"Helios?" she whispers to herself as she stares at him in utter shock and disbelief. Endymion heard what she said and looked down at her in confusion wondering how she knew his name.
"How do you know who he is?" asked Endymion. Rini continued to stare at the white haired man as if she just saw a ghost until Endymion's question finally registered.
"Oh…um…I heard of him. The keeper of dreams right?" said Rini nervously as she tried to convince the prince that she's never met that man before in her life. Endymion looks at her suspiciously then shrugs it off. He takes her hand and walks towards the white haired man. With every step they took she felt as though her heart would burst out of her chest. It was Helios, the man she thought about, dreamt about, and just couldn't live without and he was right there in front of them. Once they got to him she let the breath that she was holding in out.
Helios stared at her as if she was heaven sent. She was a beauty and he did notice as her eyes looked at him with hint of sparkle. The most beautiful auburn eyes that he's ever seen and Rini couldn't help but stare back at him. Endymion noticed how they looked at each other so he cleared his throat which snapped them both back to reality.
"I must speak with you about something that's been bothering me old friend. Is it alright if we speak in private for a little while?" asked Endymion.
"Of course my prince." said Helios. Before he walked away, he gazed at Rini one more time. She felt her cheeks heat up as she blushed in embarrassment then walked away to look at a bed of flowers that were close by.
"You seem very fond of her Helios, I've never seen you this way before." said Endymion as he walked with him to a bench close by. He blushes thinking about their encounter earlier and because of what Endymion said.
"She seems different somehow. She carries a beauty of that of the royal moon family, very rare but still different from anyone else that I've ever met. Where did she come from?" asked Helios as they finally sat down on the bench.
"I don't know, I was…uh, taking a walk when I found her outside at night by herself. So we took her in until we found out where she came from because for some reason she doesn't seem to remember." said Endymion.
"Hmm…well, what was it that you wanted to speak with me about my prince?" asked Helios.
"It's about my arranged marriage with the New moon princess. Father believes they would be a good asset but I feel the opposite about it. Something doesn't seem right about them, like their secretly planning something and their waiting until we finally become their allies so they can, I don't know, maybe take over the universe or something of that matter." said Endymion anxiously as he brushed his hand through his hair.
"How do you know this?" asked Helios calmly as he watched Rini pick flowers from a short distance.
"Because of what my people say, I overhear things even though no one thinks I'm listening." said Endymion noticing that he doesn't have his friend's full attention. Helios moves his gaze from the young girl and back to the prince.
"Hmm…is this the only reason why you do not want to marry the New Moon princess or is there something more?" asked Helios as he looked at Endymion seriously knowing that there is something else that he wants to let out.
"Are you not the keeper of dreams Helios?" said Endymion as he caught on to his friends question.
"Of course my prince." said Helios.
"Then you know that there is something, or should I say someone…" he sighs as he positions himself to the thinking position. "I don't know what to do. I love her with all my being but this stupid arranged marriage that my father wants is making things difficult for me and her. She won't even look at me sometimes when I speak to her about the situation. She is my everything and I would rather die then be with anyone else but there's nothing I can do to stop this marriage. What do I do?" said Endymion. He sounded like a child who just lost their puppy. He was confused and felt helpless as he could envision the love of his life slowly slip away from his grasp.
"Do not worry about it my prince, your love for each other will conquer any obstacles that you two will face in the future and I know she loves you just as much seeing that all of her beautiful dreams involve you. You are her life as she is yours and nothing and no one is going to take that away from either one of you. Keep your heart strong for her and you will see that your love for each other will be stronger than anything that you two have ever imagined." said Helios as he smiled warmly at Endymion. He could only nod as he knew the chances of him and Serenity to live the happily ever after was slim to none.
Rini glanced their direction in hopes of catching Helios watching her. She giggled when she saw him look at her then quickly turn his head. The urge to talk to him was getting serious for her and she didn't know where to start.
"What should I say to him? Do I talk about old times? No, Rini don't be stupid, he technically doesn't know you so he would just think you're crazy. Come on Rini think…" said Rini to herself.
They both got up from the bench and headed to where Rini was at. She turned her head and noticed they were heading towards her.
"Oh my god they're coming over here. Ok…think of something to say, anything. Oh hello Helios I've missed you so much, I hope you know that I'm so in love with you…No, I can't say that! Ok…ummm…" said Rini to herself.
"You alright Rini?" asked Endymion noticing that the girl was whispering to herself. She suddenly jumps not noticing that they were behind her.
"Huh? Oh yea…of course. Why wouldn't I be?" she said rather nervously with a nervous chuckle to add. Endymion looks at her worriedly as if she had just lost her mind.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?…Anyway, is it time to go?" she asked as she got up from the ground and dusted her dress off clean.
