A Princley Visit (Atten The Quendi, Closed)

[Of the Quendi]

Adela gave Matthew a brief smile almost regretting that she had not acted more scared. Suddenly the ease by which western women seemed to be scared or upset made a lot more sense to the almost fearless princess and governess. For a moment the princess even pondered if it was to late for her to be scared before rejecting the thought as ridiculous.

Both Adela and Anduin's concerns where however erased as the majestic reptile rose out of the water. Others would probarbly not have responded possitively to a huge dragonic creature rising right next to them but the cousins, who where born millenia's since the death of the last dragons of Aman, could only admire the creature. Had it attacked them it was quite possible that both of them would have died smilling. Adela's eyes watered while Anduin held Fenchurch closer.

[The Floor Kippers]

"So, this is Princess Adela and Prince Anduin" The Dragon said, lowering his head to ground level as Matthew Moved over to Adela's side "Her described to me by Prince Matthew as having such rare and captivating beauty with eyes like pools of gemstones, Him described by Fenchurch as being more handsome and Noble than the glorious Knights of old."
He lifted his head up, stretched out his wings to their full span and Bowed low

"I give my greetings to you both with a feeling of great honor, I am Spiridon, Lord of all the dragons on this Sceptered Isle." He said as he bowed

[Of the Quendi]

Blushing slightly flattered by the compliment Adela curtsied deeply. "It is us who are honored your most glorious lordship." She said for once without her usual confidence and pride.

Anduin bowed deeply. "Indeed so lord Spiridon, not for many long and lost aeons have our people been honored with the presence of dragonfolk yet still we honor the memory." He said with a poetically responding exactly opposite of his cousin.

[The Floor Kippers]

Blushing slightly flattered by the compliment Adela curtsied deeply. "It is us who are honored your most glorious lordship." She said for once without her usual confidence and pride.

Anduin bowed deeply. "Indeed so lord Spiridon, not for many long and lost aeons have our people been honored with the presence of dragonfolk yet still we honor the memory." He said with a poetically responding exactly opposite of his cousin.

"Please, Call Me Spiridon" Spiridon said "I am from Humble background and my title is only an official one."

He breathed deeply, letting his warm, odorless breath wash over the Princes and Princesses

"So, there were once dragons in your nation?" He continued "There were once Dragons in many places, sadly our numbers have dropped off in the last couple of hundred years. I am glad the Memory of them lives on though. As Sir Nigel Has explained When a New Monarch is crowned I Have to pledge My loyalty to them, It is also my Job to Run the Dragon Guard. I am also here to answer any questions you have about my kind."

[Of the Quendi]

Adela looked quite flabbergasted at what to her seem an entirely nonsensical paradox that a dragon could come from humble origins. "The last recorded incident where dragonoids and humanoids intermingled in Aman was shortly before the establishment of our dynasty. Upon the death of the three dragons in question, their names has yet to be disclosed by the Imperial Inquisition, the memory of a greater time was all we where left with." Adela said leaving out that fact that the three dragons died when they fought against the brutal Alcedina armies in the defense of the crumbling Miolandra or "dragon" dynasty.

Anduin, who had always thought the co-existence of dragon and man to be impossible, looked up at the large creature wondering why it choose to pledge alligence to a monarch it could most likely devour in a single bite. "I have a question. Is it not difficult for humans and dragons to live side by side. As I understand it dragons tends to have rather large territories."

[The Floor Kippers]

Adela looked quite flabbergasted at what to her seem an entirely nonsensical paradox that a dragon could come from humble origins. "The last recorded incident where dragonoids and humanoids intermingled in Aman was shortly before the establishment of our dynasty. Upon the death of the three dragons in question, their names has yet to be disclosed by the Imperial Inquisition, the memory of a greater time was all we where left with." Adela said leaving out that fact that the three dragons died when they fought against the brutal Alcedina armies in the defense of the crumbling Miolandra or "dragon" dynasty.

Anduin, who had always thought the co-existence of dragon and man to be impossible, looked up at the large creature wondering why it choose to pledge alligence to a monarch it could most likely devour in a single bite. "I have a question. Is it not difficult for humans and dragons to live side by side. As I understand it dragons tends to have rather large territories."

