*THERE IS A STORY BELOW THE DESCRIPTION*

Since I've begun to have plenty of OC's on my Deviantart account, I figured that I should have one that would be a lamia/snake-woman and I went for an artist whose design work I like: Gameboyred. I wanted the full-on desert princess vibes, with more snakes than one could handle...And this gave way to her.

I don't know if Gameboyred has a furaffinity account, but if you're interested in their work and perhaps even commissioning them (they're pretty cheap), you can find their stuff on Deviantart art, right here: https://www.deviantart.com/gameboyred

And now enjoy her story. ;)

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“I'm sorry...Could you repeat that again?”

Theodore could not believe this. He never knew his father could be capable of such cruelty to one of his son, a child he was supposed to cherish and protect with all of his heart. He was shocked beyond belief, needing some fresh air as he went to one of the numerous windows in his chambers, a room fit for a prince, made so just for that reason precisely.

“You have heard me well the first time. Do not devolve into melodrama, I beg of you,” his instructor, Temmat, the wizard of reknown, went on to say as he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation, looking at his pupil with a growing annoyance. “There were many options for your spouse and they went on to choose a very suitable and downright, dare I say it, incredible candidate for you. It's a really rare opportunity for you to actually shine and, dare I say, useful to the kingdom.”

“Excuse me?” Theodore went on to say, furious about this little barb as he went toward the older man who thought he could speak such nonsense to one such as him. “Do you know who I am? I am-”

“Theodore Von Rasgaf, a prince and the third in line for the throne of the Kingdom of Zufia...Yes...I know...It's something you have a habit and fondness to repeat,” Temmat said, already losing patience yet doing his best to just get on with it with this petulant and overly protected son of a wise and strong king whom he called friend. “I understand that this is sudden, but believe me it's for your own good and for your kingdom as well that we arranged this. Believe me, it could be far, far worse on your end.”

“And what if I had a beloved already, uh? Did you think of that? Of how you'd be dooming my romantic pursuit with your goals and political machinations?” Theodore retorted, approaching the wizard with fire in his eyes, determined to win this argument at any cost.

“You don't have anyone like that in your life, Theodore...Everyone knows that...” Temmat said, his patience growing so thin so as to be microscopic as he forced a little smile, yet his expression could not hide his disdain for this precise situation. “You know what...Name me one person who you actually have any love interest toward and who you know might have some for you and I'll see what I can do.”

Theodore went on to smile, doing so with a touch of arrogance as he went on to think of all those who gravitated toward him, those in his entourage who'd certainly be quite okay with being in his proximity in terms of love and marriage. There was Laura...No, she was actually promised to his brother, a great warrior who had won her heart due to his prowess in battle. Oh, but there was Catherine as well...who was always close to his other brother who was a diplomat and with whom she passed every single moments with. There might be Laurencia, the maid who always had a smile for him each time he passed...Albeit she had a smile for everyone due to her kindness. The more he thought about it, the more he was just part of an entourage, people there because of obligations, of his father, his brothers or even because they were paid to be with him as he fully realized the situation he was in.

“Sorry about this, Theodore, but it's for your own good. You're a bright person, but I'm afraid you don't exactly shine in any specific domain...Or that we just haven't found the one place in which you do excel. All you've done is throw celebrations and bals, play and frolick while your other brothers developed their aptitudes and now...Well...Here we are,” Temmat said, his temperament changing because he felt a little remorseful for being so direct with the grown prince, perhaps the one who had taken the biggest blow when his mother died years ago. “I do believe you might be quite pleasantly surprised by who we've chosen for you. Kyra, the Princess of Dunes, is a very fine woman from what I've heard and could quite possibly turn you into a happily married man. I'll leave you to let you linger on that now...”

With the old man effectively letting Theodore be alone with his thoughts, the prince was fuming, effectively angry at this turn of fate, this farce of divine proportion. He was to be used as a token of some sort, in a loveless marriage to some unknown woman from a far-off region. For possibly something as silly as trade accords and routes, a treaty or some nonsense like that. His own happiness mattered not, no matter what the wizard said, how he tried to make it sound palatable. It might not have sounded so bad if they had matched him with someone that could be compatible with him and not someone that hailed from Hayya, the Kingdom of Snakes.

He would be married to a lamia of all things. A snake-woman. So many legends and rumors were placed upon them with them being cunning manipulators, tricksters, for them not to be trusted in any ways. Their forked tongue, their long tail able to crush others to a pulp, their temperament...Their kingdom, from what he knew, respected strength above all things, power in its most simple of forms. There was no poetry there, no art, only fighting and barbarism. The only thing that seemed to make it so their kingdom survived was their king and the fact that they pushed this agressivity toward their own market too, making it so they were absurdly rich due to their mines and their incredibly strategic emplacement on many connected roads. And someone from Hayya would be coming here and be married to him.

Days passed as he heard news of how far the caravan hailing from Haya was on their way to Zufia as Theodore tried to think of plans to ensure that this sordid affair would never be done, this alliance left unsealed now and forever. He could pay a servant to act as his illegitimate spouse...But that would only throw down someone in dishonor and him as well. He could try to convince his father yet again...But the king would not hear him out as he wanted Theodore to “give her a chance”. Perhaps an assassination...But no that would be extremely evil and also dangerous, as she was a princess from a kingdom of barbarians. Who knew if she was strong or not and if she'd actually vanquish the assassin, get information from them and then enact vengeance upon him afterward? He was growing anxious, barely able to get up from bed to study and try to help as much as he could with other areas, if only to show that he could still be useful in other ways. All of this was for naught, though, as the caravan arrived in the courtyard past the gate and Theodore had to go on and greet the Princess of Dunes, his possible spouse. He was looking at her carriage, one pulled by four horses and who was slightly larger than the others as someone like her did need to have an escort, be it help or guards to come along with her just in case. Plenty of reptile people went on to move off their horse, large and muscular lizard-men being followed by nagas and lamias, armored and either coiled up around mounts or simply steady upon them. Each of them lined up as three, an elite guard that consisted of three large and tall lamias, each rather intimidating in size alone, went on to knock on the large carriage's door. “We have arrived in Zufia, princess. You can go on and make your entrance as befit a grand slitherer like yourself. Hiss and be known.”

