So hello every one!!! Wow my last chapter was my longest so I'm pretty sure I did good... this one is going to be a long one too...Well I'm starting to run out of things to say… Therefore, on with the story!
p.s…. looking for editor
Special thanx to the following, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REVIEWING! It really means a lot to me!
MoonPrincessMagic
Shadow's Moon Hime
RoyalLovers1418
Bunnykim89
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Disclaimer: so what would happen if I claimed I own Darien… lol I know I don't… but I wish I did…he he he
Chapter 11 of TsukiHime,
The Ride
Darien groggily opened his eyes and rubbed the sleep from them; last night had been full of tormenting images and remembered touches that made him afraid to closes his eyes lest his dreams took them further. When he finally fell asleep late into the night, it was a deep, exhausted one that mercifully held no dreams. Seeing that it was late in the morning, Darien knew that he should get up and get cleaned for the day; when he had come back up to his rooms yesterday he found that he had only the willpower and strength needed to strip down into his underwear and crawl into bed. He stayed there for the rest of the day and tried to recuperate; the knowledge that he had been beaten by a girl was the first thing to plague him but it was quickly out shadowed by the remembrance of how he had lost and why.
Getting out of bed and shaking away the same thoughts from yesterday, he decided that he needed some fresh air before he got cleaned up and walked out on to his balcony and into the morning sunshine. The view was just as beautiful in the day as it was at night and he felt a calm come over him and his persistent thoughts wash away, that is until he laid his eyes on her, Princess Serenity. She was coming from the Gardens and wore a puzzled look; the calm feeling was suddenly gone and all the persistent thoughts came back to him.
When he could no longer see her he decided to go back inside and went in to his bathroom where he stripped down out of his underwear to take a quick bath where he scrubbed away all of yesterday's sweat and grim earned during the sparring match. Finishing this quickly he toweled off and donned a clean pair of breeches; he also contemplated putting on the colon that Serenity had complemented him on, then feeling that he should he added just enough as to not to over do it. Walking out of his bathroom and over to his dresser he chose the rest of his clothing and tossed it on to his bed. Darien didn't feel like putting clothing on over his still damp body so for breakfast he decided to ring down to the kitchens and have it delivered.
Then having nothing to do but wait, he decided to plan out the rest of his week and write down some of the diplomatic points he would discuss tomorrow at the meetings. He was almost finished when a knock was heard at his door; assuming it was a servant to deliver him his breakfast, he got up and answered it. Yet the person who greeted him was hardly a servant, it was the Moon Princess herself and she was carrying a huge tray covered in a cloth.
He just stared and didn't say anything until she asked if she could come in, Darien stuttered a yes and quick apology and moved aside to let her in. She set the food down on his writing desk and took a seat in the previously occupied chair. Suddenly his brain broke out in frantic thoughts and reprimands, half the little voices were yelling at him for letting Her in and the other half for just standing there like a big idiot. Shaking his head clear of these thoughts he took the other seat across from her and looked up at her; her eyes were bright and clear, yet something was lurking behind them, something he thought that might get him in trouble. He couldn't describe the look but it almost looked as if she was appraising him; not being able to withstand her gaze he looked over the rest of her features, such as her golden blonde hair the fell across her face in the form on bangs, her two buns, and her pretty, pouty, petal soft looking lips.
They didn't say anything for a while but just sat and looked at each other; Serenity was the first to look away with a little blush across her cheeks and broke the silence by asking, "After all the trouble I went through to bring you a hot breakfast and now you are just going to sit there and let it get cold?" From her tone Darien could detect no malice but surprised him by sounding amused. He flashed a quick grin and said, "Why of course Princess, I wouldn't want to infringe upon your kindness, yet I can't help but feel that this wonderfully unexpected visit is with out due case. Am I mistaken?"
Serenity laughed gaily at this before replying, "Why it looks like you're on to me Darien. I came here to ask you to join me after the afternoon bell for a ride and perhaps to let me show you around my Kingdom. I fear that my behavior during our spar yesterday was out of line and my mother would like me to do this by way of apology. So will you join me?" Darien was surprised by her tone and the proposition; the last time she had been forced into his company she was defiant and haughty, yet now she seemed willing and good natured about it. This led him to wonder what has caused such a turn about, but he wasn't about to waste it so he said, "I would be honored Buns."
Once again that nickname just seemed to slip out, so to avoid her anger he took off the cover from his food and began to eat. Even though he couldn't see her face, he could feel her angry glare and hear her huff in exasperation; she stood up at this point and excused herself pleading that she had lessons to go to and she hoped he enjoyed his breakfast. But as she was leaving Darien was almost certain that she whispered "or choke on it and save me from today" under her breath.