"It can be difficult ocassionally and indeed it once was to the point of it being impossible to Co-exist" Spiridon said "However That was under the old, Barbaric ways of the Dragoness Goddess Gallifrey who believed Dragons were superior over all others. However the dragons still in this nation worship the Great Dragon God Androzani, who Said that while dragons were better than others in many ways we must not let it go to our heads. He was the one who organized his followers into group living in the Weyrs making us more tight knit and open to co-operation with other species. Territories for separate dragons was also abolished along with separate hoards and the accepting of sacrifices as those are the actions of vicious, Cruel and arrogant monsters and not elegant civilized creatures like Dragons"

[Of the Quendi]

"What a very enlightened and civilized approach to a belief in racial, or specieist as is, superiority." Anduin said with a smile far better able to adjust to the presence of a semi-mythological creature then his otherwise more talkative cousin. "Had my people dealt with its racial superiority complexes that way then perhaps dragons would still live in Aman and quendi still live freely outside Aman."

[The Floor Kippers]

"What a very enlightened and civilized approach to a belief in racial, or specieist as is, superiority." Anduin said with a smile far better able to adjust to the presence of a semi-mythological creature then his otherwise more talkative cousin. "Had my people dealt with its racial superiority complexes that way then perhaps dragons would still live in Aman and quendi still live freely outside Aman."

"Alas, Not all dragons are as Articulate as Androzani was" Spiridon said "It was under his guidance that we rose to the highest peak in our history that was the Great Dragon Empire. Unfortunately for that to happen We did one of our Darkest Deeds in the history of the species."
Spiridon Lowered his head in shame

[Of the Quendi]

"I am afraid I am not familiar with this act." Adela admitted with some annoyment. She had always found the general ignorance of her people towards everything not taking place within the realms of the Unified Quendi State to be a shameful stance and had always done her best to stay informed.

[The Floor Kippers]

"I am afraid I am not familiar with this act." Adela admitted with some annoyment. She had always found the general ignorance of her people towards everything not taking place within the realms of the Unified Quendi State to be a shameful stance and had always done her best to stay informed.

"It was the First Great Dragon war, The war between my species and the Wyverns. It ended in the total obliteration of the Wyverns. Every single one was killed" Spiridon said, ashamed to admit it "We weren't without provocation though. They hed been eating our young, stealing our Hoards, taking our territory and killing our females. With the Wyverns out of the way we could advance."

[Of the Quendi]

Anduin shrugged. He had no knowledge of how many races had perished during the early years of the Alcedina dynasty and while he was a staunch opponent of genocides in the modern age he had never feelt much guilt about past events. "Certainly that was justification enough." He replied. "If they perpetuated such crimes they couldn't have anticipated anything but ruthless retaliation."

[The Floor Kippers]

Anduin shrugged. He had no knowledge of how many races had perished during the early years of the Alcedina dynasty and while he was a staunch opponent of genocides in the modern age he had never feelt much guilt about past events. "Certainly that was justification enough." He replied. "If they perpetuated such crimes they couldn't have anticipated anything but ruthless retaliation."

Spiridon Looked up at Anduin and smiled
"You are right." He said "We were justified but we still feel guilt at our actions. That way we keep ourselves from repeating such events. Do you have any more questions?"

[Of the Quendi]

"None at present." Anduin replied deciding that the time was not to inquire about whether or not dragons was utilized by the kipperian air forces.

[The Floor Kippers]

"None at present." Anduin replied deciding that the time was not to inquire about whether or not dragons was utilized by the kipperian air forces.

"Very well" Spiridon said "Before We part ways I must ask you one question. Would you like to a ride on my back?"

[Of the Quendi]

Adela blushed at what she had a feeling wasn't an entirely, elder approved, activity suggestion. Then again she had never been a poster child for obedience. "Well if you so kindly offers." She said with a smile. Hearing this Anduin too dropped his by the book approach to imperial regulations. "I would be honored." He said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Very well then" Spiridon said "Dragon riding in the style you are about to experience is very simple as I'm not going to be executing high speed turns or high altitude dives. Just hold on to the rope and grip tight with your knees. And don't worry about falling, I've never let anyone drop from my back."

He Lowered his neck so they could climb on. As he did Sir Nigel tied a loop of rope around his neck.

