 years) I understand well if you desire a younger partner to share his life with you. I'm just a simple soldier, not a prince. Yet I still..."
He couldn't look the princess in the eyes anymore, and lowered his head, swallowing the sentence in his mind - ...I still claim to be better man than any spoiled aristocrat brat from a countries that produces people like that Bakeynian - and replaced it with more politically correct one;

"...know some things about life and living, partnership, trust, loyalty and what does it mean to commit yourself completely to someone. Better than some, perhaps."

OOC: Sorry for the monologue, a bit clumsy and unraelistic conversation perhaps since I'm sure your characters would have answered already... but I had to get this all said before the bedtime. Which is now.

Princess Eledin flushed a light shade of pink and lowered her eyes. She gently brought her hands together and stared at them intently. "If my father would permit it I would ask that you remain in the Ancient Isles for at least a few more days. I feel it would both help our nations gain better relations....and help individuals as well" she said quietly, her voice even quieter on the last few words she had said.

King Amawaka smiled broadly and nodded "Of course!" he said "I will arrange for the state rooms to be made up for you. And any guests you would like to invite over" he added as an after thought.

General looked a bit surprised, but smiled immediately. He nodded, and responded.
"Oh, I cannot refuse an offer like that! Though I must ask permission of The Master... but there's little doubt of his desicion. May you forgive me, I think I should actually contact him right away to give a report of this meeting and request his acceptance for this prolonged absence of mine."

King Amawaka nodded "If you need any assistance then ask, our resources are at your disposal. After recieving permission I'm sure Eledin would oblige in giving you a tour of the palace and its grounds." he said, smiling warmly at the Princess.

(ooc - just a quick idea...if your nations want to join my region then that would be very much appreciated. It's Nothern Orestes)

General bowed, and said simply

"I lack the words to describe my gratitude, Your Majesty."

He then turned to the door. His adjutant, Second Lieutenant of his own Special Forces opened from the other side before his hand even touched it, saluted and shortly bowed towards the royals in the room. He was wearing the standard uniform of Madnestian SpecOps - black jackboots, dark blue/grey urban camouflage clothes, black bulletproofer with big red letters RATA (abbreviation of Madnestian words meaning Army Special Forces) painted in a detachable plate on the chest.
Not even his could be seen behind a black mask that covered his face. He had black, steel-strengthened leather cloves and a big sidearm holster also.

To make it simple, General's adjutant was a really freakkin' scarylooking fellow.

"Shatryaga!"

Ogadhan said sharply, and the soldier took few quick steps from the door. General didn't want to let princess see his soldiers. Not yet. Those uniforms and the world they are made for are not for those eyes...

In the waiting room, after the door had closed, Ogadhan took a special made laptop from his adjutant, contacting his Master.


OOC: I can move Madnestan there, sure.

King Amawaka looked at his daughter and indicated for her to come closer. She complied and sat at his feet.
"Make sure he is well cared for here and his needs are attended to" said King Amawaka. "And I'm sure I don't need to remind you what your duties are, and where your boundaries are" he added, slightly quieter. Eledin flushed and lowered her head.
"Of course" she said quietly "I will act as befits a Princess of the Ancient Isles" Amawaka nodded and motioned for some of his guard to leave the room.

(ooc - thankle!)

(ooc - I just realised that I don't know the name of your General...is it Ogadhan?)

OOC: Odaghan, not Ogadhan ^^. Tugam being the first name.
And btw, sorry for the pause in posting... How do you think we should continue? Play out the whole time he'll spend in The Ancient Isles, or cut it out a bit? Since this doesn't affect anyone but the two of us, we can also just OOC:ly
agree the outcome of this.

(ooc - I don't mind *shrugs* up to you! I just like rping! I know I'm sad!)

OOC: Heh, so do I... but these lovestories just aren't really what I'm best with.. Nor in NS, not to mention RL. :rolleyes:

(ooc - awww I'm sure your just being modest! Well we can settle it otherways if you want to)

(ooc - had to bump or it would have gone!)

(ooc - well? any thoughts?)

(ooc - *pokes Madnestan*)

*Drops from the chair and slammes his head to the floor, breaking his nose*

OOC: Sorry for the silence. And, ummm... I dunno really. If you want to RP this romance out, then sure we can do it. But there isn't any real reason for doing it, that's all. It could be fun though. Meh. Up to you :p

(ooc - well I'm up for it if you want to! You seemed more than capable before! And it would prove very amusing....where does one stop being a princess 'cos of love?? *raises eyebrow*
PS. Please don't kill/injure yourself!)

OOC: M'kay... Let's play it out then. I have to be afk for few hours now though, but feel free to come up with something - I'll respond as soon as I get back.

(ooc - afk?)

Princess Eledin went to her rooms to get changed into something less formal for the General's tour. When she returned she was wearing a tight fitting purple dress that reached the floor with flared sleeves and a low neck. Around every edge of her dress was a very detailed twisted floral pattern in silver thread. It fitted her prefectly and highlighted her well proportioned figure. The silver was mirrored in her hair with a fine filligree band resting accross her forehead. She looked both a regal princess and a very attractive woman. She patiently waited for the General to return.

OOC: AFK=Away From Keyboard.

General Odaghan made his way to hotel near the palace he had settled into. He ofirst took a shower, then opened his bag and got changed to his civilian clothing. Well, knowing the Madnestian way of dressing and never-changing fashion (as well as the culture and preferences of the whole society) word "civilian" isn't perhaps the best to describe it. He pulled out gray/black/blue camouflage figured trousers with, black sleeveless shirt and a pair of jackboots shorter than the standard army boots are.
Thought of this difference compared to the clothing in other countries made him grin. Army clothes had to be functional and well made, and as they even looked cool Madnestians saw no reason to dress differently even when they weren't in service. Boring-looking, one might have said... but he would have had more than 2 Billion Madnestians arguing against him.

It was warm out there (I assume it's over 7 Celsius?) so he decided not to take a jacket. He closed the bag, put the belt on and the pistol holster(If carrying an unconcealed sidearm is banned in The Ancient Isles, he didn't.) to it, then leaving the room.

His adjutant, who had waited outside of the room, naturally followed him. It wasn't before they were out of the building before he remembered this, turned and said:

"Oh, Shirran... I don't need you tonight. You'll have free time today and tomorrow. Report to me clock 1100 in the day after tomorrow, after which I will give you new instructions. Do you have any cash?"

