Sacrifice to the Dragon ~Closed

[Perplexia]

For many across time dragons were from stories of large beasts that preyed upon villages and their livestock. For Anndeyas Zervo, this had been a creature that her village had made sacrifices to every twenty years. That was what her ancestors had agreed upon with the dragon that lived on the very top of Mt. Olympus. In exchange for their protection from all the things that went bump in the night, from being invaded by other more ambitious villages. Hers was left at peace. One virgin every twenty years was a small price to pay.

In a whole that made sense. Though the families of the lost girls may have felt different. They never said it out loud. Instead they would celebrate the girl for one night thanking her for her sacrifice. It was done in a lottery type system. Any girls from the age of 16 to 20 years of age had to partake. There had always been those that tried to thwart the law by marrying off their children younger. So they had to revise the law that the year prior sacrifice year no marriages were allowed of those younger than 20.

From an early age she had visions of a large castle upon the mountain. No one knew for certain what was up there. As it was forbidden to go unless you were chosen, and no one had ever come back. So the drawings she had made of it were simply excused as the wild imagination of a child.

Most everyone in her village had dark hair and dark eyes. Except for Anndeyas, Her hair was a gorgeous red with green eyes. Her father, the tailor in the village, said her eyes and hair came from her mother, and her mothers mother and her mothers mothers mother who had immigrated from another land far to the north of the raging waters. Her mother had perished during childbirth of her younger brother. She had only been four.

“Deya” her friend poked her as she stared up at the mountain in a vision of a room where a blue sheer curtain blew in the breeze. “Hmm?” she asked snapping out of it and looking at her friend. She gave her a sweet smile. “You’re so odd, two days before we stand on stage to learn our fate of being dragon food or not, and here you are staring longingly at it. Almost as if you hope it was you.”

“Don’t be silly” Deya replied, although she already knew that it would be. Of course the odds were there which is what every family hoped for. That mountain had been calling out to her for as long as she could remember. It was her fate to go. Not that she wanted to. Or anything remotely near that. Of course she didn’t want to be married off to one of the town's men either. Most girls couldnt' wait. She remembered when she'd heard about the sacrifice, she had asked her father if she would in the line up. He nodded somberly and said yes, you'll be 18 when it occurs.

“Did your father tell you who you were to marry if you’re not chosen?” her friend asked.
“Well he mentioned it, and I laughed and said, Not a chance.” Deya smiled.
“You’re so lucky you didn’t get smacked for that. I would have” her friend said, shaking her head.

Women were meant to be subservient to men, Do as you’re told, don’t talk back, obey thy father. For the most part Deya tried to be the best she could. She, unlike most of the women, learned to read, and write. She loved to learn new things, even things that were thought to be men's things. She had no desire to be one of those women whose life revolved around a man.
When her brother had hit puberty he tried once to boss her around. She back slapped him, and he never did it again. Her father had told him, you must respect your elders. Your sister has been the closest thing to a mother you’ve ever had. She had every right to put you on your ass.

The day of choosing had come. The girls stood in line, some crying, some fidgeting, but Deya knew it was going to be her. Something had always told her that she was destined for it. So when they picked their numbers, so when her rock was chosen. She simply stood silently as others cried in relief.

Her father buried his head in his hands. She imagined after losing her mother, and now her. It was weighing deeply on him. Her brother was trying to comfort their father as he watched the men with the cart approach and load her for the ceremonial preparations. Once bathed and adorned in the dress her father had been commissioned to make. She was placed on a throne where drinks and food flowed, and dancing ensued. Gifts of gold and treasure for the dragon for her to take with her were placed at her feet.

When the ceremony was over she was allowed to spend an hour with her family before they secured her in a room. Till she began her journey in the morning. The sun shone through the slit in the window when she awoke the next day. Getting dressed she sat on the bed, waiting for them to bring her something to eat and drink. The villagers lined each side of the path to the mountain path she would take offering thanks for her sacrifice.

It was a cumbersome journey to make it up the mountain. Several times due to the altitude she became light headed and had to stop to rest. When the sun began to go down she built a fire and settled for the night. She would probably make it to the top tomorrow evening around the same time.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Itovir'Sargt's eyes scanned the rocky and icy surface of the valley below him as he prepared to dive. He'd waited for the invading army to attack properly, just to make sure that he wasn't being baited into attacking somebody by mistake. He'd been hiding in the sun, but once the two armies were properly engaged, he properly tilted his massive wings and dove. His eyes, which normally shone yellow, slowly turned orange and then finally red. Yes, he saw the archers on the cliffs of the valley lifting their bows to fire at him, but he barely felt their arrows as they bounced harmlessly off of his glittering scales before he was shooting past them into the valley below them. He pulled out of the dive, already opening his mouth and inhaling, leveling out after his dive as he unleased his breath, a mix of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, shining like a prism as it struck out in a cone shape The effects varied, but the lucky ones were the ones that were killed instantly by it. the less lucky ones, were the ones that were petrified, driven insane, or sent to another plane of existence. The first use of his weapon put the enemy army in a state of shock as their enemies continued surging forward. The second use had them breaking ranks and retreating, thus ending the battle.

With the battle over, Itovir'Sargt surged back up and out of the valley before banking with his large wings and coming around. He aimed for the war camp of the goliaths he'd just saved and lowered himself slowly to the ground. The surrounding goliaths scattered from his landing site and cowered before him. He, meanwhile, paid them no heed as he waited for their general to return from the battlefield. This sadly wasn't the first time he'd had to defend his territory, or the creatures that lived upon it, with violence, and it wouldn't be the last. The sentient creatures of this world simply didn't believe the stories of the giant dragon that lived in the castle on the mountain until they learned the hard way, and even then, generations down the line, the lesson had to be learned once again. The one good thing that came of it though, of all of the otherwise senseless violence, were the jewels that served as payment for his protective services. He defended his territory for free, but he protected the people that lived within his territory...for a price. He loved gold and jewels, but he had a particular soft spot for diamonds.

Once the general returned from the battlefield, and he has his men bring forth what was owed, Itovir'Sargt flew off once more, returning to his castle on the mountain. His eyes, which had long-since turned yellow once more, scanned his diamond palace. It had taken him a long time to carve his palace out of the mountain, being as it was made of diamond, but if there was one thing a prismatic dragon had, it was time. He'd been alive over two-thousand years, and he still had more than a fair few left to live. He'd defended his territory while he'd carved and sculpted his castle, but even with a lair, a hoard, and a proper territory, there was still one thing he needed.

Itovir'Sargt's eyes drifted from yellow to blue, sadness enveloping him as he landed on his hoard and deposited his new possessions atop it. His gaze lifted skyward as he remembered his mother, his father, and all of the other dragons that had fallen during the blight. Dragons were a part of nature, and as such, were subject to nature's whims as much as any and every other creature. Nobody had batted an eyelash when the blight had first arrived, because it had started with the smallest and weakest of nature's creatures. Yes, it was contagious, but nobody figured that it would work it's way up the food chain to the strongest of nature's creatures, let alone spread through them like a wildfire. He didn't know why he'd been spared, why he of all the dragons that had been born in his generation had been the 1 prismatic dragon born immune to it, but immune to it he was. Now it was left to him to try and find a way to breed before his time ran out. His eyes as he laid down upon his hoard, got comfortable, and fell asleep.

When the sun rose the next morning, Itovir'Sargt rose with it. He was there when it first peeked over the horizon and started to sparkle off of his castle, and he was there when it first peeked over his castle and started to look down onto the village below him. It was then that he looked down upon the village, hoping beyond hope, that just the young woman with just the right genetics would be seeing the sun shining through the slit in a window right about now. Yes, he knew about the layout of the village, and how the chosen girl would be sequestered after her selection. The thought of the young woman in that room made him smile. He looked forward to seeing her.