They crossed their arm and lifted their head, then hissed together, creating an unified sound that was rather aggressive-sounding. It lasted a few seconds until they stopped and her door opened, pushed by an arm that was slender, but also rather large. Then, Kyra went on to be known as everyone in the courtyard went on to look at her, to be in awe of her for a great many reasons, a diverse plethora of facts and observations making it so she was quite unique when perceived through Zufian eyes.

For one, she was tall and large, perhaps twice the size as a normal human male. She towered over her escort as she slithered out of the carriage, helped by a tail of a thickness that was certainly impressive. Her skin, or was it scales, was composed of black of the most lustrous quality, dark as night and yet with a sheen that seemed supernatural, coating her arms, her shoulders, a large part of her tail, her back, her face and her hair. The rest, her torso, belly and underbelly was all of a deep yellow that looked not unlike gold due to how metallic it seemed, creating for a contrast of utter brightness and deep shadows. Her hair, black much like the rest, went on to stir as it began to move and hiss, tiny eyes made of green hue going on to pop out as forked tongues went out of her strands, showcasing that her hair was made of snakes, each moving independently as they observed their surroundings and everyone who looked at her. She opened her golden-colored eyelid, adjusting to the sunlight after having slept for apparently a long time, her own eyes green hues as well, devoid of pupils, irises or even slits like those in her escort. They seemed deep and endless somewhat, making her expression hard to read. Clad in nothing much save for golden jewelry adorned by multiple jewels, topazes, amethysts, rubies, sapphires and emeralds all attached to bands, rings, chokers, bracelets and what-not that were worn in her hair, around her neck, her arms, her fingers and her waist, all topped with a crown sporting a singular eye, this one bearing a slit. A golden top, a green sash and a blade attached to the tip of her tail were all that was left for everyone, including Theodore to notice as she seemed savvy enough to understand that she'd be scrutinized and gazed upon, saying nothing for a little while to let everyone gawk at her.

“My greetings, your majesty,” she said with a light voice, one that did not seem to fit her size in any way, her suave tone escaping from her green lips, thrown their way due to her skilled forked tongue. “I present myself, Kyra Ab'Hawin, known in some regions as the Night Slitherer, The Hiss of the Moon, the Blade Dancer and in many more simply as the Princess of Dunes, fourth in line for the position of ruler of the Sultanate of Hayya.”

While the numerous nobles, guards and generals of Zufia observed the scene and heard the numerous referrals of titles worn by this foreign princess, a smaller lamia, one seemingly old due to her slouched position and the greying of her scales and underbelly, went on to appear. She moved out of one of the smaller carriages, looking at everyone as she got closer to the dignitaries of Zufia. She herself seemed to wear much more modest vestments, that is she wore clothes around her entire body save for her tail, ample robes which clashed with the garments of the princess and the leather straps of the numerous guards. She approached them, her own eyes possessing slits too, which meant that only Kyra seemed to possess none of them, making her look even more unique among her people. “Greetings, your majesty. I am Suri A'Oman, the envoy sent by the great sultan Akram Ab'Hawim. I am here to negotiate on his behalf, as per our arrangement. He would have loved to come and to visit this far-away kingdom of yours, but alas one such as you must be aware of kingly duties and the weight they have on one's shoulders.”

There was such a sharp contrast between Suri and Kyra that it almost seemed comical, yet one glance from the envoy was enough to stiffle any chuckle coming from Theodore as he tried to keep himself polite and respectuous. Certainly, no one would be really dense enough to make him marry this demi-giant of a woman? Without her tail, he'd possibly just be tall enough for the top of his head to come in contact with her chest...And with the addition of her tail, he seemed like a child when compared to her. Nobody would think it a good idea, realize their mistake and just wander on home, that much was obvious.

“Now, I know it is not quite polite to make demands right at the very start, but could you be so polite as to guide us all to sources of warmth? We are cold-blooded, most of us, and as such we do not deal all that well with environment that isn't like our home for very long,” Suri went on to ask, nodding at Temmat with a little smile on her face while the old wizard went on to nod back her way, a complicity seemingly long-installed between those two. Theodore noticed that, thinking that perhaps it was because of those two that he was caught in such a silly situation. Two old people thinking they knew what was best, the plague of his life so to speak. “Surely a kingdom as advanced as you must know of the great discovery that is fire?”

Her joking tone made most of everyone chuckle, even his father the king, as the welcome party moved back inside the castle while every fireplaces, large torches and such elements were lit up, flames coming in to warm everyone as Theodore felt he was suffocating from the heat already. Many people from the princess escort went on to either sit or create seat of coils close to those flames, seemingly dropping their guards in a way that baffled the prince. Their princess was in a foreign land, in a place where she knew nothing, could be killed, kidnapped or threatened and they just went on get cozy instead of vigilant? What was wrong with them?