If he knew that he wasn't the one who was supposed to choke he would have found it quite funny. After she left, everything was quite again and he enjoyed his breakfast in quiet; the quiet presented a perfect opportunity for him to think over the change in her personality and why had he called her that nickname again. When he ate all of his breakfast he finished getting dressed and left his room; thinking to himself that either Serenity hadn't gotten the rose or she hadn't thought it was him, he decided to get another and put it in her rooms while she was at lessons.
He made his way down to the Gardens and made sure not to run into any of the Guardians or Serenity; it would be an awkward situation explaining what he was doing in the Gardens with a rose in his hands. Making it to the center fountain he spotted Mr. Thompson pruning a little bush, and not wanting to startle him too badly, he called out to him while he approached him. Mr. Thompson stood up and looked around and chuckled when he saw it was Darien; confused by this Darien asked, "Is something wrong?" and raised a hand to his face to feel if there was any thing there. Shaking his head no he said, "No, I find it amusing that you asked me for a perfect rose yesterday and this morning I find a confused, delighted, but confused Princess asking me if I had anything to do with it. It's quite the coincident don't you think?" Mr. Thompson must have seen the alarmed look on his face for he added, "There is no need to worry, I didn't tell her where it came from. Now what can I help you with Prince Darien?"
He suddenly felt relief and embarrassment wash over him and asked what Serenity's favorite flower was. Mr. Thompson went over to a small bush located near the large fountain and bent down to pick something and when he showed it to Darien, he could immediately see why it was her favorite. Taking the flower in his hands he thanked the old florist and began to walk away when Mr. Thompson called to him asking, "If I may Prince Darien, what did you say you wanted these for? I can't remember." Stopping he yelled over his shoulder, "I didn't."
Leaving behind a chuckling old man he walked back into the Palace alert and watchful. He was relieved that his trip to the west wing was uneventful and quick; Darien went into his room and sat down at his writing desk and got out a piece of paper. He sat here for some time, just staring and the Midnight Lily that the gardener had given him; no words came to him until he finally wrote down,
May the Beauty of your Bloom always match that of this Lily
Darien knew that he was no romantic by any means and found himself asking, why was he doing this? Yet deep down in his heart he knew that giving her this flower was a purely simple, but selfish reason; he wanted her to like him, and he wanted to see her smile. He was being foolish and he knew it, he also knew that nothing was ever going to happen between them and that her liking him was a long shot, and he wasn't even sure as to what he was feeling for her.
They had known each other for barely three days, yet he felt that he had known her for a life time with every thing that had happened. Grabbing the note and picking up the lily he peeked out his door to make sure there were no maids and seeing none he walked over to Serenity's doors and knocked loudly hoping that Serenity or her maid weren't there. Hearing no reply or having no one open the door, he let himself in and quickly placed the note and Midnight Lily on a table where it would be seen and left.
Once back out into the hallway he now realized that the still had some time to kill before the Afternoon bell. He thought about what he could do to get ready for the ride and decided to see if the kitchens would pack him a lunch for him and Serenity while they were gone.
The kitchens were a frenzied chaos of chefs, helpers, and maids trying to get lunch ready; Darien started to feel bad for asking for them to make a special lunch when the Head Chef stopped in front of him. She asked, "Yes, Is there something I can do for you Your Highness? I'm really very busy right now, but I can spare a few minutes if you need of something." Darien felt put on the spot and decided to go ahead and ask her anyways since he was already down here, "Myself and the Princess will be going for a ride and I was wondering if it could be arranged for us to take a lunch with us."
She nodded her head curtly and barked some orders and was about to leave when he asked, "Can you have it delivered to me at the stables? It would be very much appreciated." The chef nodded again and with that Darien left the bustling room and out side to the court yard where he realized that he had no idea as to where the stable actually were. A passing servant came scurrying past him carrying a huge load of books and almost dropped the whole stack when Darien called out to him; he asked quickly, "Which way to the stables my good man, I'm afraid I haven't the slightest clue." The reply and direction where short and simple and as Darien followed them, a large barn and stable quickly came into view.
Walking up to the stable a tall lanky man came out and cried "Greetings Prince Darien! My name is Andrew and I assume you are here to see me about a horse for you afternoon ride with the Princess? Ah! Don't look so surprised You Highness! The good Queen Serelaina informed me that you would be here some time this morning. I have just the perfect horse for you, a stallion mind you, but you seem like a strong, sturdy young man, and I'm sure you'll have no trouble with him at all." Darien just nodded and followed a long when he turned around and walked into the stables; they came upon a tall, all black magnificent stallion that stood sleeping near the gate.
