Shadow Lovers (take two)

((Need one female character to be Ral's tutor, she was first introduced to Ral when they were children, of course they still had to speak through the cage. I'd roughly say the tutor's age can range anywhere from 24+ oh and please pm me before joing!))

All Ral had known was blackness; he could not remember a day outside of this small circular cell. He did not know what he looked like. He did not know of light or color, and he only had his shadow to comfort him...though it was actually quite good company.

"Come now, Ral, I'm not your shadow. I'm a shadow dragon that sought a good and intelligent host in order to stop that bitch Opsquria."

Ral chuckled to himself at Grad's words. Replying mentally, "I know that Grad, but it's hard to imagine you having someone else as a host, or not being attatched to anyone at all."

Suddenly Ral sat up in his cage, or at least he got as straight as he could in these tight quarters. He heard those usual light footsteps of his tutor, she must be here to collect his lunch plate from under the cage and start his new lesson, he always enjoyed her lessons...wondering what she looked like...what he looked like...

((so you know, bold and italicized text is mental chatter between my two characters.))

Lightly the young woman made her way across the cold flagstones of the dungeon floor, the leather soles of her boots barley audible as she made her way through the dimly lit room. For as long as she could remember she had paid visits to the young inhabitant of the pitch-black cell in the middle of the prison.

At first she had merely kept him company during the long hours of the winter days but as these visits had become so much part of her daily routine when the spring rains washed away the winter snow she’d continued her custom. As they grew older it was decided that her time spent with him should be more productive than childish play, and as she was very keen on learning she shared with him all she could.

Even after all these years the damp gloom still seemed to cause her to shiver and wrap the shawl she’d donned a little tighter about her shoulders.

“Ral?” She called his name softly as she neared the dark cage, tucking a few of the copper colored locks that had fallen free of the loose braid she’d made earlier, behind her ears.

“Are you awake?” The cage was so dark sometimes she’d wondered if she had imagined him, and was in truth mad, speaking to an empty cell.

Ral felt so much better even just hearing Miss Roisin's voice...it was so soothing... He shook his head as he remembered she had called to see if he was awake. "Yes! I'm awake; how could I sleep knowing you were coming soon Miss Roisin?" he chirped happily.

"Honestly, Ral, must you be so foolish? Ask her to teach us more so we know what to do when we get out of this damn cell!"

"Grad I've told you before! She's my only friend besides you and I will not use her!"

Grad was silent so he returned to talking with Miss Roisin, "Hey Miss Roisin...do you think they will let me out soon?" He was so desperate to see the light and be free of this accursed shell. To of never known vision when it was such a major sense for him had caused him to dream simply of what light must be like, what it would mean to see...

Suddenly the entire dungeon shuddered, the door banging open. "Miss Roisin! Please come to king's chambers! We are under heavy attack by shadows and this place isn't safe anymore!" a guard yelled down the stairs to her.

Ral panicked, but also felt a flush of hope, if the shadows made it in and destroyed his cage...he would be free..but he wouldn't let them harm Miss Roision. "Miss Roision...do as he says, I'll be fine. Please go..."

Though he could not see it his chipper reply to her question brought a smile to her cranberry lips. “Well, I am glad to hear your sense of timing is well intact.” His attitude was another thing that never ceased to amaze the young woman, most men confined to such a cramped space most of their life, having had blindness forced upon them through the lack of light of any kind would surly have gone out of their minds by now. But Ral seemed quite the opposite almost always in a good mood ready to learn and speak with her. That his good mood might have been attributed to her presence had not crossed her mind for one reason or another.

Settling down in the wood carved chair that had been placed at the door of his cell for her visits Roisin picked up one of the small tomes from a basket leafing through the fragile hand written pages to find the place they had left for today’s lesson.

“How many times must I tell you to simply address me as Roisin.” She scolded him playfully as she thought about his question, she was not sure when he would regain his freedom, if at all. She certainly hoped it would be soon though, he was really a sweet young man but before she could vocalize any of her thoughts the door to the dungeon was thrown open.

