A Duchess in the Desert (Closed)

[AHSCA]

"Uuh yea of course. The bed okay? Or the chair? Well just anywhere." She giggled a bit nervous this is exactly as she wanted but somehow she was still anxious. she took a seat on the bed. "Oooh comfy. You know first few years of my childhood well after I outgrew a bassinet my bed was a small hammock." Good, small talk that'll make things easy. "Then I decided to go for a futon. I have a bed if I feel the need to just lapse into a coma for a very long while." She giggled. It was also just a good chance to give Aurelia some more insight into Marcella just in the smallest of details. "But you as a Princess I bet you always had this lavish chamber!"

[Kyrenaia]

"Uuh yea of course. The bed okay? Or the chair? Well just anywhere." She giggled a bit nervous this is exactly as she wanted but somehow she was still anxious. she took a seat on the bed. "Oooh comfy. You know first few years of my childhood well after I outgrew a bassinet my bed was a small hammock." Good, small talk that'll make things easy. "Then I decided to go for a futon. I have a bed if I feel the need to just lapse into a coma for a very long while." She giggled. It was also just a good chance to give Aurelia some more insight into Marcella just in the smallest of details. "But you as a Princess I bet you always had this lavish chamber!"

"I was born a Selkie-Maiden.", Aurelia said with a small smile, "In a small town named Seabhcóir, the Town of Falconers and Crossbows, as it is called."
Her bed, she knew, was really comfortable. Typically Kyrenaian, much like Marcella's in the Quarters of the Lone Tree, surrounded by a canopy of silken curtains, which were currently drawn back. The surface of interwoven lengths of cloth, covered in colourful sheets, it was comfortable and more then suited for the task.
"Mom had a small house, but it was homey.", she said, as she reached up to the straps holding her dress up, smiling lasciviously, "My bedroom was the size of the lobby, but had everything in it, from a desk, to my bed, to my bookshelves, my armour and everything..."
A metre or two away from the bed was a window, through which the moon shone in, illuminating Aurelia in a silver light as her dress' straps gave way and the dress fell to the ground. Her slim waistline, her considerable curves, her well-endowed chest, her olive skin with a silver-white hue - it was nothing, that Marcella hadn't seen already, yet it was also new.

[AHSCA]

Marcella blushed again. Of course she must have mentioned she was half Selkie but maybe she didn't. "Oooh right maybe you told me your heritage and I forgot. Or maybe someone else did." she admired her beautiful figure. "Ooh you are just more beautiful every moment I lay my eyes on you." she stood up and walked over starting to disrobe herself. her flowing pink hair also shimmering in the moonlight. "Just beautiful as can be"

[Kyrenaia]

Marcella blushed again. Of course she must have mentioned she was half Selkie but maybe she didn't. "Oooh right maybe you told me your heritage and I forgot. Or maybe someone else did." she admired her beautiful figure. "Ooh you are just more beautiful every moment I lay my eyes on you." she stood up and walked over starting to disrobe herself. her flowing pink hair also shimmering in the moonlight. "Just beautiful as can be"

Aurelia smiled a predatory smile - apparently, she wasn't the only one, who was bad at this. However, the time for words was over. The time for deeds had arrived and she could barely hold herself.
Once Marcella was before her, without any scrap of clothing, she moved forwards, drawing Marcella in a deep hug and kiss, her hands soon beginning to wander, soon throwing her onto the bed and... this is the point, where we fade to black.
Let's leave two women, who discovered their love, and grant them the privacy of their love.
This is a PG-13 Site after all.

Back in the ballroom, al-Zahir had finished giving the young Prince a piece of his mind by pulling him into an one-armed hug, gratitude and joy radiating from every pore. It had been a while, since he last danced, on account of his age, but now... he felt a whole lot revitalized.
The band was preparing for the next song, as Mahmut was looking for someone very special, Captain Jamkiya having fended off quite a few boys trying to take advantage of Mahmut's absence and nab his girl, while she was a useful shield in getting a surprisingly large amount of women away from the man of the Chandshar.
Mahmut smiled, as he watched that, then moved forward, smiling as Gisella stood before him. "Good evening...", he breathed out, dumbstruck by her beauty.

