I Should Tell You

[Brayden Antares]

Hyperspace Enroute to Unknown Regions
...occurs immediately after the events of Mambo No. 5...

A handful of water droplets remained adorning Brayden's exposed upper torso as he entered the renovated kitchen and dining area of his YT-2000. Having changed into a comfortable pair of soft pants after a pleasurable shower, the Endelaan native filled up a large mug with water and took a seat at the table. A single datapad had been left on the table undoubtedly by one of the six Endelaan Warriors aboard that had done an amazing job not being detected. While he had a brief moment, the Sith Lord tapped an access code into the datapad to review the latest information download on Shine. It was a high-end jewelry organization that, technically, his mother owned but had given him access to prior to her disappearance.

Running a brief hand through the mess of wet, dirty-blonde hair on his head, the Endelaan native allowed his silver-green gaze to absorb into the information on the small screen. Specifically, he was looking to ensure that the appropriate adjustments had been made for a recent distribution to a separate account. In the days since he'd returned from Endelaan, Brayden had accomplished much. His investigation into the what had really happened to his sister was progressing steadily. In fact he had made a mental note that it would require a meeting with a third party, someone Madalena had casually mentioned to him. In the interim he'd conducted a number of operations for the Confederacy, but the overriding experience he'd had in the last month had undoubtedly been meeting the woman still in the master bedroom.

Looking up from the datapad, Brayden allowed his bright gaze to fall upon the extended corridor that snaked around the corner to the living area. For a moment, the Sith Lord forgot entirely what he had been doing as he replayed the events of Thaere Privo in his mind. It had been...well...almost devastating. A simple potion had almost, almost caused him to make the biggest mistake of his life. The fact that it hadn't was owed simply to a memory and a desire so strong that it cut straight through his soul and opened his eyes to reality. In that moment, the young Prince had relented to a truth he had secretly discovered one month prior.

Brayden Antares was, for sure, in love.

[member="Faye Malvern"]

 

[Faye Malvern]

Warm water cascaded over Faye, clouding her in a cloak of fragrant steam and turning her hair an even darker shade. Her eyes shut tight as she held her face under the stream. Water had always felt cleansing, it washed away the anxieties of yesterday and paved the day ahead. She hummed gently as her fingers worked the water through her hair. Every muscle ached and tugged with each movement she made, but the sensations weren't unpleasant. She couldn't remember most of the middle of the portion of the evening gone by, but the ending would be seared into her brain for as long as she lived. What had remained of the night, after Brayden had swept her away, had been filled with such a powerful explosion of passionate emotion that Faye was certain nothing would ever make a bigger impression. The mere memory of it forced a bright grin to her face that caused noticeable dimples to appear on her plush cheeks.

The water cut short, suddenly turning from a thunderous waterfall to light tinkles on the tiled floor under Faye's feet. Stepping out of the shower she realized the only thing she had to wear was the gold dress she'd worn the night before. Her face scrunched at the thought of wrestling with the tight material, so instead she settled for a plush towel that wrapped snugly around her soft curves. She commandeered a second to catch the heavy droplets of water that slipped from her sleek hair. As she walked out of the bathroom and through the living area to find Brayden she was hardly surprise to discover the ship was moving. She had spent the very early hours of the morning watching the last of the party lights dance magnificent colors and patterns across the metal ceiling in Brayden's room. At some point during the twilight hours, after Brayden had risen from his sleep, the ship had shifted and the lights faded away to be replaced by the never ending blackness of space.

Her feet made soft tapping sounds against the cool floor as she turned the final corner in the search for her lover. He had woken before her and when he shifted her draped frame Faye had let him believe she was fast asleep. She wasn't quite ready to share her tortured nights with him, the atmosphere had been too serene for the shrill screams her nightmares caused. The sound of the shower turning off and his footsteps fading into the distance had been her queue to rise. When her eyes met Brayden's form a smile unmatched by any on her face thus far found her rose petal lips. 'Good morning.' The words fell from her mouth, whispered tenderly and lathered in a sugary tone that rose and fell as she floated to a spare chair at the table. Faye had been under the impression that she would feel rather shy in his presence after last night but all she could feel was a deep rooted love that she was sure nothing in the entire Galaxy could shift. Despite the lack of shyness a rouge tint crept onto her face as she slowly recovered the small details of the long night they had shared together.

