title: Elusive Thoughts | Chapter 1 (revised)
rating: PG
author: Mir
email: incandescence@juno.com
website: http://cathedraldragon.tripod.com/sm/
disclaimer: Sailor Moon, et al. belongs to Naoko Takeuchi,
etc., etc., and so on and so forth ^_^. The other characters
belong to me...for whatever that's worth. I have no money
to speak of, so suing me will not make you rich. Yes, and
this story was inspired by Melanie Rawn's *Dragon Prince*.
Kudos to her, it's an excellent novel.
Here's the revised version of Chapter 1. I've made some
plot changes when I revised (and added in a new scene as
well!), so some of what you read here won't match with
the rest of the story until I've got it all revised. Just for
reference, the Commune is what I called Moonlight Keep
previously. I've made this changes because there were
some questions about Serena and her friends that I wished
to answer. Enjoy - and let me know if you think the
revisions are any good ^_^.
*Chapter 1*
Hidden deep within the craggy spires of the mountains, the
Commune had been established as an educational community, a
unique meeting of the spirit and the mind. Its thick stonewalls rose
proudly above the barren cliffs, gray and amber against the vast
blueness of the overarching sky.
And although the wind whipped frigidly around the mountain
tops, a collection of young students gathered outside the walls,
laughing gaily and dragging laden wicker baskets behind them. Most
were clad in crisp white uniforms; the remainder looked slightly out
of place in blue. For even as the young men and women ripped
handfuls of grass out of the earth to toss at each other, they had only
to look down at their clothes to be reminded that had been chosen
by the Goddess to carry out Her Will on earth.
"Ooh, Talorak, you minx! Come back here - you're going to
get it big time!" One voice rose clearly above the others, and it was
a wonder that the Goddess herself didn't wince at the noise. The
culprit was a small girl clad in grass-stained whites, two golden pigtails
flying behind her as she chased after the boy who had just stuffed
grass down her shirt.
"You're so slow, you couldn't catch me even if the Goddess
took pity and helped you!" The boy retorted as he ran circles around
her. He wiped sweaty hand on his blue tunic, a jeering grin plastered
across his face. The other students had begun to cluster together,
betting on the outcome of the confrontation. It was well-know that
Talorak was the fastest student in the Commune, but they had also
know some...rather unusual things to happen when Serena's anger
got the best of her.
"Don't you dare insult the Goddess! Just because she never
gives boys her Gifts doesn't mean that she doesn't look after all of
humankind." Serena had given up the chase and was instead glaring
at Talorak, arms akimbo and eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Who says I have anything against the Goddess?" Talorak
yelled from his position across the field. "Just because she gives us
Gifts of different sorts doesn't make you any better than me!" His
hands had clenched into fists, and he held them in front of his chest,
bouncing lightly on his heels. "You think you're so high and mighty
because you can wave your hand around and weave light into pretty
pictures, but I'll show you what real strength is. C'mon, I dare you
to try your worst on me!"
Serena breathed deeply, trying to control the rage inside her
but failing miserably. "You -Healers- are all the same. You're all
spoiled, egocentric brats who can't tell real Gifts from imagined ones!"
Her voice, if it were possible, was even louder than before, carried
upon the rising wind as if by magic. "You'll never understand the
Goddess's Will because you never take the time to sit quietly and
embrace it. Don't you remember the vow you took upon entrance to
the Commune? 'Never use your Gifts to hurt others'."
A faint yellow glow had begun to gather around her torso,
iridescent tendrils that radiated outward from her body. Talorak
tried not to cringe. He hadn't meant to provoke such a strong reaction
from her...he actually thought she was rather cute when she was angry...
and he certainly didn't feel like getting fried - for even though Serena
was lecturing to him about the Goddess's Will, he knew that once her
emotions got the best of her, she would have no control over her actions.
"Hey, Serena, calm down, okay?" He dropped his fighting
stance and let his arms fall neutrally to his sides. "We're supposed to
be having fun out here, remember?" If his abrupt change was completely
baffling to Serena, his reasons for surrendering were perfectly obvious
to the observers. They didn't particularly feel like getting fried to a crisp
either.