The castle was abustle that day, namely because there was no way to tell whether or not the chosen girl would reach the castle that day, that night, the next day, or if a search party would have to go out and find her. Given the difficulty of the cumbersome journey, and the impossibility of knowing which girl would be chosen, there were a lot of variables, and as such, a lot of possibilities. Still, the difficulty of the journey was part of the test to see if the girl would be tough enough to do what he hoped for her. If she couldn't manage this journey on her own, then she almost certainly couldn't mother a dragon. That's not to say that he wouldn't put in the work over the years between the next sacrifice, but his hopes wouldn't be high for her.

 

[Perplexia]

Deya awoke the next morning and slowly started to stand up to stretch her limbs work out the kinks from sleeping on the hard ground. She was relieved that the sickness from the height and seemed to work itself out a bit. Looking in her bag she pulled out something light to eat so she try to complete this tedious task of making it up the mountain with the bag of gifts for the dragon. Wasn't it bad enough she could be eaten, much less have to drag the bag of gifts. 'Almost home' echoed in her head. Shaking her head she placed the back of her hand on her forehead trying to deduce if she had a fever. "the altitude is just playing with your brain" she said out loud.

Finishing her food she ensured the fire was out, picked up the bag hoisting it over her shoulder and began the journey upward once again. The higher up she went the cooler it became. Skipping lunch she decided just to keep going and rest for food later. It took most the day when she broke through the clouds and could begin to see the castle. Forcing herself to pick up the pace she pushed with her might to make it through the final leg. As the sun began to set down she came upon the castle. Setting the bag down her eyes took in the magnificent sight before her. Her mouth fell open as her eyes took in the sight she'd seen in her daydreams/visions all of her life.

Rubbing her arms from the chill she picked back up the bag and went to the doors. Using the Knocker she banged it three times and waited. A woman answered the door and ushered her in. Taking a step inside she recognized the inside of the castle from her visions as well. "Welcome Welcome, we've been expecting you. You made it in quite a time, that will please him much. I'm Agnes, what's your name?" the woman asked her. Agnes, she'd recognized that name, she was the last one that came here. Which was a sign she may not be dinner. "Anndeyas Zervo" she replied as she continued to look around. "But everyone calls me Deya." she added looking at the woman and giving a slight curtsy.

"Lets get you ready for dinner, you can leave the bag of offerings he'll grab it when he's ready. Your room has been made ready, we'll get the hot water in for your bath, and let you rest a short bit before dinner." taking Deyas arm Agnes chattered a bit more overly enthusiastic at her arrival and walked her up the giant staircase to her room. Deya thought to herself barely listening to Agnes. Blue curtains, canopy bed. cedar chest, and wardrobe. "Here we are" Agnes exclaimed joyfully. As she opened the door the blue curtain waved in the wind as it did in her vision. The room was exactly like she had seen. 'you are home' echoed in her brain again as Agnes went about measuring her and picking out a pretty dress for her to wear after her bath.

After the water had been brought in, Agnes left her to settle and bathe. The hot water was just what she had wanted to get rid of the chill that had threatened to get in her bones. The fire in her room seemed to make it warm and comfortable. After soaking for a while. She rose out of the bath and toweled off. The dress was one of the most elegant things she'd ever seen. It was green velvet with white lining and trim. It felt like something a queen would wear. Making her way to the vanity she noticed a heart diamond necklace that dipped into her pushed up chevage. The dress was a little tight in the bodice, making her breasts almost spill out. With a pearly handled brush she went about the task of untangling her locks. As she wasn't married she kept her hair pinned back on the sides with the rest of her long red locks flowing down her back.

She sat in front of the fire waiting until she was summoned. At some point she fell asleep, and woke to a knocking. Wiping the drool from her face she opened her eyes. "Come in". Agnes opened the door and smiled. "Time for dinner and to meet the reason you're here" A big giddy smile went across her lips. "okay" Deya replied getting up and checking her reflection in the mirror. "Oh you look divine" Agnes exclaimed. "You must be Maria's daughter, those red locks and all." "yes , she was my mother" Deya exclaimed. "Oh I'm sorry to hear, i liked her." "thank you, i'm ready." She followed Agnes down the stairs and through the castle to the dining area. The table was set with some of the finest plates she'd ever seen.

Standing in front of the fireplace was a man with his back to her. She wasn't sure what she had expected to see. Agnes pointed to her chair, "I'll leave you to it" she practically skipped off as she left. Sitting down she waited silently.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

It wasn't often that Itovir'Sargt's eyes remained a single color throughout an entire day, but the day after that was two days after the festival was almost always an exception. If the chosen young woman didn't arrive the day after the festival itself, then she was almost certain to arrive the next day, or rather today, and if ever there was a day to be optimistic about, and thus keep his their shining yellow color, it was today. In fact, the hardest thing to do, was keep himself inside, lest he steal himself a glance at the young woman, or give her a glimpse of his true form before she was ready to see him. So he remained alone with his hoard, having gathered all the previous sacrifices who were still alive, a good many of them thanks to the extended life that his blood granted them, to await the young woman's arrival and tend to her until dinner time.

Itovir'Sargt's keen sense of hearing caught the sound of the knocker at the large door, and the sound of it made even his mighty dragon heart skip a beat. He made sure that Agnes was there to greet her at the door, having learned over the years that being greeted by the previous sacrifice helped put them at ease, as most of them seemed to suspect that they'd be eaten. It didn't keep them from thinking of all the other potentially horrible fates that awaited them, but one thing at a time. Once he was sure that the young woman was out of the large foyer, he polymorphed into his human form, to mask his steps, and headed there to collect the rest of the sacrifice so that he could take it and put it with the rest of his hoard, but only after inspecting each piece personally. He hadn't done so with the previous batch, but then again, this batch, including the young woman, were a special batch that only came once every 20 years, and thus were specially committed to memory.

While Itovir'Sargt was busy with his hoard, the previous sacrifices, along with the rest of his normal staff that he kept on hand, set about preparing for this most important and special dinner for two, the kind that came about only once every two decades. When it was finally time for the young woman to enter, Itovir'Sargt did what turned out to be the new hardest thing for him to do that day, stand with his back to the door, facing the fire, as Agnes escorted her through the castle and into the dining area. He heard the young woman take her seat, even while he still stood, and he couldn't help but chuckle, just a little, even before he finally turned around. His yellow eyes shone bright, even brighter than the fire from behind him when he turned around, shining from beneath the short and jet black hair on his head, cut short in the style of a warrior. He was also clean-shaven, better for kissing and...other things...should his hopeful mate-to-be open to such things.

"Already brave enough to sit down both while my back is turned and without being told that you can, that's a very good sign if you can believe it." Itovir'Sargt said in a soft baritone voice. "Please tell me, child. What did your parents name you, and is there something else you prefer to be called? I trust you've already figured out that I don't intend to eat you, and that you will be here for a while?" As he asked his question, he took several small steps closer, choosing instead to bypass his chair and walk alongside the small table to stand beside her sitting form, giving her a better vantage point with which to admire the way in which she filled out the green dress that had been chosen for her to perfection.

 

[Perplexia]

Her eyes went to the perfection of a man as he turned around. She looked from his shoulders up to his eyes and then back to his chest then back to his eyes. "well i had seen Agne's name as the last sacrifice on the memorial the village has set up. I figured if you were going to eat me, they would have just had me lay on the table with an apple in my mouth or something." she smirked as the vision went into her head. "My name is Anndeyas Zervo. But most just call me Deya." she twirled a piece of her red locks as she looked up to him. "Since i figured you weren't going to eat me, it would be okay for me to sit. If there was a protocol, I'm certain they would have told me."

Placing her finger to her lip she studied him a little more. "They also didn't tell me what to call you, should it be Lord, or Sire, Or Count or King? If I may continue my boldness. If you aren't going to eat us. Why are we here? If you prefer that conversation later, I'm apparently here for a while. May we eat?"