For a few moments, and rather dumbly, she simply stared at him. A month ago he had been a complete stranger, he still was in some regards, yet somehow it mattered little. Bringing herself back to reality she'd realized the only thing out of her mouth thus far had been good morning. She wanted the next ones to be about last night about how magical it had been in more ways than one, but instead she asked a question. 'Where are we going?'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

The Endelaan native looked back up from his datapad as he sensed Faye approaching. Silver-green eyes had risen just in time to catch the slim figure draped in naught but a towel as she traversed the corridor. Brayden didn't exactly even try to hide the look on his face as his eyes danced over every visible feature of the woman. The young Prince had known beauty in his time since emerging from the Darkness. In fact it seemed there was no shortage of pretty sights throughout the galaxy. [member="Faye Malvern"], however, was altogether different. Yes, she was easily the most attractive creature he had ever laid eyes upon, but there was a subtle mystique to her presence that intrigued him beyond what mere words would ever be able to convey.

When Faye took a seat across from him, he did not immediately have a response, not a verbal one at least. Nodding his head slightly, the Prince managed to fix his slightly dropped jaw into a genuine smile. "Good morning, beautiful."

The answer to the woman's next question was...not complicated, but the conversation that would have to happen as a result was complex to say the least. Leaning back in his seat, Brayden absent-mindedly scratched the side of his neck before settling into an answer. "We are presently on course for the world of my birth. There are...well...needless to say there are a number of things you should know about me. It would be...difficult to explain with mere words I think. There is just...so much, and I've been holding back for some time...out of fear."

Pausing for a moment, Brayden leaned forward, bracing himself against his arms which he placed on top of the table. "Not fear of you, but fear of my own...emotions. Faye I genuinely do love you with every fiber of my being. I think...I'm pretty sure I have since rather soon after meeting you, and I know that sounds crazy." It was crazy wasn't it? Did things happen that fast? Brayden, of course, had no litmus test for this. He could only react to how he felt in the very bottom of his soul. He had even kept a small amount of distance from Faye after their initial meeting...for all of approximately four days. Since then, they had interacted with each other on a number of occasions. Somehow they had managed not to take the step into the definitively physical until the previous evening.

In all the time he had spent with Faye and, more importantly, all of their time apart, he had never stopped thinking about her. She had been the one overriding thought and emotion capable of breaking a twisted love spell that seemed to have complete control over everyone else. It had felt like death...falsely being with anyone other than Faye, and he refused to ever have that sensation course through his body ever again. Standing from his seat, Brayden moved around to Faye's side of the table, sitting on the edge. "I come from a long history of tradition and a deep planetary culture. I've only kept these things from you because of what it could potentially mean. Now though...I have neither concern nor fear. I don't want to lose you, but you deserve to know what it is I hope to have and share with you. It starts with complete honesty."

Clasping his hands in his lap, Brayden managed a soft smile. "If you want to know me and where I come from and I mean really want to know. Let me share with you everything I hold for you in my heart and mind, everything I know and remember of my past, and the memories of things that happened far beyond the scope of my own life." Sliding off the table, Brayden walked around the side of Faye's chair such that he was standing behind her. Placing a hand on either of her shoulders, the Sith Lord bent down to kiss her lightly on the top of the head before whispering into her ear. "If you will permit me, I can show you directly. I can share everything with you."

If Faye consented, he would place his hands gently to either side of her head and allow all that he had known of his life and the lives of his family before him to pass from his mind to Faye's. In that single, lengthy act, she would share in his consciousness and, undoubtedly, forever have a piece of his soul vested permanently and securely in her own. Faye Malvern would know Brayden Antares deeper than anyone currently alive in the galaxy, his mother and sister included.

 

[Faye Malvern]

[SIZE=10pt]His gaze traveled[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] the length of her body freely, Faye could almost feel his eyes drinking in every inch of her appearance. Faye wasn't completely oblivious to the stares of men, most often than not she would simply ignore it and move on, but Brayden's eyes set her heart on fire. Settling into the seat beside him, she was pleased he seemed as [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]enamored[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] with her as she was with him. His words set a bright smile on her expression and all she could do in response was titter like a school girl.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]His home world. Faye couldn't help but feel a little surprised. In all honesty she'd expected it to be a long while before he talked about where he was from. He spoke of fear and that by itself was enough to surprise her further. He didn't seem like the type to feel afraid. Faye lent across the table, her long ebony[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] hair sweeping against the metal and covering it in fine droplets of water.[/SIZE] 'You don't have to be fearful.' Her tone was gentle as she spoke, almost as if she were fearful of scaring him away with her words. Her hand reached out to capture his, giving it a gentle squeeze. 'Not with me.'