Startled by the sudden shaking of her chair and the crying hinges of the heavy doors Roisin jumped from the chair the codex and her shawl falling to the stone floor as the guard yelled for her. She felt torn wanting to stay with Ral but knowing that she was far safer with the king at this time. She felt a twinge of sadness knowing that if the Shadows did make it in she might never see Ral.

Stooping to gather her shawl she reached a hand under the small opening of the cage that allowed trays of food to be given him, and felt for his hand giving it a quick squeeze. Roisin was not very good with goodbyes.

In the King's chambers...

King William the fourth sat on his throne with his sword by his side when Roisin entered. The tension of the room grew by the second, so much so one could almost physically feel it. Outside every window the battle was visible...the guards were losing!

"Sire, I believe it is best if we make an exit in the rear end of the castle NOW so that we can make our escape!" one of the royal advisors said in front of the king.

He waved his hand dismissively, he would not be a coward. "I am sorry, Sir Leison but I will not take the fool's way out. If we did that we would simply expose ourselves to more shadow attacks with less protection later," he said before looking up at Roisin and letting a small smile break his lips. After Ral's mother died giving birth to him he had admired Roisin as she grew and saw the beautiful curvacious woman as an oppertunity for a new queen...

"Roisin! We have no alternative! Do you believe Ral is controlled by the Dragon?!?" William yelled over an explosion that eveyone knew without seeing was the outer walls of the kingdom collapsing...

The mounting tension within the chamber made the fine hairs on the back of her neck bristle, the Kings army was failing and with great speed. Pale blue eyes wide with horror Roisin stood by the window, the graceful fingers of her hands clenching the stone sill as she looked out at the carnage below.

Her preoccupation with the scene unfolding below caused her not to quite catch the Kings question. “Sire…” She said with some hesitance as she turned to face the ageing Ruler piecing his question together. “I do not believe the beast controls him, no.” She couldn’t be one hundred percent sure of Grad’s influence over the young man but from their time spent together it seemed like Ral was in control of all thoughts and action.

Just what did he have in mind she wondered, the smile on his lips made her nervous, not so much for herself but for Ral. Host to some sort of shadow creature of evil or not she didn’t want him to get hurt. But even with the favor she had seemed to incur from the generous King did not grant even her the right to dare question the King’s plans

King William snapped his fingers at one of the nearby royal guards, "Raise the cell at once!" he ordered. The guard nervously moved to a nearby pully chain and began pulling it, when he struggled with the intense weight another man joined him and together they pulled and pulled as a hole opened in the floor and Ral's cage now dangled in the king's chamber. "Open it!"

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The shell he had known all his life fell away and Ral stumbled forward onto the floor in a very ungraceful manner. As he sat up and shielded his eyes everyone got a first look of the unseen prince. His inhumanly dark red hair flowed all the way to his ankles, as it had never been cut, his nails seemed to of never grown but they were black and lengthened into what could only be described as claws. His pale skin was covered in blue-black designs that would put any human artist to shame with all the intricate lines and shapes. As he drew his hands away from his eyes the pupils were almost invisible as they tried to adjust to light for the first time.

Dark blue eyes flicked this way and that as he drew his naked body upright and stood for the very first time. Everything...no, everyone; he corrected himself, stood silent around him. His eyes looked around rapidly, searching for his Roisin...the only person he knew, she had to be here, right?

Ral cleared his voice and spoke to his father, whom he despised for the imprisonment, yet knew from Roisin's teachings that attacking a king would not be the most intellectual action. "I...I thank you for releasing me...father...I assume that you want me and Grad to eliminate these...shadows?" His father, the king nodded. Ral was upset that he could not find Roisin, and knew he was probably a frightening sight since everyone in the room seemed to press against the walls.