Generally Deya was less brash, especially with strangers that could eat her. But in this case she was quite tired, and hungry. Normally the first thing people commented on was her hair since she didn't fit the Greek population all that well. "I do not mean to be rude" she added . "Its been a very long walk up a very steep mountain. As it got higher, it started getting colder, so I skipped lunch so i would make it before the sun set. I'm assuming you got the offerings the village had me to bring up?"

At this point Deya thought it best to stop bombarding him with questions. She was glad she wasn't going to be food. But since the voice in her head kept telling her this was home. She hadn't been overly nervous about it. She was also assuming he was the dragon. Was he? he had to be with the yellow eyes. If Agnes was here. How many were? and Agnes should have grey hair by now, why didn't she. Sometimes Deya thought her brain was her own worst enemy. She was fighting to keep her mouth shut as she continued to look into his eyes.

If he was the dragon, had their been dragons before ? or was he the original dragon. Her father would have laughed at her for the way her brain worked overtime. She had no problem letting all her questions and thoughts fly free with him. Her eyes went down as worried for him and her brother. 'eye contact' came the voice in her head. Her eyes popped right back up to look in his. Deciding to test her luck she asked "Do you have books?".

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The smile remained on Itovir'Sargt's lips as he listened to Deya speak. He listened to every work she spoke while also paying attention to every adorable little motion, particlarly the way she twirled a piece of that gorgeous and freshly washed red hair of hers. He preferred it when the women wore it down, but Deya had no way to know that, and it's not like her beauty was in any way diminished by having it pinned up.

"Deya..." Itovir'Sargt said softly, feeling how the shortened version of her name felt on his lips, and finding it to his liking. His smile widened, and he gave her a nod. "Yes Deya, you are welcome to sit, and that is actually what I had meant when I had said that. You do not need to ask my permission to sit, to eat, or to do anything that you wish to do. Short of returning to your village..." The yellow in his eyes slowly faded, darkening from yellow to green, and finally to blue. "You are free to do whatever you wish." His head slowly lowered upon his normally steady six foot frame, lowering a bit between his broad shoulders, even as he lifted a hand towards the kitchen and signaled something for the people that were obviously watching. While he waited for them to start bringing in the food though, his head lifted, he met her gaze once more, and his own even managed to find it's yellow color once more, even if it wasn't quite as shining and bright as it had been previously. "As for my name, it's not always the easiest for humans, but we'll give it a shot. My name is Itovir'Sargt (pronounced (EET-oh-veer'SAR-/j/-t)) You are welcome to call me whatever feels comfortable, Deya.

The smile finally returned to Itovir'Sargt's lips as he bowed his head respectfully before turning from his guest and walking the short distance to his chair. The previous sacrifices had already started to exit the kitchen, bringing with them plate after plate of food, chief among them was a pair of venison steaks, followed by a plate that contained every kind of berry that could be found on the mountain, as well as apples, pears, peaches, and cherries. There was also some nice-sized carrots to help round out the meal. The plates were set between the pair, before the sacrifices retreated like that had before, each leaving as they had come, returning to the kitchen one by one. "After you." He said simply, gesturing towards the plates, letting Deya know that she was more than welcome to both serve herself and eat her fill.

 

[Perplexia]

As she listened to him talk and tell her she needn't ask for permission to do anything. Her first thought was cut off as he said 'Short of returning to your village.' She watched as his eyes changed color. Her eyes caught the movement of his hand toward the kitchen, and her eyes returned to his as he said his named. Her lips repeated his name in almost perfection. She decided that she would have to give some thought as to what she would call him in the future. The way he said her name made her feel giggly. That emotion had never risen in her before. She had seen girls get that way over men in her village before. It had never made sense. What caused such a thing? What was it she thought was going to happen. 'You will be his wife, the mother of his children, the last mate he will ever need.'

Closing her eyes for a brief moment trying to clear out the voice from her brain. She opened them to find him taking his seat. A line of women came parading out of the kitchen. Each one slightly older than the last. Each carrying a plate of food, some she recognized and other were foreign. Her eyes were definitely much larger than her stomach would allow. But that didn't stop her from serving herself more portions than she could ever consume. Deya slowly ate watching him as she chewed. The way his mouth moved. "You never told me if you have books." she said before filling her mouth again.

The voice had told her why she was there. But she wasn't ready to accept that as a reality. He had a slew of women every twenty years that could have done just that. What would make her different why would she need to be the last one? There were many questions that filled her mind. But each time she looked over at him she felt a strange sensation of being where she needed to be. "Do you believe in visions?" she asked randomly as she set her plate to the side. She continued her statement with explanation. "From the time i was a child I dreamed of this castle upon the mountain. The last one i had was a couple days before the choosing. I knew that i would be chosen, i also saw the blue curtain in my room waving in the breeze. When i would draw pictures of your home. It was excused as an over active imagination. Later i learned to keep my little episodes to myself. Have any of the others ever had that?" she asked him trying to make sense of everything.

There was no reason why Deya should feel at ease with a man she just met. Much less a dragon. If anything she should feel frightened. Be a meek whimpering girl, pleading for her life. Even if she wasn't ready to admit it. She knew the voice in her head spoke the truth. Even if she hadn't asked him directly about anything regarding them. Something told her there was a lot that they would share with each other. She might as well start by being honest.







.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Itovir'Sargt couldn't help but chuckle as he saw Deya all but overload her plate with a veritable bounty from every one of the plates that had been brought out, but he really couldn't blame her. Every girl before her had done the same thing, and it had made sense for every one of them. When you take a humble village girl out of her village and put her into an opulent palace, complete with a grand feast, what else would you expect them to do, especially when they had to climb a mountain to get there? He picked lightly at the venison, an apple, and a carrot before pushing his plate aside, and almost cursed aloud when she reminded him that he hadn't answered one of her questions. "You are absolutely right, Deya. I got...shall we say...distracted...by the topic of our previous topic of our conversation, and lost myself before I got to your final question, especially when you mentioned how hungry you were. Please forgive me. Yes, I absolutely have books, and I would be more than happy to show you the library when you are finished eating." When he finished talking, he humbly bowed his head to her.

"Hmm..." Itovir'Sargt started as Deya asked her question, cocking his head to the side as his eyes flicked upwards, their natural yellow color returning as he found himself curious as to the nature of her question. When she continued, explaining it's nature, his eyes came back down to focus on her, clearly giving her all of his attention as he braced his elbows on the table and crossed his fingers in front of his head and braced his chin on his crossed fingers. "Being a magical creature, I confess that I never really put much thought or faith into visions..." He paused and lifted a hand in case Deya might feel the need to interject. It wasn't so much that he was trying to belittle what she had experienced. He just needed more time to explain his own. "You see, I've been alive a very long time, and I've spent much of that time wandering the lands and interacting with the various races. More often than not, when somebody claims to be a seer or a fortune-teller, they are lying to scam one or more people. You, on the other hand, Deya, he lowered his raised towards her, palm up, have no such reason to lie, and could have had no way of knowing the things you claim, and furthermore, no reason to want to be chosen, given what many of your people speculate happens to the sacrifices. No Deya, none of the other girls experienced anything like that, and the fact that you did gives me renews my hope, hope that undoubtedly started to wane over these many years." He gave her a wide smile, his yellow eyes shining brighter than ever as he pushed his chair back and rose slowly from his seat and walked towards her. "Now then..." He started, offering his right hand down to her to help her from her seat. "Shall we away?"

 

[Perplexia]

Deya didn't reply to answer to her question about the visions. But the fact he stated that she had renewed his hope led her to the next question. The voice had told her the answer. Yet she still needed to hear the answer from him. Taking his hand his touch caused a weird sensation in her body, as she attempted to rise from her chair she tripped over the leg . Her immediate reaction was to grab his waist with her free hand and her other Her cheeks heated in a blush of embarrassment and being overwhelmed by the sensation of touching him. "I'm afraid I'm not all that graceful" she stated laughing nervously at he own clumsiness" as she released his and and the grip she had on his waist. Her hands brushed down her dress and her eyes looked back up to his. Somehow they seemed a bit brighter.

