Take Apart All The Melodies (Daunte and last_true_romantic)

[Daunte]

Dragonsreach: The famed castle in the sky, the citadel of the gods, and the seat of power through the Revalon Empire. It went by many names from many different people, but one thing could be agreed upon universally; it was a technological marvel. Many things had been created simply from studying the design of the impressive flying castle. Of course though it all belonged to the royal family along with just about everything else under the sun-touched lands. The power of Dragonsreach was irresistible and that meant that whoever ruled it would essentially be a god in the face of lesser kings. The current king had been chosen to rule from Dragonsreach based on a democratic process of sorts years ago, but now that the throne was comfortably sat in no one in the realm could overrule a decree by the High King of Revalon. The floating castle was both a symbol of unmatched beauty and of unmatched power.

The lithe form of the rewowned, and in some cases infamous, princess could be seen gazing out longingly from the balcony attached to her rather sizable room. None other than Aewyn Darkwin-Revalon, daughter to the Queen of Revalon and sole heir to the throne of Dragonsreach. She was also the daughter of the king in name, but well, not exactly by blood relation. That as one might imagine is where a sizable amount of the controversy surrounding her came from. It only made matters worse that her mother's consort hadn't been human, instead having laid with an Okamimimi. In general the more exotic species of humanoids had been accepted into the workings of society, but the heiress being one had certainly stirred trouble among the nobility.

While Dragonsreach was mostly a castle it did have a rather sizable surrounding area littered by small buildings, most of which acted as housing for beneficiaries of the royal family. That area below which had been sculpted to look like a proper castle courtyard was what the petite female had her eyes focused on. Aewyn had been waiting all day for the previously announced arrival of her childhood friend who held a particularly close place in her heart. The females cotillion ball was already scheduled, planned, and in the process of being set up for later that day. The handsome male had finished his training and had been subsequently tasked with being her personal knight, something which had made Aewyn's heart unwittingly skip a beat.

The princess's new yet incredibly familiar guard was supposed to show up any second now, but as each moment passed she got more worried. Anxious perhaps would have been a more accurate word. It was going to be a huge step in her life that opened her up to society in the fullest sense of the word, and she wanted him to be there for her. The female leaned across the railing and gave a breathy sigh to the crisply cold air, high in the clouds where the wind whipped at her dress here and there. Had she missed him showing up while she was busy, or perhaps the Lyrebird airship due to land had been delayed for some reason... Or maybe... Aewyn quickly shook her head of the thoughts before they strayed to dangerously emotional areas that she wished not to deal with, although her fluffy pointed ears had already dropped from the beginning of such unwanted mental exercies.

 

[last_true_romantic]

Sebastian Unwin climbed into the airship, still wearing his armor and a large sack was thrown over his shoulder. He didn't need a chest like the other knights had for transporting their armor safely, not having many things by choice, so he decided to wear it on the trip back home, it would be easier and feel less heavy if he wore it rather than carried it in the sack like the rest of his clothes. Sebastian hadn't brought many things with him when he left to train at the academy, he didn't have much to take. His sack had a few pairs of old clothes, which did not fit well due to his more muscular frame. Thanks to his training, Sebastian was no longer the lanky teenager he was when he left. There was also a pair of old shoes and a plain wooden box that contained all the letters from his best friend, and now his ward, princess Aewyn Darkwin-Revalon. He had missed her dearly during his time away and had written to her often to try and ease the guilt he felt for leaving. The two of them had grown up together in the castle, being fairly close in age, and his parents being trusted and higher ranking help in the castle. His father was one of the King's personal knights and his mother one of the Queen's lady in waiting, so Sebastian grew up not wanting for much.

It had been a nearly a year since he last saw Aewyn, the last ten months of his training requiring him to stay at the academy so that he would graduate in time for her cotillion and the official announcement of his new job and title that came with it, a knight of the royal family guard. It was an honor to have this role and Sebastian tried his best to prove that he had earned it while in the academy. He pushed himself to be the best recruit that had seen since his father had attended, and in some cases, even surpassed his predecessor in skill, strength, and intellect. Sebastian took his seat and waited impatiently for the airship to begin its ascent to Dragonsreach, the palace that hovered high in the sky, where his charge as well as his parents resided and awaited his arrival.

After tapping his foot and staring out the window for what seemed like hours, but had only been maybe ten minutes, Sebastian stood and walked over to the captain.

"Look, I'm expected by the royal family and we are already late. Can we please take off now?" His tone conveyed annoyance at the wait.

The captain shrugged at the 23-year-old male. "We'll be off in a few more minutes sir. I'm just waiting for the all clear. The winds have been a little feisty today."

Sebastian rolled his eyes and nodded, understanding but not pleased that he would have to wait even longer to see Aewyn. Just as he made his way back to the seat, a voice chimed over the intercom in the ship. "All clear." The engine of the airship roared to life as Sebastian took his seat and closed his eyes. The trip itself would take a half hour if the captain was going at full speed. Sebastian would take the opportunity for a short cat-nap, he hadn't slept well the night before in anticipation for his trip back home to see his family, and more importantly, his best friend and secret crush.

