Destiny Prevails: The coming of war
Chapter 2 - First meeting
Amongst all the flowers and the masses of green billowing grass, in the very early morning. Strode a pure white horse with long flowing mane, the steed was ridden by a handsome tall man, with short pitch-black hair and cerulian blue eyes which so matched the very Earth he lived on. Even though he was pretty young he had exstensive knowledge of the kingdom of which he was a prince. He had been strictly raised, as one would expect of someone who would someday be the foremost leader of Earth. His fathers kingdom was enormous and vast as it reached throughout the lands. Smaller kingdoms with their own court ladies and lordmen, were spread about, some really close, but none dared declare themselves kings or queens. They all obeyed the law and rule of his esteemed father, the one and only true king. From this strict and severe upbringing came a very gloomy and steadfast person, who seldom felt the need to laugh. The only thing he really cared about was to meticulously manage his duties, and use his intellect to study hard and prepare for the day when he would one day rule. His parents who where worried that he had not yet found someone to marry, introduced him to many court ladies, but he had yet never felt love or deep lust for anyone. Because of his position as future ruler, a fear had grown dark and steadily in him ever since he was a child, he tended to believe people would only approach him to gain money or status. Hence he distanced himself from everyone and became unaproachable and distant, this lonely existence plagued most of his live. But somewhere deep withing him rose a growing need for affection, and a longing for something more, something meaningful.
It was on this bright and slightly chilly morning, deep in his own thoughts as he rode along without paying much attention to the road before him. That he was pulled from his guarded distant mind, by the most beautiful laughter he´d ever heard, stunned he gazed out over the immense field. In the middle of the green grass, a creature who you´d thought only existed in fairytails, was twirling around in a billowy white dress, laughing to her hearts content. The unbelievably long hair, which seamed to reach on forever, flowed in exquisite silvery strands around her body. For a long while all he could do was gape at her foolishly and as he finally regained his senses, her dance took a startling stop and she just stood there silently with closed eyes, basking in the generous sun. To make sure that it was not just an illusion he firmly rubbed his eyes and after blinking a few times, was met by the most breathtaking saphire blue eyes. Yet again all he could do was gape sheepishly, frantically searching his brain for any way to handle this unique situation. Nothing in the large register of his mind gave a slight hint of how to approach this creature, he thought for a moment that maybe it was best to just ignore it and continue the ride home. But something within, like a bestial urge, forced him to swing his legs over the horse, jump down and slowly begin to approach her.
Striding oh so annoyingly slow he carefully, almost like in a trance, came closer to the very strange beatiful entity. When standing before her, able to look at her thoroughly, he summarised that she probably wasn't a fairy or anything of the sort. He felt so stupid for even considering, even for those few minutes. She looked so human this up close, the only things seperating her from such were the crescent shape etches in her forehead and the long flowing silver mane that reached all the way to the ground. They took turns in surveying one another, both seemed to be just as curious and spellbound as the other. And at the exact moment when he was about to speek, she split her sweet pink lips and out flowed words that where ethereal and unfathomable. He looked at her with a wondrous expression and shook his head violently. Her very proximity were so many things at once, frightening, exciting, calming, smooth and oh so very alluring. He could find new words to describe her by every passing moment and every one of them would fit her just as perfectly.
Without warning she gracefully grasped his big callous hand, that felt even more hug in her petite one. She placed it against the crecsent mark on her brow, closed her eyes and breathed a few heavy puffs that seemed to suck in the very lifeforce around them.
He was stunned beyond words, what could he do but just stand there stupidly, pondering over what strange thing she would do next. But instead she just smiled a heavenly, gorgeous, blinding, deafening smirk that threw the legs from under him. The strange ritual seemed to be over, but his mind was long gone, up in the vast blue sky.
"Goodmorning." Her lovely gorgeous whisper stunned me, I didn't think it possible that a human could sound so heavenly. An endearing smile spread across her face as she tilted her head slightly to the right
"Goodmorning." I replied in my deep harsh guttural voice that sounded so out place next to her soft melodic whispers.
The whole situation felt unnatural, so alien and foreign that I barely knew what was inside out. Here infront of me, stood the most gorgeous, beautiful being I'd ever layed my eyes on. And just by touching my hand she could suddenly speak my language, I didn't know what to make of it, there was no logic to be grasped anywhere.