"Yeah, don't mind him, Serena." A slight girl with dark, bluish
hair had stepped from the huddled cluster to approach her friend.
"Can't you feel it? There's something in the air, and it's affecting us
all." Ami grasped the other's arm, her eyes closing as the glowing
energy drained through her body back into the ground.
Serena, her cheeks flushed from anger and effort, turned her
glare on her friend, teeth clenched together. "Why did you do that?
Didn't you hear what he said? He said that the Goddess - "
A second student had appeared at Ami's side, a girl with long,
jet-black hair and expressive eyes. "It doesn't matter what he said.
Don't you realize what you almost did?" she interrupted, returning the
other's glare unflinchingly. "What do you think would have happened
if you'd just released that energy into the air?" She paused, and when
Serena didn't reply she gestured broadly and continued. "I'll tell you
what; You would have created a giant explosion and completely
ruined the meadow, not to mention burning half of us to a crisp in the
process. Is that what you wanted? Is that what the Goddess would
have wanted?"
Serena shook her head slightly, jerking her arm away from Ami's
grasp and biting her lip in chagrin. "I...I never wanted to hurt anyone,"
she stammered, stepping away from the dark eyes that held her captive.
"Well, if I were you, I'd think good and hard about that because
you had us fooled for a moment there," Rei replied indignantly. But
when she saw her friend backing away from her she sighed and rolled
her eyes. "Serena, Serena, what would we do without you to keep us
on our toes?"
And from a window high above a pale face looked down upon
the students' antics with quiet amusement. They'd never really been in
any danger - it was her duty as the Lady of the Commune to protect
those under her charge, and she would have easily deflected any attack
Serena had thrown. Still, it was useful for them to sort out their
differences without her involvement, and Ariane had to admit that she'd
been in her share of scruffs as a girl as well. 'But I'd never live it down
if the Princes got wind of such' she thought as she closed the curtains and
wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. The door closed behind her,
and Lady Ariane drifted down the stairs to go join in the fun.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was a reoccurring nightmare, a virulent image that haunted his
subconscious by night and darkened his manor by day. And now, it
had once again become reality. He'd climbed the tower stairs alone to
light the fire, to start the flames that would blow the ashes of his sister
out across the desert sands like fluttering memories returning home to
heaven.
This time he'd done it without anyone telling him to - he wanted
to be the one to honor the Princess, his sister, Kerri. After his parents'
death he'd looked up to her both for comfort and for guidance. She
always had a moment for her kid brother, always a penny for his
thoughts. But now... He slammed his fists against the wall. 'Damn it,
why am I always so alone'.
He trudged back down the stairs, eyes half-closed against the
smoke, one palm pressed against the wall for support. He paused for
a moment, thinking of the last time he'd walked down the steps alone.
'It was when my parents...died, when Ariane showed me the conjure
in the pond'.
Ever since that day he'd carefully examined every blond-haired
girl he came across - but none were 'his'. The memory had faded, as
memories of children often do, but he knew that he'd recognize her
when he saw her, knew that he'd love her. But damn, he didn't even
know her name, let alone where she lived...if she lived, if Ariane hadn't
lied. What if his Godmother had merely used the conjure to give a
distraught, six-year-old orphaned prince something else to think about?
What if she'd only wanted to make sure that he had something to live
for? What if....
"Hey Darien, you alright?" A strong hand closed around his arm
saving him, at the last moment, from tripping on the bottom step of the
tower. Shaking his head, he hid the thoughts of his princess back into a
private corner of his mind and lifted his eyes to meet those of Kerri's
husband, Andrew. "Yeah, sure - just peachy."
Andrew was less than convinced. "Um, I bet." He led his brother-
in-law away from the tower, blatantly ignoring his protests. "I don't care
what you say. You look like Hell warmed over, and your sister would
skin me alive for letting you torture yourself into desperation." He leaned
against the door to his bathing chamber and pushed Darien inside. "You
may be the Crown Prince, but you're in my rooms now, and you have to
do what I tell you to," he continued, grinning.