“Your concern for Kyra is quite touching, Theodore, but they do things differently where they hail from,” Temmat went on to say, getting closer to the prince. “Yes, you are very easy to read and I've known you for a long while. Now, while Suri, the King and I speak of terms and treaties, I think it would be wise if you came to know the Princess of Dunes better, yes? Bring her to your chambers and, for the love of all that is holy, put up a fire to warm her up.”

And just like that they left him for their own device. He was the center of all this speech, yet somehow they felt good enough to just go on and make it so he'd already spent some time alone with her. He had barely seen her for five minutes and there it was, things moving way too fast for his liking. He sighed, remembered his obligations and tried to put herself in her shoes...or whatever vestment analogy he could think of due to her tail. She was in an unknown place, far away from home, where it was cold and she too was thrown in an arrangement that might not suit her. He didn't know her, was frankly afraid of her, but compassion should be a given somehow as he motioned, with a polite and simple gesture, for her to follow him, which she did with a nod of her head. They were silent as she wasn't escorted at all, yet again, moving through corridors that weren't exactly built for someone her size as she almost reached the ceiling. He looked at her slither, at how her hair-snakes seemed so curious about everything, gazing at every paintings, work of art, windows and anything of interest which could be found and seen. Her normal face was impassible, her emotions somewhat stiffened to a thin, barely-pleasant smile while her eyes seemed just devoid of emotions. With no eyebrows or pupils, it was still very hard to read her. Still, he sighed, hoping that he would not be tying the knot with someone like her as he figured there was no reason why she'd even want to be with him in the first place. They were in the same predicament, after all, thrown toward a wedding that served the interest of others, not their own. “If you'd please, milady,” Theodore said, breaking the silence as he opened the door, moving aside to let her enter, figuring that she might need some help, some push. To his surprise, she was nimble and somehow stretchy as she passed without so much as a problem, entering his quarters as he went inside as well. Litting up a fire as per Temmat's suggestion, he stayed silent, focusing on his task as it was Kyra herself that went on to speak first, her voice filling the room easily.

“I've been told many things about you, Theodore Von Rasgaf. About your nature, your grief, your directionless life and how you truly feel about a possible alliance between us two,” she began to say, not going for small-talk but to the heart of the matter as she created a seat of coils for her to lounge upon, setting herself on her side to better observe him as he'd be able to see her completely. “I've been told a lot, but I do not feel that I know you, nor that you know me, which is a given due to the circumstances. If you have any questions, any problems and worries, do feel free to speak them out. While I do enjoy this art form, there is no need to dance around the subject.”

This took him by surprise, yet he felt that perhaps it shouldn't. Hayya was a country that respected strength in its many forms, so being direct was a show of confidence in a way he figured. He looked at her as those snakes of her were all fixated on him, moving about, unable to stay in one place for very long it seemed. He sat down, looked at her and saw perhaps an opportunity for, if nothing else, learning. “I am indeed extremely wary about this possible matrimony of ours, princess,” he said, playing it straight as she had been earnest enough to start with what worried them both. “I'm not sure either of us is the right fit for the other. You're a large snake-woman who comes from a place where power is everything, while I'm but a prince from a cold place who values this yet in a very, very different way.”

“Ah, I see, misconception is part of the problem, then,” Kyra said, hissing as her lips formed a little smile, seemingly content about the candid conversation they were having. “We do not respect power exactly in Hayya. Many think might, strength are all that there is, but they're mistaken. They're not entirely wrong that we respect it, but it's only a facet of what we truly revere, and that is conquest.”

He supposed this was meant to be reassuring, but it truly wasn't. Conquering, to him, meant taking things by force, it meant going on against other people's wishes and taking what you pleased, consequences be damned. “Conquest? You mean pillaging, destroying and claiming things that aren't yours? Theodore said, unable to contain himself as he realized the immense insult he had thrown her way. Perhaps it was as Temmat said and he did show his emotions much too rapidly and easily as he sighed and tried to retract some of the venom and shades he sent her way. “Or perhaps I'm being too harsh and I'm mistaken again. Could you please elaborate?”

None of what he had said seemed to really shock or offend her as she closed her eyes for a little while, hissed and then opened them up again. “I've had to explain this to other dignitaries, envoys and nobles, so I shall do the same here. Conquest, in Hayya's standard, means an accomplishment, defeating something that may or may not be a foe. When you face your fears, you conquer them. When you go on and learn new dances and motions, you conquer them. When you best someone in a competition, you conquer them. Conquest is, in a way, everything to us,” she answered, showing no hesitation or shame toward what she said, spreading her beliefs for Theodore to assimilate and understand. “All those titles you have heard a few moments ago, a mere handful of them as I have many, were claimed by myself and accepted because of such conquests. Yes, we value strength, we value power, but such things can be attributed to will, to strength of character, to devotion, determination and so forth. We actually value accomplishment and improvement, if those terms are more familiar to you.”

It did seem more palatable to Theodore, albeit he could possibly see some flaws within such a system for those of more feeble constitution or those with less fortunate upbringing. Her “conquests” were not exactly the same as those who just plowed the fields or who mined deep underground. He prepared for a change of subject, yet some of her snake hair went on to shiver a little, as if sending information toward her main head. He wasn't quite sure if those strands of hair were their own entity or if this was a hive-mind of some sort...He couldn't quite make sense of it and yet she spoke before he could as he felt both fascinated and disgusted by her unique physique.

