Kingdom of Treason: Fall of the King
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon.
Author's Notes: This is a sequel! If you haven't already read Kingdom of Treason, I suggest going back and doing that first. Almost all of the relationships were formed and explained prior to this story. This story takes place a few years after that one.
Thanks so much to everyone who supported the original 'Kingdom of Treason'. To date, it's one of my favourite stories. And I know I promised this sequel years ago (my bad!). I hope this is worth the wait to all my loyal readers out there.
Serenity laughed softly, and the sound drifted carelessly around the sun filled room. Her golden hair spread out behind her, falling in tumbling waves across the pillows. Endymion had a strand trapped in his fingers, twirling it around and around before tucking it gently behind her ear. His fingers were soft against her face as he gently caressed her.
They were in bed and it was early morning. It would be a warm day, but right now, tangled in bed together, the entire kingdom felt peaceful.
"I like mornings like this," he said, his voice deep and smooth the way she loved so much. "Laying here, with you…it's when I feel most at peace."
She smiled, caressing his cheek and tracing his lips softly. She loved everything about his strong features. She loved the way his entire face changed when he was looking at her. She loved the stubborn strands of ebony hair that fell constantly in his deep blue eyes. She loved the truly intense way he looked at her, as if he could see straight through her, straight into her. And she hoped he could, so that he could see clearly how truly she loved him.
"It is my second favorite time," she teased with another giggle.
"Is that so?" He asked, amusement flickering across his beautiful face. "And what is it you like so much more than being here with me?"
She bit her lip, lowering her chin so she could look up at him through her lashes, letting him know exactly what she liked better.
He laughed, and the sound made her heart swell in happiness.
"I suppose I can't be angry at that," he said, pulling her even closer to him so that she was half against his chest.
"You can be angry at whatever you want," she continued cheekily. "I don't think it'll stop me from getting what I want."
"You think you can make me forget what I'm angry about by leading me to bed?"
"It doesn't necessarily have to be in bed."
His eyes danced with amusement and happiness, and she felt her love for him consume her. She loved him. She loved every part of him. She loved the person he was, the person he could be and even the person he was afraid to be.
In the last few years, she kept having the same thought. There's no way to love him more than she did at that moment. And the next day something would happen, and she'd love him more. The cycle continued, until she finally gave up, and admitted he was a man that would always find ways to make her love him more.
"You used to help me forget," he said softly.
"You have so much less tension now than you used to," she said to him gently, caressing him softly. "There's not as much reason to help you forget."
"There's still reason to forget, but I suppose it's been a long time since I felt overwhelmed by any of it."
She smiled. "When I first saw you, you were always intense, always furrowed. Now you smile even when you're not smiling."
He breathed a laugh. "And you think it's your doing?"
She grinned at his teasing. "Of course not, my king. It is all your own doing, as is everything."
"So are your powers gone then? You no longer have the ability to make me forget?"
She gently kissed him, letting her lips barely brush over his skin while her warm breath slowly caressed him. His response, like always, was immediate.
"I can make you forget," she said huskily, kissing him teasingly again. "I can chase the anger out of you," she kissed him again, this time running a hand up his chest firmly. "And I can take away all your thoughts, so that you are consumed with me."
He breathed out, a slightly heavy sound, letting her know just how quickly his desire had churned within him. She shifted, moving her body on top of his, resting her knees on either side of his hips. He was already eager for her.
She kissed him more passionately, smoothly rubbing her body along his, making sure every part of them touched. He groaned, moving his hands up her back, allowing her to be in control.
She was consumed by him - by the desire to please him. It was what she was, what she was trained for. It was what had brought them together. And she was not ashamed of any of it.
She rose above him, sitting up so she could look down at him. His hands moved to her hips, moving with her as she took him inside of her, moaning softly as she did.
She loved the feeling of being with him. He was the only person she'd ever been with, and the only person she ever wanted to be with. Her life could have turned out so differently. Raised as a pleasure slave to give men what they wanted, but she'd ended up his.
It was true, she knew what he liked and what he wanted. He liked to be teased. He liked the burning desire to smolder and build until neither of them could take it. She could see it in the way he reacted; his groans, his breathing, and the thumping of his heart within his smooth chest.
Sometimes it was hard to control herself. Every part of her wanted him. She wanted to go fast, and be forced to scream his name out into the rising sun of morning. But her desire to please him was more prominent. The desire to make him forget, and to let him give up control.