Of the few people that Darien let close to him, Andrew was
second only to his sister. The prince's senior by several years, he had
a vibrant nature and an oddball personality. No one was ever more
concerned about those he cared about than he, and no one knew how
to deal with Darien as well as he did.
"I'm not letting you out until you get yourself into the tub and clean
off the soot. You're completely covered in it." Darien scowled as Andrew
shut the door and locked it with a soft click. "Why should I listen to you?"
he demanded, his tone harsher than he'd meant it to be. "Why not? You
would have fallen down the stairs and landed on that royal nose of yours
if I hadn't caught you." And Darien had to admit that, for once, Andrew
was right. He was, if anything, completely exhausted.
He sank thankfully into the warm water, relaxing for the first
time in days. Traveling across the empty desert, Kerri's carriage had
been overtaken by bandits...mercenaries paid to spill royal blood then
disappear into the night. 'First my parents, then my sister' he thought
to himself. 'I doubt it's merely a coincidence'. He closed his eyes,
mind wondering, and would have fallen asleep if not for a loud banging
on the bathroom door.
"Dar-ien, hey Dar-ien. What are you doing in there, drowning
yourself?" He started at the sound of Andrew's voice - he'd
completely forgotten that his friend was waiting outside. "Sorry,
Andrew...I'll be out in a second." The water drained from the bath,
taking most of the soot away, and Darien ran his rag around the
bottom of the tub, wiping away the rest. 'If only moving on were as
easy as cleaning up'.
- - - - - - - - - -
Lady Ariane, a stiff pillar of white robes, stood at the window and
frowned. The blazing chain of fires had finally reached the Commune, and
it could only mean one thing: Kerri had died. She wasn't surprised; the
moon never lied - but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
She turned away and slammed the shutters closed behind her, the
breeze ruffling her silver hair. 'I hope I'm not too late'. Light footsteps
faded behind her as she disappeared down the stairs into the library.
Light and warmth enveloped her in a smothering embrace, and she
shivered. After seventy years of lonely nights with only the stars and
moon for company she shied away from comfort and companionship
as a wary cat does from water.
Ariane knew where she'd find the girl, knew that she wasn't
sleeping. The gentle crashing of the waterfall hid her approach as she
slipped into the arboretum, and she regarded the young woman
before her with quiet skepticism. "Serena."
Serena, barely more than an awkward child, pivoted sharply
at the sound of her name, and the flowers she clutched with nervous
fingers scattered haphazardly across the floor. "I'm...I'm sorry Lady
Ariane. I couldn't sleep...I was dreaming" Her blue eyes opened
wide with trepidation, and she trembled slightly as she spoke. "I
promise I won't sneak out again. I promise, I promise, I really do."
And to her surprise, Ariane's gaze softened, and the 12th Lady
of the Commune actually smiled. "You can't hide anything from the
moonlight, dear. I know you've been coming here every night." She
bent down to help collect the scattered blossoms, and Serena quickly
squatted beside her, dropping as many as she returned. "But don't
worry. If I were angry I would have approached you before. You
know that."
Serena did. She'd been ten years old, an energetic child with a
voracious curiosity and an eye for trouble. The library had invited her,
the fire warm and the glittering moonlight mysterious. Her mouth had
dropped open with awe, and she hadn't expected Ariane to materialize
before her. "What do you think you're doing here, Serena?" She'd
trembled and bit her lip to keep from crying. "You are never to come
into the library without permission. Never. Do you understand?" Serena
had nodded, nodded and then fled.
Now again, she nodded again but this time without fear. "Why
seek me out, Lady Ariane? I don't suppose this is merely a social visit."
She clutched the returned flowers to her chest, finger nails nervously
digging into the stems.
"You supposed correctly. It's time - we're leaving tomorrow."