"Yes, I have some um…important things to take care of." said Endymion as he looks away. He then turns towards Helios, "my friend, thank you for listening."
"Anytime my prince." said Helios as he bowed to Endymion then turns to Rini.
"Young maiden, it was a pleasure." said Helios as he took her hand and lightly kissed the top of it. Rini almost melted from his tender touch. She could feel her heart flutter from her throat.
"Like wise." said Rini breathlessly. He locked his eyes at her, staring into her ruby red eyes. Endymion looked at them impatiently then finally he cleared his throat. The two came back from their mesmerized dream world and looked away from each other.
"Lets go." said Endymion. He nodded at Helios then walked back toward his castle with Rini following close behind. As she walked away she decided to look behind her shoulder to look at him one last time and saw that he was watching her. She quietly gasped, flushed then quickly turned her head back around.
Helios sighed as he watched their disappearing forms until he could no longer see them then went back to his sanctuary spot, knelt down, and continued to pray.
After twenty minutes they came across a clearing.
"Wait right here, I'll be right back." said Endymion looking down at her. Rini only nodded then sat down on the grass. She watched him as he glanced around the area then disappeared through some trees. She sighed as she rocked back and forth with her arms around her knees.
Ten minutes went by and he still wasn't back. "I can't take this anymore, I'm gonna go find him." said Rini to herself as she got up off the ground and headed towards the direction where Endymion walked to. She thought she had lost him until she heard some voices nearby and as she continued to walk she saw Endymion at first and was about to say something but stopped when she saw someone else with him. She noticed him about to turn around towards her but she quickly hid behind a tree before he could see her. She saw that he looked behind him then turn back around to face the other person he was with once more.
"I have received the invitation to your engagement party, you're having a ball correct?" asked Serenity as she stared at him with her glazed eyes.
"A ball? I didn't know that there was going to be one. I guess my father decided to start planning things without me." said Endymion not being able to look at her in the eyes.
"Why are you going through with this? Please don't do this Endymion. For me please don't do this. I know you respect your father and his wishes but I want you for once to do what you want to do and not what your father wants to do." said Serenity pleadingly as she grabbed his hands to hers. He then lifts her hands to his lips and kisses her fingers.
"I've spoken to him so many times and every single time he doesn't listen to what I have to say. I don't know what else to do to convince him otherwise my love." said Endymion
"Then I promise you that I will be dead by the next morning. I would rather die than see you with another." said Serenity as she freed her hands and looked away.
"Never speak of that again! I would die if you were to be gone from my life!" yelled Endymion angrily at Serenity. She gasped at his slightly harsh words, she never knew of Endymion ever yelling at her that it startled her.
" but don't you think being married to another be the same thing as losing me by death?" said Serenity with a raised brow.
"Serenity…" said Endymion as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Serenity looked into his eyes as to find some reasoning. He sighed looking down to the ground.
"Promise me my darling." said Serenity suddenly.
"Promise you what?" asked Endymion curiously.
"Promise me you will not marry anyone that is not me." said Serenity. Endymion chuckles then brushes her cheek slightly with his thumb as he looks at her lovingly.
"I promise." said Endymion. She smiled at his words then leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her. He took her chin and lifted her head up slowly so he could look into her eyes. He lowered his face to hers until their lips were mere centimeters away from each other. She could feel his warm breath tickle her face as she saw him begin to close the gap between them. Serenity closed her eyes as she felt his lips land on hers. On contact her lips parted slightly and it became an open mouth kiss. Once they broke apart, she automatically felt relaxed and light weight, as if she was walking on clouds.
"I love you." said Endymion as he smiled down at her.
"I love you too." said Serenity.
After hearing the whole conversation, she felt her leg starting to fall asleep so she shook her leg to wake it up but ended up losing her balance and falling on her bottom. She hissed in pain then quickly covered her mouth when she noticed she was being loud.
Endymion looked around, hearing a noise and noticed there was something pink sticking out from one of the trees. He shakes his head then walks towards the tree.
"Rini, what are you doing here?" asked Endymion as he waited for her to come out.
Rini slowly peeked her head around and saw Endymion less than two feet away from her.
"Uh…you took too long so I came to look for you and ended up here." said Rini
"And accidentally heard our entire conversation?" said Endymion sarcastically.
"I didn't hear everything, does that count for anything?" said Rini feeling embarrassed.
"No, but I'm about to leave so wait one second." said Endymion as he turned around to face Serenity once again but noticed she wasn't behind him anymore but in front of where the young, pink haired girl stood.
"Endymion? Who is that? And why does she…look…like me?"