She decided to wait until they were seated again before asking him about what his hope was. Walking next to him she felt even smaller then her 5'4 frame. It gave her a feeling of safety she'd never considered she needed before. He was a dragon, an the protector of what was once her village. There was something comforting in his demur as well. He had this natural ease of being around people. With all his might, he could be overly dominating and caveman-ish. Me dragon, u puny human ..kneel to greatness, would be something one might expect from such a being. She guessed most girls in her village would obey such behavior. She would probably look at him like he was insane and get beaten to death.

When they reached the library he opened up the double heavy wooden doors. Stepping inside her jaw practically hit the floor. It was astronomically huge. From floor up were shelves lining the interior walls stocked full of books. there were padded chairs , tables , and anything she could possibly put in her dream library. Never in her life had she seen or imagined so much knowledge in one place. The celling was vaulted and went up probably about a hundred feet from the top of the book shelves. "I'll live here" she stated as a matter of fact. "Just bring my bed. plop it in the middle and I'll stay here in this room forever." She didn't expect him to actually do that of course. Deya was just expressing her ultimate delight in his library.

The room overwhelmed any other thoughts she'd had prior to entering it. as she walked the length and the width of the enormous room letting her fingers trace over all the book spines at her level. "They frown on women in the village that read or write , They say our thoughts should be kept simple as we're fragile creatures that require being told what to do. My father, though he taught me how, because my mother had made it a requirement if she were to marry and have kids with him." she laughed a little. "He said it made me a threat to men's fragile egos, and I'd be lucky to ever get married." she laughed again. Considering she'd been sacrificed to a dragon after all. Walking back to the chairs she took a seat. "If you're not going to eat me. Why am i here? What are you hoping?" she asked referring to his previous statement of his hope being renewed.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Itovir'Sargt held his breath as he waited there, his hand hovering between him and Deya. He truly wanted her to take his hand, let him help her from her seat, and let him escort her to the library, but he also wouldn't fault or stop her if she chose to rise on her own and simply follow him to the library. Where he expected just those two outcomes, he didn't count on her tripping over one of the legs of the chair and all but collapsing into him. His arms were around her before he truly even registered what happened. Yes, he knew that her arm was around him, and her hand was gripped in his. Yes, he felt a strange surging sensation rush through his body, but he filed that away for later as he held strong until she got her feet beneath her once more. He was reluctant to release her hand once she was finally steady, but he did so, and he also allowed her to pull her other arm from around him. "Probably just you getting used to the thinness of the mountain air." He offered up as he looked down at her, his yellow eyes shining all the brighter as he admired how much prettier she was with her cheeks flushed like that.

With the embarrassment of the moment behind them, Itovir'Sargt took a small step to the side and forward, giving Deya room to move away from the table before he started to walk, making no indication that he wanted her to walk anywhere but beside him. In truth he wanted her hand in the crux of his arm, so that he could escort her properly, but at least she was by his side instead of walking behind him. His step was slow but confident, his steps echoing off the hard diamond surfaces, and his back was straight, with his shoulders squared and his head held high, except when he turned towards his guest to make sure that he wasn't walking too fast for her. The foyer had two staircases leading up to the second floor, purely for symmetry and ascetic purposes. He didn't really use one or the other for any particular purpose, but he led her up the one that kept him on her right. It was an old custom, keeping his sword hand free, not that he had a sword, or had need of a sword, but he hoped that it might subconsciously help her feel safe or more at home.

The library was at the top of the stairs, making it easy enough to find, and a single hand, split between the large wooden doors, was all that was needed to push them open. Itovir'Sargt made sure to keep his gave on Deya as he did so, lest he miss her reaction to the sight of a library that she likely hadn't even imagined, let alone seen. There was of course a reason for the room to be this big, and that was because he sometimes lounged in this room in his natural form, enjoying the sunlight while reading a book. That was why it was as long, wide, and tall as it was, and of course in the center of the house with the vaulted ceilings. He followed after her, a wide smile on his face as he watching and enjoyed her obvious and absolute delight in her surroundings. "Hehe, I could certainly arrange for a bed to be brought in here if you like to read laying down, Deya." He said, playing into her obvious joke, just because he could. As he finished though, she started to talk about her village and how it treated the young girls, and he slowly approached her, the smile falling from his lips. He wished he knew what to say, but everything he thought of sounded hollow and disingenuous. When she asked her last question though, after lowering herself into one of the padded chairs, he moved to the one opposite hers and laid his hands over the back of it.

"Why indeed...?" Itovir'Sargt started after a long pause, balling up his fists a bit in the fabric of the chair before releasing it, walking around it, pulling it closer to the footstool in front of her chair, and finally sitting in it. "Some would see how many women were out there tonight, all the sacrifices, and wonder the exact same thing." His head was bowed, with his elbows on his knees, and his eyes on the floor, though an astute observer might be able to see the glow of his eyes, or more specifically it's radiant glow on the flow beneath him. "What can you give me, that they, all of them, cannot...?" He asked, musing mostly to himself before finally lifting his gaze to meet hers, his yellow eyes shining brighter than ever. "The answer is as simply as it is complex, Deya. The answer is, a child, a pure dragon child."

 

[Perplexia]

Deya watched as he bowed his head and noticed a slight glow in his eyes. She watched as he seemed to ask questions behind the question she asked and smiled lightly. He finally met her eyes and gave her the answer the voice had already told her. A pure dragon child. That was a bit more specific than what she asked. But it met what her voice had told her. "what if I don't want to procreate?" she asked referring back to his free to do anything but leave comment. It wasn't that she was rejecting the idea, just feeling him out for his reaction. "So none of the women successful?" she questioned. This was to see if her voice was correct. If she succeeded in giving him what he needed. Would she be his mate for life and the sacrifice requirement end. She scratched her head for a moment. "You said pure. But i'm not a dragon. Or do you think that someone that could be a distant descendant? Is it possible for there to be half dragon children?" or was he saying if she became pregnant he could make her into a dragon? Was that even possible?

She realized she was bombing him with questions again and stayed quiet to see how he would answer what she'd thrown out there so far. As far as first impressions went, she liked him and felt herself drawn to him unlike anyone she'd ever met before. That was a little scary, considering she had been quite content with the idea of rejecting all marriage suitors in the village and becoming a scholar. Even though she knew they would have never accepted that in her village, she'd read of places that were only slightly more lenient. But she knew, which she couldn't explain at all that she would be chosen. Still she allowed herself to dream of a life that wouldn't make her the 'little woman'. A life where having a slew of children wouldn't be her fate.

So even though she had been sacrificed, she was still in a predicament where she was expected to bare a slew of children. Another way to think of it though would be if the voice was right, no more sacrifices would have to made. Perhaps if this was true she could make a deal that would require the village to change the sacrificing to educating their women. Shaking her head to park those thoughts she looked back into the yellow eyes she was finding fascinating. If he believed women were meant to remain meek creatures he would have never taken her to his library and teased her about putting a bed in. There were a million questions bombarding her mind at this point. Taking a deep breath she reached out and touched his hand. "I'm not trying to be difficult, or dampen your thoughts. I thrive of of knowledge and facts, I've never been one of those girls that blindly did things because they were expected." She hoped that helped to explain her inquisitive nature and how that having all the information could allow here to process better.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Deya's first question was of course the most natural. Her body language told Itovir'Sargt that she was just feeling out this most unusual situation that she was in, but it was a natural question all the same, and the one that he'd the most from the sacrifices. Her second question was of course a natural follow up to the first, but only for somebody as educated and curious as she was, thus making it one of the first times he'd heard it, which was always a rare treat. The next flurry of words was far from unexpected. It was natural to assume that a child between them would result in a half dragon, or to assume that she was a distant descendant or a dragon based on his words, and while one was not the case, and one could be the case under certain circumstances, which he would explain, they were not what he intended for her. Still, he let her bombard her with her questions, because he understood that he'd put her in an all but impossible situation that she never could have expected.