Sebastian opened his eyes just as the castle came into view and he smiled as he saw a figure, who he knew to be the princess, standing on a balcony and looking down at the courtyard where the airship was headed. He let out a sigh of relief, though he couldn't see her face or body, just a vague outline of a person, he was sure that the months that passed only made her beauty grow even more potent. He had always thought that Aewyn had been cute, and as they grew up and matured, she also became a sight to behold and one that took his breath away. What he had missed most during his time away was her smile and the way her ears and tail twitched when she was happy or amused. Most of the court did not approve of Aewyn because of her heritage, her father had just been a consort of the queen, but Sebastian thought that her Okamimimi features only added to the princess' charm.

Sebastian's heartbeat began to quicken as the airship landed in the courtyard, and tripled in pace once his feet touched the white marble stones that paved the way for the front door. He practically bolted out of the airship and to the door before stopping in front of it to compose himself. "That is not how a knight of the royal guard should act." He told himself sternly, trying to hold back a smile when it dawned on him that his training was finally over and he would begin his duties as soon as he walked through the threshold. Sebastian gave his body a quick shake before knocking at the door and waiting for it to be answered. Part of him hoped that Aewyn would be on the other side, a bright smile accompanied by a happily wagging tail and twitching ears, but it would probably just be one of the servants or his mother who would answer, maybe his father.

 

[Daunte]

Aewyn let out what could only be described as a gleeful squeel of pure delight when her eyes locked upon the intimidating airship that broached the horizon, smile absolutely glowing from the sight of the aircraft. With the arrival of the Lyrebird her heart swooned for several reasons, many of which she'd never openly admitted to anyone before. Her best friend was finally here! Sebastian's arrival meant that she would finally have the comforting presence of her closest friend once again, the first time in a long time. Of course she'd written every single oppurtunity that had been made available to her, but seeing him in person would be a completely different story. Her fluffy tail had begun wagging with a subtle, unintentional show of happiness and her eyes twitched anxiously at the excitment held within the emotionally charged situation.

The princess turned on her heel, racing to the door of her room as quickly as she could while still being careful. Upon swining the beautifuly crafted wooden gateway open she pressed on, turning to look at the guards which stood on either side of the door and offering them both a respectful curtsy. "I'll be back, promise! Keep watch her though I'll be fine on my own. I'm going to see my knight after all! Sebastian is home!" she told them with a vibrant look upon her graceful form. The guards looked at each other then one of them offered her a shrug before nodding and motioing for her to proceed. The princess's ears gave a twitch of impatience which spurred her decision to hurry to the lower sections of the castle leaving the two guards to protect her things. Dragonsreach was her childhood home and remained so to this very day. The winding corridors of the floating castle were practically engraved in her mind and made her descent quicker than one might imagine a young girl to be capable of.

Aewyn let out a sigh of relief when she noticed the large doors of the castle hadn't yet been opened for the returning soldiers. A mischevious smile crossed her sculpted visage, the look contrasting quite heavily with her otherwise innocent demeanor. Lady Revalon made her way over to the door, offering the servants milling about a warm smile, until she came to rest off to the side behind where they swung inward. It had been so long since she'd last seen Sebastian, and even longer since the two had engaged in any childish antics. The older male may have trained to serve in the royal guard, but that didn't mean she'd let him forget that he was still her best friend... Even if perhaps a part of her wanted more.

The hybrid's tail began wagging furiously when she heard the knock on the doors of Dragonsreach, one hand going to cover her mouth while she gestured with the other for the nearest servant to open it. As expected when asked something by the royal family the girl, one of ladies who had been inducted into the castle within the last year or so, obeyed and a moment later the familiar creek of the doors was heard. Natural light from the incandesecent sun filtered in and fell upon the servant who offered Sebastian a respectful bow. "Welcome home Sebastian. Or should I say, Sir Unwin," the girl spoke with a tone that held a professional reverence for the rank of who she addressed. "It's a pleasure to greet your retur-"

Aewyn smiled when the servant mentioned her knight's name, taking the oppurtunity of the girl addressing him to suprise her childhood crush mid sentence. The beautiful form of Lady Darkwin jumped from behind the door in a burst of speed. Of course Aewyn went straight for the armored form of Sebastian, wrapping her arms around him in a very informal hug despite her position as his charge. "Sebastian! I missed you so much!" she exclaimed while pressing herself against him. If the day ahead wasn't so filled to the brim with activity than she would have been content to hold him there forever as if fearful that he'd leave her again. It had been a long time since she'd been as happy as she was in that moment which her furred tail made evident to all gathered. He was one of the few people that never looked at her any different for her lineage and certainly one of the few that she could spend time playing with. Although those days were long in the past as they'd both been forced to grow up, the two had always spent time with one another even if simply enjoying the company of the other on a beautiful day.