'It can't be that crazy, I feel the same way.' She paused for a moment and fixed her eyes on the shocking silver-green of his own. 'From the moment I saw you. I couldn't be certain it was love but I've never felt anything like it.' It seemed strange for those specific words to come from her mouth. Of course she had felt love before, but it didn't belong to her. This was entirely different. Instead of it tickling her mind it spread through her whole body and it hadn't gone away when Brayden had left. In fact, him leaving had made it worse. She'd never in her life missed someone as much as she missed him when he went. He was on her mind constantly and consistently, no matter what she was doing or who she was with he was the residing thought.

'I'm not sure I understand.' Faye scrunched her face up lightly, causing soft creases to form on the bridge of her nose. Tradition and history was something she was extraordinarily familiar with. Her own family stretched for generations and had enough history to fill an entire library. What in the Galaxy could be so scary about that? 'I'm not going anywhere, nothing in the entire Galaxy could make me leave your side.' Faye spoke far to quickly after the end of his sentence and her voice came out a little sharper than she expected, but she meant it kindly. The idea of losing him was just as abhorrent to her as it was to him. Simply thinking about it made her stomach twist up into knots and her heart ache like someone had wrapped their hand around it and squeezed mercilessly.

She let him speak after that, keeping her mouth pressed closed. When his frame slipped beside hers and she felt his warm lips against her skin her body relaxed entirely and she reached up to place her hand on top of his. She lent back against his chest, head resting on his shoulder as his honeyed words slipped into her ear. The gentle whisper sent an electric spark running down the length of her spine and caused goosebumps to form on her arms, despite the fact that she was still warm from her shower and the heat radiating off him. 'Permission granted.' Her tone was soft, a mere whisper against the gentle hum of the ships engines. At this point she didn't care what he did, she simply delighted in having him close.

His hands came to rest on either side of her head. She wasn't entirely sure what he was going to do. The sensation was sudden and aggressive. A thousand generations and their history poured into her mind in the blink of an eye. For Faye it felt like she was watching each life live every moment till they drew their last breath, in reality the transfer lasted less then five minutes. All the information streaming through her mind was soaked up instantly, it left Faye feeling rather breathless. 'I..' Faye released her vice-like grip on the edge of the table, entirely unaware that during the process her nails had sunk into thick material. 'I don't know what to say.' The most pressing, urgent thing that stuck out was his sister. It was almost as if she could feel the pain of losing her, almost as if it were her own. When she turned her head to look at him again she did so in a different light. He was no longer just Brayden Antares.

'I can see why you were hesitant to share.' [SIZE=13.3333px]She couldn't just see why, she understood it in a complex, entirely indescribable way. Faye rose from her chair and spun on the spot to slip herself into his arms. She felt safe there, it was there she felt like she could take a moment or two to process everything. Endelaan had an entirely rich history all on its own, never mind adding in the complexities of the generations of deWinters, Antares' and the Centurions. Once all was said and done Faye was surprised to find no words would come. Instead she simply looked up at him and, standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a single, passionate kiss into his lips.[/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px] 'I will stand by you, no matter what. You're stuck with me forever, my Prince.'[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px][member=Brayden Antares][/SIZE]

 

[Brayden Antares]

For all of the reassurances that [member="Faye Malvern"] had given him prior to the sharing of his entire network of memories, Brayden remained hesitant not because of the woman occupying the room with him. In fact Brayden was quite sure if his feelings towards the woman and her quality. The love that they shared never once came into question in the Endelaan native’s mind.

However, Brayden had a sliver of doubt regarding that of Endelaan. He worried that to do all he must do in the name of his people, he would be unable to give Faye the life, the partner she truly deserved. It was failure that...concerned him from time to time. Yet, somehow, in the process of sharing so much of himself with Faye, Brayden felt a sense of strength and warmth wash over him. He’d felt the warmth of Faye’s presence before, but this time it seemed...different. It was as if a piece of her soul has literally imprinted itself upon him.