We looked at eachother in wondrous expressions, and I don't know were it came from, as so much else in this completely out of the ordinary abnormal moment. But for the first time in what felt like forever, I burst into a hysterical, passionate laughter that blared out over the surroundings. When I saw her wide eyed shocked expression my laughter got even more intense, I laughed so much it hurt, but they joy it brought spred through my body like an infectious disease.
I don't know when she began, it can't have taken too long and now her soft, wonderful giggle accompanied mine in tune.
When our infectious happy laughs finally died down we where both exhaustedly gazing at eachother, the weatness in my eyes lingered like a wonderful reminder. I really wanted to talk to her, to hear that sweet whisper yet again. FrustratinglyIi battled my mind for something clever to say, but nothing came to mind, so instead I unclasped my mantle and spread it out over the soft grassy ground.
"Would you like to sit down.. and" I swallowed loudly "Have a talk?... Or something?"
She nodded excitedly and very gracefully took her seat at the edge of the cloak. It felt like I was being conciously stalked since her eyes kept lingering on me with every move I made. I sat down at the other edge and tried to fight through the annoying bundle of questions in my mind, that kept buzzing and flying all over the place. At first I just wanted to find something clever to say, but with the tornado that raged on I realised it wouldn't be possible, and before I'd settled on something she opened that sweet mouth and let out yet another heavenly whisper.
"May I inquire upon your name?"
"I am Endymion... May I ask what yours is?"
"My name is Serenity"
"A beautiful name, yet kind of peculiar and unusual" I pondered over it for a while, and couldn't remember any person I'd met that had a similar sounding name "But it suits you I would say" I smiled at her and hoped it wouldn't be my usual crooked one, rather a gentle and maybe, even handsome.
"I have never really reflected over what it stands for. But thank you kindly, for the compliment."
I reacted towards her old fashioned way of speaking, both the words she used and the way she pronounced them.
"It is my pleasure" I decided to tag along in her formal speech, waiting to see if it would die down by itself.
She gazed at me with those oh so incredible beautiful, Sapphire blue eyes, and it felt like I was swallowed by a huge ocean, drowning over and over again.
preoccupied by them I just blurted out what came to mind "Who are you"
With a very puzzled expression she seemed to thoroughly think through how to answer my question "What do you mean? What exactly is it that you want to know"
She surprised me with the return questions and I silently wondered if she tried to avert "I mean, for example, where do you live, do you have family and the likes, just ordinary things about you" I smiled at her again.
It quickly excanged into a startled breath when I noticed how taken aback she got by my statement. She looked baffled and frightened, like taking off in a run at any moment. Creating all sorts of different expressions, anything from confusion to horrible fright she finally seemed to find words.
"It might sound strange, but I don't want to talk about it to thoroughly" She swallowed then continued "But to answer simply, I'm a Princess in a foreign land that lies very, very far away. And I'm here for a visit, exploring these exciting lands" She ended with a sweet heartily smile.
"It is fine if you don't want to talk about it" I smiled reassuringly and nodded "I get that, really. I guess I'm just curious... Really curious"
Yet her face contorted into some wild expressions that kept surprising me and I was lost by the total confusion that raged in my head.
"I think that I get the curious part, because I want to know things about you too"
"Is there anything in particular that you would like to know?"
"Do you live near?"
I cleared my throat and looked away for a moment, although I shouldn't have been at all surprised by the question I still wasn't prepared for it.
"Yes, I do live near. But I travel a lot so I do not spend that much time there"
She nodded in understanding and gazed out over the field again while whispering "I wish that I could have come here sooner... Or more often.. These lands are so very foreign and fearsome.. Yet so vast, exciting and immensly beautiful..." she let out a heavy sad sigh.
Her sombre outlook ignited something within me that I wasn't at all prepared for. It felt like the honey that had just been sloshing around peacefully, suddenly got replaced by boiling water that hot and burning surged through my veins. It hurt in my body, my temples, it burned all the way through my mind. It was so scary and foreign that I tried to deny it and desperately tried to come up with something, anything to say to diffuse the burning sensation.