[AHSCA]

Back in the ballroom, al-Zahir had finished giving the young Prince a piece of his mind by pulling him into an one-armed hug, gratitude and joy radiating from every pore. It had been a while, since he last danced, on account of his age, but now... he felt a whole lot revitalized.
The band was preparing for the next song, as Mahmut was looking for someone very special, Captain Jamkiya having fended off quite a few boys trying to take advantage of Mahmut's absence and nab his girl, while she was a useful shield in getting a surprisingly large amount of women away from the man of the Chandshar.
Mahmut smiled, as he watched that, then moved forward, smiling as Gisella stood before him. "Good evening...", he breathed out, dumbstruck by her beauty.

Gisella had began to wonder where here sister had scurried off to but didn't worry much if she wasn't on the floor she'd see her tomorrow no doubt. Anyway as soon as she could turn around it seemed someone wanted to talk to her, being a Princess sure was a sociable and fun position. "Oh, good evening." She greeted back smiling.

[Kyrenaia]

Gisella had began to wonder where here sister had scurried off to but didn't worry much if she wasn't on the floor she'd see her tomorrow no doubt. Anyway as soon as she could turn around it seemed someone wanted to talk to her, being a Princess sure was a sociable and fun position. "Oh, good evening." She greeted back smiling.

At the sound of his date's voice, Mahmut found his voice again, clearing his throat with a cough.
"Well... Captain Jamkiya permitting, I would like to ask you, if you would care for a glass of tea, Gisella-Amira?", Mahmut said, nervousness creeping into his voice as he stood before her. "Either here or... I know a nice rose-garden not too far away from here, somewhere in the Government Areas of the Palace?"
Said rose garden was far away from the residential areas of the palace, far away from Marcella and Aurelia, but no one knew, where either woman had vanished to... there a few suspicions, though. Raised in hushed whispers to close friends behind raised hands.
The second block of dances wasn't finished, though, there were still a few to be had.
Fadia linked up with them as well, nodding to Jamkiya with a smile that practically screamed They're so cute!

[AHSCA]

Gisella kept smiling and cocked her head a bit to reply "A little quite tea time for the two of us, would be most delightful I must say. If you'll lead the way, my good Gentleman." She extened her arm so he could link it up again with her and escort her somewhere, anywhere as long as it could be the two of them.

[Kyrenaia]

Gisella kept smiling and cocked her head a bit to reply "A little quite tea time for the two of us, would be most delightful I must say. If you'll lead the way, my good Gentleman." She extened her arm so he could link it up again with her and escort her somewhere, anywhere as long as it could be the two of them.

Mahmut linked her arm with his and began to lead her away, from the ball room, only a few eyes following them, most of them belonging to handmaidens. He smiled, while he was doing so.
One of them, orange highlights in her dress marking her as belonging to the Household of the Ilkhan of Sarepta, smiled proudly, then began to do her duty by vanishing from the ballroom as well, fetching some tea, which had only waited on being prepared.
He led her away along some hallways, nodding politely to passing people (most of them either Tabardariyya or handmaidens, who bowed their heads in return) and smiled.
"Awwa might be waiting for us.", he told Gisella with a smile, his golden eyes sparkling. "He's my Sand Wolf, I have him since he was a puppy. You'll like him, I'm sure!"

[AHSCA]

Gisella felt like she could be floating as Mahmut gently glided her along the dance floor. She was going to have some alone time with her new found love! They were going to talk music, what they like to do and other things. Wherever her sister was she was probably getting really lucky but Gisella not quite ready for that just yet, for now just spending time with Mahmut would be enough. Suddenly she realized he was talking she snapped back to reality. "Oh, oh a pet! So lucky, I'm excited to meet him! Awwa you said his name was? That's so cute! I can't wait to meet him."