Ral turned and slowly walked to the window next to where the woman he did not know to be Roisin stood and he leapt over the side, which was a good seven story drop! Suddenly black wings spread from his back and he glided down in front of the guards, who stopped fighting as this strange person appeared before them, some even turning and running in horror. The shadows jumbled up in front of him, all roaring and cursing at him.

"You sure are a noisy bunch," Ral said, "Time to make your appearance, Grad."

"I thought you would never ask..."

Suddenly Ral's shadow acted of its own volition and began to grow and move off the ground as it formed the blue dragon, which stood a few feet over Ral with rows of razor sharp teeth and claws at the ready. To many of the remaining guards' surprise, Ral's own hands became covered in a blue skin like substance similar to the dragon's and became claws.

The Dragon reared back and then shot thousands of fire balls, all with a blue color, one for each shadow. Ral sighed, "That was too easy, I thought maybe at least one of them would be stronger..."

Content with his work, Grad returned to Ral's shadow and Ral removed his own claws, but then he spread his wings again and flew back up to the King's chambers. When he landed again the wings vanished as if they were never there. "There...I did what you asked, now I have a request for you, father. I wish to meet my tutor, Miss Roisin...then again she did say to start calling her simply Roisin..."

Roisin was in a state of awe as she diverted her attention from the battle below to the cage being raised and the young prince emerging from his prison home. A small gasp attempted to escape her lips but she held it in with one hand pressed to her mouth, her pale blue almost grey eyes wide as she beheld her pupil for the very first time. There was no denying that though he was in severe need of a bath and a good haircut, he came from good stock. Unlike others that might have been feeble in frame and stature due to the extended stay in such tight living conditions he seemed to be in perfect health. This she assumed should be attributed to the dragon within him, that he had sustained him well through those long years.

Her eyes never left him as she crossed the room and leapt into the fray, though she felt a slight pang hit her heart, as he seemed to simply ignore her, and it manifested as a subtle pout of her lower lip. What did you expect him to do silly girl, take you in his arms and kiss you? The notion made her stifle a laugh, as she turned her attention back out the window. That was is not at all what she’d expected; simply some sort of recognition was all. Then again he had never seen her before so no wonder he wouldn’t have paid her the least bit of attention.

But her worries were all for naught since as soon as he was back to the safety of the throne room he asked so meet her. Seeing the Kings nod of approval Roisin stepped forward, smoothing the bodice of her blue and gold gown as she spoke. “Then perhaps you should turn around.” She spoke softly as she always did a voice that was ever calm but held the strength of a river behind it. There was a sweet smile on her lips as she waited for his reaction, though as calm as her words were she felt terrible nervous for some reason she couldn’t quite explain.

Ral turned around when he heard that familiar voice, "R-Roisin?" he asked, his voice trembling. When she said yes he ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Roisin! Oh my gosh have I been waiting for this day! I'm so glad to see you!"

After the initial impact of it all faded and he stepped back he openly looked her up and down curiously. His cock twitching and gaining some life as he did so. "Roisin..." he said as he then looked down at his own body, "Your body isn't like mine at all...why?" He pinched some of the fabric on her gown, running it between his fingers. "What is this stuff that is covering you? Should I have something like this? And...what's wrong with your chest?" he asked, pointing at her breasts.

The sudden display of affection had caught her totally unaware as did its force but she quickly hugged him back glad to see that she had not been madly talking to herself all these years, and she easily warmed to his touch.

Stepping out of the embrace she for the first time realized he was not clothed and a deep blush spread across her cheeks and her pulse quickened slightly in her veins. When his barrage of questions began she had to chuckle remembering that although he was very astute due to her tutorage, but he remained in childish innocence on simple things like the difference between the sexes, a flaw in his upbringing due to the cage he had inhabited all his life.

“I think before we start a lesson you should be bathed.” She said this looking to the King for his approval; she would rather not go into such a discussion in front of all the people in the throne room. As is stood her reputation was questionable at best due to the courts love of gossip true or false. “And given a proper hair cut.” she added, twisting a lock of his long deep red hair around one of her fingers.