She kept her rhythm slow, even when his strong hands dug into her sides, trying to make her move faster. Her own body was heated to unbearable levels, and she couldn't help her own moans of pleasure. It was not about her pleasure. She never set out to be satisfied herself. But it seemed to happen every time, intended or not. She was so consumed with him, of him being inside her, moving against her, that it sent her mind into dizzy spirals of pleasure while her body throbbed and hummed as her pleasure peaked, and she cried out at the sensation as she felt him tense beneath her, letting out his own pleasure filled groan.
Serenity was breathing hard and her body trembled as she came down from the high. It didn't matter how many times they'd been together, it was always overpowering.
She leaned down again, kissing him as she moved. Gently, she lay on her side, letting him hold her against him. His heart was loud, beating against his chest. She put her ear to it, smiling at the sound.
She giggled after a moment, trying but failing to stop the sound.
He smiled slowly, his eyes closed. "What do you find so amusing?" His voice was husky and calm.
"You're always a little sleepier throughout the day when we're together in the morning."
She felt him breathe out a laugh. "So I've been told."
"I suppose I should be punished."
He looked at her softly, his eyes hazy, his smile slow and true. "Yes, you probably should."
She kissed him again, lingering, letting everything she felt for him rise up so that her kiss told him everything. He kissed her back just as lovingly, gently caressing her cheek.
"I love you," he whispered softly. "I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I did, but it seems to grow every day."
She smiled, gently nuzzling against him. "Love has no limits," she said softly. "I found that out the moment you came into my life and I was lost."
His soft smile was everything she loved about him. As long as she could make him happy, then she was happy. She knew that nothing else in the world mattered to her as much as he did. She was his, in every way, and nobody could tell her otherwise.
"Promise you'll never leave," he breathed out.
"I will never leave, unless you send me away."
"Even then," he said urgently. "Even if I lose my mind, and I'm insane enough to send you away. Promise you'll stay."
"I promise that you're the only one who has my heart, and I could not tear myself away from you even if you forced me."
He kissed her again, sealing her promise between them.
Endymion had never wanted to be king. But now that he was, he was determined to make his kingdom remember what it was to trust.
In the years since the uprising, things had settled. There hadn't been a single war, so the army took shifts of three months to protect the city, but otherwise stayed home with their families. Jadeite saw to their care. Kunzite had brought in so much information from the people at first it was overwhelming. But they'd worked hard to listen, and made so many changes to benefit the kingdom.
And yet there was still so much to do.
He walked through the palace, memories of growing up with his brother danced around him. He tried to stop the flow of guilt from washing through him. He'd killed his own brother to save his kingdom. He'd stood against him, committing treason.
Sometimes, he could still feel the slickness of warm blood on him.
The images of his brother's death still haunted him. It was years ago already, and things were settling into a peaceful certainty. Despite the peace around him, the guilt was getting worse.
"Good morning, your majesty."
Endymion looked up to see Lord Kunzite waiting for him along with Jadeite and Zoisite. The three men were smiling at him, apparently amused. They looked the same way they had for years. Calm, amused, and carefree.
"Have a hard time getting going this morning?" Jadeite asked knowingly.
"No," Endymion said, keeping his expression calm. "I had a perfectly delightful time getting up this morning."
Kunzite laughed, shaking his head. "That girl certainly has a hold on you."
"Is that a bad thing?" Zoisite asked.
"Not until the day he refuses to get out of bed with her and the kingdom falls," Jadeite joked. "Anyway, even though we are all consumed with happiness that our king is so enraptured with his young lady, we do have things to discuss today."
Endymion sat down, sighing. "Is it good news or bad?"
"Confusing," Jadeite said. "We finally heard from Lord Byron."
Endymion was surprised. That name hadn't come up in years. During the final days of his brother's reign, some of the lords had up and left, probably knowing their time was done. Lord Byron, a horrible man who was known for beating his wives nearly to death, had simply never been heard from again.
"Where is he?" Kunzite asked.
"Helios," Jadeite said.
And that made no sense at all. "Why would he have gone to Helios?"
"We can't seem to find out. Helios has always been… odd," Jadeite said. "We've never gone near it. We've never been at war, they've never needed anything from us. Even your brother, for all his desire of expanding the kingdom, never thought to go there."
Endymion tapped his finger on the table, his brow furrowed as he considered this news. He wasn't concerned with Lord Byron. In the months after the uprising, there had been some uncertainty with the lords who left. But most either returned, or swore allegiance elsewhere. None looked to avenge their fallen king.
"Do we have anyone in Helios?" Endymion asked
"Nephrite tried to set up negotiations after the war, but they wouldn't let him in the city. They weren't exactly hostile, only not interested," Zoisite said. "We had so many other kingdoms ready to negotiate, it wasn't important at the time."
"What else do we know about them?" Endymion asked.
