Aderyn stood amongst a select few nobles who were honored to be part of this 'historic' occasion. These nobles were talented in spell-casting, a trait only a handful of fae were born with. Magic flowed through all supernatural but only a few species were capable of harnessing it. For the fae, these individuals were called Magique and only female fae could be one. Their presence at the meeting was to entertain the Draconian King and his entourage as well as a security measure. However, the princess were not to engage in combat. She was instructed to perform as the main Magique, which she did not mind, having found a passion for spell-casting.

Though she enjoyed it, it did not help that the enemy royals had arrived. She grew nervous and could sense that many others felt the same, even her father which had surprised her. In an attempt to calm her sudden nerves, she ran a mental list of the Draconian family. There was the King, Brenton Pendragon, a formidable leader and an individual who had managed to irk her father. The Queen, Norberta Pendragon, she knew very little of, just as she knew very little of their children. Their eldest, who was around her age, was a warrior and a very good one at that. She had never fought in the war, only using her magic to heal the wounded soldiers. Many recalled their traumatic encounter with the dragon shifter, claiming that they were still alive thanks to sheer luck. Shaking her head, Rin tried to clear her mind, attempting to recall the two younger royals and she found herself wondering if they would also attend the meeting.

Briefly, she could have sworn she heard their wingbeats, though quickly dismissed it for something else. She had never seen a dragon shifter, much less their dragon forms up close. And a part of her felt a childlike curiosity regarding the matter... and fear for her safety.

The trumpets sounded, startling her, as the doors were opened for Draconian royals. This was the Magique's queue, the small group starting to whisper, summoning an illusion of floral petals falling from the ceiling. Rin murmured a different spell, eyes closed, as she summoned two birds, one a falcon, the other an eagle. The two flew from the door, gliding through the throne room before flying to sit on the king's throne, both disappearing in a flurry of feathers.

Rin was so focused on the spell that she hadn't paid much attention to the guests, though her eyes soon shifted to them.

King Michael rose from his seat, his wings reaching the floor, bowing his head in greeting before he spoke, "I must thank you for accepting my invitation, King Brenton. I must admit, I had my doubts but here you are... And your lovely family in tow." he sent a curt nod to the rest of the Pendragons. His gaze swept across the room, his eyes landing on his only daughter. She was the key to fixing this senseless mess and the sooner he made the offer to the Draconian king, the sooner this damned war would end. He remained where he stood, gesturing to the two youngest Pendragons, "I hope your youngest enjoyed the little magic show... My daughter, Princess Aderyn, had suggested the display to make the visit more welcoming... And to showcase a possible medicinal trade. A select few Magique specifically train in healing magic as well as growing rare medicinal herbs. Princess Aderyn is the current apprentice to our Lead Medicinal Magique..." he droned on, his tone remaining neutral, even when he spoke of his daughter.

Rin had listened to her father, quickly realizing what he was up to. He was proposing for Magique to move to Draconia... to basically trade in magic. That did not surprise her, though that soon changed when he spoke of her. His tone made it seem like he was offering something... or someone. She could only remain silent, eyes darting to her brothers only to find them void of emotion, their faces stoic.

King Michael approached the Draconian king, stopping a few feet in front of him. "Let's cut to the chase King Brenton..." he stated simply before raising his hand and dismissing all the nobles, guards, and servants. "This war has been going on for far too long... both sides have experienced great loss... This peace treaty is necessary to preserve our kingdoms, to preserve our future... our lineage." He spoke formally, his arms resting behind his back. "Thus I propose a marital union between our two kingdoms... a way to cement our newfound peace in history..."

Rin froze in place, growing pale as she processed her father's words. Marry the Draconian Crown Prince!? What was her father thinking!? Nor did he think to discuss the matter with her! Her gaze shifted to her brothers once more, darting between the two, only to find that they had known what their father was up to. That realization had hurt more than she allowed herself to show, her gaze now to the floor. She had a lot to say but knew better than to speak her mind.

King Michael briefly glanced at his daughter to catch her distress before turning his focus to the Pendragons. "A union between your eldest son and my daughter will hold more power and assurance than any piece of paper would... Of course, only a great mind such as yourself would consider this..." he stood in front of the Draconian king, the offer now hanging in the air.

Part 1/2:

A small smile appeared on King Michael's face at the words of the other king. His focus shifted when his gaze caught movement from behind the king, zoning in on the entrance of the Draconian Crown Prince. He seemed strong, strong enough to protect his only daughter. Though he never showed his care for his daughter, he still loved her. And he knew how vulnerable she could be. Michael knew there would be individuals who would disapprove of the peace treaty and rebel. She needed to be kept safe, and the safest place to be, if a rebellion were to rise, is at the side of history's most forbiddable warrior. The Draconian Crown Prince.

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"No need to apologize, Prince Apollo, it's admirable of you to watch over your family during your journey here. You will make a fine king someday..." Michael praised the young male, pleased to see that he cares for his family. "Your father and I were simply discussing the terms of the Peace Treaty... But first, you must my daughter, Princess Aderyn...", he held his hand out towards his daughter, a silent call for her to come to join the small group.