"I'm sad to say that I don't see the same beauty that you do.. To me it looks more grey and dull, but maybe I'm just to full of it to experience it properly"
Her eyes flew wide and stunned to me as the last syllable left my lips, her mouth fel open in a wondering gape.
"How can you say that with a good concience?!"
"hm?.." Baffled I could do nothing more than just glare at her.
"You tell med that THIS" she extended her hand in a pointed handgesture "Is all grey and booring?!... Then you cannot possible have seen anything of the sorts!"
The agitation in her voice escalated by every sentence and I just kept glaring at her stunned beyond words.
"This Wonderful! Beautiful world that is so full of life! The green wild grass all around us!" She began twirling with the billowy skirt flowing around her "The flowers in immense varieties! The blue, bright sky! The warm sun that shines like a billion stars!" abruptly stopping she glared at me resolutley "This world is more alive than any place I've ever seen"
With every word she'd uttered energy came bursting in electric shooks through me, flowing through my veins, pumping energy into every pore of my being. Still quite stunned and lost for words I just looked around me, trying to see everything that she'd just explained. She sat down next to me and waited intently for an answer. I threw silent awkward glances at her as I kept pondering. Her infectious smile that met me everytime somehow filled me up in ways I couldn't describe. It felt like I could suddenly see the world through her eyes and marveled over every new discovery. The flowers were indeed very much wild and alive, the sun was in fact very warm and comfortable.
I let out a defeated yet delighted sigh "Indeed, with your view of the world everything feels very beautiful and alive..." my husky silent voice felt so very alien coming out directly after hers "It's just that... I Haven't really... really looked at it... Of course there are places that I've always found beautiful... But I haven't payed these surroundings very much attention.."
She gazed straight ahead, as if avoiding me "When you live in a world like this... It is really.. very unnecessary to squander it..." She let out a frustrated breath "There are some people who will never... ever.. experience all this wilderness" Yet again her sombre expression felt like a heavy veil that clouded both our minds equally.
It infected my body like a dark shadow that crawled over and dirtied everything in my mind. It felt as if she played me like an instrument, like the many keys on a piano, and every tune she pressed brought forth another emotion in me that I hadn't felt before.
"And what do you mean with that.. Who wouldn't be able to experience this?" My voice sounded more irritated than I actually was, I felt more bewildered than agitated.
She turned towards me and held my gaze resolutley, almost threateningly intrusive, yet again drowning me in those vast deep ocean like eyes. "Do you know so little about your own planet?" she sighed as if boored "Plenty of countries are filled to the brim with sand and dead plants... Some consist of frozen water where no life grows... And some are so, so wild that it is impossible to live there"
Dumbfounded I tilted my head down in shame. She was right of course, there were so very many places less fortunate then our country. I took a deep breath "You are right of course... It's way to easy to forget about your own fortunes..."
She smiled brightly at me with my statement "Well... As long as you are aware that you've been completely wrong and dull, I'm happy" She ended with a very cute wink.
Perplexed it took only a moment before iI burst out into another powerful and heartily laughter, which she joined in on. "It's good that you're fine then, I guess that makes me happy too"
In the middle of her sweet, gorgeous giggle, she soflty fell down on the mantle and extended her arms out into the grass. Her hands and fingers played with it absentmindedly while she glared up at the vast azure blue sky. It looked so pleasent and delightful that I wanted to frame this mental picture and hang it on my bedroom wall.
"Have you ever tried this?" She locked her eyes on me and whispered in her heavenly tune.
"No, not since I was a child"
"Why not join me?" She smiled a playfull, wonderful, toothy smile that sent shiver flying down my back,
"mhm..."
Without further ado I fell down next to her and copied her movements, the grass tickled my fingers so very luscious and smooth. The scent searched it's way to my nostril, sweet and sour, so very much alive. I relaxed my body and let it stretch out fully, sinking heavily into the ground, filling every sense with the newly discovered wonders. And yet again I could feel how she played my piano, sending waves of emotions trickling through my brain. But now it was a pleasent, sweet flow that filled me to the brim with happiness and joy. It scared me more than I really wanted to admit to myself, but what frightened me most was that I somehow felt really convinced that it wasn't just my imagination... It felt real...
