Voyage to the stars
It had been almost three months since the ball. Vyse was steering the Black Hawk to Valua so that he, Fina, Aika, Eric and Sendaria could go out on a round the world trip. Vyse smiled he could remember the night of the ball where he and Sendaria had chatted late into the evening about anything they could thing think of. He realised how much they had in common, yet he also saw their differences. Sendaria was obviously of noble birth, she was well poised yet independent, she also loved to cook and dance although this had been difficult for her since she became blind.
After he had heard she loved to dance he had dragged her back into the ballroom and they ended up dancing into the early hours. Vyse knew he wasn't a brilliant dancer, he'd only learnt how to when he was forced to by Enrique when he became a recognised noble of new Valua a few months before Aika and Fina left Crescent Isle. Sendaria though, she was fantastic, now that the dance floor was almost empty she had nothing to worry about, her moves were so vibrant and perfectly in time, and she even laughed and smiled the whole time. She seemed so confident while they were dancing, he felt as if he was seeing a more confident part of the old her before she was blind, and he wished he could see that side to her more often.
He really felt as if he had gotten to know her so much in just that one night. After they had finished dancing they retreated back to the porch and he talked about the stars and the world outside. Sen listened intently to each word he said her smile beaming at him encouraging him to carry on.
Coming out of his thoughts Vyse looked at out onto the skies. He grinned at Aika who was standing next to him, just as if not more eager than him to get back to Valua. Fina stood next to them, she and Vyse had become more distant since the ball but his excuse was that he was trying to get over her and he also knew she disapproved of him being friends with Sen.
They had just spent over a month on crescent isle. Vyse catching up with the builders on what work had been done on the island and the work he wished for them to carry out while they were away. He had also carried out the maintenance required on the Black Hawk so the trip could go ahead. He'd been planning it since the night at the ball. He had found out it was Sendaria birthday three months after the ball and he'd organised the trip as a surprise so she could visit each of the world's continents.
Smiling, he remembered one of the days they had spent with her in the kitchen with Aika, Fina and Eric cooking up dinner when the thunderstorms were so bad over the city most of the palace staff were unable to get into work so they had decided to cook dinner themselves. Aika and Fina and Eric were on dessert duty while Sendaria and Vyse ended up cooking dinner. Vyse knew cooking was not one of his strengths but Sendaria told him what to do, him being her eyes as he wouldn't let her cut anything or handle anything hot on her own. She told him what to do and how much of every ingredient to add. It took a long time as she wanted to make sure everything was perfect but by her instructions he managed to make a good meal for everyone. The five of them were well behaved until after dessert when it came to cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. Vyse had joked about the mess where Aika had been making whipped cream and she ended up throwing the leftovers at him, the mess splattering over both him and Sendaria. Both of them had laughed Sendaria licking the wiping her face off before eating part of it and giggling, throwing it back and hitting Eric and ended up initiating a food fight between all of them.
Smirking to himself he could see Valua in the distance, he had told Sendaria he was bringing his ship back to Valua and she had got so excited at the thought of seeing it. He hadn't told the reason he was bringing it back though, she must have just assumed it was just their return ride from Crescent Isle.
Even though Sendaria had him had become close friends in the coming months she would only be open with him or smile when it came to him talking about his past or talking about the world around them, if he tried to divert the conversation to her she closed off and returned more to the Sendaria he had originally met. It made things strained at times at he wanted to know more about her and considering the trust he had put in her talking about his situation with Aika and Fina he had hoped that she would be more open with him by now.
As the Black Hawk began to pull into the harbour he found himself looking for Sen on the docks among all the small figures gathered waiting for people to enter the city. Pulling up the ship into their designated dock Vyse could see Aika and Fina already on the deck waiting to depart. It was then he saw Aika and Fina begin waving, following their gaze he saw Eric and Sendaria on the dock waving back, welcoming them all back to the city. Aika and Fina tied the ship down to the dock and left ship before Vyse was on deck. He could see Aika happily hugging Eric Fina happily chatting to him as they headed back up to the palace. It was so strange that despite how close Aika and Eric had become in the past few months they hadn't begun dating, even though it was obvious how much they liked each other.
Diverting his eyes down towards the dock he saw Sendaria looking out toward the sky, her hands on her chest. Jumping down from the ship he landed next to her causing her to jump and him to laugh. "Vyse!" she called moving closer to him "Welcome back" she smiled happily underneath her usual black robe. "Hey Sen" he said smiling happy to be back around her, because at present she was his closest friend. It was then he noticed the rectangular blue box clasped close to her chest "What's that Sen?" he asked moving closer to her. Her smile grew "It's a gift" she said outstretching her left hand "To welcome you back" she continued. Vyse wasn't expecting this at all, if he'd known she was going to get him something he would have got her something as well. "It was a surprise, I knew you you'd buy me something if I let on I was getting you something" she knew him well he thought but he couldn't help but smile. Taking the box from her hand he opened it to see a small silver chain the flag design for the black hawk immortalised as a pendant. He really didn't know what to say, moving closer to her pulled her body to his and hugging her "Thank you Sen, it's a great gift" he heard her sigh "I happy you like it, I was worried you wouldn't" Just like her he thought.