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Rin hesitantly approached them, her body stiff as she took her father's hand as he guided her to stand in front of Prince Apollo. she had to look up in order to meet the Draconian Prince's gaze, his entire demeanor sending a chill up her spine. One out of fear. She stood frozen, her feathers ruffled and wings stiff as she stared at the prince, unable to move. When her father cleared his throat, it snapped her out of her stupor, quickly curtsying to the Pendragons in greeting. "Thank you for coming..." she spoke softly, her gaze trained on the floor.

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Part 2/2

"You must be famished! We can discuss the matter of the treaty tomorrow... After you've gotten rest and enjoyed the wonders that Rudora has to offer. I have arranged for a light meal to be held outside, you are more than welcome to change into something more comfortable... I'll have some servants show you to your courters for the duration of the stay and then we'll meet up in the gardens in an hour or so. That way, you can settle in..." Michael offered, having concluded that the journey is quite long and his guests could be tired.

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"Markus! Emily!" The King called out, summoning the male and female servants. "Markus, show the King and Queen to their courters. Emily, show the young Prince and Princess to their courters. These two servants will aid you during your stay..." Michael quickly explained. "Prince Apollo, my daughter will show you to your room... Do not fret, your family's courters are in the same corridor and each room has been customized to accommodate your shifter race."

Rin had zoned out as she stared at the setting sun, not noticing someone standing next to her. Her elder brother, Prince Lionel, now stood at her side, studying her. His eyes briefly shifted to the Draconian Prince, studying him. He'll be able to protect his sister in a way that her family won't be able to.

"We weren't allowed to say anything... Father had forbidden us from saying a word..." Lionel spoke softly, startling her. Taking a deep breath, Rin turned and faced her brother, "You could've given me a heads-up... you've never listened to father before, what changed?" She challenged her brother, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Lionel stayed quiet, unable to answer his sister. Rin could only shake her head, suddenly feeling suffocated, she needed to get away from the garden. "Talk to me when you finally have an answer...", she softly hissed at him, before storming off.

She felt overwhelmed and desperately needed to clear her head but she couldn't just leave the tea party. Not without her father making a scene. She glanced at everyone, realizing that the only one who could escort her was the Draconian Prince. But at that moment, she didn't care, she just needed to leave. She hastily approached him, gently taking his hand before speaking softly, "There's a nice spot to watch the sunset and it requires flying to get there... figured you'd want to stretch your wings..." she offered, tugging his form too follow. Her form betrayed how she felt, her wings poised, ready to take off.

The Kingdom of Rudora had a generally flat typography except for the mountain range located just behind the kingdom. It was built in such a way that the steep cliff face of the mountain prevented attacks on foot. These cliffs also looked over the castle and to the horizon. It was a day's ride on horseback, two on foot... but flying to these cliffs took mere minutes.

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Rin quickly lead the Draconian Prince to a forested area of the garden, the trees growing quite thick. "There's a spot on the cliffs, it's a pretty big ledge... and you can see most of the kingdom from there..." she spoke softly, informing the prince of where they were heading. It was at that moment that she realized they were still holding hands. She had been holding his hand the whole time. Flustered, she quickly released his hand, an apology escaping her lips.

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Rin took a moment to compose herself, and to figure out a plan that'll accommodate a dragon-shifter. She whispered a teleportation spell, a satchel materializing in her outstretched hands. "Here...", she handed him the bag, "You're going to need this for your clothes... there's enough cover in the trees for you to change..." at this, Rin flushed bright red once more. "Or-or you can just leave your clothes here and-and stay shifted... that's up to you!" She quickly added before promptly turning around, a way of indication for the prince to go and shift.

Rin's mind was occupied with doubts regarding her actions, a bad habit of hers. She had just dragged the Draconian Prince away from the party, no doubt all the individuals present would have noticed their absence by now. And to add, it's the same Draconian Prince that she is supposed to marry to secure peace between their two kingdoms. Heaven knows what kind of rumors the staff will spread!? But if they see a giant dragon flying from the garden, then maybe the rumors won't be as vulgar...

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Her thoughts were interrupted by the unnerving sound of bones cracking and shifting out of place. A chill ran up her spine as she felt the air shift behind her, realizing that there wasn't a man standing behind her anymore... but a dragon. Her wings instinctively shielded her as she turned around, eyes to the ground. The prince had said not to be scared but that was a little hard when a dragon loomed over someone. "You're huge..." she barely managed to whisper, her form shrinking in on itself. She had never seen a dragon, much less been this close to one. She was terrified.

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Though, the more she stared at him, the more she realized what she was terrified of. It wasn't because of the threat he posed, nor was capable of. She was terrified of his size. Her fear soon shifted to awe, a sense of curiosity filling her form. Her childlike curiosity gave her the courage to speak, though her single word came out as a whisper, "Hi...". She took a tentative step toward the prince's dragon form, though her actions were brave, her body langue showed she wasn't.