Hopefully his defending the Kingdom just now would be enough for his father and the King would now start treating him like a human, much less the prince he was, and not some beast needing to be caged.

King William was surprised by his son, he had assumed after the dragon had manifested and destroyed the nearby mountains that his son had been corrupted from birth. Yet here he was, totally fine and seemingly in complete control of the dragon, but something was curious...althought indeed the dragon they had seen was powerful as it took out that whole army with the dragon's fire but it was not nearly the same size...perhaps it was just his memory playing tricks on him. He waved his hand dismissively giving everyone leave to return to their private matters...including his wayward son.

Ral tilted his head curiously, a bath...he knew Roisin had described it to him but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it meant. "Ummm...as long as I can with you...is that alright Roisin?" he asked as a guard brought them outside the king's chambers, "Hair cuts don't hurt, do they?"

To say she was thankful that the King had decided to give his son freedom would have been an understatement. Roisin had been thoroughly prepared to stand up to King William on that matter if he’d caged Ral, thankfully she hadn’t needed to since she probably would have ended up in a cage as well.

Roisin nearly choked when he in his innocence asked that she take a bath with him, and the flush that had begun to fade from her cheeks deepened once more as she struggled to keep her eyes above his waistline. “Uh… well,” she stammered trying to figure a way out of this situation. He was after all the prince whatever he demanded she would have to obey, but since he wasn’t making demands quite yet she figured she’d exercise a little free will

“I already had a bath this morning, and its not good to bathe twice a day… well unless you are very, very dirty, and since I am not I cannot take another one until tomorrow.” Obviously Roisin was not a very good liar but hopefully such an explanation would seem plausible to a man that did not know what a bath was let alone anything about bathing etiquette.

“And no hair cuts do not hurt, don’t worry I’ll make sure not to cut too much off.”

Ral frowned, why didn't she want to do this 'bath' with him? He could tell she was lying but not the reason. He chalked it up as she was scared of him now that she had seen what he could do...his wings...his claws...hanging his head he gave her a slight bow like she had described in their earlier classes. "Very well...I'll have one of the maids do this 'bath' I thank you for everything, Roisin...good bye," he said, wearing his sadness at his completely figurative sleeve as he turned and walked aimlessly down a hallway.

((sorry I can't think of anything more for this post >.<))

Roisin felt terribly guilty for having lied to him especially when she saw how crest fallen he looked. His good-bye sounded as if was to be an eternal one, but unless he knew something she did not, he would be seeing her quite shortly.

Watching him walk down the hallway she quickly called one of the servants to make sure he got settled into suitable quarters and a bath was drawn for him, so that in the time he was getting settled in she could get the things she’d need to give him a suitable hair cut. Roisin was nowhere near a skilled barber but she figured he might not be as averse to her snipping away at his hair as someone he did not know. Besides she was sure he had many questions for her.

Walking down the corridor she quickly found he room the servants had hurriedly prepared for Ral and knocked on the heavy oak door. As she waited to be invited in she again smoothed out the bodice of her gown, and chuckled as she looked down the stylishly low cut neckline that exposed a nice amount of peachy cream breasts, and remembered Ral asking what was wrong with her.

((eh, dont feel bad, sorry this post is lacking))

A maid rushed up to Ral once Roisin was out of sight, blushing furiously as she escorted her new prince to his chambers and then his bathing hall. Ral asked her many questions, even about her breasts, but she just turned redder and didn't say anything when he would ask.

She washed him and told him how to do it himself, making sure to avoid scrubbing his cock, although the swirls and lines on it were almost hypnotic, she caught herself lowering her head to it, her lips parted as she almost licked it! It was at this point that she excused herself and went into the closet of his room and fingered herself without really knowing what attracted her to him.

She bit her lip to ensure Ral heard nothing and then helped him to get dressed, not even risking a glance below his waist. She ran to the door when Roisin knocked on it, her face flushed and her outfit in disarray, "He's YOUR problem now!" she said in a frustrated voice, though one could tell it wasn't in anger at him, but herself. She stormed down the hallway and back to the servants' quarters.

