Home is with You
Chapter two: The Black Pearl

Serena sighed contentedly as she plopped herself down on the old bed she and Mina would share in the palace. They'd had a long day of explanations and regulations as the old housekeep, Mrs. Klippers, gave them the tour of the palace. She was a kind old lady who was obsessed with cleanliness and order. She didn't work her maids any harder than they had to be worked, but working in a palace is never easy. The girls were always on-call for anything the royals wished of them. The girls were expected to be up at sunrise and working shortly afterwards. After the royals ate lunch they had a half hour break and then they worked until the royals dismissed them. Serena and Mina were fortunate in that the had a room to themselves. At the orphanage the girls had to share a room with eight other orphans.

Mina sat down beside her friend.

"Well, what do you think? Do you like our new home?" Mina asked, laying down on the bed –which squealed in protest- and stretching her arms above her head.

"Don't call it home Mina. This is just until I find my parents, then we'll live with them." Serena got up off the bed and started to unpack her sparse belongings. She was avoiding the look she knew Mina was giving her.

"Serena, we're growing up and… that was fun to talk about when we were little… and it's not that I think you should stop thinking about your parents… but instead of never settling down in a new house… maybe you should just get comfortable here." Ever since Serena and Mina met ten years ago Serena has had hopes that her parents would come for her. No one even knew if Serena's parents left her at the orphanage or if Serena was in an accident and found the orphanage or if she went through some sort of trauma that made her forget her past. The fact were that when Serena was about eight years old she arrived at the orphanage with no money, no belongings and no memories. She never accepted that her parents would intentionally leave her in the orphanage because of the locket. Ever since Serena arrived at the orphanage she had half of a locket around her neck. It was only the back of the locket, the front was torn off. The inscription on the back said "To: Serena, our little princess" with a little crescent moon underneath. Serena had actually been placed in a couple of homes when she was a child. She kept being sent back because she refused to accept the new families. Mina was less lucky. Nobody wanted her because of how shy she was around strangers. The only time she felt sure of herself was with Serena.

"I know you're saying that for my own good, but Mina… I just know they're out there looking for me. They must have loved me, I mean they left me a clue to find them!" Serena had tears in her eyes as she held out the locket from around her neck.

Mina smiled sympathetically. "I'm tired. Lets go to bed Ser." She pulled back the blankets, took off her shoes and apron and snuggled into the covers. She felt Serena get into bed too, they were back to back. Serena quietly blew out the only candle in the room. The two friends lay in bed wide awake but not speaking to one another. Suddenly Mina broke the silence.

"Ser?"

"Mina?"

"We have a problem."

"What is it?"

"These pillows are filled with cotton. Way less fun for pillow fights."

"Mina?"

"Yeah Ser?"

"I'd still win."

"Night, Ser."

oOo

Only a few hours had passed since King Darien had sent that beautiful damsel with the long blond hair arrive at the palace. He hadn't seen her since and now he had yet another dinner with yet another 'Prospective Queen' as Malachite so eloquently described them. This one was called Pearl. She had pale, delicate skin, black hair and light grey eyes. She looked like a goddess and she was exactly Darien's type. 'And maybe if she had a brain I would even marry her…' Darien thought as he listened to yet another reason why ponies and cuter than horses. He sent a death glare to Malachite who refused to meet his eyes.

"Well then, why don't I leave you kids alone!" Malachite made his exit just as dessert was being served.

Darien shook his head. 'And he wonders why I sleep with all the girls he brings here, it's so I can shut them up.'

"Oh! Chocolate cake! That looks yummy! May I have some King Darien?" Darien might even feel guilty sleeping with this one: she's so innocent.

"Of course." Darien said with a cordial smile. He cut her a slice of the cake – he had dismissed the servant by now- and put it on her desert plate. He didn't notice the little vixen hide her fork.

"Oh my!" Pearl exclaimed, "I don't have a fork. And your wait-staff is all gone…"

"You can use mine." Darien said gallantly. An unusual expression came over Pearl.

"Why don't you just feed it to me?" She asked with a coy smile. Darien realized that Pearl would be an easier conquest that he thought.

oOo

"You're sick?" Serena asked the old housekeeper, Mrs. Klippers.