Lieutenant hought for a second. This was strictly against the common proceedure - when in a foreign country, higher Madnestian officer always had to have a bodyguard. But. This was the General. He knew what he did. Besides, he was indeed that - a general of Special Forces. He had beaten Shirran Umhaygar just few days ago in a close combat exercise... he knew how to look after himself.
Instead of saying something pointless, he made a quick mental arithmetic and replied;

"39 USD, Sir!"

General nodded and pulled few hundred bucks from his pocket, handing them over to his adjutant.

"Here. Just make sure you don't kill yourself with all the booze... it would be ebarassing to lose a soldier in a friendly country."

Shirran smiled behind his mask and said just simply

"Yes Sir! It indeed would. And...thank you Sir."


General nodded, raised his fist to touch his chest above the heart and barked:

"Strength within us!"

to which Shirran immediately responded in similar way, shouting the second half of the motto;

"Honour to obey!"



Odaghan walked back to the palace again, asked his way to the imperial waiting room and stood there motionless, wondering how long would it take for the princess to get ready. He had spent less than 30 minutes from the moment he left the meeting room. Madnestian girl would have been easily ready in this time... But this girl wasn't Madnestian one. No, she damn sure wasn't. She was a real princess.

Princes Eledin was starting to get worried. What if he had decided against it after all? What if he was backing out? She unconciously began fiddling with the edge of a sleeve, trying to remain outwardly calm. What would she show him? After thinking on this last question for a while she asked her father who replied "Anything you love about our palace and anything you enjoy doing. Why not play him a piece on your Veranium? I'm sure he would enjoy that!" He gave her a hug. "I'll leave you to it. I have some arrangements to see to. Enjoy yourself, and don't let your feelings get in the way of our nation;s reputation." Eledin blushed a deep red and hurried to the Imperial Waiting Room.

(ooc - bump!)

OOC: Oh sorry, I didn't notice you editet it laterz.


He stood there like a complete idiot, eating this young woman with his eyes. He however managed to blink before it got really embarrassing, and lowered his head.

"Your highness, G-... Tugam Odaghan at your service."

OOC: This thread, http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=480639 , gave me an idea. See, I thought I should send someone to there and was trying to figure who might it be, when it occurred to me - we should send these two, Princess and General, to those parties! How does that sound? We can keep on RP'ing this story of they get known to eachother in Ancient Isles, but since in it only couple of days have passed we can say that those Findanian parties start some weeks after the point we're now in this thread. What do you say? Even more time for these two to spend together, while giving them something useful to do at the same time.

Sounds more complicated than it is ;)

He stood there like a complete idiot, eating this young woman with his eyes. He however managed to blink before it got really embarrassing, and lowered his head.

"Your highness, G-... Tugam Odaghan at your service."


Eledin bobbed a courtsey to Tugam "And Eledin Madrigal at yours" she said with a smile and a faint colour in her cheeks. "Would you like to take a tour of the palace?" she asked, her eyes taking in every detail about him.


(ooc - yeah sounds great - after I'd read it a few times and got the hang of it! Two security details or one? - if they're going together.)

"That sounds great... Eledin" he said, smiling.

"Just show me the way."

OOC: Ummm...I can do majority of it. Meaning that most of the guards are of Odaghan's own Special Forces. You can then limit it to few personal bodyguards for princess. How ever you want it.

Eledin smiled and turned down a corridor to their left. Coloums lined the walls with detailed paintings between them. They showed each royal family. The one on the end showed Eledin's. A sad smile passed breifly across her face as she looked at the faces of her mother and two brothers who were killed in the storms. "This place is called the Corridor of Kings, even though there are Queens here to. It's named after the current reiging monarch. When I become Queen it will be the Corridor of Queen's again." With a lingering look at her family's smiling faces she lead Tugam onwards into a large white room. The entire room was made of pure white marble. The walls were covered in engravings of various texts that were written in an ancient tongue. Eledin beamed as she looked around "This is my favourite place. The Hall of Silence" she whispered. Even at a whisper her voice carried like the best opra singer. "The carvings are accounts of great deeds of past Kings and Queens" she explained.

(ooc - kk sounds good to me!)

"It's beautiful..." Tugam replied with low, deep voice, turning his head to see the whole hall at the same time.

"I have to ask you... Is this place, well. Holy? In some way?"

Eledin shook her head, her headband shimmering in the light "No. We have a shrine to a Goddess that was worshipped along time ago one this island. But appart from that people use their own homes." She smiled "What is it like in Madnestan?"

"Quite similar. It is illegal to promote any religions in public life, but people are free to have shrines and such in their homes, if they so wish. It is quite rare though. We believe in science, we have faith for ourselves and the only thing that we believe to be higher than any individual person, is the country of ours."

He sneered to his own words.

"I talk like some propaganda machine... but that's how we know it to be."

The Princess nodded "What about you personally? What do oyu believe?" she asked, hoping she hadn't over-stepped the boundary.

"Me? Well... I have to say I have always been interrested in religions and cults of all sorts. It's just that... I have seen such misery, suffering and, well. Unpleasant things. I can't believe there's any power above the military power. If there was a higher power, that wouldn't happen. Or then he just isnät wort worshipping."

He thought for a second, before adding;

"Faith, on the other hand, is very real and powerful thing. And really, is there any difference between something that exists and makes people do things, and something that those people believe in strongly enough to do those things anyway?"

Memories... Danterian civil war. Army Of Purity. Thousands of sacrificed children, blood streaming down the streets.

He shook his head, if so little it could hardly be noted.

Eledin smiled sadly "I guess I've just had all those things hidden from me. It's sad when people lose religion though. It gives meaning to so many things...." she trailed off as she realised she was both talking to freely and staring at the general. She lowered her eyes and asked "Would you like to move on or have more of a look around this room?"

"Wise words, princess. But it's not like I hadn't meaning for my life. Not at all."
And.. yes, I'd like to spend a bit more time in this room, if possible. I want to hear the story, or atleast parts of it, that these walls have to tell."

He touched the white marble with his fingertips, moving them on it and intensively staring the writing it was covered with.

Slowly he started to hum an old, even ancient melody that echoed through the hall, increased by its incredible acoustics.