When Deya seemed done with her questions, leaned forward, and touched his hand, a small smile came to Itovir'Sargt's lips. He adjusted his hands to gently clasp her, holding those lovely green eyes of hers with his shining yellow one. "Deya, trust me when I say that you are not being difficult. Your questions are, and will always be welcome, and you will only ever receive the truth from me. This I promise you, whether you are my mate or not." He gave her clasped hand a pat on the back of her fingers before he then started to address her questions. "Now, as to your questions, if you did not want to procreate at this time, you would not be the first. I would still spend the majority of this next twenty years trying to woo you, as true love takes time, but more on that later. As the next festival approached, if your mind had not changed, then you would join the ranks of the other sacrifices, and live out the rest of your extended life here, free to draw, paint, read, or do whatever you wish, whenever you wish, save for these couple of days after the festival when I have need of all of you. The only exception again being that you sadly cannot return to your village. As to the others, you are correct. None of the others that you saw, or those that have passed away, have been the true mate that I seek, be it by their own choice, or mine. As for yourself, and your village, there is no dragon heritage in your village, and it is not for that reason that I protect it so." He finally paused and licked his lips, hesitated for the briefest of moments before continuing. "This mountain is large, and my territory is even larger than it. There are...a variety of races living on my mountain, giants, trolls, orcs, goblins, goliaths, dwarves, gnomes, and so on, all with their own village. They all pay me for protection, unless they attack each other, but yours is the only one that pays me like...this. The reason for that is because yours is the only human village. You see, where other races are born with things like natural strength, speed, agility, or intelligence, he briefly lifted one hand from her clasped one to show that he was getting to his point, humans are born with something even more powerful, potential, infinite potential. Those natural abilities tend to pigeonhole those other races into certain life paths, but humans..." He smiled and scoffed a little, shaking his head. "They truly believe that the sky is the limit, and sometimes not even that. They could be something as simple as a soldier, or something as grand as an archmage. They could master divine magic, arcane magic, or both just because. Their short lifespans give them near endless ambition, and when you combine endless ambition with infinite potential, it creates something truly magical, literally. Anyway, back to your question. If I were to bed you right now, as I am, you would be right. We wouldn't need to be in love, you could get pregnant, and it would result in a half-dragon. For a pure dragon child though, it doesn't require two true dragons. It simply requires a true male dragon and true love. In years past, this was normally done with another dragon, but..." Rather than a slow transition from yellow to green to blue, his shining yellow eyes jumped straight to blue so fast that he felt a stinging pain in his eyes as he lowered his gaze from the lovely woman across from him.

 

[Perplexia]

Deya listened intently with every word he spoke. He was basing his assumption from the village that she hailed from didn't have dragon descendants. But her descendants didn't all hail from Greece like most if not all of the women who'd been sacrificed ancestors had. But now was not the time to theorize and make assumptions. Right now it was about paying attention to every word. Taking each as he meant them. He had done a good job of clarifying and either confirming or dissolving any lingering fears she may have had from the voice in her head.

He had given her the gift of choice. If she wasn't interested in this whole thing, she could just deny his advances. He wasn't going to force her, he wasn't of the mindset like the typical men in her village. She was allowed to learn and ask questions without reapproach or being scolded and criticized and told it wasn't her place. In truth she knew nothing about love. As it wasn't a requirement when a father gave his daughter away for a dowery. There hadn't been many stories of her father and mothers union. Talking of her made him sad, so at some point she just stopped. But if she had to make an assumption, she would think that he had loved her very much.

As he lowered his head from her eyes. She could see only a little of the change of his eyes. There was even a slight change in his voice. "Itovir'Sargt" she said softly moving her hand from his and under his chin, lifting it up to look back in her eyes. "If you are to woo me, as you say. You cannot hide the truth from me or your pain. I don't know much of love, but I think that if you are going to be one with someone or accomplish the true love that you speak of. You have to be willing to share everything. From your deepest fear, to your sorrows, to your ultimate joy and happiness. It would be about two individuals joining together to make one better person or dragon in your case." It was the first time she had used his name. Not an abbreviated version for the comfort of it, but his full name phonetically correct for the impact it was suppose to have.

"I can't imagine the depth or the pain you've had to endure, being the only one of your kind. Every twenty years hoping that this time would be the time that you are able to repopulate your species only to be rejected or not feel the connection that you needed to accomplish something that is vital to your species survival. The finesse and drainage that it must cause. Yet each time you put forth a new hope, and repeat. I know what my purpose for being here is. I will attempt to be openminded and see what happens."

There was nothing that she could promise as she didn't know whether or not they would be compatible or not. If early indications were to be judged. She would say that he definitely had her attention. But time would be the ultimate decider of all things to come. For now. She wasn't going to purposely add to his anguish, instead she wanted to share in the hope that this could be something the both of them needed.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Itovir'Sargt's eyes had closed after he turned his head away, but the sound of his name on her lips, in that soft and beautiful voice, brought them open. They were still filled with the blue of sadness, but they were open all the same. He felt her hand abandon his, and though he missed her touch there, he didn't fight her, nor did he flinch away when he felt her touch on his chin or prevent her from lifting it turning his head back to face her. He listened to her speak, looking her in the eye as he did so, and giving her the full of his attention. When she got near the end though, and spoke of him being the only one of his kind, repopulating his species, and being vital to his species survival, a small smile came back to his lips. "You put that together, huh?" He asked as he lifted his hands to grasp her hand once more, but not just to pull it back down, at least not before he could press a tender kiss to the tops of her fingers. His gaze followed her hand as he lowered it before finally taking a deep breath and lifting to meet hers once more. The blue slowly faded into green. "Thousands of years ago, when I was just an egg, a blight spread across the land, infecting plants...animals...everything, taking it's toll until new strains of plants and new generations of animals and children were born immune to it. My parents were sick when I hatched, but had enough time left to tell me that they were the last of our kind, not all dragon kind, just prismatic dragon kind. They taught me what they could, including what I would need to do keep our species from going extinct. Apparently, this isn't the first time this has happened to the world, and the responsibility lies with the strongest mortal creatures in the world to pass it down and protect it. It was passed down from father to son for generations, just in case...for just this case." He rose slowly from his seat them, keeping her hand clasped between his as he closed the small distance between them and knelt down before her, the yellow in his eyes slowly returning. "My mother gave me a gift too though..." He said softly as he clasped her hand more firmly with his right one, letting go with his left hand as he pulled their clasped hands against his chest, right over his heart. His left hand meanwhile, slowly reached upwards, taking his gaze with it as it moved slowly of course, so that he didn't startle, and hopefully didn't offend her virgin sensibilities as he reached for the necklace she wore. He tried as hard as he could to get his fingers underneath the chain without touching her skin, and he succeeded for the most part, making minimal contact with the skin of her chest, and making no contact with the inner curve of either of her breasts. "It was her favorite..." He continued softly as he let his thumb caress the chain for a moment before letting it run fully down through his fingers to the heart shape itself. "She couldn't wear it in her true form of course, but whenever she took a humanoid form, she wore it wherever she went. She told me to give it to my mate when I found her..." His thumb traced over the heart shape as his yellow eyes, which started to shine just a bit more, rose to meet her green ones once more. "...not if I found her...when..." He then slowly let his hand fall away, letting the heart shape come to rest once more between her prominently displayed breasts. His eyes followed it of course, taking in her beauty for the first time. before lifting to meet hers once more. "It looks beautiful on you, Deya, truly."

 

[Perplexia]

With all that he told her, she understood even more so the importance of being open minded with the possibility that this was in fact her fate. What truly could be more honorable then being the one that could keep his species from dying out. "Thank you" she replied softly. "Knowing its meaning, i will wear it with honor. But i must ask" she made her voice softer "has this necklace been presented to all the girls with the hope of?" she questioned as her eyes searched his. "Or was there something specific that had this left for me to wear?" She hadn't told him about the visions yet, but wondered if he had perhaps had some as well.