“I sense hesitation, doubts, things that are left unsaid. Let me be very, very clear, princeling,” she said, her tone taking on a rather serious note as she approached her head toward him, as if inspecting every nooks and crannies of his body, especially his face as the multiple snakes that formed her hair went on to get closer, sniffing and hissing toward him. “I value honesty and boldness. I have no need for noble double-entendre, things kept to oneself and so forth. If you are afraid of how I may retaliate, perhaps even strike down in anger and petulance, rest assured that I am no brute. I have no interest in battling or harming you in any way. You would not really be a challenge in that respect, I believe.”

She was pretty terrifying, all things said. Her size, the way she acted, her alien physique and the combination of her true beauty, which could actually be found, made it so Theodore didn't quite know how to handle her, or if he even could pretend to do that in the first place. He was afraid, yet he couldn't quite admit that to himself in any capacity, his pride demanding that he stand firm. It proved to be especially difficult, his tongue tied, his knees weak and his resolve faltering right now. He was to marry her...and that alone was enough to make him want to panic.

Her snakes continued to sniff him, until they went on to remove themselves. They shivered, yet again sending information as Kyra went on to sigh, to look toward the window for a moment, in silence, and then she returned her gaze toward him. “My apologies. I do have a tendency to be a little headstrong and that can be intimidating. I understand your predicament, going forth to converse with a woman twice your size, with a physique far removed from your norms. It must be very bizarre for you,” she went on to say, her voice being a little gentler as she gave him more space. “I presume you understand the pressure of duty, of filling one's role in life, yes? To have expectations thrown your way and to have to meet them, no matter if you enjoy it or not?”

He felt a little more at ease, yet the way her hair stared him down did not quite help as he caught his breath and some of his courage anew, then tried his best to reply. “Y-yes. I know that very well...” Theodore answered, not exactly mentioning that being with her was part of that, though he assumed that this is what she was talking about. “Sometimes I don't even know how I'm supposed to meet those expectations or if I even should try. I don't feel like I'll ever be good enough for whatever projects they might have in mind for me.”

“Let us talk frankly, then. I want to know more about you, your struggles, your dreams...everything,” Kyra said, going on to approach her face, yet in a softer and slower manner, a thin little smile on her face as she moved her body around to better see him. “I've been told things about you, yet from other people...Would you be so kind as to talk about yourself to me?”

The way she bent and twisted herself made it so it was much, much easier to lost sight of her tail and to focus instead on her chest and her abdomen. Her face was still predominant, yet her upper body was easier to look at and at that angle it was more obvious that, to human standards, Kyra was somewhat lovely. He didn't know how she was perceived in Hayya, but the way she was respected meant that perhaps her own conquests, whatever they were, gave her a great boost in terms of reputation. She could be kind and direct, terrifying and strong, alien and yet very much alike him...He didn't quite know if he was blessed or cursed by this union, to be frank. His hesitation, his discomfort, made it so she sighed softly and then went on to move her hair in little waves, undulations as she closed her eyes.

“You seem to be quite uncomfortable right now, stressed. Allow me to help you with that,” Kyra suggested, opening her eyes as it seemed like she had grown pupils of the shiniest gold possible, yet they were evasive, flowing outward along the sea of deep luminescent green that formed her gaze. Her hair began to slightly glow as the eyes of each strands, each snakes, went on to switch between gold and green, like little illusory spots that couldn't be kept on the same shade for long. “Just look at my eyes, at my hair and at my face in general. Breathe deeply, softly, slowly, and just listen to my voice, princeling.”

How could he not? The moment she had done so made it impossible for him to gaze anywhere else. There was something pulling him in that glorious gaze of hers. He thought it strange at first that she had no irises or pupils or anything of the sort, just big green and deep orbs. In fact, he wasn't quite sure if those eyes weren't entirely cosmetic and actually useless. Now, though, he felt a power within them, an appeal, that called out to him as he began to regulate his breathing, doing so automatically as the snakes, her eyes and that crown she wore, with a jeweled eye, seemed to really captivate him, creating a trifecta of fascination that he did not seem to be able to avert his gaze from.

“As you've listened to me, talked to me and just came to understand me a little better, you're starting to realize that I'm not scary or intimidating, that I'm not a danger to you in any way. You can start to relax while I'm around, to feel more at peace, at ease,” Kyra continued, her snake hair getting quite closer to Theodore as they began to hiss softly, close to his ears, their proximity being invasive but her gaze certainly being all-encompassing. “There's more to know about me, more to share about you as you begin to comprehend that you can share whatever you want, anything you feel you need to say. You look into my eyes and see nothing but a calm and easily befriended guest in your own room. Everything is fine. Nothing is wrong. You can tell the truth now.”

She talked so softly, her tone filled with such a gentleness and yet an echo of power within that Theodore just couldn't find it in him to disagree. What she said did indeed soothe him, yet it also made a lot of sense. If she had the intention of harming him, she could have done it a while ago, at the very start of their alone time. Her guards were outside his room, it was only the two of them and perhaps he could just stand to be a little less aggressive...Or maybe he could just actually say what he meant and be done with it. Still, he had to admit that those hisses and those eyes of hers were getting him, making him feel rather...good.

SNAP!

Then he was startled by this sudden sound as he readjusted his pose on his chair, finding that he had been slumping in a rather sordid posture. A little embarrassed, he was puzzled about just what had happened, yet knew better than to ask Kyra about it...But actually he didn't know better. What had she done? Why did he feel so calm and nice only for him to feel strange about it? He had to know. “What was it that you just did right now?” he asked, not minding that this question might be improper or perhaps this sensation being just a figment of his imagination. He knew she had done something and he'd get some answers. “Something with your eyes?”