"Ghüm tmandra, klevtesh... Ghüm meneandra, suriadel... Lacho calad, drego morn..."

Eledin was going to remind him to use her name and not her title when he began humming. She listened carefully, being a musician herself. She had an odd feeling of knowing the song, but she couldn't make out the words. She tilted her head slighty and drank in the music.

He had never sang in a place like this. Or to such an audience. Not that he wasn't a good singer, oh no. In a country with a bit different culture he would have been a recognized opera singer, or in some metal band a millionaire vocalist.
In Madnestan, he had been in the Great Chorus that performed in special occasions, major parades and such. And that's pretty much it. Last time was two decades ago though, and he hadn't sung to anyone but himself ever since. Except that one night during the Five Days Bloodbath in North Mack, when the remnants of his company had been surrounded into the ruins of old police station for two days, and they had sang like crazy to show those rebel bastards that they weren't afraid.

Now, however, it wasn't a group of exhausted soldiers he was singing to. It was a woman he felt, for some mysterious reason, to be, at this moment, the most important woman in the world.

And so he let it out. His deep, dark baritone built (OOC: And exactly NOW Winamp in it's shuffle mode chose the Beatsteaks - I Don't Care As Long As You Sing! :D) up the ancient Madnestian song, Shumig Ghüm, The Song of Those Who Go To Battle. And he sang like he had never sang before.

Eledin watched in stunned awe. She'd never heard such a voice. In the Ancient Isles it was the custom for only women to sing, she'd only ever heard humming or whislting from a man before. His deep rich voice filled her mind. She let herself get carried away on the unfolding notes of the song. In a strange way she felt closer through this one song than through all the words that had passed between them, like a glimpse into a soul.

He was carried away... out of this room, to the steppes between River Smobara and Sorrow Mountains. Saber in his hand, wild Madnestian Mustang under him, charging at the enemies of his people. He forgot where he was, he forgot who he was, all he knew was his own voice and the story that voice told.

He didn't realise how long did it take, it was a pretty long song, but when it finally came to its end, the last warrior stood alone in the field, friends and foes dead and dying all around him, and his desperate, undescribable cry of rage had slowly faded away, General Odaghan still stood there in the middle of the room, eyes closed, squeezing his white fists.

Eledin totally left her status behind her and gently put one of her own hands over the General's. She looked up at his face, feeling his pain. She stayed silent and watched, wishing there was something she could do. She moved a bit closer and reached a hand around his waist, hesitating slightly before she touched his back.

Tugam sighed deep, and opened his eyes, like waking from a dream. His other hand found its way around the shoulder of Eledin, and he forced his fists to open. His muscular, tough figure shivered slightly as he felt the touch of this woman. Words weren't needed now, so he remained silent.

Eledin's touched became more assured as his arm wrapped round her. She would have beamed if the situation had been different. She looked at the palm of his hand and gently traced shapes over it. This felt so right to her, she just hoped she wasn't reading too far into things.

Slowly he turned, to face this fairy-like princess, holding her hands. He stared her straight in the eyes, and said softly and quietly - "Shindhyria ghat, Eledin." pulling her slowly closer to him, still intensively exploring the deeps of her eyes.

Eledin gazed back at him, enjoying his touch. She wished she had learnt more languages, as his words remained a mystery to her. She broke eye contact for a moment as she conposed her thoughts. She was about to ask him for a translation before she changed her mind. Instead she replied in her own tongue "Imen nangar othel Tugam"

He had naturally no idea what was she saying, he didn't speak her language any better she spoke Madnesti, but something in the tune and the situation told him it didn't mean "Go away, you discusting pervert", so he didn't. Instead, she just nodded with the most serious expression on his face, leaned closer pulling her gently to him at the same time, and kissed those lips he had desired from the moment he came to know of their existance.

Ignoring everything that would prevent her from enjoying this moment, Eledin melted into his kiss. The world stopped around her and all that existed was that one moment. She wrapped her arms aorund his back, feeling the warmth from his body. She knew pure happiness in that moment. His words swam around the back of her mind. Sometime she would ask what they ment.

OOC: Nice! Bedtime now, unfortunately, but we'll continue this romance so beautiful I hope I'll run into myself sometime too, tomorrow.

(ooc - sleep well! And you said you couldn't do rp romance!)

OOC: It has turned out to be easier than I first thought... helluvalot easier than IRL anyways! :p


That kiss felt like lasting forever, and Tugam atleast woul have had no obejections to that... but it didn't. They never do. And so their lips finally drew away from eacother. And there they stood again, just like before that kiss, big, rough and scarred soldier in front of a young, soft and beautiful woman. She appeared so breakable, so vulnerable and small to him that he was continuously scared of hurting her, but couldn't move his hands from around her. Just like before the kiss... oh no. It looked perhaps so - that they stood there just like they had done few minutes ago, but something between them had happened, changed. Changed for good.

A smile broke across Eledin's face as she looked into the eyes of the man she never wanted to leave. She rested her head on his shoulder and pondered over what he had said. She looked back up at him and made her decision to ask anyway. "What did you say?" she asked quietly.

"Shindhyria ghat, Eledin..."he whispered again.

He touched the hair of Eledin with his nose, and the pleasant perfume felt almost dizzy to him. Those words... something Madnestian said to one person, and to one person only, in his life. Somewhere between "I love you", and "you're my soulmate", but never used as lightly. Rarely to more than one person in a lifetime. It couldn't be translated without losing most of it's meaning, but he had to try.

"My soul, my spirit... to you. Now yours. Forever."

The words sent a shiver down Eledin's spine. It was so much more than she ever could have hoped for. A fairy-tale she had only ever dreamed of. She had to remind herself that she was awake. She pressed herself closer to Tugam and felt warmed to her very soul. She sighed happily as her mind showed her a wonderful future.

"It doesn't sound so much a cliche in Madnesti... You'll understand when you learn some of it." he said, smiling.

Eledin smiled back "I hope that wont be too far off" she said. Her smile faltered for a moment "What'll happen when..." she trailed off composing her thoughts "How can you serve your country and me rule mine?" she asked.

Tugam's hand, caressing Eledin's hair, stopped for a moment.

"You're the crown's heir? I thought - of course. Of course. I couldn't think clear, you seem to have that effect on me" he said, kissing the princess' forehead.