[Kyrenaia]

Gisella felt like she could be floating as Mahmut gently glided her along the dance floor. She was going to have some alone time with her new found love! They were going to talk music, what they like to do and other things. Wherever her sister was she was probably getting really lucky but Gisella not quite ready for that just yet, for now just spending time with Mahmut would be enough. Suddenly she realized he was talking she snapped back to reality. "Oh, oh a pet! So lucky, I'm excited to meet him! Awwa you said his name was? That's so cute! I can't wait to meet him."

Mahmut smiled, as he led her along.
"He indeed is.", he said and nodded, "A big lug, sure, but one, you can always depend on when you are in trouble. Except when the opposition has sausages, but... well, no one's perfect." He grinned with a shrug, as they walked along the corridors and hallways. "He was actually a present by my Mother, while Shirin helped raising him and me. She also had the idea for his name."
By sheer coincidence and not actually planning (as he would later claim), a window was nearby, from which one could see the stars, the very few that were visible with Utica's Light Pollution. He nodded in that direction.
"Awwa, in English that would mean 'the Barker', is the name for Delta Virginis, a star in the Virgo-Constellation, around two-hundred light years from here.", he explained, the rose garden he had in mind not too far away.

[AHSCA]

"Sounds like such a nice name. And that sounds like it's really really far away. Hey what about your name? What's the significance behind it?" She posed the question. "It sounds like a very classy name to me but I'm guessing it must be relatively common?"

[Kyrenaia]

"Sounds like such a nice name. And that sounds like it's really really far away. Hey what about your name? What's the significance behind it?" She posed the question. "It sounds like a very classy name to me but I'm guessing it must be relatively common?"

"It actually is a very common boy's name, that Mahmut.", the Prince replied, "The praised one, Worthy of reverence or Laudable or Commendable, that are some of its meanings. My great-grandfather was named Mahmut as well, it's in his memory, that I carry that name." He let a beat pass. "Ibn-Idris, Son of Idris, only means, that I am the son of a man named Idris - in my case, the Ilkhan of Sarepta."
He let a beat pass and smiled.
"Your beautiful name must be pretty unique.", he said. "It matches you, though."

[AHSCA]

(woops puppet post)

"Aah that suits you so well!" she held her flushed cheeks dreamy and dazed by how very much that matched his personality. "Oh yes, my name is rather unique for an islander. It's inspired by Gicelberta a Spanish name, from my father's heritage. But the spelling is more Germanic, with an extra letter added because it would be close to my big sister's name, that way, it means pledge to be exact."

[Kyrenaia]

(woops puppet post)

"Aah that suits you so well!" she held her flushed cheeks dreamy and dazed by how very much that matched his personality. "Oh yes, my name is rather unique for an islander. It's inspired by Gicelberta a Spanish name, from my father's heritage. But the spelling is more Germanic, with an extra letter added because it would be close to my big sister's name, that way, it means pledge to be exact."

(No problem.)

"Pledge.", Mahmut said with a smile, nodding, "That is a very beautiful meaning. Something to be honoured, not to be taken lightly, kept close to the heart... very much like you."
And as if planned (this time, it wasn't), the hallway opened to one side to show the rose garden Mahmut had wanted to show Gisella, a green expanse right next to the hallway, where one could step onto the gras directly... or, alternatively, onto one of the sandstone plates not even five metres away.
The walls and pillars were occupied by the vines of red roses, different hues, some still blossoms, other blooms already, many somewhere inbetween, all of which gave off an enticing smell. In the centre of the small garden, a small garden table waited, with two chairs, already occupied by a tea can and two cups.
Mahmut had expected two people already being there... he got three.
One was a young woman, around twice the age of Mahmut and Gisella, emerald green hair and violet eyes, wearing the Handmaidens' dress, orange thread in intricate patterns along the white indicating, that she was not of the Azure Hall, which also emphasized her very mature figure. A small star, a tatoo, sat on the left side of her stomach, her veil being up.
The second person was a canine, a large, beige-furred animal with a huge, white ruff around his neck, his azure blue eyes sparkling. He was lean and fit, well-trained and usually very loyal, if one asked Mahmut...
...except for when he had his head in the lap of a third person, who's presence Mahmut did not anticipate. A girl, around Mahmut's and Gisella's age, short black or violet hair and deep blue eyes, light and, as Mahmut knew, soft skin. She was also well in shape and was actually developing into a young woman. She wore a simple, elegant white dress.
Mahmut recognized her immediately and only one thought was in his head: Shit.