“This is one of the traits I inherited from my father, the power of suggestion, using fascination, a focal point and a tiny bit of magic to instill a moment of open-mindedness, relaxation and a vulnerability toward outside thoughts and ideas toward other. In some places, it is called charm, at others its nickname is being entranced,” Kyra explained, having removed herself from his proximity as she had created a bed of coils for herself, lounging upon it in a way that did show up her upper body. “It's called hypnosis where I come from and I use it for many things, like for instance I just did in order to make you feel a little more safe and comfortable around me.”

This was a terrifying idea, yet he did feel a little bolder, more brave around her with his ideas and what he felt he could talk about. It was scary that she had actually influenced his thoughts and his mood, but then again it had felt so peaceful, so nice to momentarily forget himself and drift into this...hypnosis. He felt he had to be wary, but then again he enjoyed that he could talk about it, seeing no reason to restrain himself on any subjects. “So if you wanted, you could just use that to convince me to join your side, be a little puppet and nothing more?” Theodore said, confronting her on the spot as he straightened his back to appear more confident, looking at her directly in the hopes that it would provide more weight for his accusation. “What would be stopping you from just 'conquering' me right here and now?”

“On thing making it so I don't is simply that you're not an enemy, far from it in fact,” Kyra explained calmly, shivering a little as Theodore went on to see that the fire was beginning to dim. “It can be used to conquer, it's true, but one rule that my father has instilled and is very, very strict about is that if one wants to conquer something, than one has to be ready for the consequences, for not just obtaining it but nurturing it, keeping it safe and glorious, sometimes embellishing it. There is no point in gaining something only to discard it right after working so hard to claim it...And I would like to see you being conquered differently...Much like my father did with his own harem.”

“He conquered his harem? That sounds suspicious and downright problematic,” Theodore admitted, getting up as he went on to throw some more logs in the fireplace, stirring it up with some dead leaves as well to make it start anew for the comfort of his guest. “When someone like me hear it, it sounds like he gained his wives by force, which is a very troubling idea.”

“Oh, my father conquered the hearts of his wives and husbands due to his reputations, his feats and occasionally by besting them in duels...albeit he never could defeat my mother, who was a gorgon,” Kyra said, her curiosity piqued by just how much Theodore seemed restrained prior to this moment, prior to her unlocking something within. She disliked the words, yet greatly enjoyed the challenge, the verbal joust which ensued. “My mother actually defeated him in battle, a rare feat, and asked to bed him as a reward. My father had been seduced, of course, and proceeded on to comply with her wish gladly...But he bested her in the bedchamber in ways that he refuse to talk about, yet my mother did say, in her own words, that she had been conquered and thus he had gained his first wife that day.”

It was perhaps a bit too much information for Theodore, who blushed at this mention of intimacy and sexual prowess being told so openly, without any shame, yet perhaps those two characteristics seemed to apply to the Princess of Dunes very well. She spoke out and seemed determined to obtain what she wanted, yet did she actually desire him or was it a purely political affair? He had to know. “You say your father has wives and husbands, that is correct?” he asked, his question mostly rhetorical to advance another point, not going forth with the idea that he felt it unusual for this to be, much less with other men at that. “Does that mean you have other people in your life too? If we were to be wed, would I be your one and only...or not?”

“Much like my father, I have no interest in monogamy, going forth to spread my power, influence and the pleasure of my company to those I feel has earned it or who could benefit from it,” Kyra half-answered, hissing as warmth began to return to the place, feeling more at ease as her snake-hair undulated, then rested close to her head, indicating that she was pleased. “If we were to be wed, you'd be my third spouse. Specifically, you'd be my second husband, accompanying another man and my wife in sharing marriage to me.”

“Does that mean I would then be yours and yours alone? A toy to be considered only in those terms? A side-piece to your royal being?” Theodore dared ask, his own boldness surprising even him, yet his thoughts were carried to his lips, who then moved on their own. Was he so adamant to anger a being twice his size, with battle-prowess that was apparently legendary? He could defend himself with a rapier, though barely, and against her he knew that he'd be crushed within seconds. Yet, he went on with his questions, his half-accusations formed within his open-mind, his shocking honesty. “Or am I mistaken here as well?”

“Oh, it's very much open. Like I said, if I am to conquer you I would like to see you grow. Trophies and symbols are useless, but deeds can carry others far,” Kyra replied, rising to the challenge as she went on to get closer, dangerously so as her thin smile became a little bit mischievous, as if she seemed playful right now. “And I have to say I see a lot of potential in your, Theodore. I believe we could learn a lot from one another in many respects.”

Before Theodore could go on to retort to that, the snake hair began to yawn one by one as Kyra began herself to yawn, seemingly quite tired as she coiled herself up, creating a makeshift bed for her to sleep on. “You'll have to forgive me, but there's a reason they call me the Night Slitherer, as I live a mostly nocturnal life and I woke up specifically to be able to speak to you...And I do wish we could continue, but I am simply exhausted,” Kyra went on to admit before closing her eyes down, finding slumber exceptionally easily. She dozed off and her hair went on to rest on her own tail while she shifted around for more comfort. Dumbfounded by this, Theodore knew not what to think as he figured he could wake her up, ask her to get a room and to leave the sanctity of his own quarters to himself, but then again she had made a special effort to make a good first impression. He wasn't quite sure if it was a positive one, but he couldn't say that he had hated it. She was very confident, self-assured and did not back down from anything tough, which were actually qualities that he could in fact benefit from. Sighing, he went on to get some sheets and linens and covered her with as much as he was able, bringing her some more warmth as he stoked up the fire anew before leaving her there, needing some more time to gather his thoughts.