Confused and absentminded I glared up at the vast blue sky that shined in the beams of the sun. White fluffy clouds scoured it and flowed slowly with the smooth carressing wind. I let out a deep satisfied breath and closed my eyes, suddenly feeling really tired and slugish.
I was abruptly broken from my almost sweet slumber by a excited squeek.
"Look! That's definitely a bunny, that cloud there!"
I opened my eyes and searched for the object she was talking about. "Yeah, I can see it"
"And over there!" she pointed with her long slender finger "That is a tree"
"Yeah..."
"And that's definitely a horse! Just look at the four long legs!"
I searched the sky yet again, when I was abruptly woken from my sweet moment when i was reminded of how unceremoniously I'd left my own poor horse where I'd dismounted. With a small hint of panic I flew up and searched the meadow after the white horse that hopefully felt like still lingering about. I spotted her over by the narrow gravel path, peacefully grazing at the edges of it. With a relieved sigh I curiously glanced at Serenity.
"Would you like to say hello to Artax?"
"hmm?" She stared at me puzzled and sat up.
"My horse, she's over there" I flicked my wrist in a pointed movement.
"OH.. Yes! I would like that very much!"
She gracefully stood up and waited for me to make a move, I grabbed my mantle and quickly brushed it off before flinging it briskly over my shoulders, clasping it to my jacket. We strolled side by side towards the road, she looked to be to excited to form words and I secretly pondered over how that could be, had she never seen a horse before?
Soon she fell a bit behind as my long sure strides brought me closer towards Artax, I picked up the leathery reins that had slid down her neck and got caught behind the ears as she grazed. Turning towards Serenity I noticed a sudden hesitation as she eyed the horse nervously.
"Are you nervous?"
She gulped and nodded.
"You don't need to be. I know it's easy for me to say since I'm used to her mighty size. But Artax is the most kind hearted, well trained horse on the continent. She wont hurt you, and I'll be right here"
I extended my hand, waiting as she took a few hesitant steps closer, I grasped her very petite hand tenderly. I led her to stand infront of me as I gently placed her hand against the soft white fur on the neck. Immediately tensing up in the close proximity to the huge horse, her shoulders rose towards the neck, for a moment I wondered if she would bolt, but she just stayed firmly glued to the spot, waiting for my instructions. I softly placed my hand upon hers and guided in gentle strokes along the neck. After a while I let go and looked intently as she got familiar to the horse. I especially noticed her petite small frame so close to me, barely reaching my shoulders with her scalp.
After they'd gotten to know eachother better Serenity finally relaxed and let out a relieved sigh "She's so very soft, and smooth... It feels wonderful!"
Artax seemed to be listening in since she slowly turned her large head around and softly nudged at Serenity with her muzzle. She let out a surprised squeek and giggled sweetly before turning to me with wide excited blue eyes.
"Would you like to ride her?"
Her eyes turned even wider and got as huge as tennisballs, it seemed like she was speachless since her only answer were some confirming soft nods.
I laughed hartily "Come here then, I'll help you up"
She slowly took the few strides needed to stank infront of me, I grabbed her around her surprisingly petit waist and hoisted her easily up on the horse. She couldn't weigh much at all and for a moment I was concerned if she got enough to eat, it didn't seem healthy to be that small.
Her nervous expressions returned now that she sat ontop of Artax and didn't seem to know where to place any of her limbs.
"Some ladies like to ride damesadel, which is how you're sitting right now. But I prefer to have one leg on each side, it is most secure and you have more control that way. But you decide what feels best to you, well move slowly so you'll be secure either way. But if you decide on the latter, try not to scratch her since it might tickle and lightly spook her"
For a while she just glared at me, seeming to ponder over what would be best. Then resolutely took a breath and in a gracious flowing movement that I'd not thought possible flinged her very long leg over Artax neck. When done she smiled triumphantly down at me and giggled lively. I was stunned to silence by the gorgeous, dreamlike view infront of me. Her long white dressed fanned out elegantly around her and the horse, flowing gently towards the ground. Her silver ringlets sparkled in thousands of crystals, the sapphire dazzling eyes accompanied by that heavenly wonderful smile. It was like taking the picture from a fairytail and blowing life into it.