"Nothing really. They're smaller than Elysium, probably a third the size. They have next to no army. I believe they're led by a single man, but they do not call him king."
"Does he have a name?" Kunzite asked.
Zoisite shook his head. "Nephrite wasn't able to see him at all. They say he's some sort of religious leader. He's called the Wiseman."
"Wiseman?" Jadeite said, confused. "If he's unwilling to give his own kingdom peace, he can't be very wise."
"He's been in power for at least thirty years," Zoisite said. "It seems odd to me that after Nephrite tried and failed to negotiate, we never tried again. Other kingdoms took many months to convince into negotiations, but eventually they all came around."
"Does it affect us?" Endymion said. "If they have no army and no trade with the other kingdoms, does it matter if they remain isolated?"
They men looked at each other, and it made Endymion frown. He tapped his finger on the table again, thinking. Helios. He knew so little about it. It wasn't a big kingdom. Even hearing about it now seemed strange.
"Kunzite, do you think Lord Byron is still a threat?"
"He opposed your rise to the throne," Kunzite said.
"But he's done nothing since then," Zoisite said.
Jadeite looked at Endymion, watched him think. "What bothers you?"
He shook his head. "Nothing I can put my finger on. Watch the situation. Send someone to go in as a civilian to see what information we can gather."
He pondered it for another moment as the others waited for his word. They looked at him, like they always did, waiting for his lead. It didn't matter how long he'd been king, the pressure of his responsibility still pushed down on him. "What else?"
They filled the time speaking of other issues with their own kingdom, and the negotiations that would have to be adjusted for the remaining kingdoms to sign the treaties. Most kingdoms were much smaller than theirs, but they were all important.
"There is that matter of Serenity."
Endymion looked up at Kunzite, narrowing his gaze. "And what matter would that be?"
Kunzite seemed to hesitate. They all knew speaking against Serenity would not sit well with him. He was prone to overreact when her safety was in question.
"It is not that your people are against her being the one to make you happy," Kunzite said softly. "But she was a pleasure slave. She cannot be queen."
Endymion rested his elbows on the table, leaning into his hands. This wasn't a new conversation. They'd had it so many times. He'd announced his intention to never marry when he was crowned king. Since then, he'd considered it. He'd considered it often. He wasn't against marriage. If he could marry her, he'd do it tomorrow. But Kunzite hadn't been able to convince the people to vote unanimously to allow it.
"Maybe you should consider her own proposition of simply being together," Zoisite said logically. "If she is not pressuring you to marry, then there is no need…"
"I will marry her," Endymion said, leaving no room for argument. "Yes, it's true that she hasn't pressured me. She says she's happy just being together."
"She's telling the truth," Jadeite said.
"Of course she is. But it doesn't matter. She's happy now, but she'll be happier if were married. And I'm tired of explaining the situation to visitors. If one more person mentions how happy they'd be to take her off my hands when I'm done, I'm going to kill them."
"You sound a bit possessive," Kunzite said with a laugh.
"I am," Endymion said seriously. "And I think you will find that I'm also fiercely protective."
"This is stupid," Jadeite said. "Serenity would make a marvelous queen."
"The public doesn't know her," Kunzite said. "They are happy that she is making our king happy, but uncertain of her character. History depicts hundreds of women controlling powerful men in order to have power. It doesn't make a difference that Serenity is not like them at all."
Kunzite looked at Endymion, concern in his gaze. They all wanted him to be able to marry the woman he loved, but it was not as simple as that. Serenity was not suitable in the eyes of the public to be queen. They all knew she could do it, and she would make an exceptional queen, but that was not the point.
"If it were as simple as changing the laws, we would do it today," Kunzite said. "But you should start to consider what you'll do if marriage never becomes an option."
Endymion sighed, shaking his head. "Of all the things we've fought, all the battles we've won, how can this challenge be so insurmountable?"
None of them answered.
"What else is on the agenda today?" He asked, changing the subject because no one had anything new to add.
And so Zoisite gave him a run down of all the meetings and appearances he would have to make as King that day, as he did every day. It was a never ending stream of people wanting to talk to him and get his permission. The life of a king was given up completely to his people. Diamond had never understood that.
Serenity couldn't help but smile as the little girl squealed in happiness, running quickly in a sweeping arch as fast as her little legs could carry her. Her beautiful little laugh echoed happily around the room, her black hair streaming behind her, her violet eyes alight with mischief.
And she squealed the moment Endymion caught her, lifting her easily into the air to swing her around, her laughter everywhere as he smiled happily with her.
"Look at those two," Raye said, smiling beside her. "She's absolutely in love with him."
Serenity laughed. "Well of course she is. He's the only one who drops everything to play with her the moment she gives him that mischievous look."
