"This is her, sire."
Kunzite forced the struggling young woman to her knees, keeping his fist wrapped tightly around her braid of long, silvery hair. Loose tendrils curled around her face and forehead, complimenting her flushed cheeks. Her clear blue eyes were fixed on Endymion, but Endymion was too busy studying her to notice.
The simple, gypsy-styled gown didn't suit her. Her skin was too fair, her features too delicate for the hoyden-ish garb. The laced bodice emphasized her full breasts, and the loose sleeves slipped over her shoulders becomingly. Kneeling on the floor how she was exposed quite a bit of her long, slender legs, the flowing skirt rumpled around her knees, no petticoat visible beneath the thin linen. Her brown leather riding boots were caked with mud. She couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen.
Her breasts rose and fell with each gasping breath she took, her head arched with the pressure from Kunzite's hold on her hair. The graceful column of her throat was exposed, a delicate silver chain circling her neck, with some sort of pendant dipping into her bountiful cleavage. Her fingers toyed nervously with the chain at her neck, and Endymion was immediately suspicious. Surely, the Kingdom's most notorious thief wasn't frightened?
"Was she searched when she was brought in, Kunzite?" Endymion asked sharply.
Kunzite snorted and jerked swiftly on the braid in his closed fist, wrenching a pained cry from the young woman, forcing her to rise slowly from her kneeling position.
"Of course she was searched. Surely you don't imagine we'd overlook that simply because she's female, do you, sire?" Kunzite asked.
With a brief nod, Endymion rose from his throne and slowly drew closer to the young woman.
"So," he said, tipping her face up to get a better look, "you are the one that the peasants call the Lady Serenity. It seems odd, doesn't it, since you've wrecked havoc on nearly every nobleman in the Kingdom. Why is it they call you Lady Serenity?"
"Because that is my name." She said it simply, as if it should have explained everything. Endymion shrugged.
"Fair enough. It's not uncommon. You're Lunarian, I assume?" At her brief nod, he continued, "I understand it is a common practice to name children in honor of the ruling King or Queen, so I can't say it is an unfamiliar name to me. Why did you come to Earth?"
"I ran away."
"You ran away? From what?" Endymion had trouble believing that she could have had any hardships. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even had she been a peasant, which he highly suspected she had not, she was beautiful enough to have made an advantageous match.
"From the life chosen for me. I didn't want it." Her fingers tangled in the delicate chain, and Endymion hoped she would reveal whatever charm hung on it that had such value to her.
Her fingers dipped into her bodice, and Endymion found he had no time to reach for his own weapon before Kunzite was left with a hank of silver braid in his fist and a glinting dagger at his throat. Endymion had a similar dagger pointed in his direction, and he had no doubt about the skill with which she wielded her weapons. Her shorn silvery locks still reached nearly to her waist, which made Endymion wonder exactly how long it had been before she'd hacked off her braid. It cascaded around her in soft waves, even more loose tendrils framing her lovely face. She 'tsk'ed softly.
"Really, Endymion, you must train your guards better. I managed to retain not one, but two weapons. Kunzite, your lack of proper training is going to get you killed one day." Serenity smiled condescendingly and shook her head. Kunzite was nearly seething with anger.
"Control your temper, Kunzite." Serenity nicked his throat intentionally, drawing a few droplets of blood. "Never let your anger get the best of you. It's the easiest way to get yourself killed. Now, I want you to walk slowly over to that corner and have a seat in the chair. Be assured that if you make a single move I don't like, I will kill you." She smiled sweetly, nudging him into action with the point of the dagger. Endymion took a step towards her, reaching for the dagger. He never even saw her move. A startling flash of pain hit him, and he looked down at his arm. His sleeve was torn neatly, a shallow cut welling blood over the top of his arm. She hadn't even taken her eyes off of Kunzite.
"Don't move, Endymion. I'm getting to you." Her voice was calm and self-assured.
"If I call for help, you won't stand a chance." He didn't fear for his life; if she had wanted him dead, she would have killed him already.
"If you call for help, you will die, and you will be known in memories as the King who couldn't save himself from a woman. And rest assured, by the time your guards arrive, I will be far away from here. In all honesty, I would rather not kill you. It would damage my reputation as a thief who needs not resort to violence. However, as I obviously cannot remain as a prisoner here, I will do whatever is necessary to leave." She backed a considerable distance from him and relaxed her stance. Endymion remained where he was. She'd outmaneuvered him once, and she could more than likely do it again.
"Now. You will tell me what has possessed you that you believe it is acceptable to have your subjects live in such abject poverty." Serenity tucked one dagger into the belt at her slender waist, absently twirling the other.
"I am their king. It is my due." Endymion felt no need to make pretty speeches.
"You live in magnificent splendor, and yet you have never seen the other side of the wall, Endymion. You live in a gilded cage, protected from all that your subjects endure daily. I have seen children starving, for your tax collectors steal the food right off of their plates. I have seen widows evicted from their homes, for the only job suited for a lone woman in your kingdom is on her back. I take back that which you steal from those who cannot afford to lose. You believe I am a thief, Endymion, but I tell you I am a heroine, and your subjects believe you are the thief. It will be my death the mourn, Endymion, not yours." Serenity moved closer to him, clutching one dagger in a ready position, and holding her other hand outstretched.
"Now I will take another thing you do not deserve. That ring, the one you wear on your right hand. You will give it to me." Serenity's tone brooked no argument, but Endymion had never been crossed before and had no plans to give in now.
"No, this ring you cannot have. It isn't mine to give."
"Nevertheless, I will take it." She arched the blade higher, sunlight glinting off the polished metal. "I will have the ring or your life, Endymion. Your choice."
With a sigh, Endymion tugged the ring off his finger, and tossed it to her. She caught it, and backed a safe distance away again. She bound her hair tightly with a thin strip of leather and a bright flash of light caught Endymion's attention. There was something on her forehead.
She yanked the delicate silver chain up and around, undoing the clasp. She slid Endymion's ring onto the chain, where in clinked against another ring, a smaller, more slender version of Endymion's. When she looked up at him again, he got a full view of her forehead. When her bangs were pulled away from her face, a glowing crescent insignia on her forehead was revealed. Endymion involuntarily moved a step forward.
"Stop her," he called out in a hoarse voice he didn't recognize. "Stop her now!"
Panicked, Serenity whirled around, dashing for the open doors leading to the balcony. She made it over the balcony ledge just as Kunzite and Endymion were reaching for her. She dropped to the ground with a thud that sent a spasm of pain shooting up her legs, but she recovered quickly, racing off into the dense trees that bordered the castle.
"Damn," Endymion growled, raking his hands through his hair, striding back into the throne room. "Call for the guards. I want every one of them in here immediately. We're going to put out a reward for information or aid leading to the capture of Serenity."
"Sire," Kunzite hesitated briefly, wondering if it was really a good idea to question his sovereign. He proceeded hastily, "Do you know Lady Serenity?"
"Yes," Endymion sighed. "Yes, I know her."
"Who is she?" Kunzite knew he was tempting fate, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"She is Serenity Tsukino, the Crown Princess of the Silver Kingdom on the moon. And," he sat down heavily on his throne, "she's my wife."