Was he ready to become a third husband to some exotic, yet alien princess? Could he really leave everything behind like this? If he was to be hers and she his in a sense, then he'd most assuredly travel to Hayya. The climate here was not good for her, too cold, yet she had traveled here to meet him, for her own goals. He couldn't quite shake up that he was still a mean to an end for her, for his father and for the Sultan of Hayya, that he was instrumental in role though his own feelings weren't really all that important in the end. If he said yes, everyone would be happy...But would he? Tough questions to be asked, spinning around in his mind, crushing his own mental fortitude which had seemed to strong, so irrevocably unbreakable after having looked into her eyes, heard her words and feel her power...If only he could feel like that all the time. But then again if he was with her, then perhaps this was actually possible? But to be wed to her just for that would not be honorable...albeit he had indeed enjoyed it greatly. He was confused, a mess, indecisive and thus he went on for the rest of the day, going to the royal library to pass the time.

He went on to read a little more about Hayya, what little there was, and then about other such things like snakes, lamias and nagas, again surprised that there was so little about that. They shed their skin, the speed at which they could slither, how they could crush their foe with their powerful tail, how many muscles they possessed...It was all approximative, but he figured that by reading about this he could indeed come to understand a bit more about what he might be getting into.

“So, how was your meeting with the Princess of Dunes, my prince?” A familiar voice said, that of Temmat as he sat down close to him, himself seemingly quite pleased, a rare occurrence as he was usually sour or at least neutral and calm, as if life itself bothered him.

“You seem chipper, Temmat,” Theodore said, closing his books to give more attention to the old mage. “I'm actually pretty conflicted, I must admit. She's not like I had pictured her, yet she also very much is in a way. I'm just...uncertain.”

“Well, believe me when I tell you that people from Hayya, from the lamia and naga inclinations, are mostly passionate by nature. They thrive onto what fires them up, what motivates them,” Temmat explained, looking at Theodore in the eye, the young prince listening to him very intentedly as for once it wasn't a lesson or some kind of chastising that this court wizard was offering to him, but just advice. “If the prospect of marrying you didn't even please her, she wouldn't have come. They'll be staying for a week to gather supply and get to see the countryside, to see the sights...And I think you should go with them, give them a tour of some sorts. Perhaps this would give way to a better understanding of who they are and what kind of person Kyra Ab'Hawim is.”

It seemed like a pretty good idea, to perhaps show the sight of what he felt was familiar to a bunch of people from afar. This he could do, something that his more warrior-like brother or his more diplomat and bureaucratic other sibling couldn't do with that much panache. He knew the surroundings and he could very well do just that. As such, he began to gather just about all the guards he could, most of them who couldn't quite understand him, yet understood enough of who he was to go on and follow him anyway. He then went to his room, going on to try and wake Kyra up. None of the guards seemed eager to do that, yet Suri, who Theodore picked along the way, went on to wake her up in the most direct of manner, by tapping, nearly-slapping, her tail.

“Wake up, Princess of Dunes, Blade Dancer, Hiss of the Moon. The princeling is generous enough to give us a tour and the sun is almost down. You've slept enough,” she said, not minding her tone or approach in the slightest as Theodore saw a part of Temmat's approach to her, figuring it made sense that the two were friends...Or perhaps something more? Not exactly desirous to get into what his mentor had done in the past, he preferred to focus on Kyra as she shook and stretched herself, almost destroying his commode in the process, before she looked at Theodore and Suri, her eyes half-open. “Be mindful of where you are. Wouldn't want to rip and tear through furniture...Again. Things aren't as solid as in Hayya around here. More fragile, in a way.”

Theodore felt like there wasn't exactly that much of respect, what with the princeling title, which sounded pejorative, or even how Suri described things and yet Kyra looked around apologetically before regaining some composure. “You have my apologies, Theodore,” she offered, bowing before she then went on to nimbly exit the room, her figure still perhaps a little too close to the large door's size for everyone's liking. “I'm looking forward to seeing the scenery and what kind of country, of kingdom, we might become allies to.”

He felt a little stressed, a little mindful of just how things would go if he went to town with a bunch or snakemen and snakewomen all of a sudden, at this time. He grew on to be a little self-conscious again, wondering just what he could be truly talking about. What could be so interesting to people like them? Everything was so normal, so simply for him while they were exotic, dangerous, fascinating. Ever since he heard from them about Kyra, he came to get an interest for them since his own concepts were somehow false and true all at once, yet they seemed to be so much more than that. He was but a princeling, though, a meek little noble boy while they were all warriors. What could he do?

The snake hair of Kyra went on to sniff him out, as if agitated by something and then Kyra turned around, bent over and looked him in the eyes...And then her eyes emitted that gold like prior, her hair went on to wave and undulate, hissing while her eye-jewel went on to shine. She was using her power of suggestion again, of hypnosis and this time he knew what it was, what it could do...and yet he did not want to look away. Those eyes were captivating, making him feel so good that even though he knew it might not be a good idea he still instinctively went on to focus on them anyway.

“Relax, Theodore...You'll do fine. Show us around and just show us what you know,” Kyra said, placing one hand on his shoulder, a gentle touch as she got her eyes quite close. Everyone was looking at them, yet none seemed to get in the way...Or at least Theodore could not even perceive them. “Where do you go to have fun? What kind of place do you find beautiful around here? Show us all.”