"...I somehow thought differently. This is indeed a problem. But we have time to think about that later, no?"

OOC: I thought she is to be married outside of the country, not that the king was looking for someone to rule Ancient Isles with her! Dang! Now we have a problem here.

(ooc - she has to marry to continue the line - no family - but diplomatic relations from a marriage is vv useful)

Eledin nodded "Of course" she said "I didn't mean to put a damper on things, I just said it out loud". She looked down "I'm sorry"

"Oh no, don't be!" General quickly replid, gently raising Eledin's chin up to meet her eyes again.

"If I'd dare ask you something, it would be that you, whenever possible and atleast when we're alone, tell me what's in your mind, what do you think, what do you feel. There's nothing you could say wrong, Eledin."

OOC: Right, right... Well, how soon is the old king gonna die? Is he how old now, exactly?

The smiled returned to Eledin's face. "Madnestan culture seems so different" she said quietly "In the Ancient Isles only the women sing" she added, pondering at whether their songs where comparable to the wonder of the Madnesti songs.

(ooc - well Eledin's 22...so he's probably about 50...living to 80 or so. A good time yet)

"Oh, you're quite right" Tugam answered, slightly relieved for the changing of subject.

"Our whole country sings. See, our society is a bit... well, I guess the closest English word would be "militaristic". Every citizen is to become a warrior, defender of the land, and instead of running between home and school our youth is grown in Education Centers. Despite the name they're pretty much just like boarding schools though. Kids march a lot, travel in the mountains and ride in the steppes... and whatever they do, wherever they are, they sing."

A bit afraid of what he knew this all would sound to someone who hadn't seen the country, he continued;

"We have also few role restrictions based on ones sex. Both boys and girls grow in same Centers, both serve equally in the military, and pretty much dress in similar way too."

OOC: Good. That can be thought out later then.

Eledin nodded as Tugam spoke "We only have a small military force. Most people never see service." She said, wondering what it would be like to serve in the army. "We're also quite traditional on roles" she admitted "Few women work, as they prefer to stay at home and raise a family. Although for me any chance to leave the palace is welcome" She smiled. "I've trained with swords and bows, but never used them in anything other than practise" she explained.

(ooc - w00ple! Just love a good sword fight!)

"Good. I truly hope you'll never have to do so. Partice fight is much better." Tugam responded, meaning every word.

"I know quite a bit about bladefighting too, by the way. Even though knives are what I'm most familiar with, I used to be pretty decent with claymores and katanas..." he continued, with happier tune.

Eledin giggled quietly "Then I'll have to test my hand against yours at some point!" She stood in quiet thought for a moment. "You've shared your song with me without asking a return favour. What would you ask for?" she asked, her eyes shinning with her happiness.

"Oh, your company is the best favour I could hope to have. For that croaking of mine, even that is way too much though..." he answered with a shrewd, jesting smile.

Eledin laughed "You think too much of me!" she said "And your singing was far more than croaking....it was in tune!" she joked, hoping Tugam didn't take it the wrong way.

"Really?! It was? During the whole song?!?" he answered, looking absolutely stunned for this unbelievable statement even though he had to work hard to avoid laughing out.

"Well, in THAT CASE, I guess I could indeed ask you return a favour. Afterall, the song lasted for well over three seconds, and if it ALL was in tune, it's worth something..." he said, smiling shrewdly again.

Eledin beamed "It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard" she said, quite truthfully "And anything you ask for in return will not be enough"

"Well... I'd like to know what you said earlier, in the language of The Isles. "Imen nangar othel, Tugam". What did it mean?"

Eledin blushed slighty "My heart, my body, my soul" she whispered, looking deep into his eyes.

Tugam nodded, still smiling. Responding to the gaze of princess, he replied;
"Yes. You truly have them all."

He pulled Eledin close to him again, holding her hands.

"And for what little I yet know, I'd say they're quite the best I've seen."

Eledin blushed a much deeper red this time "They aren't mine anymore" she said quietly "They're yours."

"I will try my best to be worth those words, Eledin. I don't know I can, but I will try." He responded, seemingly touched.

With a big smile Eledin hugged him tightly. She pulled away and laughed slightly "Would you like to continue your tour now?" she asked.

When that lady laughed, it was like the sun had became visible again, after a stormy night. Like first spring day, he thought while smiling widely without even noticing that himself.

"Yes, why not." He took a good old gentleman's pose, offering his arm for the princess.

"If your highness could allow me such priviledge...?"

Eledin bobbed to him and took his arm, smiling broadly. She lead him out of the marble room and into a smaller one. Everywhere black drapes obscured the walls. It would have been pitch black save for the candles burning through out it. Their light was reflected in silver patterns across the dark material, making the walls and ceiling appear to be the sky itself. In one corner was a tiny shrine. Eledin stopped on the other side of the room as she explained "This is our family's shrine, and has been for nine generations" she said, her eyes drawn to the silver figure standing within the shrine.

Tugam followed the glance of ELedin, and noticed the silver figure also. Even though he was pretty good with words (in Madnestian standards atleast) he was, nevertheless, a soldier, and Madnestian. Someone who has been influenced by those two strong factors for his whole life is, despite his character, made to act and think with quite presumable way.
Like in situation like this. When he saw something he felt to be important, and he wanted to know about it he didn't hesitate before just simply asking;

"What's that figure?"

"My mother" said Eledin, with a quiet voice. "You probably wouldn't believe me, but she was a Goddess" She smiled slightly and held out a hand, a pale silver flame in her palm. She closed her hand and the flame vanished. She stayed silent.

He was surprised, naturally. Pretty damn surprised. But not afraid. He wouldn't propably have been scared if she had bewitched the whole flamethrower out of air, though. He was just completely unable to connect words "threathening" and "Eledin" to each other.
So no, it wasn't fear. He had seen magic before. He had been in The Transslivania, hunting vampires, and even been hit by a shadow spell. That had been unnatural and evil, though, but this fire was everything but that. It felt... right. So she's a sorceress. Or a really good tricker. General smiled, still staring her hand.

"How exactly did you do that? If it was a trick, I must say you did it well... I didn't notice anything."

