Well, I hope you like it! Thanks ever so much for all your support

Galene~

Chapter one part IV

I awoke to the strong scent of smelling salts beneath my nose and promptly sneezed.

"She's coming around" an anxious voice stated the obvious, as I tried to sit up.

"What? What happened?" I questioned, even as the words he is mine this time echoed within my mind.

"You fainted" Mina's soft voice answered as who I assumed to be Rei propped me up against one of the palace's cool stone walls.

"Are you all right?" Rei demanded staring crossly down at me

"Yes" I murmured standing before lifting my head to look at her, "and the gardens would be….?" I trailed off motioning her to resume the tour.

"This way" she answered walking back the way we had come, before turning off down a hallway which lead to a spiraling staircase.

We went down, mindful to watch our steps so that we would not trip in the dimly light corridor. When we finally reached the bottom I smiled widely with pleasure as the scent of fresh air, dirt, water, and flowers hit my nose.

I inhaled deeply before looking around, noticing the gravel paths which lead deeper into the rows of carefully tended plants. They were beautiful, but not what I was secretly longing for, and so I looked again, towards finally spotting a grove of trees far to one side.

"Am I allowed to go walking amongst the trees?" I questioned sarcastically. Not really caring if I broke rules, but knowing that my life would be easier if I did not.

"Uh no" she began looking to where I was pointing, "That part of the garden is off limits to everyone."

"Why?" Mina asked innocently

Rei shrugged "I'm not sure, I never bothered to ask."

I stared incredulously at her, for Rei seemed like one of those people that liked to know everything. 

"We really should be heading back. It is nearly time for dinner, and if the king is not entertaining Jedite usually dines with me."

"Who's Jedite?" Mina inquired as Rei motioned for us to precede her.

"Jedite is my master, and one of the Prince's closest friends. He's actually the son of one of the king's council members." I continued to listen as Rei prattled on about his role within the vast hierarchy of the kingdom, and quickly surmised that he was a very important individual.

As we entered our chambers the matron immediately approached us.

"Quickly, Rei, Mina get dressed. Your masters requested that you dine with them. Serena, you are to dine here."

I nodded my comprehension as my companions scurried off to the bathing chamber. I may have been left behind, but it was no loss as I had much to think about such as the words which sifted through my head from my unexpected fainting spell. 

Thirty minutes or so later Re and Mina left the chamber escorted by the servants who had brought me my dinner.

With them gone the room was oddly empty, and so I took my meal of chicken and bread out onto the balcony where I would be able to gaze freely at the sky as day turned to night.

I sighed in contentment as watching pale blue fade to orange, which in turn became pink, before finally changing to a deep purple that faded into the smooth blackness of night, with only a sliver of silver moon and the bright scattering of stars to mare the blackness. As I looked up that sliver, snippets of my vision came to me, causing me to wonder just what I was supposed to do.

I despised Darien, and everything he represented. Yet I could not deny that he was attractive, and if I was perfectly honest he seemed some-what familiar. As I sat there thinking, I felt the coolness of water drying upon skin, and lifting one hand I was surprised to find that I was crying. Why I did not know, perhaps for the loss of my village, for the people that I had known my entire life, and yet I felt as if it was something more… something that my innermost hearts longed for, a thing that I had no recollection of.

"Serena, come inside now. It is time for bed" I heard the matron call and feeling as if my energy had been completely sucked out of me I followed. Drifting to sleep the instant my head hit the pillow.

~*~*~*~

I awoke the next morning to the sound of voices. Slowly I opened my eyes, rubbing them with my fists as I rolled onto my back to stretch the length of my body, yawing in the process.

"I'm sorry m'lord but she isn't up yet" I heard the matron state, above the sounds of girlish laughter. I smiled slightly as I swung my legs out of the bed, walking quietly towards the door. 

"I see… then will you please let me know when she does awaken" I heard the princes warm authoritative voice proclaim; just as I pulled the door open revealing the prince standing with his back to me.

"That won't be necessary" I stated smoothly as I entered the room, white lined night dress whispering against my legs as I walked over to the where a platter of fruit rested upon a low table.

"Serena" I heard him breathe, his tenor caressing the sounds of my name I look up at him, only to see his deep blue eyes tracing my figure.

"Good morning master" I stated in a flat tone sarcasm dripping off the last word. 

I kept my gaze upon him as his eyes rose to meet mine, annoyance glittering over thinly veiled lust as he watched me lick orange juice from my fingers.

"Don't call me that. It's Darien in private or Highness in public."

"Whatever you say" I dismissed as I placed yet another morsel in my mouth, calmly breaking eye-contact to watch Mina and Rei ushered from the room by the matron.

"Are you always like this" his voice demanded startling me back into looking at him

"What do you mean by 'like this'?"

"So rude, dismissive, down right frustrating"

"oh that… only with people I don't like" I answered truthfully, noting the way his eyes narrowed slightly, before he stood, his fist clenching before releasing as he stomped to the opposite side of the room.

"I really don't understand her" I hear him muse "what did I ever do to her, to warrant her dislike? It makes no sense"

Finished my breakfast, I stood silently watching him.

"Serena… I didn't come here today to fight with you. I came because I want to learn more about the history of our races and how they interrelate. I want to know what has happened to make things the way they are today."

I nodded my head slightly; hopefully I would be able to get some answers for my questions about this new power that had been discovered.

"I will tell you what you want to know, if you tell me what I want to know."

"Sounds fair to me"

"Good, but before I begin... I would like to know if I may go to the grove in the forest to pray to Selene tonight. It is the start of her ascension to power tonight."

"Is that some type of festival?" he asked eyes filled with curiosity "would I be able to go with you?"

I studied his earnest expression, and pleading eyes, then feeling something within me break I replied, "I suppose so…but no funny business"

"No problem" he answered, his face lighting up in a grin of delight that stole my breath away, leaving me gasping for air as my heart pounded within my breast. He truly was the most handsome man that I'd ever seen, and as I sat silent before him, not trusting myself to speak. Just as I got myself back under control, he sent my heart racing once more, as he reached out to push a golden curl away from my face as he spoke in his warm voice,

"Tell me what you know of our ancestors: Selene the moon goddess, and her human-king lover Endymion, that it is said she met in that very grove where you wish to go tonight."

His words shocked me to the core, but I refused to let him see any signs of weakness from me. If that really was the grove where they met, it would be dangerous to have him along…

~*~ ~*~ ~* ~

Duh duh duh!

Next chapter… some history, and a ritual in the grove

Hee hee

Hope you liked it!

Galene