And then he just went on automatically, getting in the princess own carriage, joining her and Suri as he went on to give her a tour. He guided them along, an opening in the carriage being set aside so that everyone could hear him...Or at least what Suri translated for them. He spoke of the mountains, of the forest where he tried to hunt and how he had only succeeded once in his life, picking up a deer, its venison tasting divinely. He had then to say what a deer was, why they were tough to hunt and so forth, his lips moving on their own as he felt heard, the many hisses outside, translated to questions by Suri, indicating that they were actually and actively curious. How they could live in this climate? If they could actually stand heat in the same way? What were his latest conquests and many other subjects. He tried his best to talk about it all, about parties he had thrown, about his poetry, his dancing and so forth and instead of mocking him they instead asked about his achievements, about how far he was along his many conquests of the written word, of the art of body motions, of gathering people and bringing enjoyment. Everything could be an achievement, a conquest to them, and as such he was as interesting as they were, which was exceptional...But not as much as how Kyra looked at him on occasion. Up close like this, under the light of the moon, she was magnificent, her black scales appearing luscious and precious while her gold underbelly and features seemed to glow. She was still a snake, but also a gorgeous woman in her own right.

And then came the time to reach the tavern in which he was occasionally a secret patron, albeit this time he went all in with his new friends...And they couldn't hold their liquor it seemed. As tough, nimble and fierce they could be, he could easily out-drink them all as their cold-blooded nature and their limp disposition made it somewhat easier to be intoxicated. He didn't really know why and he couldn't really figure out as he drank a little too much...But then Kyra joined in, herself being tipsy as her size did make it so she was a challenge. He used to drink to forget his trouble, paying glasses, pints and shots to others so that they would feel that he was generous, happy and humble even though he was just lonely, yet now this was different. It was just plain fun and Kyra had an excellent way to make it so he'd just go on and on, challenging him as she seemed to be full of laughter and of pure madness at times, wavering in a way that felt almost as if her tail was swaying...Or perhaps it was his vision that was blurred as he passed out, a smile on his face and drool on his lips...

He woke up the next morning, in the large carriage itself, possibly carried by a guard who had woken up, or Suri, as his head hurt a little. He had grown accustomed to it, after nights of drinking, which his father did not approve of, but then again there wasn't much of anything the king seemed to enjoy about his third son as far as Theodore knew. He adjusted his sheet, then he figured out that Kyra herself was actually covering him with her own thick and slick tail. It felt soft, warm against him, a good pressure being kept around him, yet not one that felt too heavy or encumbering. Was it because she kept herself in check? Because she was lighter than she appeared? He did not know and it did not seem to be all that important as her head was close to his as her hair seemed to enjoy being near him, being against his own hair. Slight hisses, tiny licks and he began to question himself. He had been hypnotized and then he was drunk...Had they...Done it? His own vestments were clean, nothing sticky could be found and he figured he'd remember and even though she was alien...Perhaps it would not be so bad to have actually slept with her? Maybe? Looking at her restful face, how peaceful she was and remembering hos much fun he had, it might actually be a good idea to consider this marriage offer more seriously. He had been against it at the start, yet it had been quite fun to be with her, to converse, how she made him feel, how easygoing she was, how she listened...and this hypnosis of her was...Well...

The next few days went on to follow and there wasn't one that felt the same as the other. During the day the princess slept, yet when she woke up during the late afternoon things picked up considerably. They would talk and then share with one another, either stories and experiences of their own, feelings and observations. They talked about how one might conquer one thing, what it would mean to actually conquer concepts, fears and what it would mean to share such things. Clarifications were made, comparisons given and so forth as new respect was found for one another. While Kyra never did seem to take him lightly, he indeed had done so for her and it was to his detriment, obviously. She hailed from afar, yet had accumulated to many stories, so many things to give away in wondrous tales that Theodore just couldn't get enough of her...And of course the subject of hypnosis came up, with Kyra going on to notice the particular interest which Theodore had upon the subject. She came to use it more and more often at his request, talking about it made him feel more confident, more at ease as she chuckled, thinking that it was odd, yet never actively denying him the privilege of putting him into a trance, an activity that they both came to enjoy a great deal.

Other such things such as a hunting trip, to look for deers, was organized. All of the snake-people, and some of the king's men, went on to join them as they went on to get some game, including a large boar which they served at a feast. Then at another day a ball was organized, a splendid event which was to be formal as Theodore tried to dance with her, a rather sordid thing to look at due to their difference in size and physionomy, yet they both tried their best before Kyra went on to show a dance of her own, something much more sensual and risky which she showed off to everyone, yet most of all to Theodore as she swayed her tail, her hips and her chest in ways that the prince never thought it was possible. It was called baladi, apparently, roughly translated to belly dancing and it was absolutely beautiful...And one of the key factor that made Theodore switch around his appreciation of her beauty and her wit. He thought her alien, strange and perhaps a tiny bit ugly at first, but the way she was easygoing, so full of life and just downright sensual at times made it so Theodore could no longer lie to himself after five days of being with her...he had become smitten with her, infatuated. Was it love? He did not know, but he knew that seven days would be much too short to get all that he wanted to see and feel with her.

The sixth day, they met in his quarters, much like they had done at first as she had arrived, then Theodore felt like he had to confront her, or at least acknowledge some things first. “I want you to be entirely earnest with me, Kyra...Did you really want to marry me at first?” he asked directly, seemingly always to much braver when she was around. It could be her suggestions, but then again if it helped him voice out his thoughts, then perhaps it was for the best. “I must admit, I thought that I would be married to a savage who might just murder me, gobble me up or simply use me for political gains. I know I'm wrong now...But I want to hear your reasons why you agreed to do it in the first place.”

