Chapter 2: Fierce Loyalty
Title: The Noble Slave
Author: LightningRose
A/N: Thank you everyone for all the reviews hope everyone likes the story!
The market place of Elysian was crowded with locals going about their shopping and waiting for the auction to start. A stage had been erected in the center of it all, to guarantee the highest amount of spectators. The slaves being sold would be showcased and then auctioned off over a two day period.
It became a sort of eventful show for the locals, what once was just an ordinary slave auction became a sort of charity event for the people. The king would parade exotic slaves from all over the realm at his auction, they would be showcased in the attire they came here in, but then the king would provide new attire that was presentable for the auction. It gave the buyers two views of the slave, depending on what their use for them would be.
Transformations happened on this stage.
"Sere, just remember to stay near us at all times do you understand?" Mina glanced around the market place, her eyes catching the looks of excitement and wonderment in the people's eyes.
"This is so sick; these people are actually excited about a slave auction, how disrespectful." Raye sneered at the woman who giggled with her friend when she walked past them. Currently they were being held in a large cell with every other slave being sold. Even the slaves watched them; they knew the girls were not the same as them.
"Raye, maybe you should just relax, in a few hours were going to be out there for everyone to look at us and you don't want to sneer at the wrong person." The girls all looked at Amy, it was then they realized there was a chance they could be sold to the wrong person. Someone who would hurt them, abuse them, make them into actual slaves.
Serenity watched her friends, Mina and Raye watching the crowds with disdain, Amy trying to calm their nerves, and Lita holding her like a mother to a child. She knew they were all trying to be strong for her but they didn't know how strong she truly was. She lived her whole life being sheltered away, everyone assumed she was this naïve, innocent little girl, but she wasn't. Granted she never experienced true hardship, but she watched people, she read books, she listened. She experienced her own demons; she was the only one of them who had been locked away from the world, who every day wished on every star in the night sky to escape her reality.
The girls thought her parents locked her away aside from a few family members and close friends, because of her looks, and while that was partially the case, her parents had always kept the truth a secret. But everyday Serenity had to hide who she truly was, be hidden away from her parent's fear of being exposed. It was really why her father let her go so easily she was sure of it.
"Artemis promised we would be sold together, he promised Sere's father we wouldn't be separated. As long as were all together, we can survive anything." Lita tightened her hold, the other girls watched on, but Serenity noticed the spark in their eyes change. She watched them, saw the change in them; she knew they would fight to stay together, that nothing or no one would separate them from her.
"They have arrived, and Artemis has returned with a message for you." Kunzite stepped away from the throne that Endymion sat on, nodding his head at the guard by the door.
Artemis was an older man, not as old as the previous King was, in fact Artemis and his wife Luna were older cousins of Endymion. He still held his youthful looks but held all the wisdom of an advisor.
"Artemis! How was the trip, I hope Lord Orion did not give you much trouble with his daughter." Endymion watched his older cousin and favored advisor walk briskly towards him, a deep frown upon his brow. He clearly was not happy with the King, and was one of the only people in the kingdom who were not afraid of showing it.
"My King, my travels were… interesting. Surprisingly Lord Orion was very accommodating in the release of his daughter." This surprised everyone in the room, all the generals stood straighter, Endymion shifted in his set. They expected Orion to fight Artemis, cause a scene.
"Then what has you so upset Artemis, I fear I am about to be lectured like old times." The generals smiled at the playful tact, Artemis only looked on with cold eyes, and something the King was not used to. He respected Artemis a great deal, had always looked up to him, and right now he felt like his father was angry with him.
"The villages nearly rioted when told their Lord's daughter would be sold to slavery, however it was Lord Orion who settled them and said, I quote "we must obey him, for he is our king." Lord Orion handed over his daughter without complaint." Artemis waited, he wanted the words to settle into Endymion's mind, let him realize how much loyalty he had from one of the most powerful Lords in his realm.
"That's good; Lord Orion is a good man. Anything else happen?" Endymion knew there was more, knew Artemis was trying to make him see something, but he didn't have time for his advisors games.
"The four other women that came with her are as I am sure you have heard, all noble born as well, they volunteered for the auction to stay with Lord Orion's daughter. However Lord Orion has asked a favor of the kingdom that I could not in good conscious deny him." This last part was news to everyone in the room; you could see the looks of concern and surprise on the generals faces. Endymion watched Artemis, noticed his shuffling of feet, the twitch in his hands, and knew whatever he was about to say was not something he should take lightly.
"What exactly have you promised Lord Orion?" narrowing eyes studied his trusted advisor, hoping whatever it was did not turn his good mood into blinding rage. He had a problem with that these days, holding onto his control.
"My King, when taking Serenity into our custody, I assumed it would take the people hours to decide on who the other four women would be to accompany her. However three stood up immediately, another forced by her parents, though she stood firmly with the others. These women volunteered themselves, and their parents were proud of them. Mina who is Serenity's cousin and the daughter of Lord Orion's head of guard, Lita whose father and brothers all serve as loyal knights in the guard. There is Amy whose father is a well-respected doctor of noble breeding, and Raye a strong willed woman who comes from high breeding and old money." Everyone listened closely, wanting to know more about the women Artemis spoke of.
"These women are noble, strong and of exceptional beauty. They protect Serenity with a fierceness I have only seen in your own generals. I can only image what it is about her that drives these women to love her so dearly. And so when Lord Orion asked me to promise they be sold together, that they be allowed to stay together, I could not deny him."
Kunzite stepped forward, the others watched him closely.
"How do you plan on keeping them together?" Endymion looked at his closest friend and the leader of his generals, he looked around at all the men's faces. Even the guard standing by the door had a look of awe, his mouth slightly hanging open. He could see the admiration that had settled in their eyes; even Kunzite looked stricken with uncertainty.