Eledin raised an eyebrow "How was it done?" she repeated "I willed it" she said simply. All the candles in the room flickered and went out. A flame appeared in her hand again, lighting the space around her and Tugam. The flame lept from her hand to the nearest candle, then to the next candle, until they were all alight again, but this time with silver flames. "I'm no trickester" she said quietly.

General looked her in the eyes again, this time very seriously, and bowed deeply.

"I beg your forgiveness, Eledin. I spoke before thinking. I should've understand not to even hint anything like that. But I must say..." - he glanced around the room - "...that I have never, not once in my life, seen anything like this."

Eledin smiled and the flames changed back to their normal colours "Don't appologise" she said lightly "And it's a beautiful room isn't it. One of my favourite places to come"

"It is most beautiful, yes." He said, uncertain how to proceed. This princess seemed to be quite a bit more than one could've expected, and Tugam found himself wondering what more surprises this magician, daughter of...did she really say goddes?! who knew swordmanship might have.

"Eledin...I'd like to hear a story. Story about your family, your mother, and magic." He thought for a second, and added with a smile;
"I can sing you another song for it... if you think your ears won't start bleeding."

She shook her head "If you have to time to spend then I'll tell it. I don't need any payment" She pulled two elaboratly carved chairs from the shadows. It was hard to tell if they had been there before now or not. Pitch black wood was highlighted with inlayed silver. Eledin sat on one and gestured for Tugam to take the other.

(ooc - I'll post it tomorrow...will probably take a while and I'm all sleepy! Post soon! Sleep well!)

Tugam nodded and took the seat offered, waiting after Eledin had sat down of course, and turned his chair so that he could see the face of princess while she talked.

OOC: So am I! I will! I'll do my best, can't guarantee that one though!

Eledin took a breath and tried to form an order to her thoughts. “In our family a girl is always the first born” she began “It’s always been that way; but once every ninth generation a boy is the first-born. When he comes of age to marry the Goddess, my mother, becomes his wife.” She paused as she realised how odd her story would sound to someone not of the Ancient Isles. She’d agreed to it though so she would finish. “My father was the first born, so the Goddess Shema is my mother. The magic that runs through our family is from her. Her children always have the strongest magic, and its strength lessens through each generation. In each direct descendent her powers manifest differently. Shema’s daughters display most of her powers, whilst son’s only have one or sometimes two.” She let what she had said sink in before adding any more. She would base what she said next on Tugam’s reaction.

"I see.This is... This is quite extraordinary. Well... What exactly are your powers then? What are you capable of doing?" Tugam asked, his expression showing nothing but interest and curiosity.

Eledin hesitated. "I don't really know" she admitted "I mean, I know lots of things that I can do, but I don't know itf that's everything and alot of things I could do anyway are enhanced by it without me knowing." She looked at Tugam "It can be very useful though! Makes changing much quicker!"

"Hehe... undoubtedly." he laughed.

"But... isn't it somehow scary too? I mean, if you can't completely control it?"

"I can control it" said Eledin "It's just it's a part of me. Like having muscles is. I just don't know if the talents I have are natural or because of the magic" She thought "I'm not explaining this very well"

"Oh no, you're doing fine. It's the difficulty of the subject that makes it hard. But then again..." he added, with that shrewd smile so characteristic to him, "...I t's only interresting to have hidden talents and surprises waiting. I have few, too... if not as amazing as this of yours."

Eledin smiled and raised an eyebrow "What talents are you hiding then?" she asked, trying not to make it sound to pointed a question.

He laughed again, and replied with a smile;

"Oh, there would no amusement in telling it here. You'll see later, I promise."

He stood up, stretching his muscular body.

"Show me more of this palace! Every room seems to be more interresting than the whole Governmental HQ in Tzimkent!"(Madn. capital))

Eledin smiled and very nearly laughed. Instead she nodded and stood up, pushing the chair infront of her. She walked through it as she walked over to Tugam "The next room is the gardens" she said "I've never heard of anywhere else like it. I hope you enjoy nature."

Tugam stared the chair, not more than half of a second, twinkled his eyes and touched it. It was indeed a real, solid chair. He turned quickly, hearing Eledin's second sentence, and replied;

"Oh yes, I like the nature. Steppes and mountains are what I love most, but everything goes, really."

With a grin Eledin lead the way into the next room. From floor to ceiling stepped terraces dripped with bright green plants. In between them darker leaved plants broke up the carpet of green. Splashes of pink, yellow, white, orange and red sat between the leaves. It was a stunning sight, made even more amazing by the fact that there was a roof above it, enclosing it totally. Eledin walked over to a large shrub with pure white flowers on it. She smiled and smelt it. It had a heady fragrance that was sweet and as pure as its colour. "This is my country's national flower" she explained.

"Really? I thought that was you! Hmmm..." Tugam put his weight on his right foot and leaned back, like comparing those flowers to the princess.
"I'd say whoever it was to decide the most beautiful flower to be the national one kinda screwed his job."

Eldin blushed a very deep red. She mumbled something quietly that she obviously didn't expect Tugam to hear. She looked at the flower to distract herself.

(ooc - just got to walk my friends dog, will be back soon!)

He walked to Eledin, and touched her hair. He then bent down, took a flower and smelt it, then turned his head and smelt the hair of princess.
"Both are good, but there's no doubt of the winner!" he then said, and kissed her cheek gently.

OOC: Well I have like half an hour before going to beach parties :/

She hugged Tugam tightly and continued blushing. Eledin tried to think of some witty reply, but found that no suitable words came to her. She decided that they weren't needed anyway.

(ooc - Wow! Lucky thing!)

(ooc - Bump! :p )

(ooc - yayness! I'm now on study leave so I have alot more time to waste time of forums....errr.....I mean.....revise for my exams!)

OOC: I'm having couple of hours now before I need to get back to school, and can't imagine anything more important to do than posting in NS for that time, so... :)

Still smiling he turned his head, to have a picture of the whole garden. It was indeed an impressing one - beautiful, quiet and restful.
It made him to think about the great differences between these two cultures - contrast between this spiritual, traditional, calm and peaceful, pacifist and apparently leven iterally magical atmosphere that could be felt in this country formed a complete contrast to that of Madnestan. Yet there was something very similar in both. Like two seeds from the same tree that have grown in different enviroments. In a warm, peacefull alley and in the middle of Tundra. Or was it really so? He didn't know almost anything about the history of The Ancient Isles. Well. There was an easy and comfortable way of getting these answers.