His response was that it was due to the his 2400th hundred birthday and the festival falling on the same year. He thought it would be appropriate. In someway, she was glad that she was the first it had been presented to. But had hoped that there was something that told him what the voices had told her.

"I suppose its my turn" she said softly. "I'm sure by my hair and my eyes that you can tell, I'm not fully Greek. My great grandmother arrived here many years ago and was taken in by a Greek family. They got her married, and they she had my grandmother, and she then had my mother. But the women always had my hair and eyes. My younger brother looks like my father though. I told you about the visions i had from the time I was a child about the castle, everything was 100 percent accurate. What i didn't tell you is that the there has been a voice in my head from the time i was chosen. Before that it was simply a feeling knowing i would be chosen. I tried to dismiss it all as some paranoia or delusion. I have continued to wait for any 'feeling' to be disproven. Yet it never was. When i was on the way up the mountain. I heard a voice in my head. I've heard it a few times since. The last thing i want to do is give you false hope, because i don't know what to think of it myself. So for now I'll just keep it to myself. But in the spirit of honesty, I thought I'd share. Have you heard anything like this before? Do you know of places where people with my coloring tend to come from? "

Deya had kept her hands with his. Enjoying this conversation more then she probably had any other in her life. She hadn't fit in ever really in her village. She was different looking, as her mother had. Some believed with her hair she was a witch or evil spirit. Superstition was something that many cultures believed in. Having grown up with it , she had never put much thought into it before. But if perhaps he had seen where people that looked like her may have derived from, she could look at the lore if any were written and see what could be happening with her.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Itovir'Sargt smiled when Deya thanked him for his mother's necklace and said that she'd wear it with honor. The question she asked next was of course an understandable one, and he was glad that he could honestly say that this was the first time he'd put it out for a sacrifice to wear. While a 2400th birthday might sound like an unusually specific one to celebrate, it was also when he, as a prismatic dragon, grew to the full heights of his power from a wyrm to a great wyrm. He was officially as strong as he would ever be, and with nobody else to celebrate the occasion with, he figured that it was about the only way that it was possible to.

As Deya spoke of her hair, her family, her visions, and of course the unusual voice in her head, Itovir'Sargt clasped his hands around hers once more. This time though, he brought his two hands to his chin, like he'd done at the table, clearly pondering her words and their meaning. When he occasionally used a finger to stroke his chin though, he used one of her fingers that was poking out between his rather than one of his own.

"I wish I could put your mind truly at ease and say that I was having visions and hearing voices too, but sadly I cannot. Though I do appreciate you not trying to give me false hope as well. You did ask me about visions and hope before, and while I've never truly been a believer in such things, it's hard for me to not believe in both fate and destiny. On the one hand, being the only one in my entire species and generation that was born immune to the blight, how can I not believe in fate? I had no control in that egg, had no choice but to be in that moment at that time. On the other hand, if you are my mate, and we are able to save my species, it will only be because I searched the world before finding this spot, carved this diamond palace out of the mountain itself, and held out hope through over two thousand years of sacrifices."

Itovir'Sargt paused for a moment, taking a couple of rapid breaths, his eyes turning yellow and shining once more as he thought of what might be. "If we do succeed, then there will be no more need for sacrifices from your village. I would still protect it of course, as thanks for what it has done, and help you with your research to see where the women in your family may have come from. Then, if you want, I could take you to some of those places. You could talk to some people...I know it's a long shot...but...maybe..."

 

[Perplexia]

"If we are successful" she said softly. "May I ask a favor?, in lieu of no more human sacrifices. Could you tell them in return for their continued protection, that a school is to be established for girls. The only way they are going to change is if made to. They will do it as compromise for no longer needing to supply sacrifices. Honestly they may even prefer that." She laughed a little at the obscenity of it all. This had been the first time she had actually felt free to express her feelings on the topic.

"I was hoping you maybe you had some idea. Or maybe even have collected some books on lands that are beyond this place." She smiled "Its not of the utmost importance. I just have a curiosity, my father never wanted to talk about her. I think he still mourns for her. I've been an outcast for the most part. I had a couple of friends who didn't listen to the superstitions. People always seem to fear what is different. It also didn't help that I was taught to read and write. My mother made him promise to teach me if anything happened to her."

She stopped for a moment with her brow drawn together. "Do you think she could have known? Do you think that whatever is going on with me, she could have had the same visions or even voices?" Deya took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I don't know why I'm suddenly letting all of this out. I suppose that i just feel I can be myself without any of the scorned looks or dismissiveness." She smiled softly again. "It has been a long day" she said softly. "I'm having a hard time wanting to leave your side though. Is there a place we can rest for a bit?"

 

[Lucian_Devine]

"Heh, I was merely trying to keep expectations in check, lest we get too far ahead of ourselves." Itovir'Sargt said with a soft chuckle before listened to Deya's favor request. He nodded at her words before taking in a long inhale and letting out a sigh. "I was hoping that it would not come to that, that they would come to see reason like so many other places and people have, especially with some subtle influences from myself. I had not wanted to directly interfere, lest one interference lead to another and I find myself going down the path towards tyranny. However, in this case..." He nodded his head. "...for this cause..." He nodded again. "...and for you..." He nodded one final time. "...it will be done. Furthermore, even if you are not my mate, when I eventually find her, it will still be done, in your honor. Further furthermore, I will make sure that they know that I will be watching. So if anybody tries to prevent their daughters from attending school, punishes their girls for going to school, or any such thing, I will see it, and I will deal with it." He swallowed hard, bowing his head as he said those words, not at all looking forward to what those words meant, even if he knew that he would likely have to follow through on them at least once.

When Deya started talking about her mother and wondering if she knew, it did get Itovir'Sargt thinking. "Hmm, you did specifically mention that the hair and the eyes of the women in your family have lingered through the generations, regardless of the man. Between that, the visions, and the voices you've been having, it's certainly not impossible. Now I'm not saying that your mother was a witch, a wizard, a sorceress, a druid, or anything of the sort, but that doesn't mean that you couldn't be if you wished it so, and there's nothing to be sorry for. You said it yourself that we need to be able to share anything and everything if we are going to be able to make this work. That includes you just as much as it does me."

Itovir'Sargt smiled wide when Deya talked about having a hard time wanting to leave his side, and his eyes shone just a little bit brighter when he heard the word "we" in the middle of her final question. "But of course, Deya." He said softly, the muscles of his legs bunching within his trousers as he pushed himself to his feet and stepped to her left, letting go of her right hand with his right hand so that he was only holding it with his left to assist her out of her seat once more. His gaze naturally flitted downwards as she got up though, in case her feet got tangled, even though the feet of this chair were different than the previous chair. Once they were up, he took the hand he was holding and tucked his arm around it, placing it in the curve of it so that he was escorting her like he'd wished he could do the first time. His sword hand was of course still free, but now he was escorting the tired woman that he hoped would be his mate, who was wearing his mother's necklace, to her room.

As the pair walked, a thought occurred to Itovir'Sargt. "Deya, By chance, did anyone around town ever mention your mother having a familiar, or...a spirit animal of sorts, or an animal companion, or just an animal that almost always seemed to be around her, and would take commands from her but only her?" He turned his head towards her as he guided her through the upstairs hallway to her room at the end of the hall. He knew his palace by heart, backwards and forwards, upside down and right side up, such that he could navigate it blindfolded with cotton in his ears. As such, he didn't need to look where he was going to keep her on track enough to not list far enough that he ran one of them into a wall.

