Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!
The next morning, Mina was waiting for Serenity when she stepped into the sitting area of the tent. She bowed low as soon as she saw her. It was lavishly appointed, and Serenity had appreciated all of the work that was done to prepare for her, their Queen. Serenity said, "What is it that you have to tell me that you are afraid I won't like?"
Mina smiled at how perceptive Serenity was. "I spoke with the council last night, and we are all in agreement. We are recommending that you tell Endymion that he is your soulmate. He is liked by every single one of them."
"What if he doesn't-"
Mina interrupted her. "He told me the first day I met him that he's in love with you."
Serenity looked startled. There was a sound at the entryway to the tent, and Serenity beckoned whoever it was in. A servant brought breakfast for both of them. Once it was placed out, she left. They went back to discussing Endymion.
"He's in love with me?"
Mina nodded, "He followed you to war without a second thought."
Serenity blushed, "I will tell him. I have a deep respect for your ability to discern things when it comes to love."
"Actually, Lord Elwes was the one to suggest it first. I did completely agree with him though."
Serenity sat back in her chair. "Wow, he likes him that much. I didn't believe he would ever approve of any husband I chose."
Mina laughed, "He is rather protective of you. He held you the day you were born."
"Please, have someone bring Endymion here. I wish to talk to him in private. Also, please have a horse saddled for him. One of our Royal Horses. It will get the point across to my people. I will ask him to ride with me through camp this morning. It's time to show them what they are fighting for, not just against."
Mina looked startled, "You are in love with him? I know he's your soulmate, but I didn't realize that you had fallen for him yet."
"I have fallen for him."
Mina smiled at her and stood to go have a servant bring Endymion to Serenity. They both then quickly finished their breakfast and had it taken away.
Endymion arrived and Serenity asked if he had eaten yet. He let her know that he had. She then asked him to sit. Once they were seated, she said, "It's time to tell you the rule that allowed me to tell you that I am a demi-goddess."
He looked startled, "I have to admit I've been very curious about that." He tried not to fidget when he sat there. It was difficult to be reminded that she was so different from him. He loved her and he wondered if he could ever be enough for her. Especially after how rude he was the day he met her.
She blushed, and said, "My Aunt, Hathus-"
"Hathus, the goddess of love?" It was yet another stark reminder for him that they were very different.
"Yes, Hathus was the one who hid my mother from Zeubis. She also gave my guardians powers. They are all stronger than mortals, although they all maintain their mortality. One of the powers she gave Mina was the ability to identify soulmates."She paused and tried not to fidget. She whispered, "You are mine."
He looked completely startled. Then, his face slowly morphed into a look of pure joy. "We're soulmates?"
She smiled beautifully at him and nodded. "Yes, we are. They are incredibly rare. I was shocked when Mina told me I had one."
He breathed out, "I love you."
"I love you too." she smiled at him.
He quickly stood, pulled her up out of her seat and pressed her to himself, kissing her. He claimed her mouth and kissed her with all of his pent up desire for her. When he pulled back, he smiled down at her. He said, "I think you need to agree to marry me."
She wrinkled an eyebrow at him. "Shouldn't that be formed as a question?"
He cheekily said, "You're the one who said we're soulmates…." He kissed her nose and then asked, "Will you marry me?"
She laughed and said, "Yes, I will marry you."
He kissed her again.
Serenity asked, "Would you ride with me through camp today on one of the Royal Horses? It'll let everyone know that we're together."
"And, it would give them something new to fight for. Love."
She nodded. "Exactly."
"I'd love to ride with you. Can I sneak kisses from time to time?" He looked at her with desire burning in his eyes.
"Only, if you behave." she said, huskily.
"Now, what's the fun in that?" He pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
She pressed her body into his and moaned when he began nipping at her neck. She changed her mind, "I take it back. You don't have to behave at all."
He whispered into her ear, "I'm thrilled to hear that." He then peppered kisses along her jawline. He stepped back, "I better stop before someone comes in and finds me like this."
She smirked, "They all know better than to come in uninvited. I'm the Queen after all."
"Oh, you shouldn't say that to me. It gives me naughty ideas." He ran his fingers along her spine.
"How naughty?" she then winked at him.
He stepped back from her. "I'm not going to be able to control myself if we keep going on like this."
Serenity smirked at him, "Some other time then. I guess we better go and ride out to greet my people. Well, eventually our people."
He offered her his arm, and he escorted her out of her tent.
Meanwhile, Mina had been busy arranging everything. The horses were being saddled, the advisors were gathering, and a more appropriate tent was being set up for Endymion, their future King.
Once Endymion stepped out of the tent with Serenity, he paused and looked at her. "I was going to escort you, but I realized I don't know which way to go."
She smirked at him and indicated the direction, "You will learn your way around quickly. Also, everyone will be happy to point you in the right direction. It's only fair. Your people were incredibly kind to me."
Endymion laughed loudly, "You say that as if you weren't the sole cause of that. You were amazing with each and every person in the castle. You saved a child from bleeding to death and you delivered a baby. They adore you."
She blushed and said, "The maid assigned to clean my room did mention that there were servants that hoped we would marry."
"Like I said, they adore you." He paused and pulled her to a stop. "I adore you too. I don't know what I did to even catch your attention after I was a jerk to you."
"You had a definite opinion about women, but you never treated me badly. I was upset with you at first because of what you said, but I quickly began getting over it. It helps that you are so handsome. It made it easy to like you back then when you weren't talking."
"Well, I haven't ever met a woman before that was stunning on the inside as well as the outside."
They began to approach many of Serenity's advisors. She walked up to them and said, "We are to marry."
Endymion was surprised how abruptly that she announced their engagement and how easily everyone seemed to take it.
Lita laughed at him and explained, "After you left last night, we came to the unanimous decision to advise Serenity to marry you. They are all aware you are soulmates."
"You're all in complete agreement about that?" Endymion asked. He didn't want to be fighting an actual war against Diamond and a metaphorical one with an angry advisor. He looked them all in the eye.
Sir Elwes spoke up, "I would be the hardest to please, and I was the one who spoke first in favor of Serenity telling you that you're her soulmate. You aren't unknown to us. We've all heard much about you as the Crowned Prince. You don't dally with maids or farmers' daughters. Although that last one is an analogy. Your mother was a farmer's daughter and your father treated her very well. I should point out that we've watched your father through the decades too. He's an honorable man and has a reputation of having raised two honorable sons."
Endymion was speechless. He was overwhelmed with the reputation he had. He realized he acted without thought as to how it would make other nations view him. He had just acted in accordance with what kind of man his father raised him to be.
Serenity beamed and said, "Yes, well, Arcas did ask me to marry him, but I declined him."
Raye exclaimed, "What?! You have both brothers in love with you?! That will be awkward."
"No, he isn't in love with me. He proposed after Mina arrived. He thought that if we were engaged, that they could lend me their army."
Sir Harriot smiled, "He sees you as his mother, doesn't he?"
Endymion burst out laughing. "How did you know?"
"Men tend to see her as a sister, a mother, or a wife. Your mother died when he was young, he would be looking for a mother's love." Sir Harriot replied.
Endymion looked at Serenity. He was right, Diamond wasn't the only other man who was going to want her as his wife. He tried to stamp down his jealousy. After all, there wasn't anyone to direct it at. He tried to remember what moment it was that he started to fall in love with her. It was so early on that he was fully in love before he even admitted it to himself.
Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoisite all walked up and joined the group that had formed. Kunzite looked at Endymion and asked, "Sorry we took so long. Jadeite was taking forever to get ready. What did we miss?"