"Tell me about your country, Eledin. Tell me about it's history. Who founded it, and when? What has made it to be like this, what made it to abandon and reject modernism and industrialisation? Has it fought any wars?"

Eledin smiled "So many questions!" she joked "I'll try my best to answer them all for you. The Ancient Isles were founded individually before they united to form our current nation. The first records we have of people living here are about 10,000 years old; they're in one of the rooms in this palace actually. The Ancient Isles as it is today though is only about 5,000 years old. It was Shema's idea to bring the islands together. Our culture has always been like this. Our people are proud of their traditions and their way of life, they would never chose to change it, so the issuse has never even been brought up. We love our life style and it brings us much happiness so change isn't necessary. As for wars, we've never declared war. We have had to defend our islands once or twice, but we have methods of defense that have meant that no blood has ever been spilt from a conflict on our soil. Sometimes we are required to send aid to neighbouring countries, but never has a soldier of the Ancient Isles died in combat." She paused and mentally checked that she had answered all the questions asked. "What about your country? What's Madnestan like?"

OOC: Damn you! I was *JUST* going to bed. Can't help it, need to sleep. You'll get answered tomorrow morning.

With a rather sad smile, Tugam answered the question asked;

"Quite the opposite. Madnestians have taken our lands by sword, by war have we made our neighbours to give us room... War and the Way of The Warrior are embedded in my blood, the blood of all of us. Our culture is almost as old as that of yours, first distinctively Madnestian nomad tribes existed more than 9,000 years ago... First written texts, however, aren't older than 500 years. Neither did our ancestors build great buildings, or beautiful arts... we know that those who lived around Sorrow Mountains thousands of years ago were Madnestians because of their weapons."

General pulled a battle knife from his boot, and handed it, grip forward of course, to princess. It was a simple weapon, not decorated or exactly beautiful, but well made. (OOC: Somewhere between Gurkha knive and a wavy dagger)

"We still use them. Not because they're beautiful... but because they're good in what they're made for. About more recent history... Since our beloved Warchief united the nation completely, ending the Great Clanwars, one-and-a-half centuries ago, we have been in..." He thought for a second - "in 37 wars. I don't know how many of our brave youth, both men and women, have died in them. But it's a big figure anyways."

He raised his head, and continued with a somewhat different, stronger and more confident tune;

"But it was good for us. Because of that we have stayed tough in this tough world, and now Madnestan has grown stronger than any of it's neighbours. World knows our strength. We are fighting in two foreign civil wars at this very moment, fighting against Modokovians in the South, against Smobarians in the West, against North Mack in the North... and we will prevail. Like we have always done. I sure hope there was another way... that we could cast spells to keep our enemies away, that we could still ride free on our steppes, having swords made to look beautiful instead of made to cut flesh. But we can't. So we'll fight. Until we have no enemies no more, or the last of us has fallen."

Eledin's eyes looked sad, but she kept an even face. It was the culture of their country, no matter how different it was from hers it was their way of life. She looked down at the blade in her hand and gently ran a finger down its length. "Strength" she said quietly "I've never thought of strength as a reason for war, for ending people's lives." She pulled the blade across her palm, the sharp edge biting into her skin. The cut welled with blood for only a moment before it vanished as it healed. In that moment, her blood had connected her to the people whose lives had been ended by that blade. She looked at Tugam and handed the blade back. "Life seems very different in Madnestan" she said quietly.

Tugam's knife went back to his boot, without him even noticing it. Automated move, a reflex. He sighed, turning his eyes to the flowers again.

"It's not like we were bloodthirsty monsters, not like we desired to send our boys and girls to die... but we have had no option. It is our land. And our pride and honour to protect those who trust us, no matter how far might they be."

Knife in his hand again (he didn't remember pulling it though) he made a cutting to his forearm. Exactly as deep and as long as the one Eledin had just made and then healed. He looked as the blood started to leak from it, but did nothing - he didn't know how to make it vanish. He raised his head, and said with the same sad smile;

"This is the difference. I know no tricks of how to make this wound go away. I just stand the pain and carry the scar for the rest of my life. The benefit? Next time it will not hurt as much."

Within moments Eledin was standing much closer to Tugam. She ran a slender finger along the length of the wound on his arm, the skin healing at her touch. She brought his hand to her lips and gently kissed it "To heal you need to have faith" she said quietly "Pain shouldn't have to be something you become used to."

All anxiety melted from his face, all bitternes left his voice, when Eledin touched him again.

"I know no other way. Pain is something our people has to live with. That is our path, our way. And I accept it. But..." he added, touching princess' hair, "...you make it disappear. Your magic... and I don't mean the way you heal wounds. That's only a small part of it."

Eledin looked deep into his eyes and had to stop herself from taking all the pain she could read in them. She held onto his had tightly "What do you mean?" she asked nievely.

"The feeling that I have when you stand close. I don't have words for that... atleast not in English... I'm no bard or poet. But.. well...to put it simple... I love you."

Eledin blushed deeply and looked at her hands. She couldn't think of a way to put her thoughts and feelings into words. Instead she put her arms around Tugam's neck and kissed him deeply.

Tugam responded, and surrendered to his feelings and those of Eledin, feelings that they were proving to each other in the same way human male and femaly have always done. He didn't want to break it, break the magic of this moment, so he remained silent even after this ancient rite of kissing had come to its end.

Eledin smiled, also reluctant to break the silence that somehow held them together. She ran a hand over his lean form, tracing the shape of his muscles. Her finger glowed slightly, leaving a trail of her emotions down his shirt. She blushed as she realised what she was doing, but didn't stop. It was the only way she could really show how she felt.

OOC: Well there's another way, actually... but I don't think we should really RP that through? ;)

(ooc - ROFL yeah! Good point...thus why I'm only letting her do this! As much fun as it would be; tink of the children who might read it! :p )

OOC: The kids? There's nothing wrong with kids reading it... I'm more concerned about those 14-25-yrs-old nerd wankers that might read this :D But yea. Btw, what exactly is she doing with her glowing finger? Drawing? That part confused me a bit.

(ooc - Fair point! I'm not quite sure, just running a finger down him, which is leaving her emotions on his shirt - use it as you will!)

OOC:Roger that.

