Chapter 1
Six months before the Erebian invasion, the roses in the Moon Castle central garden glowed as if they were made of jewels under a clear summer sky. Sweet songs drifted in the air from pavilion to pavilion amidst idle chatter as noble lords and ladies conversed. Tinkling crystals and laughter rang out as they ate the plentiful feast laid before them.
It was an exceptional day for a birthday picnic, but the star of the event was nowhere to be found.
"O Princess~ Please come out! Where is that brat..." Mars alternated between sweetly calling out and snarling under her breath as she paced the pathways meandering through the rose bushes.
"Now, now, she won't ever come out if you freely let slip your murderous intent," Jupiter placated her companion, "Let's go farther in."
Jupiter waved toward Venus and Mercury on the other side. They acknowledged the gesture and the four of them headed farther into the maze-like greenery.
The guardians were combing the grounds in pairs as they looked into each nook and cranny for their missing princess. A pair of eyes stealthily watched the proceedings from behind a unicorn statue, placed conveniently beside the main covered walkway leading into the castle proper.
"So persistent…" Princess Serenity of the Silver Kingdom sighed and rolled her eyes. It was such a nice day and they expected her to sit prettily and listened to dull conversations with lord this-and-that and his wife lady so-and-so? No chance of that!
Now, to get away before Luna finds her...Serenity turned quickly and ran into what seemed like a solid wall.
"Ouch! What is-?" She looked up, and found herself gazing into the deepest pair of black eyes she had ever seen. She stepped back unconsciously and tripped against the statue's base.
Strong hands caught her elbows before she fell, "Be careful, my lady."
"Oh, um, thank you," Serenity blushed a little and ducked her head at the closeness.
The man let go and stepped back politely to give her room. He bowed a little, "You must excuse me for startling you. I have lost my way in this expansive place and was hoping to trouble you for directions."
Serenity peeked up from beneath her lashes, still not entirely recovered from her surprise, "O-of course. Where would you like to go, my lord?"
The man was dressed entirely in shades of black, but despite the somber colors, his eyes and expression were anything but.
"Please, call me Endymion. I have been invited to the Princess' birthday party, supposedly held somewhere in this garden…"
"You have?" She squeaked unintentionally and cleared her throat, "Why, then I must certainly address you as 'lord'. Although I confess your hold still escapes me, even though I have seen and met most of the lords here…"
"Ah, I'm afraid I must be a bumpkin compared to the personages you have met in these halls. I am newly arrived from Gaea Hold, located near the borders."
"I see. Then I am all the more pleased to make your acquaintance Lord Endymion, for your rare appearance." she curtsied, for once getting the angle and depth just right. As she rose, she caught a flicker of sadness crossing his face.
"Thank you. May I ask-"
"You may, but you are not quite as turned around in your directions as you believe, lord. The party venue is just a few minutes away in this direction." She pointed and resolutely ignored his attempt to ask for her name. He would know soon enough, but before then, she was going to enjoy the anonymity as much as she could.
"If you head there now, I believe you will be just in time to join in the celebrations. I bid you good day." she curtsied again, not as deeply this time, and turned away.
"Wait-" Endymion stretched out his hand, but she was already gone. He looked at the stray limb in surprise. What was he about to do to a girl he just met?
Still, the sensation of her softness lingered, and the brush of soft silver hair, glowing like threads of moonlight…
He shook his head. No, he was here as the representative of Gaea Hold. If there was one thing to remember, it was that he must be on guard at all times. He must be what he seemed to be, in order to be heard in these halls of light and peace. He must be the harbinger of ill news and dark tidings.
Endymion hoped he has what it takes to make them listen. Or surely the Silver Kingdom will fall even as it goes on believing in its own impregnable glory.
Serenity kept her shoulders straight and face impassive as she strode away. Hoping she would be followed, hoping she wouldn't be. Then again, he wouldn't be able to follow her even if he tried. He was newly arrived in the Silver Capital and she had played in the Castle's gardens all her life.
She swayed suddenly against a tree trunk and let her heart played out its pounding. What was it about Endymion that drew her so? Was she just surprised by his sudden appearance? Or was it because he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen in all of her short life?
"And I leaned on him! What would Mother say?" she crouched in belated embarrassment.
"What would she say indeed, if she found out you were abandoning your duties. Hm?" A voice drifted down to her from above before a soft bundle of fur landed on her back.
"Ah! Luna! Don't scare me like that!" Serenity exclaimed.
The feline guardian leapt off and padded around to her front, "You deserved that and more young lady. You ran the guardians ragged with your games of hide-and-seek and you don't even feel the slightest remorse!"
"Oh, come down from your high throne Luna. You know as well as I do that they're in no hurry to find me," Serenity pouted.
Luna sighed, "And that's why I said you have no remorse. Well, I have found you and we are going back. Right. NOW."
"Yes, yes." She got up and and brushed her dress down, "I've a mind to just go in these clothes. Don't blame me if people gossiped about my dirty gown and dusty shoes…"
"So long as you do your duty, I wouldn't mind if your walk around in your nighties!"
"Luna!" Serenity gasped at the outrageous statement and giggled.
The pair took the long way back towards the castle because despite her harsh reprimands, Luna still loved her.
Serenity absently combed her hair with her fingers and thought of black eyes widening in surprise, 'So long, anonymity. It has been all too short and I will miss you.'
The lords and ladies of court welcomed him warily, as expected. He tried not to let his impatience show as he went around greeting people he knew by sight if not by reputation. This was the time to find support. Only the Silver Crystal would know how they will feel about him once he broke his news on the next audience day with the Queen…
Suddenly trumpets blew out clear notes and all eyes turned toward the staircase leading down from the castle. Murmurs and quiet laughter faded and almost absolute silence reigned.
Endymion gazed up with the crowd, expecting anything but what he saw.
She had changed from the simple dress he had seen before and was now garbed entirely in royal white. How could he not have seen? Her long silver hair drifted behind on invisible air currents and spreaded around her as if she had wings. The delicate features of her heart-shaped face served only to highlight the strong gaze of her blue sapphire eyes. Every movement, every gesture should have told him she was the Princess of the Silver Kingdom.
Endymion knew he was staring, but so was everybody else. He listened with only half attention as the lord he was currently standing with explained that today was the Princess' 15th birthday, about the gifts he had already prepared for her…
Did she just smiled at him? No, it couldn't be.
He waited for his turn, one of the last to be introduced as befitting his position as a young lord of a minor hold.
Finally, it was his time. Endymion approached the intimidating radiance that was her presence, almost forgetting that she was the same person he had asked for directions from. The irony, asking for directions from the guest of honor!
He reached her just as the ensemble began to tune their instruments and played the opening bars of a waltz.
Looking back on the memory months later, he still didn't know what spirit of mischief decided to play tricks on him that day.
Endymion bowed low before Serenity and held out his hand, "Your highness, would you honor me with a dance?"
And to his delight and eternal surprise, she accepted.