"Endymion taught her that look, so it's his duty to drop everything and deal with it."
Raye's daughter was an absolute joy in the palace. Since the moment she'd been born, she'd been surrounded by love. Endymion had held her as a baby, his gaze absolutely enraptured as he looked at her adoringly. He'd held her for hours, whispering promises of a good and happy life. It had made her heart pull so forcefully in her chest at just how gentle and caring he truly was, and how desperately dear it would be to see him hold his own child so lovingly.
The little girl, who was the spitting image of her beautiful mother, was growing so fast. It seemed like just yesterday she'd been holding tightly to Endymion's hands, taking her first shaky steps. And now she ran, laughing and happy as she played with her uncle.
"Can I ask you something personal?" Raye asked.
Serenity sighed, already knowing the question. "The doctors say it's because of the herbs we drank growing up, to make sure we wouldn't get pregnant."
Raye looked at her sadly. "Mina was able to have a baby."
"Mina is blessed. Her son is beautiful."
"He's a screamer," Raye said. "I saw them yesterday, and the only person who could get him to stop screaming was Kunzite. I swear it was the most adorable thing I've ever seen."
Serenity smiled. "Mina is getting stronger every day. The birth was hard on her. I gage her health by the tension in Kunzite. He's been more relaxed the last few days."
"After this, he might not want to have another."
"Mina is already talking about it. She'll decide, and he'll just give her everything she wants, like he always does."
Raye looked at her softly. "You say that like you don't get the same treatment."
"Endymion doesn't need to give me anything at all."
"You let him get away with too much."
"I have nothing to offer him but my love. And if I am unable to give him children, then I truly only have my heart."
Raye looked sad at her words. "There is still a chance."
"I know," Serenity said, unable to stop the sadness seeping into her voice. "If I could go back and change drinking the herbs, I would. I never thought I'd be here, wishing with all my heart to give him a child."
"Is there nothing you can do?"
"I'm doing it already. The doctors have given me medicines to take, but so far, none of it has worked."
Raye nodded, not saying anything more. As her beautiful daughter laughed happily, causing anyone close to look up and smile as they watched their king play with his niece, Raye looked at Serenity knowingly.
"In a few months Amy will give birth as well," Serenity said, not looking at her. "We will surround him with children, so he doesn't notice he has none of his own."
Raye sighed, shaking her head. She watched her daughter play, unable to stop from smiling.
"She has the same furrow in her brow when she frowns as both her father and her uncle. She reminds me of Endymion as much as she does Diamond."
"What does she say when you talk of him?"
"She plays at war with her uncle, standing beside him and fighting his enemies."
"Are you worried she will take after her father?"
"I want her to take after him. I want her to know and understand who her father was. It's easier to think that, because she has such a steady father figure in Endymion. When she has questions, he sits with her calmly and explains things. He's better at it than I am. He remembers the good stories of Diamond, when they were young and close. And I think it's good for Endymion to tell her about his family. She's his only blood relation now."
Serenity couldn't help but feel guilty, looking away.
But Raye rolled her eyes. "You're not going to do something stupid and convince yourself he needs to find someone to have children with."
"It would be okay," she said softly, not really believing it. But her shoulders sagged. "I would be devastated if he did."
"Good. Don't ever tell him he can. You'd break his heart."
"Love is a bother sometimes."
"He is stronger since the day he fell in love, Serenity. It's because he can turn around and see you smile, and realize that what he's doing is protecting this world for you."
"I know. I don't want our lives to be different. I just wish… it's hard watching him with her now, and know that he longs for his own children. I only wish I could give him everything."
Raye nodded. "I love my daughter with my whole heart, but I sometimes wish she had been born a son. If he were not such a good king, the people wouldn't want his bloodline so badly."
"Well then, I will convince him to start doing a horrible job," Serenity laughed.
"From what I hear, you could convince him to do just about anything if you really wanted too."
Serenity blushed.
Endymion looked over at them, and he smiled such a happy smile it almost took her breath away. Even though she'd been with him for years, he still took her breath away with his beauty.
Endymion was used to having people around him. The palace was always full. He allowed it to distract him when he had the time, and let it fade away when he was busy. Right now, he was standing with Kunzite and Zoisite looking at a map of new trade routes. It was a mess of colour and lines between kingdoms, and if he hadn't been there from the beginning, it might not make sense.
"Where have they gone missing?"
Zoisite pointed to two spots on the map. It didn't make sense.
"Why only those shipments?" He asked. "These routes are heavily trafficked. They could have gold, medicine, food. Why steal silk."
