Title: PEACE AND WAR
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon
Authors Notes: Thanks so much for the reviews everyone!
I got one review that pointed out that I describe Serenity as Innocent like every three seconds. I honestly didn't realize I was doing that. I'll try harder to find other ways to describe her so it's no annoyingly repetitive. Thank so much for pointing that out so I can fix it.
This chapter is not quite as long as my other ones, but I liked where it ended so I didn't want to continue writing just for the sake of making it longer. The next one will hopefully be up soon!
"It's been four days!" Raye cried out in frustration.
"Is that normal?" Amy asked.
"No, it's not normal!" Raye almost sounded as if she was in hysterics. Her eyes danced dangerously and Serenity was sure her blood was boiling with in her. "Darien has never made me wait this long before hearing from him. They're only a day away. Why hasn't he sent a messenger?"
Serenity looked over at Jedeite who sit watching Raye with concern written all over his features. She wasn't sure if it was concern for Raye of concern for his friends and the King.
"Wouldn't we have heard either way?" Mina asked.
"What do you mean either way?" Lita asked surprised.
"I mean, if we had won or lost."
"If we had lost we wouldn't still be here," Jedeite said softly.
"How can you be so calm?!"
Jedeite visibly flinched when Raye yelled her question at him.
"Believe me my lady, I am anything but calm."
Raye just continued pacing back and forth.
"I really can't stand this anymore," Lita said nervously. "It would be better if we were doing something."
"Like what?" Amy asked. "We are confined to this room and the war is a days ride away."
"Maybe we can find a way to get a message to them," Mina suggested.
"That's impossible," Jedeite said. "We have nobody to spare right now. One of us would have to leave the castle and go ourselves to the battlefield."
Raye crossed her arms angrily, almost shaking with frustration.
"Is this always how war feels?" Amy asked with shaking hands.
"Yes," Lita said evenly. "It gets worse when there's someone you love fighting."
Serenity watched everything in front of her. She didn't know what to say. She thought she should try and make those around her feel better, but she didn't know how. If this were home she would suggest some sort of activity to get their spirits up. But this was not her home.
"What if they've lost?" Lita said after a moment.
All five girls looked at Jedeite.
"We haven't," he said firmly.
Raye started moving again and Amy sighed with nervousness.
"What else could be delaying them?" Raye said again.
"I couldn't pretend to know. The only thing that would delay a message is if they fighting had continued this long and there has not been a chance to send one."
"But that's impossible. How could they fight for four days straight without a moment long enough to send a note?" Lita asked.
"It is not unheard of," Jedeite said. "If you read some of the history there is in our very own library, you will find stories of battles that last weeks. We have mastered a way of fighting since then that allows victories or defeats within a short time."
"So then they've failed?" Mina asked.
"No, it means nothing," Jedeite said calmly. He needed to stay calm for their sakes but his insides were churning.
"It means that Darien could be dead," Raye said sitting down suddenly.
Serenity had thought it, but hearing it out loud made her insides hurt. She sat tensely, hoping and praying that it wasn't the case, but it could be. The thought of losing him after she had only started to know him caused her more grief than she could ever describe. She felt powerless against her own emotions.
Darien could hear the sounds of fighting all around him. His body was bruised and sore, but he stood firmly on his two feet. He could feel the heavy pressure of Zoicite leaning on him.
"They've come around from the back," Kunzite said quickly. "We've signaled for the second wave to ward them off."
Darien just nodded.
"If we cut them off from their camp it would destroy their stamina," Nephrite said.
"How many horses do we have left?" Darien asked.
"Thirty strong, fifty more wounded but standing," Kunzite said.
"The sun is setting as we speak. As soon as it is dark enough, give the signal," Darien said.
Kunzite ran towards their camp with haste and Darien quickly pulled his sword as an enemy soldier came at him from the sides. He killed the man with little thought, but the blood stained his sword crimson red. His eyes seemed captivated by the color.
"Your majesty, we must counter attack," Nephrite said.
Darien nodded and quickly gave the order. The three of them quickly joined their soldiers in fighting off another onslaught coming over the small hill. They were gaining ground, but not quickly enough. Their numbers were so great that every man killed seemed to be replaced.
The clash of metal on metal ricocheted off every surface there was, and the sound was deafening. But Darien focused on only his movements and the movements of those around him. His tired muscles seemed to scream at him in fury, but he ignored their horrendous cries. He could see the eyes of his men light up at seeing him still fighting at their sides.