[Of the Quendi]

Anduin climbed up on Spiridon with a coy, childishly enthusiastic smile grapping hold of the rope. For a moment Adela stood a bit bewildered. Her dress, while not as regal and pompous as the ones she wore on formal occassions, where not designed for its wearer to mount a dragon, or anyother creature for that matter. The princess was however not about to miss out on an opportunity to fly on a dragon's back because she had chosen clothing unfit for such a flight. Blushing she pulled up her dress to her knees, revealling her stockings, and climbed the dragon with some difficulties. Her family members would have been shocked at the inappropriate display of legs but Adela didn't care.

[The Floor Kippers]

No-one Batted an eyelid when Adela lifted her skirt to climb onto Spiridon, though Matthew did raise an eyebrow.
"All Set?" Spiridon asked, opening his wings to their full span, a magnificent sight on its own.
"Hold up" Sir Nigel said "They need to wear these"
He threw two pairs of brass, very steampunkish flight goggles up to them

[Of the Quendi]

The two princes grapped the goggles and put them on. After moving a bit around to sit comfortably they prepared themselves for the flight. "Ready." Anduin said grapping hold of the rope and gripping tightly with his knees. Adela, with some difficulties due to the dress, repeated the gesture and nodded in agreement, speechless.

[The Floor Kippers]

Spiridon flapped his wings, slowly at first but gathering speed quickly, sending leaves and litter flying.
With one smooth motion Spiridon leapt into the air and began climbing into the sky.
Soon, Sir Nigel, Matthew and Fenchurch were small dots on the ground as the Dragon Carried Anduin and Adela into the sky.
Soon the whole of the center of Bel-Gium could be seen, from The Temple of Androzani to Parliament HQ.
Spiridon looked back to see how the Princes were doing.

[Of the Quendi]

Feeling a bit naughty at doing what she was fairly sure wasn't at all regal Adela initially was a bit uneasy. As Spiridon ascended through the air she however quickly discarded her concerns allowing herself to enjoy what was no doubt a once in a lifetime experience. Adela, while having had an education not dissimilar to the rest of her kin, had never learned to fly neither plane, nor helicopter and as such cared little for the actual aerial locomotion and enjoyed the view, the wind in her face and the freedom that flight was symbolic of also in her culture.

Anduin on the other hand had flewn everything from jet fighters, to helicopters, to airships and even spaceplanes since before he could legally do so in all but a handful of nations. Having served as a figther pilot in the Imperial Quendi Airforces he found himself intrigued with the aerodynamics that made Spiridon, a creature that by all standard biological logical should be unable to fly. The incredible strength that the dragon would have to posses to power its own flight was nothing short of spectacular.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Having fun?" Spiridon asked as they followed the river downstream over bridges and boats

[Of the Quendi]

"Very much so." Adela replied her gaze wandering across the sight of the kipperian cityscape bellow her.

[The Floor Kippers]

The City spread a distance out from the river, eventually petering away in the suburbs, but the river was the center of it all, Bridges crisscrossed it, Quays and buildings lined it, as they flew further down river more and more of the buildings became warehouses.
Several Churches and Cathedrals dotted the cityscape.
Spiridon turned slowly in the sky so they were flying towards Parliament HQ, the cars and people below looked like a child's toys.
They flew over a Small Airport, Spiridon was now busy checking the sky in all directions for other air traffic.
He then swooped down to fly them low over Parliment HQ, really low, so low one of his wings nearly clipped the clock tower

[Of the Quendi]

Anduin, whose knowledge of western cities was limited, gazed over the different buildings and districts with the curiosity of a soldier, attempting to figure out where the key infrastructual convergence points was. It was almost second nature to the prince to asses the military capability of any city he gained such a view of. It even happened when he flew over a city of his own People that he had yet to visit.

Adela on the other hand lacked military instincts and instead looked on the city from a tourists, and potential future residents, point of view. Her gaze was especially caught by the churches and cathedrals of the city. There was both a cathedral, a mosque and a synagogue in her own home city but they where all small and discreet attempting not to attract attention from a generally anti abrahamic quendi populace. The presence of large christian buildings in marble and gold surprised the princess as she had not thought that christian architecture could be beautiful. She however quickly got something else to think about.

"Was that not a bit close?" She gasped, as Spiridon evaded impaling them on a clock tower by mere meters. Anduin, who as a pilot himself knew well the irresistible temptation to fly far, far to close to things especially when carrying passengers not accustomed to flight, chuckled lightly at the slightly hysteric tone of his cousin's voice.