"I have no idea," Zoisite said with a sigh. He was used to knowledge. This didn't make sense to him, to any of them.
Endymion rubbed his lower lip, thinking. It was almost too small a matter to bring to him, only it happened more than once. Silk. What could someone possibly be doing with silk. It was expensive, but it would be obvious showing up randomly for sale. If it were for personal use, no one would need so much. Who would be stealing silk?
He finally shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. There must be something we're missing."
"You think there's something more to the shipments?"
"Or something else is being stolen. Smaller shipments that don't amount to enough to bring to our attention. Send someone to talk to the merchants, and find out if there was anything else being transported with the silk."
Zoisite nodded. "I'll try and find out if anything else is missing, no matter how small."
Just as they were about to finish up, Jadeite came in, surprising him.
"I thought you'd left."
Jadeite nodded. "I had. I turned around when we reached the edge of the city."
"Why?"
"There is a man here to see you. He's pretty beat up, looks like he may have walked most of the way through the desert."
Endymion looked surprised. "Where is he from?"
"He's talking gibberish. Says he has to talk to the prince."
Kunzite looked confused. "You mean the king?"
"He used the words prince," Jadeite said.
"He's either been living under a rock, or being purposely insulting," Zoisite said.
"Let's go. We'll see what he has to say."
The four of them went together out of the meeting room, and headed down the long hall towards the greeting room. It seemed a little strange, but they'd been in peace a long time, so Endymion wasn't immediately worried.
Until they walked into the room, and he looked at him in shock.
"Andrew?"
Andrew looked at him hazily, thin and tired, and nearly fell at the sight of him.
Endymion almost leapt forward, grabbing him before he could fall. He shook, almost trembled, and his green eyes were almost confused.
"Endymion," he breathed raggedly, clinging to him with weak hands. "Endymion please, you have to help."
Endymion was completely overwhelmed. He'd grown up with this man. When they were young, Andrew had taken lessons with him. It was so long ago, Endymion could admit he had stopped thinking of him. Guilt gnawed at him now, because Andrew obviously needed his help.
"Where have you been?" Kunzite asked, looking concerned. He knew Andrew as well. Perhaps even better than Endymion did.
But Andrew's eyes had become confused, staring at Endymions arms like he wasn't sure what he was seeing.
"Andrew?" Endymion breathed in worry.
"You're wearing his rings," Andrew said breathlessly.
Endymion followed his gaze to the gold bands on his arms, showing his status. As prince, he'd worn two on each. As king, there were five on each. It had pained him the first time he'd put them on, but he was used to them now.
"Endymion is King," Kunzite said, his tone concerned. "He wears the bands of the king."
But Andrew looked devastated. His eyes wide, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Andrew, what happened to you," Endymion said, still holding him tightly.
But Andrew didn't look up at him, his eyes glued to the gold on his arms. Pain was everywhere in him, and he tried to shake his head, his voice rough.
"It's true," he whispered, and water pooled in his eyes. His gaze turned almost angry, looking up at him in hate. The look took Endymion's breath away.
"Murderer," he breathed in hatred.
Endymion was stunned, speechless. He didn't understand.
"Andrew, it's not what you think," he said softly.
"Get your hands off me," he hissed, suddenly trying to push him back. Only he was weak, his hands barely pressing against him. "Murderer! Let me go!" His voice was like a harsh wind, whipping out of him.
"Endymion, let him go," Jadeite said.
But Endymion didn't let him go. He held him tightly, his gaze intense, trapping Andrew with him.
"Andrew, listen to me," he commanded, his voice strong.
"Murderer!" Andrew hissed again, his slight strength starting to leave him, angry tears leaking free.
"Andrew, stop!" He commanded.
Andrew let out a sob, his legs giving out beneath him. Endymion didn't let him fall, but he lowered them both to the ground, trying to keep him up. Andrew tried to lash out, but Endymion was too strong for him.
"Let me go," Andrew cried, his voice cracking, and the anger was giving way to sadness. "Why you?" he sobbed, shaking again now, suddenly giving up the fight. He went limp, his head falling to rest against Endymion's chest. His body trembled, and he breathed raggedly. "Why did it have to be you?"
Endymion didn't know what was going on, but he just held on to him, more comforting now, not letting him fall as Andrew took in wracking breaths.
"Andrew, I swear to you," Endymion said softly. "I am the man you remember."
"I can't," Andrew gasped, trembling now.
"You're safe now," he said, because it's the only thing he could think to say. "I give you my word, I won't let anything happen to you."
"Put me in the dungeon," Andrew said brokenly. "I'm here to kill you."
End of Chapter One! Please review. I love reading your reviews. Chapter two will be posted shortly.