Darien glanced up at the retreating enemy. Every attack they made the retreated within a few deaths and Darien was growing frustrated with the tactic. He knew they were trying to ware out his army, but he wouldn't let them succeed.
"Continue the attack!" He called out, and the men around him chased after the enemy soldiers, slaying them as quickly as possible. Their worn and blood splattered faces alight with the fight.
He spun quickly away from an attack and cut the soldier down with a heavy swing of his sword. The metal sliced through the man like he was nothing, and he fell at his feet. Darien had only a moment before the next man came at him, knocking him off balance and putting him on the defense.
Nephrite was there in a second, attacking the man from the back and letting his body slide to the ground.
Nephrite's face was deeply cut, but the man looked no more hurt then someone not involved in the war. His eyes were alight with excitement. Darien quickly built on his adrenaline and attack again, feeling his arm vibrate with another clang of his sword. All around him the sounds of men dying sprang into the air.
A body came hurling at him suddenly, not giving him enough time to move. The body hit him with full force and Darien felt the wind get knocked out of him as he was thrown away from his position. He landed hard on the ground, pain searing up his back. But he quickly fought the attacker off and cut him deeply.
He tried to stand up, but he was attacked again and felt his head hit the earth from the force of the attack. He kicked out with his legs and the soldier fell beside him. He had just enough time to get to a knee before the man swung at him again. His sword stopped him, but he was hit hard from behind.
Darien felt his vision dim, but kept fighting. He focused everything he had on the two soldiers attacking him and only vaguely heard Kunzite give the signal for the attack to sever the enemies link with their camp. The sun was setting.
Darien moved with a practiced grace as he fought two soldiers, but he was tiring. He only vaguely heard the cry of Zoicite from a short distance away. But it was enough to distract him.
Dread filled Darien as he looked towards the sound of his friend falling. He look around frantically, trying to find him. But that dread was suddenly replaced by a searing pain.
Darien gasped when he felt the blade slice through his armor and into his shoulder. He dropped his sword and grabbed the blade with both his hands. The soldier in front of him looked as if he had found gold. For a brief moment he saw victory in his eyes, and then they turned lifeless.
The man fell to the earth where he stood and behind him stood Kunzite. Nephrite ran up to help and the two of them defended him with everything they had left in them. Darien looked at the sword still sticking painfully from his upper chest and tried to understand it.
He felt the pain, but he also felt everything around him melt away. Even the sound seemed to dim. His vision continued to blur as the darkness settled over the land and he thought that perhaps this was it. He closed his eyes.
His mind was clear and black. All he could see in his mind was a complete stillness that seemed both safe and terrifying. His mind didn't swirl with the thoughts of the war or the concern over his country. It was completely black.
Darien felt himself fall into that blackness and panic seized him. He felt as if he were floating downwards on his way to hell.
And then there she was.
Her blonde hair drifted in beautiful golden waves and framed her beautiful pale face like a halo. She smiled softly at him, her eyes dancing with pure innocence. She drifted around his vision as if trying to reach him. Then her beautiful face turned confused when she couldn't reach him.
Darien was momentarily afraid for her. He thought she was trapped with him on his way to hell. But how could someone as pure as her end up in the same place he was going.
He reached out to her and saw her beautiful smile return to her glowing face. She was breathtaking.
Darien felt his heart beating.
Her face blurred and the sounds of the battle came crashing back to him. He took a deep breath before fiercely pulling the sword from his shoulder. Despite himself he could not help but cry out in pain. He took the sword in his hand, covered with his own blood and stood.
All around him his men killed the enemy army until there was nobody left standing. He looked towards the hill to see his men taking over their retreat. Their army was stuck in a circle surrounded completely by his men. He could see the defeat in their eyes.
His men started looking towards him, seeing the blood cover his armor and the paleness of his face.
And then he smiled.
Zoicite staggered up to him with blood dripping from a cut on his leg, but he was standing. His other two guards stood with him as well, breathing hard and wounded. The first cry of victory went up, and slowly the chorus started.
Darien could feel the emotion of the army swell within him and the obscure vision of happiness came over him. This was a good day.
"We still have to defeat their camp," Kunzite said tiredly.
"I know," Darien said.
The men all around him turned to him and cheered. Their resolve to win this war had tripled and he could see that they would win.
The smell of blood was everywhere in the air.
Darien felt himself saw as his vision clouded. And then it all went black.
The whole army gasped as Darien fell.
End of Chapter Ten.
Reviews Please!!!!