Part II

She found herself lying on a still object, with soft furs and pure silk cloths, she shuddered. She could hear grunting and murmuring in the room next. She sat up and found that she had been dressed into a black robe! Her clothes were gone and she was alone in a room, lying on a double bed. Her only source of light was a small window. She reached out and slid her hand through the bars, glass covered the window. She felt tears sting her eyes. Imprisoned she was. Her heart cried out for Endymion.

She scrambled to her feet. She must still be in the forest, for the room smelt of one. She could see Candle light and fire burning from the gaps in the door. She slowly pushed the door open and saw her riding clothes hanging over the fire to dry, for the mist she went through was wet. She shuddered at the feel of the damp coverlet she was wrapped in. She looked to see Drustan bent over her clothes. She stepped but one creek of the floor boards of the shack had given her cover away. He looked up and snarled and extended his hand. She slowly walked over and paused, then taking it. To stay alive she had to play his game. She thought of that much.

He roughly kissed her hand; he repulsed her and made her stomach tie into knots, "My Lord! How kind of you to dry my clothes out for me. But why am I here?"

He laughed, it was sly and Serenity did not like it at all. "Well, My Lady. You will find out. But first let us eat."

She sat down on the roman couch and fed him fruit, his sticky lips kissed and licked her fingers; she forced back a sob and controlled a shudder. She had to keep him sweet. She could not eat anything, which was enough to put her off. And she didn't know what poison he had put into her food. She slowly sipped on the wine he had forced into her hand. Drustun heavily drank It back and was on his fourth cup. All she could think about was Endymion. Would he be back in time to rescue her? Would he find her horse? Would he even notice she was gone? Would he even care? In her day dream, Drustun gulped his wine and stood. Serenity looked up at him in a daze.

The fire cracked like whips and threw shadows onto the walls, he extended his hand, and "It is Time."

She stood puzzled, she had realised she wasn't naked under the robe for a reason. She gulped and shakingly took his hand. "My-My Lord, would you not like me to sing for you before?" She could see him debating the odds and evens. He eventually nodded and sat, pulling her onto his lap so she couldn't escape. She sang him ever song she could know. Songs of money, jealousy and love. Anything to delay him and make time for her hope of a rescue! But she knew she could not stall him for long, for he tired, rose and grabbed her, and thrust her against the wall. She cried out in pain. "My beauty this isn't going to be gentle! You are too beautiful!" He laughed and snatched at the tie that bound her robe, exposing her naked breasts and taking them into his mouth, she whimpered and tears flowed and left tracks down her cheeks. She beat at his arms but she couldn't find the strength. Her heart screamed for help which her voice would not let her do. It would provoke him more. He fondled roughly and pinched sharply at her nipples, over his shoulder she could see a small light flashing. She pointed to her with a shaking hand and he angrily stopped and turned, he grumbled and grabbed her and tightened his grasp around her arm, kicked open the door and slung her onto the bed, she looked up in fear. "You will not escape little Queen! The bridges are made of knives! No one will get to you!" With that he slammed the door and she heard him leave, and locked the door to the shack. She gasped and threw her face into her arms and sobbed.

She stumbled off the bed and into the main room. She heard crashing behind her and ran to see Endymion on the bed in a pool of blood, the bars at the window had been bent and the glass shattered. She gasped as he limped his way in a red haze off fury into the room, looking around for Drustun calling him out in the King's name, "Drustun! God, you coward!" He turned to Serenity, his sword lowered, "He has gone hasn't he?"

She opened her mouth, but in shock. She barely nodded. Endymion sheathed his sword back into his scabbard and drew Serenity into his arms, stroking her hair and trying to sooth her as she whimpered and whaled against his chest. "some one at his Barracks must have warned him of our coming. He must have known he couldn't have gotten away with this!"

"Endymion, please...don't…I…I" She suddenly screamed and shrank to her knees. He sank with her and realised she was naked, the robe was open. "Endymion he-tired to-I didn't want-I "She blubbered and sobbed in his arms.

He cooed her until her sobs diminished into whimpers and she could sob no more. "Endymion, I swear I didn't let him! What happened to your leg?" She gasped as she saw the wound.

He shrugged, "The bloody bugger put knives and spears into the bridge, one caught me right in the leg. Yet, be still my sweet. I would gladly take anything to make sure you are safe." He kissed her forehead and she ripped a strand of her robe off and wrapped it around his leg to still the bleeding. He took her face in his hands and kissed the tracks the tears had made. He slowly made his way to planting kisses at her neck, her shoulders and gently at her breasts- a wild fire consumed her, "Endymion, Take the fear away from me..."He lifted her and set her on the bloody furs, the fire blazed as he pealed off her robe.

Serenity cried out then panted, trying to catch her breath, Endymion collapsed over Serenity's limp body. The sweat dripped off his forehead in beads as she kissed her nose. Then shock and realisation suddenly hit them both, fast. "Zoycite!" Endymion cried, "Good god Serenity! They will be waiting for us!"

"You brought an army?" she croaked.

He nodded, "Only half the men! Quick, get your riding clothes on! My horse is outside we can cross the river!"

"But Endymion-"

"No time!"

Serenity dressed quickly along with Endymion, he dragged her out and she looked back over her shoulder. God knows it looked like a rape had taken place!

They crossed the River to a clearing where Serenity's horse stood along with Zoycite and the rest Endymion's men. They looked glad to see the Queen was unharmed, but she looked exhausted and weak and clung to Endymion with little strength. Zoycite had to ride beside her in fear of her falling off.

Questions were not asked until they had gotten back to the Kingdom. Endymion had had news of Serenity's fever and called a council and sent word to Diamond that same night. Endymion was concerned for Serenity as she had gone into a fever and was delirious. The council had sat up all night trying to fill in the cracks of this puzzle as to why Serenity was abducted.

Endymion recalled the recent visit two weeks ago to King Drustan and Queen Beryl. He near leaped over the dinner table and smacked Drustan for drooling over the Queen, His Serenity. But that was the problem, she wasn't his. She was Diamonds. He had to remember that...

Pieces of the puzzle just did not fit in. Drustan would not have let himself be so overcome with Lust unless he was even more provoked. Serenity told of a light she had seen, and his sudden departure. He must have had an informant. But Who and where and why? Endymion scribbled down possible names, but he couldn't fully decipher the code until Serenity had gained her health back.

He rubbed his temples and moved to look at the bandage covering the wound on his leg. He had had it looked at as soon as he came in. As he heard the Knights options he had come to the decision there had to have been an informant or a second one in this plan. And as soon as Serenity was up and well he would spare no one.

Rai watched the Queen toss and turn in her fever, the sweat dripping off of her in the heat of the many candles, "Bitch." Rai hissed and threw the wet cloth at serenity. Serenity groaned and moaned in her state. "You've been soiled and you are still every man in this court's beloved!"