Sebastian was a lot... bigger... than when they first parted for his training. And, although she wouldn't say this out loud, he looked pretty damn hot. Aewyn pulled away from the embrace and did her best to hide her now fluttering heart behind a warm smile and a much more formal stance appropriate for a princess. "It's been far too long, although I see the training certainly seems to have worked on you," the Okamimi complimented before holding her hand out for her knight to accept, curious eyes searching his face carefully for his reaction to her presence.

 

[last_true_romantic]

As Sebastian waited for the door to be answered, he tried to keep a serious expression on his face, but a smile was tugging at the corner of his lips. He felt as if the excitement was bubbling over inside him and he didn't want to wait for even a second longer to see his beloved friend Aewyn. Once the door opened to reveal just one of the servants, one he hadn't recalled seeing before, and greeting him, the smile that had been threatening to escape had disappeared. He was slightly disappointed that Aewyn was not there to greet him. He bowed his head respectfully at the young lady as she addressed him. "Sebastian if fine, thank you." He interjected before she continued her greeting. He gave the young lady a friendly smile, but the disappointment was clear in his eyes.

When Aewyn jumped out from behind the door, Sebastian's head whipped around to look at her and he let out a startled gasp. His face had gone from serious to surprise as she came at him at full speed for a hug. Sebastian had been so wrapped up in his disappointment of not seeing Aewyn that he hadn't picked up on the soft rustling of her tail against her dress as she hid behind the door. He made a mental note to himself to be much more aware like he had been trained. If anything happened to Aewyn on his watch, Sebastian would never forgive himself.

He dropped his sack on the ground and wrapped his arms around her, forgetting for a moment the difference in their stations and the proper way to act before the princess. His face glowed with elation and he lifted the princess off of her feet for a moment during their brief hug, he felt that his heart was soaring even higher than the castle did in the sky. Sebastian couldn't control his overwhelming joy at holding his best friend, and the woman he had secretly loved for years. Sebastian's cheeks were slightly flushed as her words reached his ears, and he chuckled happily.

Against his better judgment, Sebastian left a soft kiss and very quick on the top of her head, between her happily twitching wolf ears, whispering quiet enough for just the princess to hear in one of her ears before he pulled away. "I've missed you dearly as well Aewyn. More than you know." His face blushed even more as he realized what he had done and said, not that it was uncommon for him to show such affection to Aewyn, but he had never done something like that in front of anyone before. It was just a second after his kiss on her head that Sebastian set Aewyn back down on her feet and she retreated from his body. He stopped breathing for a moment and looked in awe upon the petite princess. She had grown so much more beautiful the last months he had seen her, which was hard for him to believe because she had already been such a stunning maiden. He still had an almost goofy smile on his face, feeling more joy than he could ever hope to express in words, as his eyes took their time washing over the princess' form. "It has, and I am terribly sorry for that." He gave his ward a small bow, bending at the waist. "But I wanted to finish my training in time for your cotillion."


His face went from a soft pink to a bright red at the princess's compliment. "Time has only made you more stunning as well, your highness," Sebastion said, mustering all the charm he could to cover the fact that his heart was racing faster than he could ever remember. The dress she wore fit her every curve perfectly, the fabric flowing like silk in the wind over her hips and pooling to the floor. Sebastian took her hand in his and planted a soft kiss on the back of it, a much more appropriate gesture considering the public place they were in. As his lips touched the soft skin of the back of Aewyn's hand, his eyes met hers and sparkled with delight. He took a deep breath in, savoring the softness of her hand against his lips and enjoying the sweet scent of the lotions she used to keep her skin in such a silky state. It was clear from his face, and his relaxed shoulders, that he was so very glad to see the Okamimi, and that there was nowhere else he would rather be. He let his lips linger for a few seconds before pulling away and letting go of her hand, clearly not what he wanted to do, but what was expected.

"Alas Princess Aewyn, I must take care of a few things before we can spend more time together." Sebastian's tone clearly implied his umbrage toward this fact. "However, I promise that I will complete these tasks as quickly as possible since we have much to catch up on." Sebastian's reluctance also showed when he bent down and reached for his bag. He gave Aewyn a warm smile before turning to the servant and addressing her. "Can you please inform Sir Unwin Senior and Lady Mary that I am here. I will wait for them here." His tone had changed from gleeful when talking with the princess too much more formal and flat when he spoke to the young female servant. "And please take this to my new quarters." He said, handing the young lady his sack, which wasn't very heavy at all considering the minimal contents. He nodded his head at the servant and waited for the young lady to leave before turning back to the princess.

"I'll find you just as soon as I'm done with my parents. Maybe you can show me my quarters after we have a picnic in the garden like we used to?" He suggested with a charming smile. "I'm famished after the journey, but I'd much rather share a bite to eat with you than my parents." Sebastian bowed once more, then stood tall, hands held behind his back as he waited for an answer from the beauty before him.