Ariane replied firmly. "Go on, you need to get some rest." She patted
the other's shoulder reassuringly, then swept out of the arboretum leaving
a dumbstruck Serena standing behind her.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was late evening, moments before dusk, and the sinking sun
cast long shadows across the low shrubs before him. Darien casually
ran his hand over the tops of the greenery, making a mental note to trim
them by daylight. Then he realized that by the next sunset he's be the
Desert's ruling Prince. 'Oh Kerri, why did you have to go off alone?
Why couldn't you have been more careful? Why hadn't I gone with
you?' He sank onto a bench, chin in his hands, depressed.
"It isn't good for your health to feel sorry for yourself, Darien."
He jumped quickly to his feet, hand at the hilt of his sword, but he
relaxed when he recognized the voice. "Ariane, you scared me half
to death. Where did you come from? How did you get here?"
"On the wings of the moonlight, my dear. I'm not -really- here,
remember, not in the conventional sense at least." She looked the Prince
over from head to toe, scowling slightly when she noticed he was both
armed and exhausted. "You'll see me in person tomorrow, so don't run
off and do anything rash. I want you well-rested and in one piece when
you meet her."
Darien had opened his mouth to retort that he was an adult
and thus knew what was best for himself - but he froze at Ariane's last
remark. 'She?' he thought to himself. "Do...do you mean?" Ariane
smiled, pleased to have caught her ever-calm princeling off-guard. She
nodded, half in affirmation, half in satisfaction. "I can't hold the conjure
any more, Darien. Take care of yourself - and remember."
Her image faded, leaving behind a silver shimmer that hung briefly
in the air then evaporated into the darkness, and Darien turned away.
'Damn it. What -is- it with Ariane? Why do I always feel like she's in
my mind?' He kicked a large rock and watched it tumble away from him.
Then, with customary precision he straightened his shoulders and walked
calmly out of the garden and into the stables.
"Just going for a ride around the grounds, Alex," he called to the
guard at the door as he tightened his horse's girth. The staff was used
to their Prince's idiosyncrasies, and the guard returned Darien's gaze
impassively. "Come back if you see any scoundrels about, milord," he
replied with a wink. But Darien didn't hear; he was already flying across
the desert sands, away from the castle, away from the memories.
- - - - - - - - - -
Serena sat uneasily in her saddle, her eyes half-closed in thought.
The mid-morning sun was hot on her back, and the desert winds swirled
bits of white sand into her hair. After all the passing years it was finally
happening - her dream was becoming reality.
It had begun when she was not much older than ten. Every night,
a gentle, dark-haired man would sweep into her dreams and steal her heart
away. She would wake up in the morning feeling empty inside, tears
sprinkling down upon her rumpled sheets. As usual, it was Lady Ariane
who'd approached her, comforted her, and reassured her that the dreams
weren't merely the result of an overactive imagination. "When you're older,
Serena, you'll meet him," she'd said with unquestionable authority.
Serena smiled at the memory and sighed pensively - only to be
pitched forward against her horse's neck; she would have ended up on
the ground had a quick hand not shot out and grabbed the reins. "Head
in the clouds again?" Lita accused with a good-natured laugh. "Better
watch where you're going or you'll be black and blue by the time we
reach Crystal Castle."
Blushing crimson, Serena readjusted herself and flexed her cramped
fingers before reluctantly taking the reins back from her friend. She guided
her mount away from Ariane's, trying to put a little distance between them
without being noticeably overt. "Thanks...I'm so nervous - to finally meet
him after all this time." The wind tossed a wisp of hair flew across her face
and she caught it with her tongue. "What if he doesn't like me? What if I
can't stand him? What if he's an egocentric slob with less intelligence than a
garden snake?" As she chewed mulishly on her hair images of fat, dull, stuffy
princes came to mind.
"Forget it. Once you see him and he sees you we'll have trouble
keeping you two apart. Right, girls?" Lita glanced back over her shoulder
at the other three members of Serena's entourage. "Actually, Serena has a
point; if he doesn't like her - "
"Then he's a fool," Mina finished, cutting off Amy's comment. "No
need for second plans until the first ones don't work. Besides, if he's
ignorant enough to throw away an opportunity like this one he doesn't
deserve her."