"Never in my life could I have imagined this! Never!" she shook her head to emphasize "I'm actually sitting atop a horse! A living, breathing, horse!"
I smiled at her encouragingly "Grip the saddle or mane with both hands and I'll lead you around for a bit"
She followed my instructions while nodding eagerly.
I strode out over the vast meadow again with Artax at my heels and laughed softly with her excited giggles. The grass swayed peacefully in the gentle wind that surrounded and carressed us. Birds chirped in the far distans and the sun warmed us pleasently, it felt a bit dreamlike, like the bubble would pop at any moment.
We stalked on for a good while and I kept stealing quick glances at Serenity as she reveled atop the horse. Her energy directly affected mine and I knew that it was long since I'd ever been this pleased and happy. She was such a pleasent, lively and absolutley adorable person that it was impossible not to get infected with her cheerful personality. I couldn't for the life of me think of any person that affected me nearly this much, in a positive way at least.
But as we went along, I abruptly and painfully was reminded by that string that connected the two of us. The music of emotions that lingered like a quilt having me feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. The thoughts briskly turned into a tornado of storming feelings that plucked at my strings violently. It raged on wilder and stronger until I was so wired up and frightened that I no longer could ignore it.
Here was a person that I'd know for only a couple of hours, and she sat there happily giggling atop my horse. I barely knew her and she already affected me to an immense amount. The thought was so unnerving and foreign that it spread like deadly poison through my veins, infecting my mind with dark, looming thoughts. And what about all the important questions that I'd forgotten to ask along the way?! The things you usually do when you get to know a new acquaintance. Not drooling over how far and beyond gorgeous they are. Who or what was this ethereal girl, where did she come from... But most importantly, I was reminded of the fact that she by just simply touching my hand had learned my language to its full extent. And that thought was so scary that a panic slowly built up, rising from my toes, burning through my body, into my throat like corrosive acid.
I was so tense, so much on high alert that I couldn't even form words, I cleared my throat over and over again without results.
But what overthrew me was her sudden and high pitched shriek, that burrowed into my ears, my mind, forcing me back to reality.
She flew of the horse in a strikingly swift elegant movement and dashed away with her long dress fluttering like a train behind her.
It was so completely ubexpected, out of the blue, that I at first stood there grounded. Dumbfounded with a sheepish smirk on my face pondering over what the heck was going on.
But as that creature, granted to me from the heavens themselves. The being that had brought a laugh from me for the first time in forever. That had me smiling and dreaming away by purely looking at her. She was running away now and with every step got closer to evaporating like water from a boiling pan. I just knew it, like a light suddenly penetrated my brain in brute force and violently yelled at me, that she would disapear for good if I didn't stop her.
I flung myself up on the horse and before I was orderly settled we set off in a hastily full galopp.
"WAIT!" The shout that left my throat felt foreign and illfitting, but I just had to stop her, somehow I just knew... "Wait a minute please!"
I raced pass her quickly enough and hastily and forcefully urged Artax into a halt. My mind was spinning frantically, trying to find words were there was none.
"Why are you running! Will you just leave now?!" I blurted out more desperately than I could ever have imagined my voice to sound like.
Her pale face was covered in her oh so wide frightened eyes that stunned and scared me more than I wished,
"I have to! Sorry but I don't have time!" She squeeked before zooming past the horse.
"Will you come back?!" I forced out stuttering and stumbling over the words.
She briskly threw a glance over her shoulder at me with a wondering expression plastered all over her face "Do you want me to?"
My tounge was soore and dry, my throat had formed a heavy lump but still I forced the longing words out of my mind "YES!" I swallowed "Yes! Please come back!"
"Then I will" and those were the last words she spoke before running in through the dense forest, disappearing between the tall looming trees.
"I WILL BE HERE TOMORROW AT THE SAME TIME" I yelled with all my might, as soon as the words were out of my mouth I sagged into a pile of tiredness and tried to catch a glimpse of her through the trees. But she was gone, and I felt it even more so as soon as that lurking threatening string was cut.
Suddenly everything seemed so empty without it. Like the world turned lifelessly grey and dull at once.
And at that moment I wished for nothing more than that she would appear through those trees again, with that heavenly smile on her lips.