[AHSCA]

"Thank you!" She walked along with him until they reached the garden and what a lovely sight it was with so many roses and the rich aroma of plant life at full bloom. It also seemed there were other people there "Oh, it seems we have some company." While she did hope to be alone she wouldn't mind making another new acquaintance, especially given one did look to be close to her age.

[Kyrenaia]

"Thank you!" She walked along with him until they reached the garden and what a lovely sight it was with so many roses and the rich aroma of plant life at full bloom. It also seemed there were other people there "Oh, it seems we have some company." While she did hope to be alone she wouldn't mind making another new acquaintance, especially given one did look to be close to her age.

"Yes.", Mahmut said, quite cautiously, then eased a smile onto his face. He knew both women and the canine, he knew them very well. No need to be nervous or to disregard all plans made. This just was a minor hiccup, nothing too serious.
His usualy self-confidence returned at the first steps onto the sand stone, arm still linked with Gisella.
That linking quickly vanished, though, as the canine moved from his nice position, approaching Mahmut at blinding speed, causing the boy to go down on one knee, raising a finger - the canine, grinning, skid to a halt.
Mahmut extended his hand, the first paw went onto it, then the other, then the boy turned his hand and the animal put himself flat onto the ground. Mahmut grinned and rubbed him between his large ears.
"Gisella...", he began, "If I may introduce, this fine chap here is Awwa. Awwa, this is Gisella."
The canine's big, blue eyes fell onto Gisella and he rose, looking up and cocking his head.
Still kneeling by his side, Mahmut explained to Gisella: "Offer your hand for him to smell!"
The two women remained, where they were.

[AHSCA]

Gisella followed his suggestion and extended her hand gingerly "It's good to meet you, Awwa. I'm Gisella, friend of Mahmut." Still watching the canine's moves she also glance at the other two ladies "Good evening to you, ladies, I'm Gisella, not sure if I saw either of you at the party."

[Kyrenaia]

Gisella followed his suggestion and extended her hand gingerly "It's good to meet you, Awwa. I'm Gisella, friend of Mahmut." Still watching the canine's moves she also glance at the other two ladies "Good evening to you, ladies, I'm Gisella, not sure if I saw either of you at the party."

Awwa went ahead and smelled her hand, giving an approving nod a moment later.
Mahmut smiled slightly, as he watched the interaction between the girl in the white dress, the handmaiden and Gisella.
It was the handmaiden, who spoke first, after carefully removing her veil: "It would be a rather grave lapse in my skill, if you'd seen me, Your Highness.", she spoke and bowed her head, "Shirin Bayd, Handmaiden to Prince Mahmut, on loan from the Palace of the Golden Hall to the Palace of the Azure Hall. It's a great honour... he spoke much about you."
The girl seemed to be less pleased. "I was not invited.", she said, her eyes narrowing, "But I wanted to meet the girl, who turned his head." She let a beat pass. "Soraya Geal."
Mahmut watched - he knew her, very well, in fact, they went way back... and he knew, that she had a powerful personality. It would not be nice to be caught in the cross fire.

[AHSCA]

"Hehe I think he's warming up to me now." When she turned her eyes again to the maiden removing her veil "oooh of course, forgive my obliviousness I didn't realize you were a fair handmaiden. It's a pleasure to meet you, Shirin." She turned her attention to Soraya she felt a bit awkward now when she mentioned she wasn't invited to the party, she did wonder why but probably not a good idea to press. "I...I seee...Soraya, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."