Ral looked up and his face immediately revealled utter joy as he saw Roisin again! Then he remembered she was scared of him and looked away, hiding his hands in his pockets. He sat slightly leaned forward with his hair drapping around his face so that his features were unreadable. "Hello Roisin...I'm glad you are back, but you needn't do this to satisfy me...I don't want you to be here if you are...scared of me."

Cocking a brow Roisin looked at the main quizzically as she stormed out of the chamber and down the hall, shrugging the woman’s little outburst Roisin remembered Ral and walked into the room a pleasant smile settling on her soft features. But the smile faded to a look of concern when he looked away from her.

“Scared of you?” What had put that notion into his mind she wondered as she came forward setting the bundle of comb scissors and books on the desk behind him and knelt down in front of him. Her graceful hands pushed the long locks of his hair out of his face as she looked up at him. “Ral, why ever would I be frightened of you?”

“Did Grad tell you that, don’t you know better than to listen to that foolish dragon?” she asked playfully, the fingers of her hand that had been used to tuck the loose strands of his hair behind his ear now subconsciously tracing the contours of the lobe in a feather light touch, before she sat up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, and then froze. It was most defiantly not a quick feel better kiss, and she felt her pulse quicken again. Oh man what has gotten into me? She mentally kicked herself shocked by her actions and not understanding what had prompted them. She needed to get a hold of herself.

Hastening to her feet she moved to the table to grab the hair cutting utensils, hopping Ral wouldn’t notice anything odd. “Alright, time for that hair cut.” Perhaps he would think this was all perfectly natural, he had after all been locked away without human contact since birth.

Puzzled, Ral stared at Roision as he tried to understand why...so he decided to simply ask. "But...Roisin...you refused to bathe with me when that maid did...so I thought you had gotten scared of me after seeing what I could do...like humans that are scared of shadows..."

"And I am most definately NOT foolish!"

"I know that Grad, don't worry. Just please leave me alone for this...you know..."

"Right, right. Just remember we need to leave as soon as possible to KILL Opsquria and restore Le Noir."

Ral leaned his head as Roisin directed, snipping away at all the extra hair until it was well shaped and much more suitable to a male his age. He turned around to look at Roisin again, hating the way his suit contricted his movement after being naked for all his life. "May I ask you some more questions then, Roisin? I can't go on like this, I have no idea what I am supposed to do. I mean look at these 'clothes' they are so restrictive!" he said angrily as he pulled at his shirt and yanked it over his head, revealing his surprisingly toned chest and arms, the swirling and intricate designs appearing once more.

“Oh that…” She paused with a sigh and to examine her work, before stepping back. “Well it’s just not proper” Before she could go into any further detail he’d already presented her with his next thought. Clothes, they did tend to restrict one’s range of motion so why did people have to wear them? Well at least this was an easier question to answer.

Though again before she could spit out the answer he completely knocked her off her guard by pulling off his shirt, those once hidden marks on his beautiful body revealed once more. Almost as soon as he’d bared his torso Roisin had a very hard time keeping reign on herself as her mind lapsed into most indecent thoughts. Normally a woman of great self control she didn’t quite understand what was happening to her, how he could be making her feel like this, and he didn’t even seem to know what affect he was having on her.

Swallowing she forced herself to concentrate “Perhaps, the shirt is to small, but you must wear clothing it is very important, protects us from the elements and serves to advertise one’s status. The better the garment the more important the individual, the more respect they are shown, and you as prince must always be well dressed.” Sad to say this explanation was very true of their society. But she chose to leave out one more reason for his need to be dressed, and that was so that she could concentrate on something other than her well jumping his bones.

((sorry if the post isnt that good, I'm hopped up on sinus meds right now lol))

Ral frowned, he would have to wear even more clothing? Talk about ruining the glory of feeling, he didn't know if this world of light was so good after all. Vision was nice but it has too many rules. He ran his hand through his hair, marveling at how short it felt and upset that he might restrict his sense of touch.