"I was hoping the King would see for himself just how remarkable these five women are and make that decision himself." Artemis bowed and walked away from Kunzite and Endymion, leaving the throne room with all the generals staring after him.
"Well I guess it's a good thing we were already planning on viewing the auction!" Jadeite spoke up suddenly, disturbing the silence.
"I say we put them to the test, see just how remarkable they are." Nephrite and Kunzite nodded at one another, understanding the other clearly. All the men noticed the questions and excitement in Endymion's eyes; they knew this could be what they needed to bring their friend out of his darkness.
"Zoi, make sure these women are chosen last for the auction, and perhaps it would be best if this year's theme for attire was something on the provocative side." Endymion smirked; he would get his show before he made his decision. He wanted to see just how strong wiled these women were.
The generals shared a look of concern, but they could not disobey their king's order. They just hoped these women were as strong as Artemis said.
Zoisite was directing the palace maids with the bundles of clothing for the auction when Andrew came over to him. Andrew was a childhood friend of the generals and the King and often helped out with the auction every year, this year he was to be in charge of it.
"Andrew, it is good to see you." The two men shook hands and discussed the upcoming events some before zoisite told him what Endymion wanted.
"Endymion has decided he wants the five noble women to go last, he wants them as if on the showcasing and he has already chosen their outfits for the auction." Andrew frowned, never has Endymion shown such an interest in the auction before.
"The four surround the smaller one, who I believe is Lord Orion's daughter, no one has actually seen her, they keep her hidden and she is already dressed in a large cloak that covers her face and hair." This concerned Zoisite.
"Have you been able to speak with them at all?"
"No, they just stare. They haven't spoken to anyone but each other and refuse to leave the one girl's side." Andrew felt bad for the girls, especially Lord Orion's daughter, she seemed so small and fragile.
"I need to see them; perhaps I can explain what is happening and get them to open up for before the showcasing." Zoisite followed Andrew to the cells. This was no place for noble women, no place for Lord Orion's daughter. At that moment while walking through the slave cells, Zoisite felt anger towards his King.
Andrew stopped in front of the last cell in the block, it was dark, barely lit and both men wondered if there was anyone in it. Lifting the torch to light the others on the wall, Zoisite gasped in surprise at what he saw.
Four beautiful, though now dirty women stood around a smaller one that sat on the only cot in the room. Their dresses made of the finest materials were ripped and covered in mud, yet it didn't diminish their beauty.
"I am Zoisite, one of King Endymion's generals. I wanted to come and explain what is about to transpire, and answer any questions you ladies may have." He watched as they shuffled closer together.
"Andrew here is going to lead you and the slaves out onto the stage for a showcasing, you will go out one by one that way any potential buyers may see you as you are. Afterwards you will bathe and change into the attire the King has chosen for you. This is so any buyers may see you at your best. The bidding will then start." Both men watched as two of the women stepped forward, but all of their eyes shone with spite.
"We will not be separated, we have been promised this." The only blonde stood forward, the others held back though he was sure they would speak up eventually. He just needed to bait them some.
"Artemis has spoken to us about his promise, we will try to make sure it happens, however Artemis has no power over the auction and I feel he promised something that may not happen." It was the raven hair one that rushed forward now. Her anger was the most transparent of the four women.
"You tell your King to make it happen. Lord Orion will not be pleased if he finds out his daughter was separated from us!"
"Raye, calm down, we will protect Serenity at all costs. We will not be separated. Perhaps the King can rig the bidding in our favor, please Lord Zoisite, she cannot be on her own." Zoisite glanced at the short haired women with blue hair, a strange color for hair, and felt his heart throb.
"If we must, we will fight; we will die before we allow you to take Serenity away from us." The tallest of the women knelt down beside the cloaked female on the cot; he had never heard noble women speak of fighting or seen them as fierce as these women before him.
"Stop it." The voice came from the hidden woman, her voice soft and serene as her name depicted. The slight movement of her head left a strand of silver fall from behind the hood of her cloak. It reflected the light of the torch and shone brightly throughout the room, the other women instantly made their ways to her side.
Zoisite and Andrew stared in wonder, never before had they seen such a sight. This little frail form held such power and serenity in her voice, to command these fiercely strong women to her side. They wondered more about her, what she looked like, why she deserves there love and loyalty.
"Serenity, you will need to remove the cloak when you are on stage, your face must be seen." The silver strands were pushed back into the hood away from sight by one of the women.
"I will do what I must, but you and your King must do what you must as well." Andrew and Zoisite nodded at the women before they left, hoping things turned out the way they wanted. Hoping these women were not separated. Zoisite could not wait to see the blue haired women on stage.
Zoisite made his way out of the slave cells, leaving Andrew to finish up his tasks; he noticed Endymion and the generals were already seated among the other nobles of court. This would allow the King and the generals among others to have the best view of the auction, while the town's people and others who traveled far were allowed to stand in front of the stage. It was the only time a year the poor and the rich mingled together so closely.
"Well? Did you see them? Are they as beautiful as everyone says?" Jadeite grabbed him as soon as he stepped onto the platform where their raised seats were.
"Yes and yes, they are quite interesting." Zoisite looked at his King, whose own eyes held excitement and a look her could not decipher, though it worried him.
"Endymion, if they are not sold together I will be buying them myself. I will outbid anyone to keep them together. Or I fear there will be bloodshed." Endymion and the others shot him a look of surprise.
"Bloodshed? Zoi, what do you mean by that, should we be on alert?" Nephrite and Kunzite looked around the area, scoping out anyone that could possibly be a threat.
"Those women, are fierce, and would rather die than be separated from Serenity." Those words settled into all their minds, it was surprising and admiring.