“There's a competition for the throne right now in Hayya, many of my brothers and sisters are trying to gather power, prestige and conquests in order to prove themselves worthy of it and at first I thought bringing an alliance to Zufia, through you, would be a good acquisition,” Kyra freely admitted, crossing her arms below her chest as she looked through the window. Her hair, though, looked at him, smiling, hissing and fixated upon his being. “I'm not opposed to political marriages per se, seeing how it can benefit everyone...But I'm not up for passionless and convenience-based affairs. As such, I wanted to see just who it was that I would be possibly married to. I was afraid that you'd be a pompous, self-assured princeling or worse...a mere little yes-man with no backbone. Seems like I was rather wrong on both account.”

“You did not exactly refute the political gains, though. I suppose I cannot blame you for that, but it seems like it's still a key aspect to our relationship and how it's growing,” Theodore went on to say, pressing on as he rose, putting some more logs in the fireplace to keep her from shivering. “I'm still not quite certain about a marriage like the one you're promising, with multiple parties and all, but I also have to say that I've grown fond of you in the past days, in more ways than one.”

“If you had any lovers, I would gladly welcome them to this growing little family of mine, but I know that you're celibate,” Kyra said, looking at him as she went on to pet her hair, as if telling it to calm down while it went on to get a little more agitated. By now, Theodore was keen enough to understand that her true emotions passed through that. She looked calm and confident, yet she too did not quite know how to react to all of this. “The true problem is that you'd have to come to Hayya with me, leaving everything behind. Would you be open to that?”

“The true problem is not even that. There's not much making me cling to this place. I love my brothers and my father even though no one here seems to know how to really talk about it or even to express it through open gestures. It's a complicated matter, but I can manage it,” Theodore explained, getting closer to Kyra as he placed on hand on her tail and looked up, a look of determination but also slightly of fear darkening his face. “The true problem is this: did you use your power to make me feel this way, so conflicted? I know a little more about hypnosis and how it can be turned addictive...So tell me...Did you use your power to charm me to your cause?”

“No,” Kyra replied directly, sharply even. It was the first time she had looked like this, indignant, a little furious even. “It would be dishonorable. I do not want a yes man or a slave. A little spineless servant or anything of the sort would be a disgrace to me, an abuse of my power and a cheap conquest. I want an ally, a lover, a fighter by my side, someone with beliefs, with conviction...I do not believe you're there yet...You have been sheltered, both by your own actions and by those of others...But I think you could become a wonderful man and someone worthy of being my husband in time. The brightness in my eyes might be enticing to you, but the sparkle in yours is intriguing to me as well...And that is all that I will say on the matter.”

He had shocked her, insulting her honor and he felt terrible about that. It had been callous, downright gross and he needed to make amend. “I am sorry if this had offended you and your nature, Kyra,” Theodore said. He did not exactly have an answer, as a paranoid part of him thought that perhaps she could make him feel that way, but then he was surprisingly fine with that. He used to drink too often, to lose himself and to dry to drown his sorrows in so many things...Perhaps with someone who believed in him, who could make him feel worth something, however artificial it could actually be, he might become someone. Even if it was fake, it had still been worth it...And besides that hair of hers could not lie. She had grown fond of him too or else it wouldn't be so close to him, enjoying his nearness so openly. He then went on to get on one knee and then cleared his throat to catch her attention. “Kyra Ab'Hawim, Princess of Dunes, Night Slitherer, Blade Dancer, Hiss of the Moon...Would you marry me?

She turned around and looked at him, curious and then somehow pleased as she hissed, then her snake-hair hissed. “This is how you do it here, with a man on his knee in front of the one he loves, in a position of vulnerability? I can't say I disapprove~” she said, her tone amused and pleasant as she touched his cheek with the tip of her tail. “Then allow me to do something sweet and fun with you too in return, something from both my homeland and from myself.”

She looked into his eyes and unleashed her hypnosis anew, her forehead touching his so as to envelop his entire sight in her precious, powerful and mesmerizing gaze. “Just as you conquered my heart, so I do conquer yours. I claim you to be mine just as you claim me to be yours, Theodore Von Rasgaf,” she said, using her own power of suggestion that she knew he had grown to love so much. In truth, she did not have that many opportunities to use it, finding it dishonorable to even abuse of this power of hers...and yet with this forbidden approach to natural talents of hers came an appeal for its use, for how it could be used to improve, to relax, to give way to peace and heightened senses. It had been an impulse to use it on him, yet it had been an excellent one as her hair went on to cover him in licks and little kisses. He was hers, that much was certain. “Now let our passion speak for themselves and join me in my coils as I show you just what it means to be the husband of a princess that hails from Hayya~”

Her tail went on to remove his clothes with a simple flick, showing dexterity and abilities that went beyond his imagination. He ought be intimidated, terrified even yet her hypnotic gaze went on to keep him stunned, enchanted by her voice and her beauty which he had grown to appreciate a great deal now. Her tail wound up around him, covering his nudity partly as she went onto his bed and she went on to show him, demonstrate in details, how someone like her could love someone like him, how size didn't quite matter in the most literal of ways as his world was rocked in ways that he could not even conceive. He had never thought that such a thing would ever happen to him in his life, his sense heightened in a manner which was transcendental, impossible to describe. He was overly stimulated, his mind shut and yet open to everything his body told him. He loved her just as she loved him as she left him suggestions, instructions but also freedoms in how to interpret them. It lasted the whole night, their body speaking much more eloquently than their mouth ever could, albeit they were part of the fun too. Then they both woke up the next morning, preparations were made, words were said, decisions were taken...

And Theodore started his long journey to Hayya with his beloved wife, the Princess of Dunes...Unaware that this would the start of a rather strange adventure for him.