The sensation caused the Sith Lord to blink several times. The fog that settled over Brayden caused him to miss her initial response to his action, but he could feel her movement without even seeing it. His soul stirred and his heart yearned in keeping with the pulse of her own. When Faye pressed her lips to his own, Brayden envelopes her in strong arms, pulling her towel-wrapped body against his own.

For several moments they existed in that space - all other concerns and thoughts melting away. This was where he drew strength from. Faye was his center, an unwavering star in a sky full of turbulence. The soft words she uttered drew a sincere smile to his face as Brayden stood holding the object of his love and devotion. ”I would have it no other way, and there is no other person that I will ever give myself to completely and unconditionally.”

Gently, Brayden cupped one side of Faye’s face in his hand. ”You are everything to me, Faye Malvern.”

 

[Faye Malvern]

The circle his arms made around her body felt like a shield against anything and everything that could hurt her. She felt more connected to him then she had anyone else in her entire life. Two hearts had become one tonight and she could feel it. She could feel it in the steady rhythm beat against his rib cage. Each time he took a breath it felt as if it were filling her lungs. She could guess what he was about to say before the words had even left his mouth. Each tiny movement they made felt in sync, as if they were practicing the most complicated, beautiful dance ever created.

Faye lent her head into his hand, a small, nearly imperceptible smile forming on the edges of her lips. His words made her heart thump so quickly it sounded like a gentle hum. If she could she would have paused time right there, to remain forever in his embrace seemed like the perfect life. 'And you are everything to me.' How could she have fallen for someone so quickly? How could she be so willing to give up everything she had to see him smile or hear his laugh? There was little point in questioning it now, Faye Malvern belonged to Brayden, completely and utterly.

Though the moment felt pure and her heart ached at the thought of spoiling it, her mind was bustling with a thousand questions. His entire life and that of his predecessors swirled in her mind like a tornado of what felt like an insatiable quest for answers. Her mind was drawn once again to Madalena, who she had met the night before. 'Your sister.' She lifted her head from his hand, smoothing her own over the expanse of his bare chest. 'This is why you felt so...' No word she could think of seemed to fit. The hardest part was that Brayden hadn't exactly lost his sister, she was there somewhere, but someone else had taken control of her mind and body. She was there but not there. Faye decided it was better to say nothing. He already knew.

An apology would never be enough either, instead she simply slipped her arms around his waist and buried her head into his chest.

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Silver-green eyes searched the expanse of Faye's chest as she wrestled with her own mind to find the words to complete her question. It was true, however, she didn't need to say anything. Brayden knew what she wanted to ask, to say. He knew in the very core of his soul that she wanted to comfort him for the reality of his family situation. It seemed selfish for him to harbor such thoughts and concerns about the status of his own family.

With the exception of his parents, Brayden's family did live. They were out there in the galaxy...mostly separated from each other and fractured. It was a reality that Brayden intended to rectify and soon with those he knew of. There was no reason for him not to have a relationship with his uncles, and one day his sister, his real sister, would return. Faye...her family was much smaller, having suffered greater atrocities and far more recently than Brayden's own ancient family.

Allowing Faye to rest her head against his chest, Brayden allowed himself to forget his own struggles. They didn't matter anymore, not really. His family was changing, and he hoped one day that he would have the pleasure of calling Faye his family. Regardless of how shortly they'd known each other, Brayden was adult enough to recognize his own emotions. He was a creature of emotion, and he learned not to let them control him long ago...painfully. That reality gave the Sith Lord a clarity in his present situation. There was nothing but love in his heart for the woman he had wrapped up in his embrace. She had occupied a place in his soul that had always belonged to her; he just hadn't known until a month ago.

"It is a struggle to pretend with Madalena, yes. A part of me regrets for dismissing her so summarily, but I no longer have the capacity to pretend with her. I hope to have greater insight into restoring my sister in the coming weeks. But for now..." Withdrawing slightly, Brayden lightly held Faye's face in his hands. Smiling warmly, he placed a soft, brief kiss to her lips. "...I just want to be with you, and I don't want it to ever end."

------
Six Days Later...