 

[Perplexia]

"Thank you" she smiled as he said even if they weren't mates he would ensure that the girls where made to go to school when he did find her. She understood his reluctance in intervening in human affairs. But they were living a life that had been the same for ages. If she was his mate. It would be a gift many would not appreciate until years later. If she were able to stay with him, she wondered how long before she too would go. Her heart ached at that thought. What the hell was going on with her. She hadn't known this man half a day and already she was contemplating the agony of not being near him.

Deya nodded listening to what he had to say and telling her that she had nothing to be sorry for. He used her words and had taken them to heart. He was an enigma it seemed. She was finding herself hoping the voice was right. That she was his future, that she would be his mate. There was a lot to learn about each other, and she hoped they would laugh together as well. It made her wonder the reactions some of the other girls gave to him. He was definitely handsome, much better then some of the potbelly men in the village. They were probably also relieved they wouldn't be eaten. Maybe one day he'd tell her. For right now though, she had a feeling he considered each one of the sacrifices and the years with him sacred.

Rising from the chair with her hand in his. This time at least she didn't fall into him. She smiled as he placed her hand into his arm and escorted her like something out of a book she had read. Deya laid her head on his shoulder as he guided her through the halls to her room. She had to hand it to the voice. It was most definitely felt as if she were at home. There was something comforting about being walked through the halls next to him. She was sure one day she would learn where everything was.

"I know little of my mother," Deya replied to his latest question "from my understanding her and her mother and her mother were considered the spawn of Satan or something of that nature. For no reason other than our hair and eyes. Because we are different, therefore they felt the need to be afraid. That doesn't of course go to all. i had a couple of friends in my life. But none were ever abundant. I got use to the staring and the turned backs. You cannot condemn those that don't know better, and only hope one day they're allotted the opportunity to learn better." she smiled up at him as they continued to walk.

"Tomorrow, if the weather prevails. May we have lunch in front of the fountain, the one standing with the water coming from the vase in its hand?" she asked softly. If Itovir'Sargt had any doubts about her visions that she spoke of. This would have solidified it. As other than her visions she had never seen, been told, or asked about a garden since her arrival. She knew that it wasn't exactly proper to ask him to not leave her side. But nothing about this was traditional. Complete honesty is what they were going for. So expressing she didn't want to leave his side was as open as she could be.

Reaching her room she lit a candle and went to her bed, she picked up her dressing gown and went behind the changing screen. "I'll just be a moment" she said softly "Would you close the window for me and add a log to the fire?"

 

[Lucian_Devine]

It was one thing to be able to properly escort Deya to her room, but it was quite another for her to trust him enough to lay her head on his shoulder. The feeling of it, and the trust it showed to him, made Itovir'Sargt's heart swell. Despite the comfort of the moment though, and his desire to get lost in it, he listened to her words. "That...is a shame..." He said slowly and softly, doing his best not to disturb her resting head with his breathing and talking. "...even if it is not...unexpected. People often fear what they do not understand. I am glad though, that you at least had a couple of friends. Loneliness can be a crushing thing.

If Itovir'Sargt had had any doubts about Deya and her visions, they would certainly have been cleared up when she spoke of the fountain. The staff and the sacrifices had no need to talk about it, let alone the specifics of it, during the events of the day. "As you wish." He said softly to her, leaning down and speaking softly to her as the two neared their destination, asking for nothing in return, or even something specific on this lunch date of hers, simply telling her that if she wished it, it would be done.

When the pair reached her room, Deya did just as he had before, placed a single hand between the two doors that stood between them and the entrance to her large room, and simply pushed. With nothing but that, they silently swung open before the pair. He then walked Itovir'Sargt to her bed, and only then, albeit reluctantly, let her hand slip from within the safety of his arm. He watched as she lit a candle, picked up her dressing gown, and stepped behind the changing screen. When she did that, he politely turned around, giving her even more privacy. "Of course." He responded simply to her requests, keeping his head turned away from the changing screen as he performed the tasks. "Would you like me to send for a maid or two to help you with the clothes? I know that some women struggle with the ties in the back."

 

[Perplexia]

Deya chuckled softly at his question of maids to help her. "That is a very considerate thought Itovir'Sargt, and though I appreciate it I should be able to manage. If not then you're there to assist." It wasn't as if she was inviting him to see her nude. It just simply seemed more convenient for him to undo a tie, rather than have a maid do it. Also she didn't wish to interrupt their time together. There was something about the way they could just talk together that made her feel like they had been friends for years. While she fussed with the ties in back she wanted to continue their conversation. "Tell me something about you that no one else knows." There was something about the tone of his voice that engaged all of her senses.

Finally able to release the ties she was able to change into her night dress. The material, although sheer had layers and a solid pink satin panel beneath which shielded her modesty. Though unlike the gowns of the day, this was very fitting. It wouldn't have been considered proper in the least. But she was covered and it was pretty and flowing. Slowly she stepped out from behind the screen and twirled around. "This is so different from anything I've ever worn before." she exclaimed with joy. "you would have been scolded most severely in the village for having a woman wear this for you." she giggled and twirled a little more until crashing into him. A bright smile across her face as his arms caught her. Their bodies pressed against each other as she looked up to his face. "Are you going to sleep in that?" she questioned. She had been quite sincere in not wanting to leave his side.

Deya had never kissed or even thought about kissing a man until this very moment when her eyes were gazing into his. The doubt came into her and she spoke outload "am I being too informal in asking you to stay with me?" she asked as the ways she had been raised tugged at her. "I feel drawn to you, and its confusing and yet comforting at the same time." using the words the voice had said to her. "it's like I've come home."
Her eyes searched his for any explanation or reaction he would be willing to give.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

While the thought of him assisting Deya had of course occurred to Itovir'Sargt, he wasn't sure how she would feel about that. So he'd naturally chosen to offer the maids first, just in case. That said, the prospect of helping her, seeing her like that, and feeling her soft skin beneath his fingers was an enjoyable one. "Hmm, something that nobody knows, after two-thousand years of sacrifice..." He mused aloud, letting her hear the fact that he had heard her question and was clearly thinking about his long life and trying to think about an answer for her. He closed his eyes for a second, trying to think of everything he'd told all of the other sacrifices and what he could possibly have left of importance to tell her, then it hit him. His shining yellow eyes opened, a small smile on his face as he spoke. "What if I could tell you with...say...seventy-five percent certainty that you've seen me in one of your visions AND drawn me in one of your pictures without even knowing it. Would that count?" He asked, keeping an air of mystery to his words.

No sooner were the words out Itovir'Sargt's mouth, than Deya was stepping out from behind the changing screen. She'd of course looked beautiful before, but now she looked positively sinful, the mere sight of her sending stirs through his body down to his loins. He heard her words and chuckled at the joy in them, but it was hard to tear his gaze on hers, and even he couldn't resist the urge to let his eyes travel down her body and back up at least once. "The scolding would be well worth it in this case. You are truly a sight to beh..." He didn't get to finish his statement, because he'd been so caught up in watching her twirling around that he hadn't noticed how close she was getting to him until she straight up crashed into him. Thankfully though, his body knew what to do after that, and his arms found their way around her an instant later, and her body didn't even have a chance to think about falling to the ground. Her closeness though, especially with how she was dressed, made his breath quicken, especially when she looked up at him with those big and beautiful green eyes. Her question caught him off guard, because, despite her words, he hadn't truly thought that she'd meant for him to spend the night with her, even if it would be innocently so.