"Yes… I'm… very… ill… I need… someone… to tend to… the king… Serena this… is your… job until I… recover." Mrs. Klippers was very ill indeed.

Serena felt completely overwhelmed. She had only been working in the palace for a week doing everyday chores. She hadn't even been trusted to serve food yet so she'd never actually seen the king. Only Mrs. Klippers tended to the king because she was the servant who'd been in the castle the longest. She'd watched Darien grow up and she'd known his parents. Now Serena had to run over to his bedchambers to help him bathe and dress then clean his chamber. Serena was the only maid who had not yet been assigned a specific task- the maids discovered Mina's amazing skill of cleaning dishes in half the time of anyone else- so the responsibility fell on her shoulders.

From gossip around the castle, and from her days in the orphanage, Serena heard that King Darien had never been married, had no legitimate children and was very secretive. He kept to himself mainly and was only entertained by his closest friends, Malachite, his advisor, and Andrew, his childhood friend. Malachite was very friendly and Serena had seen him often wondering around the castle. King Darien, however, was very hard to find. Not that Serena had been looking, but she was a little curious to see the king. Serena imagined that he was in his forties, fat, ugly - since he wasn't married - and mean since he had so few friends.

Promptly (well almost promptly… there was a slight incident involving honey and a bucket that slowed the petite blond down a little) at sunrise the next morning Serena headed to the laundry room to pick up the king's fresh sheets- his sheets were changed daily- and towels. Next she went to his wardrobe and picked out his robe for the day. It was a casual day today, Serena was informed that there were no meetings and no guests to the palace so King Darien would not require any special robes. Mrs. Klippers advised Serena to pick out the black pants and a loose white shirt. Although King Darien was the ruler of Earth in the Silver Millennium, he didn't like to always be dressed up like the kings of the other planets. He preferred to relate to his subjects, if only in dress. Next Serena headed for his bathroom. She scrubbed the room clean before ushering a few kitchen boys carrying very, very hot buckets of water to fill the tub. Double checking that the towels, clothes and soaps were in place, Serena headed to the King's chambers to inform his Royal Highness that his bath was prepared.

Mrs. Klippers told Serena to simply knock on the King's door, inform him of the situation with the maids, allow him to leave for his bath, clean his room, set out the clothes and wait outside his door for further instructions. If only life was that simple. Serena was shaking as she approached the King's door. She was so nervous that she knocked on the door and entered at practically the same time.

oOo

King Darien awoke with sun on his face. He was naked from last night's explorations with Pearl. He'd kept her around for a little longer than he entertained most of his damsels. He was pleased to see that Pearl was not next to him when he awoke. They seemed to have an understanding. She knew exactly what Darien wanted: commitment-free (fabulous) sex. Pearl, Darien knew, also had an agenda to become queen. But the idea was becoming less and less repulsive to King Darien. Pearl knew that Darien was not a monogamous man, and she never wanted that from him. All she wants is power. That kind of honest ambition resonated with Darien. He had once mentioned marriages of love to Pearl, to see how she would react. She brushed the comment off saying "If I wanted to be in love, I may as well have a lover. Marriage is for security, influence and money. Darien, darling, if you want a fabulous woman with skill in governing, marry me. If you want to marry for love, you may as well give your kingdom up to your cousin now." Darien was awed at how a woman with whom he had first conversed regarding the cuteness of ponies could now be so cynical and eloquent. He liked it.

Slowly stretching, Darien got out of bed and walked, naked, to his balcony. No one could see his from his balcony, the way the castle was arranged one would have to be very far away to see his section of the palace, and from there they wouldn't be able to make him out anyway. Darien was thinking about the fate of his kingdom. If he never produced an offspring his horrible cousin would become queen… then Earth would really be in trouble. Beryl was known for her deceptive, cruel and contemptuous nature. Darien thought that surly there was a way around Beryl becoming queen that didn't involve being married. Despite his reputation, Darien did like the idea of marrying for love. He doubted it occurred very often, especially within royalty, but still. The idea sounds nice. He was deep in thought when he heard a startled gasp from behind him, followed by an excruciatingly loud scream.

oOo

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm still setting everything up so a lot of it was exposition. The next chapter will deal with Darien and Serena's first meeting. PLEASE REVIEW!! Criticism is welcome, but no flamers please.

-Sailor Josseme