The journey had been long and required multiple reversions from hyperspace to realspace in order to make course corrections and, more importantly, prevent a discernible pattern from being created. Additionally, they'd made a stop for Faye to collect some of her belongings from Geonosis. However, eventually, the YT-2100 had settled into orbit around Brayden's homeworld, Endelaan. During the days it took to arrive, Brayden had been the happiest in his life. The hours had rolled by among laughter, love, lust, and conversations about their respective lives. Through it all, the Endelaan native was left with a single resounding thought, he never wanted to be parted from Faye.

Holding Faye casually in his arms near the rear of the YT-2100's cockpit as the two black and silver robed Endelaan Warriors at the controls piloted the vessel through the initial phases of re-entry, Brayden deposited a soft kiss on the top of her head as his bright gaze focused on the deep blue appearance of the lush planet.

It wasn't long before the vessel was racing over crystal-clear waters, an assortment of sea life plainly visible nearly a hundred meters down. "Take us to Villa Sogno."

One of the warriors responded simply, "As you wish, Your Highness."

There would be time to take Faye to the Forbidden Temple, and it was important to Brayden that she have the opportunity to see where he had been born and raised prior to being forced into The Darkness. However, he also knew that the moment he did that, he made a statement that would echo across the surface of Endelaan. Another few moments and the vessel made a shallow bank to the right to carry them towards a gleaming series of towers and rotundas on the shore. Pointing to the edifice that would be his private home on Endelaan, Brayden commented to Faye, "I have yet to spend any time here. I'm amazed at how quickly the construction has been completed."

The YT-2100 was already going through its final landing cycle by the time Brayden had fallen silent once more.

​

[member="Faye Malvern"]

 

[Faye Malvern]

Faye refused to allow herself to comment on Madalena past wanting Brayden to know how sorry she was. All of the information was so fresh and while she wanted to offer him advice or even a little comfort, she was hard pressed to find the right words. Instead she focused on catching his tender kiss with the best smile she could manage. 'You're not getting rid of me anytime soon, don't you worry about that.' With a girlish giggle on her lips she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted herself up to kiss him back.

---

---

They had spent the past six days together, travelling through hyperspace to reach their destination. Normally six days with anyone on a ship was an incredibly stressful experience. Doing nothing but breathing the same recycled air day in and day out with only a thin sheet of metal between you and inevitable death. Yet as time pressed on Faye found herself feeling surprised and enamoured each second that went by, and it was most definitely because of the company. Brayden was... There were no adequate words to describe him. Every word she tried didn't seem to do him justice, at least not in her eyes. Strange though it was to admit it, ever since she had met him, she seemed to view the Galaxy through rose tinted glasses. Nothing could go wrong in his presence, and if it had she wouldn't have noticed anyway. What mattered was the electric emotion between them and how quickly it seemed to grow.

Endelaan was beautiful. The only glimpses she'd had so far were from the viewport on Brayden's private vessel, but that was enough. Seeing his home planet, where he was born and would eventually return to, was more than exhilarating. The events of the week before had ensured she knew everything there was to know about Endelaan and her travelling companion. Unsurprisingly there was a lot of information to shift through but the more she unravelled the more she truly understood. Their journey there had also given them both the opportunity to talk endlessly about everything and nothing. As they streamed through the atmosphere Faye realised, she now knew Brayden better than she knew anyone in the entire Galaxy, including herself.

Faye wriggled free of his grasp for the briefest of moments, only to lean forward to get a better look at the view. Her raven eyes darted back and forth, shimmering with childlike wonder and amazement at the grand structure they sped toward. Brayden's presence was like a magnet. Like a moth to a flame she soon found herself longing to be in his arms again, regardless of the spectacular scenery. Once she had slipped back into his embrace and settled herself against his muscular chest, Faye let a smile grow on her face. 'It's beautiful, I'm surprised you were able to leave it in the first place.' She titled her head a fraction to catch his silver-green eyes with her own. Excitement was already beginning to bubble as the YT-2100 began to land. Spinning herself around in his arms, the shifting white fabric of her dress following her pattern, her fingers danced a quick pattern on his chest. 'Where will you take me first?'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden reluctantly released his hold of [member="Faye Malvern"] as she surged forward to get a better look. While the alluring woman busied herself with the landscape, it was she that held the Prince's gaze. For the briefest of moments, Brayden wondered how it was after continuous exposure for nearly a week...she was still capable of setting his entire soul on fire. There was a desire that was constantly filling his body and an electric love that consumed his heart every moment of every day.