"Is there anyplace in this world where I can avoid that rule? I don't mind pants so much, but those shirts are absolutely horrible," Ral protested, then he saw Roisin look at him oddly. He moved over and sat in front of her, cupping her cheek with his hand curiously.

Her skin was so soft and smooth, so unlike his own muscular body. He spoke up again, "You never explained your differences...what are these?" Ral then let his hand drop of cupped her breast and squeezed softly. Curiosity and interest clear on his face.

((nw, lol))

Being distracted, as she was Rosin did not catch his question until he had moved on to the next, this was seeming to become a habit with her. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand moved to cup her breast, his curious fingers brushing across her sensitive nipples, now hard and straining against the fabric of her gown.

“Maybe we can make an exception to that rule” Roisin said with a slight smile, seeing that she was obviously fighting a loosing battle against herself. Besides this would be educational, and that’s what she was there for to give his majesty a well-rounded education.

“Well if you can unhook this gown you can see for yourself.” Her grey eyes sparkling as her grin turned to one of mischief, knowing there was nothing better than a hands on lesson.

"A...a hook?" Ral repeated dumbly. He remembered her trying to describe it during their lessons, but without being able to see it was all in vain. After searching all over for this supposed hook, Ral growled low and gutteral, a sound no human could make. In frustration, he hooked his clawed fingers into the fabric covering Roisin's chest and pulled, ripping it with ease.

He stared at Roisin's breasts, seeing her hard nipples poke proudly out to him. Reaching up, he took both of her breasts in his hands and began to knead them gently. He moved closer and was surprised by how good she smelled, causing him to move his head even closer. Finally, he turned around and lay back on Roisin, cuddling as close to her as he could.

"Roisin...your body feels so nice...but I still don't understand...why do you have these and smell so good?" he asked as he turned slightly and pinched one of her nipples.

In hindsight perhaps she should have guided his hands to the delicate clasps at the back of her gown, that way she would not have been standing in a puddle of ripped wool, linen and, lace. But she was not thinking about the remnants of the dress that lay round her ankles or how she would explain the odd tears at the front of it.

“Do you not remember our lessons on men and women?” She asked her mind floating in a thin haze of pleasure as Ral began to knead her now naked breasts in his hands. It had been a while since they’d discussed the differences between the sexes and he’d had no visual references to go on then, so she wasn’t sure if he would remember what she’d explained. “The ” she paused searching for the right words as her heat rate increased from his hands spreading a warm, almost tingling flush over her making it a struggle to keep her lesson as… clinical as it should have been.

“As far as the smell, I take baths” The joke was meant more for her in an attempt for her to take her mind off the fact that she had the very attractive and almost unnaturally alluring prince cuddled up to her-literally so-half naked body. This was so unlike the young lady to act in such a fashion, she should never have allowed this to happen, him being prince and all… then again if he ordered it there was little she could to about it.

"Oh snap out of it! Start thinking with your brains, an not your body, silly stupid girl." Her mind chided her.

((sorry I seem to be a bit rusty))

"I'm sorry, Roisin, I don't remember them at all," Ral replied. He was quite distracted by the soft warmth against his own body. He delicately stroked Roisin's perky nipple with his dark claw of a fingernail. He felt a growing irritation with his pants and quickly removed them with his free hand.

"Clothes are so bothersome aren't they, Roisin? Those pants were hurting this," Ral said as he absently grabbed his cock and began stroking it, "What did you say it was called again? It hurts, Roisin..."

Ral's eyes grew hazy with lust as he continued jerking himself off. Overcome, he leaned to the side and moved his hand from her nipple, instead taking it between his teeth and suckling on it. He alternated nibbling and licking the stiff bud as his other hand grabbed and squeezed her other breast. His cock was rock hard in his hand as it reached a full length of twelve inches (a gift from being bonded with the dragon.)

((OOC: Don't worry about it, I understand ^.^))