Itovir'Sargt was still trying to find his voice to answer her previous question while holding her, both body and gaze, when she asked him another one. This one though, was much simpler to answer, and it helped snap his body into action as well. "No...Deya..." He started softly as he slid one hand slowly up her scantily clad back. When his arm reached hers though, he finally let go with his hand, but only so that he could properly bend his elbow and reach upwards to gently stroke her hair. "There is no such thing as too informal here, or improper. There is only what we want and what we are ready for. We'll figure everything else out along the way." His hand lifted to stroke her hair again, this time letting his thumb brush gently along her forehead. "Now, with that being said..." He pivoted slightly to her side, pulling his other arm from around her as he bent his knees and brought it beneath her knees. Before she had time to argue, he swept her off of her feet, up, into his arms, and held her securely against his body. "Given that you've almost fallen over twice now, this seems the safest way to get you safely to bed." He said, giving her a wry smile as he walked her the short distance to the bed, effortlessly supported her with one hand as he pulled back the heavy fur blanket, the top down blanket, and the top sheet, and set her down on top of the fitted sheet as though she were the most fragile and precious thing in the world. Only once he could finally tear his hands from her, and pulled the blankets back over her, did he walk around the bed to his side. As he did so, he unbuttoned his vest, depositing it onto a chair near the nightstand next to his bed, and started unbuttoning his white shirt. When all the buttons were loosed, he slid it off of his shoulders and caught it with his hands behind his back. Every feature that he'd had before, from the broad shoulders, squared chest, and strong arms, was further accentuated in the firelight, along with his chiseled abs. He deposited his shirt on top of his vest, and started on his trousers, loosening the ties as he kicked off his boots. When he pushed his pants down, he wore nothing but long johns for modesty, both his and hers. Then, and only then, did he pull everything back and climb into bed beside her. He slid his pillows closer to hers until there was no gap between them, sliding his body to match. Then he lifted his arm up for her to hopefully lay on his chest or in the crook of his shoulder. "Now, back to your question. Tell me, when you drew my castle, did you ever draw it at sunrise, with the sun just barely peeking over my castle?"

 

[Perplexia]

Deya giggled like a school girl as he swept her off her feet. She enjoyed the feeling of being pressed against him. It had never dawned on her the she would want to be so close to someone like this. Once again she laid her head on his chest enjoying the beating of his heart echoing in her ear. She almost cried when he laid her down with such gentleness. Her eyes watched him as he made his way to the other side of the bed. She unconsciously bit her bottom lip as he took his vest and shirt off. Her eyes had never seen such perfection in a man before. The best way to explain would say that until she met him, her puberty had been dormant unamused and uninterested in anything but books. From their first touch at dinner, to now it had only seemed to increase tenfold. There was a perfect v from his hips to below the waist line of his long johns. She smiled when he crawled into bed and moved the pillow next to hers.

As he lifted his arms she moved to him. Laying on her side, draping one leg over his, her arm across his waist, and her head on his chest. 'Home' repeated in her mind. 'i know', she replied to the voice inside her mind. "I brought a good amount of my drawings with me. I'm sure i have probably covered all angles of the sun over your castle. They told us we could only bring one item. So I hollowed out a book, and put things inside of it. I figured since you were suppose to eat me. What difference would it make." she teased. "Perhaps in the morning we will look at them, and you can show me where you are in my drawings, and we will see if you're right." a smirk came across her lips "How about a wager Itovir'Sargt" she mused "If you are wrong, then you will have to sit for and let me paint your portrait." Deya could think of nothing more spectacular than staring at him for hours. "If you are right, then I will be subject to any prize of your choice."

She knew that he would have a choice of something minor or something major. He could chose to be a gentleman with his request or not. Whatever he chose she was willing to go along with it. For a minimum of twenty years, she would be with him. Why not make the most of them?. Her fingers went up his abs to his peck, over his collarbone, and up to his neck. An ache began to form between her thighs which was pressed on his hip. It seemed to also be heating up. Her arousal was faint, but he could probably smell it. She squeezed tighter against him. "Other than a mate, what other things do you dream of?" she asked softly as she placed a light kiss on his chest before laying her head back down upon it.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Just as he'd waited with his hand extended hoping she'd let him help her from her seat at the table, Itovir'Sargt did the same in bed, hoping she'd come to him and let her surround him with his warmth. It could get very cold at night, even with the fire and the blankets, but his inner heat could keep her warm without making her uncomfortably hot. Still, no matter how much he hoped for her to do it, nothing could have prepared him for the feeling of her actually doing it, especially when she went one step further and draped one of her legs over his and an arm over his waist, staking her claim to him as well. "Heh, even that has it's purpose you know." He said, as he closed his arms around her and pulled the blankets up to the middle of her back. "It may seem cruel, but it helps me see what is truly important to them right from the start. I do of course ask them as well, but it's a way to break the ice, so to speak, without putting them on the spot. I know how overwhelming all of this can be, and I truly do do the best I can to try put them at ease, make them feel welcome, and hopefully make them feel at home." As he spoke, he continued to let his hands roam freely along her back, and even her neck, gently rubbing and massaging, but making sure to keep it above and behind her hips, not even daring to flirt with the outer curve of her breasts.

"I'll take that wager of yours, Deya my dear, but I'm not done with my prediction." Itovir'Sargt said as he brought one hand up and around, using it to stroke her hair, and brush against her forehead once more. He leaned close, so close that his lips were almost pressing against that halo of red hair of hers. "Close your eyes." His fingers gently brushed over her eyes, hoping she'd do as he asked. "Now picture my castle with that sunrise behind it. His other hand lifted to join the scene, his fingers gently massaging her scalp and running through that gorgeous red hair of hers, pulling her hairpin out in the process. Picture that tower in the middle as the sun rises and rises..." His finger started at the tip of her nose and slowly slid upwards, adding a massaging motion with both utterances of the word "rises". "Then, the sun finally bursts over the second floor of my castle..." His single finger turned into all five of his fingers splaying and gently rubbing her forehead. "...splashing sunlight down the mountain. "You think it's over until the sun rises behind the the tallest tower at just...the...right...angle." His fingers gently tapped against her scalp, first his thumb, then his index, then his pinky, then his ring. "Then..." Both of his hands all but abandoned her, with just his thumbs touching her as they slid down her sides towards her hips. "...BOOM!" His hands dragged up the full length of her spine, one on each side, pressing into every tender spot that he knew was there. "You see an explosion of color, in the middle of that tower, that is there one second, and gone the next." He pressed a tender kiss to her smooth, soft, and lovely hair. "That explosion of color, was me, laying on my hoard."

The feeling of Deya's teasing had Itovir'Sargt's yellow eyes closing, his breath quickening, and his mind racing. It never happened this quickly, and he wasn't sure if he could contain himself, especially with the scent of her virgin arousal reaching nostrils as she adjusted her legs so she could squeeze his leg tighter. "Truthfully? It's been hard to dream of anything else after so many years, but if there's one thing I've always wanted to do, it's search out the other dragons and see how their search for mates have gone. I've been doing this for so long, been removed from the rest of the world for so long...I've never seen another of my kind since my parents died."

 

[Perplexia]

Deya smiled wide when he said he'd take her wager. When he continued saying he wasn't done with his prediction. She some how knew that she'd lost the bet. She was curious to see what he would choose as his prize. She obeyed when he told her to close her eyes. His fingers were so light across her eyes. Listening to his words she got the picture in her head. The feeling of his touch over her nose and forehead then down her spine had her body arch against him. A soft moan escaped her lips pushing her head away from his chest, but breasts hard against him. a soft moan escaped her lips. When he spoke again she laid her head back upon his chest. Her breathing had increased slightly from his touches.

"you should do that" she said softly "Take a couple days, I'm not going anywhere." she smiled kissing his chest lightly then looked up at him. "you have seemed to win the wager, because I'm quite certain I've captured those images quite a bit. So tell me Itovir'Sargt, what is your prize?" she giggled and laid her head upon his chest again gripping him tightly. Going back to her previous statement about him taking a couple days she added "just don't be gone too long, a girl could use to having you as a pillow."

"Can i ask you some questions about being mated" she asked curiously. "I know that you're a magical creature, so are you able to speak to their minds? I know that it means you can have pure dragons. But what else does it mean? What other dynamics are involved i guess I'm asking. Will she have a human? or lay eggs? How many children will she be able to give you?" Her curious mind had her spouting out questions once again. So she stopped to give him the ability to answer. While she waited her fingers traced over his v bone, and top of his long johns.