When she'd finally turned to return to him, a warm smile had etched its way into his features. A smile that seemed to always be present upon his lips whether Faye was with him or not. The question that the woman posed to him did not fall upon deaf ears, but Brayden could not find himself managing an answer. Instead, the Sith Lord leaned forward and firmly trapped her lips in his own. The embrace lingered for several long moments as his arms held the woman's body close.

Once Brayden slowly broke the kiss, he offered a very simple response to her question. "Everywhere, my love." Following a soft peck to Faye's cheek, Brayden slowly stepped to back and to the side, offering the woman his arm. With the usual smile still adorning his face, Brayden walked with Faye towards the vessel's loading ramp. While he would have preferred to spend an eternity in bed with Faye, he was quite certain that, like him, she wanted to get outside, enjoy nature.

The moment they stepped into the warm sun of Endelaan, Brayden's entire body was flooded with an energy. It was the energy of the planet, of its rich history, and of the strong connection it maintained with the Force. Faye would feel a familiar, albeit foreign to her, sensation. In Brayden's case, the energy seemed to roll and flow through him, merging with the piece of Faye that he carried in his soul. "Welcome to my home, Faye. Villa Sogno."

As the warriors aboard the light freighter managed transferring bags and personal belongings, Brayden began to guide Faye through the sprawling sea-side estate. They had landed closest to the main residential wing of the edifice. There was a secondary wing higher upon the cliffs that contained a number of guest accommodations as well as a place where Brayden could conduct meetings with whomever he deemed necessary. As a result, there was an array of visitor landing platforms in that direction as well.

Inside of Villa Sogno, Faye would noticed that it was constructed mostly of fine marble. The pillars were ostentatiously detailed in brilliant white. Due to the fact that they were standing in a wing of the estate meant only for Brayden and the immediately family he chose to house therein, doors were sparse. Instead rooms were connected via a number of high-arches that had images etched into them detailing the history of his family and that of the Empire of Maximus and Boadicea - at least that which had been recorded. The flooring in the main foyer was a similar white marble as the columns, but they also contained soft blue hues.

As they made their way into any number of living and dining rooms, Faye would noticed that there was a preference for warmer hardwood floors that were adorned in a number of thick rugs from Endelaan and afar. Pictures and sculptures were arrayed in a manner such as to be complementary without being overpowering. A number of reinforced skylights afforded the opportunity for natural light to filter into the entire residence. In fact, Faye would notice a distinct lack of conventional lighting. At night, most lighting was provided by fire and candlelight. A large kitchen was situated near the rear of the estate, overlooking a cliff that lead into a river feeding directly into one of Endelaan's crystal-clear oceans.

Stepping out onto the wrap-around deck that abutted the expansive kitchen and connected to the master living suite at the far end of the residential wing, Brayden breathed in deeply, allowing the smell of the sea to fill his nostrils. A soft breeze rippled through the light material of the black and silver cloak that Brayden wore over an exposed upper torso and simple pair of pants. Turning his attention back to Faye, Brayden gently pulled her back into his embrace. Softly, the Prince ran two fingers through her hair. "It is my sincerest hope...you find comfort here. Not just this edifice, but Endelaan. I want to share...everything about my life with you, Faye Malvern."

The moment he made the statement, Brayden felt the overwhelming strength of a familiar presence brush against his soul. He knew instantly to whom the presence belonged.

As Arash's presence saturated the entire area of Villa Sogno, the large beast erupted a deep roar as a torrent of red-orange flames erupted from his massive maw as he descended down into a large clearing some two hundred meters from the present location of Brayden and Faye. Remaining standing, Arash kept his wings unfurled and his head held high as he gazed at the royal to whom he was bound and the woman in his arms. When Arash spoke, he did so into both of their minds. Young Prince... It is good to see you remain in appropriate health. And to you...Faye Malvern...

Faye would know who Arash was from Brayden's memories, thoughts, and stories. Similarly, she would likely not be surprised tha the creature was able to discern her identity from the mind of the Prince...if Brayden had allowed such. Endelaan bids you a fond welcome.