Pulling away he undid the red scarf around his neck. "I won't need this then anymore" he grinned and taking a step back closer to her he tied it loosely around her neck. Sendaria ran her hands up and clasped it "I can't accept this Vyse" she said running her hands over the material "Well its yours now, like it or not" he grinned. She smiled "You're so stubborn" she giggled. He grinned trying to clasp the chain on his neck "let me" she called moving closer to him. Stretching her arms around his neck she took hold of the chain, there faces were mere inches apart, Vyse had tried to ignore his attraction to her, but even now, when she was almost completely covered from head to toe he couldn't put his feelings to one side. "There we go" she said removing her hands and taking a step back and smiling, "I hope it suits you". "Well I think it does" he said smiling back. After a few brief moments of silence Vyse began "Well Sen do you want a tour of the ship?" her head shot up "I'd like that" she clasped her hands together and so taking her hand he guided her into the ship.
The black hawk wasn't the biggest ship, but Vyse wanted it to be small enough so he Aika and Fina could man it alone. Taking Sen across the ship he helped held the door open and helped her inside and across into the common room followed by the connecting small kitchen. He smiled as Sen ran her hands around everything trying to immortalise in her memory the layout of the room. He found it peaceful watching her as she did this, especially when little things such as a choice of engraving in the woof would cause her to smile. After she was done, he took her up to the small bridge showing her the navigation and maintenance consoles Fina and Aika operated and finally the wheel which he spun causing the ship to move slightly and Sen to panic. Laughing at her trying to stabilise herself a deep pink blush caressing her cheeks.
Taking her down below deck taking special care with her down the stairs so she wouldn't fall "There's no need to be so careful" she commented smiling "I won't break Vyse" and began to laugh. He grinned "I don't want any casualties on my ship Sen" he replied back causing her to stick her tongue out at him. "Well these are the personal quarters and the stock rooms he commented" taking her hand he pointed down the ship "Down there is the main stock room" letting go of her hand "To the right here is my room" he said patting the door "Next door is Fina's room and directly across is Aika's" Sendaria nodded. Vyse couldn't help but smile, he knew it was time to let her know about his little plan "However for the next couple of weeks Aika will be bunking with Fina and you'll be having her room". "What do you mean I'll be using her room?" she asked a little shocked. "Well I've planned a trip to show you some of Arcadia" he added leaning his shoulders against his door. Sendaria stood there seemingly unsure how to respond before she whispered "Thank you Vyse". It wasn't the response he was expecting but Sen wasn't someone that wasn't easy to predict. Looking away briefly he continued "We'll be putting Eric in the other stockro…" before he could finish Sen had taken him by surprise, pressing her hands and face against his chest. "Thank you so much Vyse" she uttered. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her "You're welcome Sen" he uttered back.
Back at the palace a few hours later, Vyse was sitting in with Sendaria in her room as she was packing for the trip. Lying down on her bed next to her luggage his hands behind his head he watched as Sen paced back and forth putting articles of clothing and other items in her suitcase. "So Vyse" she said breaking the silence "How are things between you and Fina while you were gone?" she asked leaning down and pulling out a box from under her bed. "Pretty strained" he replied, "We didn't speak too much, seems each time we do we end up in an argument over something" he sighed.
"Sorry to hear that, I think it would be nice for you if she would give you another chance" she smiled. "She should realise how different you are from normal men and then she would want you back for certain". Vyse smiled "I guess a part of me still wants her back, but I've been finding myself getting over her slowly". She smiled and added "As long as you're happy". "I am" he responded "more so now that I'm back" she blushed and moved into her bathroom. "So Sen?" he began "What have you been up to while I was gone?" Popping her head out of the door she answered "Not much just reading really I guess... nothing that special, there isn't as good a selection of books in Braille as I would like".
"Guess not" he continued turning his head to see the large pile of books near her window. "Anyway" said Sen coming out of the bathroom a few items in hand "Where are we going first?" she beamed a bright smile at him. He smiled back "Nasrad is our first stop" he began. "The shops are good and the palace has been rebuilt with a natural spa that Aika and Fina want to go visit" Sendaria nodded and pulled her case shut. "I think that should be everything I need". Getting up from her bed the two of the two of them headed out to begin their trip.