XX
When they reached the palace, Endymion side-stepped his sister's probing questions and demands to know what was going on and who he was carrying and who this other man was. He turned his sister to her husband and watched her fling herself onto him and forgot temporarily her need for answers. He called for the palace doctor and brought Serenity upstairs to their bedroom.
Adam followed them up and stood by the door, watching over her as the doctor, a curious young girl with blue hair attend to the princess. She caste Serenity's right wrist and put ice onto Serenity's hip as she bound the ribs and put the injured arm in a sling so it would heal and the shoulder would get pressure taken off of it. The top half settled, the doctor went to dealing with Serenity's ankle, which had been broken, thankfully and not sprained like the wrist. Sprains took longer to heal and were more likely to be re-sprained. Ami, the doctor's name, told Endymion Serenity was to get plenty of bed rest and not to be expected to physical demands from any source. Endymion's eyes twinkled at Ami and he grinned with a chuckle following it. He clasped her on the shoulder and told her she was a good woman and that he hadn't had any intention on exhorting his bride any time soon.
That evening, Endymion deemed it viable to leave Serenity's side so he could fulfill another promise, this one made to his newest general. After knighting him to a higher position Endymion was dismayed to be waylaid by a female with fiery red hair on his trip back to Serenity.
"What do you want Beryl?" He asked the woman who was dressed in what she considered finery. It was a dark green strip that started at her feet in the bottom of the skirt and twisted its way around her to end right above her breasts. In-between the strip's layers were the rest of the rainbow colors slashing down at an opposite angle and disappearing behind the strips. Her shoulders had sleeves covering them of that same dark green.
"Why a little attention from my king, is all. We had never finished what you promised me before you went off to war."
"I never promised you anything. You were the one making all of the promises to please me in a way I'd never been pleased before. But what I said then, goes the same if not more so, to what I say now. No, I do not want you and even if I did, you had the wrong type of man pegged on me. I am now married, and will not seek sexual desires from any other woman and will not be sought."
"Even when she's too injured to give in to even the most basic carnal pleasures?" Beryl asked, her jade green eyes set squarely on his pants.
"Even then." Endymion growled. "And how, pray tell do you even know about her injuries?"
"News travels fast dear King." Beryl laughed. "A doctor can only know so much about who she talks to and who can figure out whom she means when speaking in code, especially when only one person had been looked at in the last week."
"You will stay out of my bedroom quarters." Endymion ordered, not wishing this witch any exposure to Serenity.
Beryl straightened. "Of course your highness, I had never meant to peak in to see the fair headed maiden."
Endymion would only take so much disrespect and privacy invasion and Beryl was stepping on the line as if daring him to punish her. If she did one thing to Serenity and he found out about it, her head would be on the chopping block, no matter what his people's outcry for entertainment would be. "Stay out of my way." He barked and walked past her, his shoulder ramming into her and pushing her out of the way.
"Of course, my king." Beryl laughed and continued on her way.
Endymion was not in the mood to see anyone but the girl lying in his bed but he was detained by yet another woman. This one he knew too well and loved too much. "Rei." He greeted and gave her a hug.
"Endymion." She responded returning the hug. "I heard about Serenity, Jadeite explained everything to me that he knew. I am sorry things came to this. How is she?"
"She'll be fine, she's just a little battered and bruised. I would love to introduce the two of you, but right now it is best that she sleeps so her body can repair the damages."
"Of course, I would wait forever to meet my new sister-in-law. It's a shame though that you had to marry the barbarian princess to settle the war and not for love."
"She's a sweet girl, I couldn't have asked for a better mate." Endymion dissuaded. "We would never have met otherwise, her hiding away in a little village that not even her father really knew how to find."
"You care for her!" Rei stated in surprise.
"Of course I do, she needs me, and without me she'd probably wind up dead." Endymion didn't want to talk about this.
"She's a barbarian princess!"
"You know, people keep saying that, but have you forgotten, they probably say the same about us!" Endymion kissed his sister's cheek, this conversation was finished. "Goodnight, Rei."
"Goodnight, Endymion." She repeated as he left her and headed into his bedchambers.
Finally back to his own territory he was annoyed to find Adam holding the hand and shifting the bangs out of the eyes of one very asleep princess. "Hello Endymion." Adam greeted without turning towards him.
"Adam." He responded. "May I ask why you've taken the liberty to change posts?"
"I was just talking with Serenity a moment ago. As personal guard I have more duties than protecting just her body. I have to protect her from herself and from her fears."
"I see." Endymion couldn't be angry at Adam, he was only being a friend to Serenity who needed one she trusted even if he didn't entirely. "Why don't you head off to bed, I will take the place of guardian. I am sure you've been awake far longer than you need have been."
"That is true. I'll just tell the guard walking this hall to be standing post outside your door and to have another take his duty. Do not worry Endymion, I have seen your ability of reaction while asleep, I am sure you can protect her well."
"If you must, than so be it." Endymion bid Adam goodnight and heard a guard's soft breathing on the other side of the door and allowed himself to fall asleep, however not enough to not hear any footsteps that wished to harm himself or the girl sleeping next to him.
EAN: Hey everybody! (*Looks around bashfully*) I totally forgot to update this in the last few months. *bows* please forgive me!