 

[Faye Malvern]

After a week of constantly being in his vicinity Faye had expected to be accustomed to his kisses, but they still took her by surprise. Each one was like trying an entirely new flavour or seeing a brand new colour. No words could accurately describe it. She never wanted them to end, her fingers always held on just a little to tight and her lips always met his with an eager passion. Her heart raced so often in his presence she frequently found herself wondering if it would give out, but it never did. It simply slowed itself till he returned to her lips once more. When he withdrew he left a grin on her expression, and though she hungered for more she was also desperate to get out of the ship.

Faye was beyond excited to explore Endelaan, at his mention of everywhere her eyes lit up like a fireworks display. She lent forward to press a final kiss against his lips, not daring to pull away even as she spoke. 'What are we waiting for?' Off like a shot before Brayden even managed to step aside properly she dragged him hand in hand out of the ship and onto his home world. There was something to be said about seeing a landscape through a viewport and seeing it with your own eyes. Endelaan and the Villa Sogno simply took her breath away. Faye stood silently in the gentle breeze, basking her lightly tanned skin in the glow of the warm sun and drawing in as many breaths of fresh air as her lungs would allow. The entire planet felt alive with some kind of electric energy. Not in the way they ordinarily do, it was something deeper. Something entirely indescribable.

The slow tour of Villa Sogno was a source of never ending interest for Faye. Not only was she incredibly impressed with the decor and structure, it retold the history she knew in a more tangible form. Faces were put to names, culture, history and dates all slotted together one by one. As they wondered through and talked Faye couldn't help but picture the future. At first it had felt silly to think about things like marriage, children and growing old together. After all they had only known each other a short while. Yet the more her mind swirled with the thoughts the more she found herself caring less about the length of their relationship. Faye could say with complete and utter certainty that the only life she wanted was one by his side.

Out on the wrap around deck Faye found herself watching him as he took in the sea air. A faint smile had lifted one side of her lips and for some reason she blushed. He'd never seemed more handsome and more at home than he did standing there on the deck. At his prompting she slipped comfortably into his embrace. Her hands tucked behind the cloak and traced his skin gently as she settled against his chest. 'I'm sure with time it will feel like home, but for now and always my home is wherever you are.' The faint smile had steadily grown into an enamoured grin. 'We could live in the slums and I wouldn't notice or care. As long as you're there.'

She freed one of her hands and stroked his cheek with the back of it. Intending to say more her mouth opened, though she found the words were lost in her throat with the introduction of a powerful presence. It felt familiar somehow, in a distant way. Like an old friend she had almost forgotten about. Of course, she knew all about Arash. She knew him almost as deeply as she knew Brayden. Despite this the roar accompanied with the blazing orange flame made her jump in Brayden's grasp, followed by an unintelligible squeak of surprise. Heart still racing in her chest and rib cage still rattling from the echo of the thunderous voice in her mind, Faye spoke, unsure of whether he could hear her or not. 'It's an honour to meet you, Arash.'

[member=Brayden Antares]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Silver-green eyes gazed at [member="Faye Malvern"] with an intensity that matched the warmth of the smile on his lips. There was nothing about his body language or facial expression that could possibly have conveyed anything other than the truest depth of love he felt for the woman in his arms. "I feel the same, Faye. I mean...I would really prefer not to live in the slums though." A playful wink escaped the Endelaan native's expression just as Arash announced his presence into their minds.

Arash indeed could read whatever thoughts that Faye was willing to give him access to. While the large dragon had a very intimate connection with the Prince, he was capable of allowing a relatively similar level of access to Faye. This kindness spoke more of Arash's bond with Brayden and the love and respect he sensed in the Prince for the woman with him. "There will be plenty of time to explore these grounds. While I know you've had a long journey, you've never experienced anything until you've seen the majesty of Endelaan from the back of a creature of Phindar."

Brayden rolled his eyes slightly as the massive beast lowered himself to the ground enough to enable both humans access. Turning back to Faye, the Sith Lord allowed a single corner of his lips to turn up into a smile. "Would you like to change before we depart?" Silver-green eyes permitted themselves a...very slow appraisal of Faye's appearance once more. He obviously had absolutely no problem with her attire. "It's actually far more comfortable riding on Arash than you'd think." The ability to manipulate the feel and composition of his scales was only one of many abilities the mysterious dragon seemed to possess.

The Endelaan Prince had actually...stopped trying to understand. The mysteries of Phindar were not for him to discover unless the inhabitants of the forbidden continent wished him to understand.