Tugam shivered slightly as he felt Eledin's fingers moving on his skin and rather tight sleeveless. It wasn't only because of the fact itself - that Eledin touched him - but also because of something new happened between her fingers and his chest. He didn't want to move, turn his head to see what happened, because he didn't actually need to. Whatever it was, it didn't feel unpleasant, and he trusted that young woman completely already. He just took a deep breath, smelling the parfyme of princess again, and enjoyed.

Eledin smiled as she pressed her flat palm against Tugam's chest. Her hand still glowed gently. She closed her eyes and let herself relax totally. The point of contact between her hand and Tugam's chest warmed slightly as she felt energy flow from her fingers into him. She opened her eyes and looked deep into his "You wont need to worry about healing now" she said with a small grin.

General moved a bit, to see her face. He was truly amazed, and didn't try to hide that.

"What did you do? I feel like twenty years younger!"

"I was just sharing" said Eledin, with a now big smile "Making sure you keep yourself safe too." she added as an after thought.

He laughed like a boy who has just got his best Christmas present ever, quickly grabbed Eledin from his waist, turned her in the air like she weighed nothing and placed her to sit on his shoulders.

"Let's continue our tour! Your feet, oh mighty sorceress-princess, are too noble to be used on walking when I can act as your horse. Where next?"

Eledin giggled and protested, but when it was clear she wasn't going to be let down she relented and pointed to a door to the right, hardly visiblle through the plants. "Let me show you the state room, that's next" she said as Tugam carried her through the door.

Inside rich swathes of red fabric hung around a stunning golden throne. A shield with a native Dragon wrapped around it dominated the wall behind the throne. The incricate detail on the painting made the Dragon seem almost real. At the side of the throne was a small, but no less beautiful chair, designed for a prince or princess. "This is only used for formal state occasions" said Eledin, by way of explanation.

(ooc - Trying too hard to keep my eyes open. I should really go to sleep now, I'll post tomorrow. Night!)

OOC: Night!

Tugam stopped and turned to see the whole room.

"Impressive arts... But I must ask you, why aren't there any guards in here? Not even in the throne room?"

"The King isn't here, so there's no need" said Eledin simply "Even if he was here though there would only be one or two. We live in a very peacefull nation."

"Yes, you indeed do. It was a silly question." Tugam said, and moved towards the back wall, to look closer the Dragon shield.

Eledin walked beside him and traced the graceful line of the Dragon's neck. She smiled as the Dragon winked, so quickly it was hard to tell if you were imagining it or not.

OOC: I thought I was still carrying her... :P But doesn't matter.

The dragon winked to Eledin. A painted dragon. In a shield. The funny thing was - he wasn't surprised. Not the slightest. Someone would perhaps have doubted his senses at this situation, but Tugam never did. He knew what he had seen, but didn't really care. So what? This wasn't an ordinary woman, not an ordinary palace or country. Painting responded to smile? After seeing what Eledin was capable of doing, that was nothing. He turned to Eledin, and asked with a smile;

"An old friend of yours?"

(ooc - errrr....she got off?? :p )

Eledin grinned "When you're young you entertain yourself in anyway you can. Certainly brings a bit of interest into state affairs" she said, her fingers now following the Dragon's wing "On quiet nights its nice to get away from everything with someone you know will totally respond to you!"

"Uhhh... I don't know if I got you right here, but did you say you have been flying that painted dragon? Damn... in my youth the most adventurous event wer could hope for was when we managed to steal few horses and ride the night on the steppes... That's my favourite hobby still, by the way. Night riding. Never tried it with a dragon though...."

The Dragon turned to face them, its snout emerging from the wall. It's wings stretched out to full reach and became 3D. Eledin stroked the scales between its eyes as it stepped down from the wall. It seemd taller than it had been on that wall. Eledin climbed onto his back and patted the side of his neck. She reached a hand down to Tugam to invite him to join her. The Dragon looked expectantly at Tugam, a glimmer of a smile in its eyes.

Tugam, who had lowered his center of gravity and slightly raised his arms for a moment after the painting had started to move, relaxed himself and stared the dragon straight in the eyes. Two seconds. Then he slowly nodded, and jumped up, to sit right behind Eledin.

Eledin lent against him and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensations of feeling Tugam behind her and her Dragon beneath her. It padded towards a wall, the door being far to small. With a flap of its powerful wings it flew through the wall and silently into the night. Although outside it was still day-time somehow they were flying through a cool night sky, bright stars shinning down on them, helped by a perfectly full moon.

Tugam couldn't help himself thinking that Eledin was messing up with his senses. The sun hadn't settled yet, and there was no way she could have turned the whole planet to spin faster, or make day to turn night. Not even with all her incredible powers... but then again, she did it because she wanted him to feel good. He had said that he loved riding, especially in the moonlight, so she had made him to feel that was the case now. And the illusion was perfect.
Cold air on his face felt as good as always, and there were no worries at that moment, no duties, no responsibility over lives of others - there were just these three perfect things. This air, the dragon and princess Eledin...

In lack of words to describe it, he did what Madnestians usually do when they face that problem - he sang. This song was very different of that he had sang in the White Room - this was a song young men had sang, almost laughed actually, for hundreds of years. The song was about the pleasure, the feeling of speeding over the ample grass sea. The Song of The Steppes. Much of his voice disappeared to the wind, of course, but he didn't care. That was how it was meant to be.

Leaning against him Eledin felt more of the words than she heard, but his voice fitted perfectly with the peace that had settled over them. Beneath her she knew that vast areas of forest were rushing by, their leaves lit by the moonlight. She raised her face to the moon and let its rays wash over her skin. In its light her eyes seemed darked and an almost ethereal glow surrounded her. She rejoiced in the moment and felt the many things going on around her in so many ways that she became totally absorbed.

Eledin had fallen into a trance of some sort, or that's how it looked, but it didn't appear to be unpleasant to her. Therefore Tugam just put his arms around her, and whispered the last verse of the song to her ear. She didn't propably hear, but it wasn't like she could have understood it anyways. Hopely she understood better the gentle kiss Tugam then gave on her cheek, before leaning back again, holding princess as tight he dared to.