The stable manager clucked his tongue a couple times and the stallion woke up and snorted; Andrew leaned on the fence and the majestic horse shook out his mane and came to nuzzle his hand, no doubt in hope for a treat. Andrew laughed at this and turned to Darien and said, "This is the horse you'll be riding, a beauty isn't he? His name is Yonaka, an Earth word meaning, "Midnight" if I'm not mistaken. The Princess named him herself the day he was born."
After this Andrew grabbed a saddle and was about to let Yonaka out when a stable boy ran up and told him that one of the cows were in labor and he was needed. Hearing this Darien said, "Don't worry Andrew, I love horses and know how to saddle up a horse. I'll take care of Yonaka and the Princess' horse; could you have one of the stable hands show me where the stall is?" He looked really thankful for this and called for a stable hand named Erin, and then was off to the cow leaving Erin with strict orders to behave and show Prince Darien the Princess' mare's stall.
The young boy waited patiently while Darien took Yonaka out of his stall and put on his bit, attached his reins, and put on his saddle. He swung up into the saddle with expertise grace and adjusted the straps and buckles that were needed. When he was done, he got down and gestured for Erin to lead the way; the boy bound to attention and skipped a couple steps ahead while Darien walked and led Yonaka by his reigns.
The stall was near the end of the stable and was a little bigger than Yonaka's; inside was a slim, pretty, all white mare with an arched neck and delicate features. At the site of the mare and her stall, Yonaka urged forward, pulling the reigns from Darien's hands and trotted to the gate. Erin laughed at Darien's surprised expression and Yonaka's and said, "Yuri, that's the mare's name, and Yonaka really like each other; whenever they are in each other's company they are almost inseparable."
Upon hearing this name a realization hit him and it made sense why they were friends. Both of their names together made "Midnight Lily" which was Serenity's favorite flower. Darien then asked, "Do you know what Yuri means Erin? No? It's an Earth word meaning "Lily"." Wide eyed Erin nodded and then asked if there was any thing else he could do to help; thinking about it Darien asked him if he knew which saddle the Princess used and he was off like a shot.
He came back with a small delicate saddle and stood quietly while Darien tied Yonaka's reigns to a near by pole and let Yuri out. At this time a maid walked into the stables and came to him and delivered a medium sized pack that contained the lunch he had asked for. After she left Darien had to ask Erin to give him the saddle and go fetch some saddle bags for Yonaka's saddle; while he was gone he finished saddling up Yuri and got her brushed down.
Erin returned and Darien released him, and as the boy skipped away and he finished fitting the saddle bags on, he heard a loud female voice ask, "What are you doing?" Turning around he saw Serenity standing there and bowed to her and said, "Both of the horses are ready and I took the initiative to have a lunch packed for us." He looked over her appearance and noted that she was still wearing a gown made for riding and not breeches like some of them woman on his planet did, he also noted that she wore the Midnight Lily in her hair right behind her ear.
As she came closer to her mare, Yuri whinnied and trotted over to nuzzle her; Darien could see the mutual affection between rider and horse and it made him smile. He then realized that he should help her into her saddle, so he walked over next to Yuri and got down on one knee while interlocking his fingers and making a step for her foot. She looked down at him for a moment as if to contemplate whether or not she was going to except his then gingerly put her booted foot onto his makeshift step and he boosted her up into her saddle.
After doing this he swung up into his own saddle and was about to move Yonaka into a walk when he caught a quizzical glance from Serenity atop of Yuri. Knowing he really shouldn't ask but not being able to help himself he asked cautiously, "Is something the matter?" She just shook her head and replied, "No, nothing is wrong, it's just that this is the first time any one besides Andrew has ridden Yonaka before." And with this she suddenly laughed and kicked Yuri into a fierce gallop and took off towards the Palace Gates leave Darien in the dust.
Ok so this was a long chapter... and I'm sorry if not a lot happened... I had originally planned for a lot more... and it's still going to happen it's just that the filler stuff for my mental check points took up a lot of room… if that makes any sense... well sorry this took so long to get up... I've been a busy, busy, girl so... well hope you keep reading!
Yonaka Japanese word for "Midnight"
Yuri Japanese word for "Lily"
The midnight lily is a flower i made up by the way
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W/Love, Hime-chan