[Kyrenaia]

"Hehe I think he's warming up to me now." When she turned her eyes again to the maiden removing her veil "oooh of course, forgive my obliviousness I didn't realize you were a fair handmaiden. It's a pleasure to meet you, Shirin." She turned her attention to Soraya she felt a bit awkward now when she mentioned she wasn't invited to the party, she did wonder why but probably not a good idea to press. "I...I seee...Soraya, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."

Shirin bowed her head in acknowledgement and respect and smiled as she put on her veil again. She thought, that Gisella was a nice, polite girl.
Soraya, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, especially as Awwa made his approval known by his nod. She clicked her tongue and the Sand Wolf perked up, a snap of her fingers later and he left the two of them, coming to her.
"Good boy.", she told him and scratched him behind his ears, watching from the corner of her eye as Mahmut got up, a small smile on his face.
"Soraya and I are old childhood friends, we go way back.", he explained to Gisella, before he turned to the girl in question, "A very long way. She was part of the horseman escort today, as part of the HGA's contribution."

[AHSCA]

"oooh" She mused that for a moment and continued,, "Childhood friends huh? Interesting. Oh so you are a horseback rider, you would say, Ms. Soraya?"

[Kyrenaia]

"oooh" She mused that for a moment and continued,, "Childhood friends huh? Interesting. Oh so you are a horseback rider, you would say, Ms. Soraya?"

"Horsearcher, actually.", Soraya said, "I train under tutelage of Princess Aurelia, who I expect will be happy for the foreseeable future, but still strict in her training. I'm not yet ready for fighting for any trophy in the name of my Academy, though."
"She is very good, though.", Mahmut said from the side with a smile, "I'm hardly able to get a horse to move from point A to point B, but she..." He grinned, but that quickly went away as he saw her stony expression. "Was worth a try."
"If you say so.", Soraya said and stepped up to Gisella, actually being a few centimetres taller then her, looking down onto the foreign Princess with a hard, harsh expression.
Silence.

[AHSCA]

Gisella wasn't quite sure how to really react to Soraya's expression as she loomed over her. Rather reminded her of a towering thunderhead that would boil over the oceans at home and only thing one can do in that situation is brace for the sudden oncoming storm. She was kind of intimidating. "Well...Much like Mahmnut, I have horse riding experience at all. No horses where I'm from..."

[Kyrenaia]

Gisella wasn't quite sure how to really react to Soraya's expression as she loomed over her. Rather reminded her of a towering thunderhead that would boil over the oceans at home and only thing one can do in that situation is brace for the sudden oncoming storm. She was kind of intimidating. "Well...Much like Mahmnut, I have horse riding experience at all. No horses where I'm from..."

The girl was silent for a whole while, taking in every pore and every move of Gisella, then she spoke: "If this is, what you are happy with..."
And with that, she walked past the two of them. Mahmut needed a moment to understand, then raised a finger to ask Gisella for a moment, running after the other girl.
He caught her by the door, grabbing her arm and making her stop, moving his mouth close to her ear to whisper something into it, speaking in hushed Kyrenaian, not many words floating over.
Soraya looked at him, then to Gisella, then back to Mahmut, but was silent, her expression still stony.
Meanwhile, Shirin approached Gisella, bowing down to whisper to her: "Come. Let's get some tea into you. Desert nights are rather cold, aren't they?"

[AHSCA]

It seemed Gisella's attempts at simple small talk didn't go over well. she still didn't quite have the tenacity and presence that her sister had. Marcella could probably stare her down. And it was pretty clear, there was a history between the two. Mahmut went after to probably talk to her when the handmaiden approached. As Shirin mentioned the cold desert nights the wash of nervous heat wore away and the chill of the night air did hit her. "oooh yes, it's quite chilly, I would like some nice tea, thank you so much."