Eledin put her hands ontop of Tugam's and smiled happily to herself. The Dragon was no longer flying over land any more. Infront of them stretched mile after mile of dark water, the moon shimmering on its surface. He turned his head and snorted at the two of them. Eledin giggled slightly and rubbed one of the ridges of scales that ran above his eyes.

Tugam laughed, and shouted to Eledin's ear;

"CAN DRAGONS GET A FLU, OR IS HE ANNOYED OF SOMETHING?"

Eledin laughed and shook her head "He's not ill or annoyed!" she shouted back "He's complaining that he thinks I'm going to fall off because I'm too busy thinking about things other than holding on!" With this last comment she blushed, visible even though the moon washed out almost all colours.

Tugam laughed again, and kissed her neck, arms still around her.

"You can tell him there's no chance I'd let you fall!"

Eledin snuggled up against Tugam and smiled. At the same time to Dragon made a noise that was either a snort of some kind of laughter. It proved to be the latter as he folded his wings and dived, at astonishing speed, towards the ptich black mass of water below them.

As they fell through the clouds, wind singing in his ears Tugam caught himself wondering how would Dragonflying work in Madnestan... An unregistered flying object in Madnestian airspace, doing it as fast as this beauty and without responding attempts of contacting in via radio? Damn...

But that didn't mean anything now. What mattered was the sea, the black mass of water, that was getting closer and closer to them. Oh, whattehell. It didn't matter neither. Eledin and Dragon knew what they were doing. Just trying to scare him... Hopely...

Eledin didn't seem worried about either the speed or the water. She didn't seem worried when they dived straight under the water and into inky darkness. It was a strange sensation, being underwater, yet being able to breathe perfectly well. She hoped the Dragon hadn't made Tugam too worried.

Under the surface, and breathing. Surprised? A bit. Scared, shocked, amazed? Hell no. He was asleep, and damn sorry for that. This could not be real. He had accepted everything this far, even though the rational part of his mind had strongly opposed it, but this was just too much. Everything told him this was not real. HUMANS DON'T BREATH UNDERWATER! This had all been an incredible dream, the best dream ever, so good, so real that he never wanted to wake up.

But it could not be real. This just could not be happening, he thought. And sighed. Underwater.

Eledin turned to face Tugam, as the Dragon continued swimming happily. "Are you ok?" she asked, bubbles leaving her lips to float to the surface "You look dazed."

He looked at Eledin for few seconds, and then slowly answered, like afraid of drowning if he opened his mouth;

"Oh... it's nothing... I'm just sad that the morning will come... and I will wake up of this... this dream..."

With a laugh Eledin shook her head "This isn't a dream" she whispered, moving closer to him "This is all real." She kissed him gently, holding him close. At that moment the Dragon broke the surface again and floated, folding his wings up. Water ran down Eledin's face and hair, plastering her clothing to her body.

The chilly air pinched hid skin again, and the dream-like feeling he had got when they dived to the ocean started to fade away. Eledin pulled him closer, so close he could feel her heart beating, and was finally assured. It was real. No dream could be this good.

"You're gonna catch cold..." he mumbled, tenderly rubbing her back.

Eledin smiled and shook her head "I'll be fine, as long as your not too cold" she said. She tried to pull her dress off of her body, but it stubbornly clung to her. She sighed and gave up with it, looking up at Tugam instead. A series of very unprincess-like thoughts ran through her head. With a slight shake of her head she tried to set them aside.

Tugam smiled and kissed her once more.

"I've been in cold places. This isn't one of them. Especially when you're there."

His eyes met those of Eledin, and young princess looked at him in a rather interresting way. He responded to the stare, but Eledin quickly turned his head and shook it slightly. Tugam was used to that - people could rarely stand his intensive stare - but this time it wasn't that. It was like she was trying to get rid of something, to throw something out of her head. Desperately trying to figure what it could be, what had he done wrong, he touched her cheek and gently raised her head.

"What's wrong?" He asked, almost whispered, but that whisper was such that Eledin could not possibly miss it.

Eledin found that she couldn't reply. Instead she blushed a deep red, her cheeks heating from it.

General Tugam Odaghan wasn't exactly an inexperienced, unsure and hesitating teenager. He knew why girls could go red sometimes, and that there was nothing actually dangerous in that. If he saw that happen in a street, to some young girl talking with a young boy, he smiled an old man's wise smile and grinned. But now, when it after all these years he had spent alone happened to him personally, he felt very uncertain, very inexperienced and even scared. Princess Eledin felt like a she was made of porcelain, and could come to pieces at any time.

Propably the first time in he life he didn't have the faintest clue of what to do.

OOC: Sorry for the long waiting between my posts, I'm a REALLY slow writer (with English) :(

Eledin seemed to sense his hesitation. She looked back up at him and bit her bottom lip, as if making a desicion of some kind. After a moment's thought she lent in for another kiss, much more passionate than before.

(ooc - much better than I am in Finish!)

Now he knew what to do. Answering to that kiss with an equal passion, he felt like a great fire had been waken up inside of him. "Napalm in my stomach", like put it in his mind. Their bodies were now so close to eachother, connected by their tongues, that it felt like there weren't two people at all - he didn't know where he ended and Eledin begun. They were one.
"Shindhyria ghat, Eledin."
Now more than ever.

Judging by his reaction Eledin assumed she'd chosen to do the right thing. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to get even closer to him. Despite the cold air and the fact that she was soaking wet, her body felt hot. She didn't care about the warning her father had given her, no one could find them out here.

OOC: They're on a floating dragon, right? :D Hehheh! This is more FantasyTech than MT.... not that it matter though. Everything's acceptable as long as it's well played and written.

And...Hmmm. I don't really know how to continue from here...

(ooc - just what I was thinking....do you want to black out and return to the scene in an hour to two?? :p )

OOC: RP'ing sex is something I have never done or seen, and could actually be rather interresting... but then again, I doubt if the passion of moment could be actually described like it deserves. These two making love is something spectacular, almost ephic event. I'm not a writer good enough for that. And, how could we technically respond to eachothers posts? Not as easy as conversating, really... Meh. I guess we have to skip that.

(ooc - tis very much fun! Only done it once before though! ;) We can always sort out exactly what happened over msn or something - so we know where we stand!)

OOC: That'll do. I'll TG my MSN to you right away, and let you to decide from what point/situation will we continue this nation-level relationship :)

(ooc - sounds like a plan!)