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Her feathers were ruffled, her form stiff but her eyes conveyed her curiosity. Taking a deep breath, she met his eyes... or eye, because he's huge... "Can I... can I pet you?" she asked shyly, nervously playing with a bracelet. There is nothing wrong with indulging in her curiosities, especially if it'll help seal the peace treaty, right? And she'll have to face her fears sooner, rather than later... especially since she'll be marrying into a dragon-shifter family.

Rin stood rigid as she watched Apollo's form move, taking note of his swishing tail. How he managed not to knock over trees nor damage the garden amazed her. He was evidently aware of his size and took care in how he moved. That eased her nerves further. And when he laid his head next to her, she sighed out of relief. He was allowing her to pet him.

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She slowly approached him, careful not to accidentally startle him in some way. Her hand reached out, hesitating a few centimeters above his nose before softly grazing her fingers across the ruffed scales. She couldn't help the small smile forming, nor the look of awe that filled her gaze. The scales were rough, yet somehow smooth... much like a set of well-polished armor. Soon her hand rested against his snout, feeling the heat radiating from underneath. "Thank you...", she whispered softly, retracting her hand and taking a few steps back. She would love to study his dragon form a bit longer but her brief courage had ceased. The urge to get away from the party had returned.

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"We should get going... before the sun fully sets..." she muttered out, taking a running jump before her wings carried her weight. It took her a few wingbeats before she finally reached the appropriate height, hovering as she waited for the Prince to take to the skies. Once he did, she lead him to the mountains and to the specific ledge she had in mind prior. The ledge was quite large and only accessible through flight.

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She promptly landed, moving to the edge of the ledge and taking a seat, her feet dangling over. She released another sigh, though this one out of contempt. She came here often, the place giving her a false sense of freedom. And a sense of peace. For flying next to a dragon was quite daunting. She watched him land before shifting her focus to the horizon once more.

Rin tensed up as Apollo laid his head next to her, coming to the conclusion that he was staying in his shifted form. Knowing this, she relaxed once more, her wings sagging behind her. In some strange way, she found herself enjoying his presence. His sheer size and gentle demeanor toward her provided a sense of safety... something she hadn't felt in quite some time. If they were to marry, she would at least try to make it work. For the sake of her people, for her kingdom but most certainly not for her father. He'll know that she isn't complaint for his sake, she'll make sure of it. It might seem childish, for her to act spitefully, and selfish even but her anger and sense of betrayal will remain for a while.

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She glanced at the dragon beside her, noticing his form relaxing, even if just a little. She noticed smoke blowing from his nostrils, fascinated by the idea of being able to breathe fire. "I've only ever heard stories about dragons..." she started softly, her gaze on the near-setting sun, "You're the first dragon I've ever seen... In some way, I'm glad you're my first... But you've no doubt met... fought many Fae before me..." She wasn't sure if she was truly speaking to him or merely sharing her thoughts out loud. Maybe she thought by sharing what was going on in her mind, he'll gain some understanding regarding herself.

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"Did you know that I've never traveled outside of the kingdom's borders? Let alone the castle grounds... The cliffs are as far as I've ever gotten. Imagine that, the sole Princess of Rudora has never even interacted with her people except for the wounded soldiers returning from a pointless war... The people must think me a coward, or worse fragile... I can't imagine what your people would think of me, a simple offering to ensure peace. A tribute... an object... No doubt that's what my people think... Compared to you, I seem like a mere child." at this, she released a bitter chuckle, her knees now to her chest. "Rudora will gain a great warrior... Draconia will gain..." she hesitated, trying to think of something, only to mutter to herself, "They'll gain nothing..."

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Like any other individual, Rin was filled with doubt. And for the first time in a while, she felt comfortable enough to voice them. Though she could never imagine that she'd be sharing them with the Draconian Prince. "Sorry... I-I just... You're easy to talk to... I-I promise I'll try my best, to be someone worthy of maybe becoming Queen one day... I-I'll put on a brave face and I won't complain... And-and... I'll stop talking now..." She rambled on before abruptly shutting up.

Rin jumped a little at the sound of growling emitting from the dragon next to her. Though the sound merely startled her. And confused her. She noticed him shaking his big head after she had spoken her mind though couldn't quite understand what he was disagreeing with. No matter, the gesture had shown that he had truly listened to her while she rambled and that alone brought a small smile to her lips. "Thanks for listening..." she whispered sincerely, slowly reaching out and gently petting his nose in gratitude. She hoped it didn't offend the Draconian prince as she didn't know in what other way to express her thanks. She opted to remain silent for the remainder of the sunset, though the flaming orb wasted no time in disappearing behind the horizon. No doubt the party had ended by now, all participants having headed to their rooms for the night.

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Though Rin had to admit, she didn't wish to go back just yet. "Do you want to stay here a little longer?" she asked softly, her gaze shifting to the dragon once more. The night air had caused a brief chill, her wings puffing up in response. Their iridescent appearance now almost glowing underneath the moonlight.