"Stupidity's not the question. You don't have to be an idiot to be
unsure. Many people are apprehensive of those who have lived at the
Commune with the Goddess, and if he only sees Serena as a-" Ami had
come up beside Mina, insistent that she not be misunderstood.
"Can you guys stop talking about me as if I'm not here?" Serena
grumbled in irritation. She smiled, an afterthought to soften her words.
"Sorry, I guess we're all a bit tense today..." her voice trailed off into awed
silence as she glanced up and beheld more water than she'd ever seen in
her life.
"Look sharp girls, we've come to the river crossing," Ariane called
from up ahead, pretending that she hadn't overheard the conversation behind
her. "If anyone has second thoughts about coming with Serena and me,
now's you last chance to voice them." The girls exchanged glances, but none
uttered an objection.
*end of Chapter 1*
I appolgize to all you who are reading the fic for the first time
because of the discrepency between plot elements. I was debating
whether to post the revison all at once or as I'm finished with the
chapters...the later won out, as you can see. Email me if you have
any questions concerning the differences. I don't bite, and perhaps
I'll get the rest of the revisions out faster... :).
- Mir (11.26.00 ~ revised ~ 02.10.01)
.
rating: PG
author: Mir
email: incandescence@juno.com
website: http://cathedraldragon.tripod.com/sm/
disclaimer: Sailor Moon, et al. belongs to Naoko Takeuchi,
etc., etc., and so on and so forth ^_^. The other characters
belong to me...for whatever that's worth. I have no money
to speak of, so suing me will not make you rich. Yes, and
this story was inspired by Melanie Rawn's *Dragon Prince*.
Kudos to her, it's an excellent novel.
Here's the revised version of Chapter 1. I've made some
plot changes when I revised (and added in a new scene as
well!), so some of what you read here won't match with
the rest of the story until I've got it all revised. Just for
reference, the Commune is what I called Moonlight Keep
previously. I've made this changes because there were
some questions about Serena and her friends that I wished
to answer. Enjoy - and let me know if you think the
revisions are any good ^_^.
*Chapter 1*
Hidden deep within the craggy spires of the mountains, the
Commune had been established as an educational community, a
unique meeting of the spirit and the mind. Its thick stonewalls rose
proudly above the barren cliffs, gray and amber against the vast
blueness of the overarching sky.
And although the wind whipped frigidly around the mountain
tops, a collection of young students gathered outside the walls,
laughing gaily and dragging laden wicker baskets behind them. Most
were clad in crisp white uniforms; the remainder looked slightly out
of place in blue. For even as the young men and women ripped
handfuls of grass out of the earth to toss at each other, they had only
to look down at their clothes to be reminded that had been chosen
by the Goddess to carry out Her Will on earth.
"Ooh, Talorak, you minx! Come back here - you're going to
get it big time!" One voice rose clearly above the others, and it was
a wonder that the Goddess herself didn't wince at the noise. The
culprit was a small girl clad in grass-stained whites, two golden pigtails
flying behind her as she chased after the boy who had just stuffed
grass down her shirt.
"You're so slow, you couldn't catch me even if the Goddess
took pity and helped you!" The boy retorted as he ran circles around
her. He wiped sweaty hand on his blue tunic, a jeering grin plastered
across his face. The other students had begun to cluster together,
betting on the outcome of the confrontation. It was well-know that
Talorak was the fastest student in the Commune, but they had also
know some...rather unusual things to happen when Serena's anger
got the best of her.
"Don't you dare insult the Goddess! Just because she never
gives boys her Gifts doesn't mean that she doesn't look after all of
humankind." Serena had given up the chase and was instead glaring
at Talorak, arms akimbo and eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Who says I have anything against the Goddess?" Talorak
yelled from his position across the field. "Just because she gives us
Gifts of different sorts doesn't make you any better than me!" His
hands had clenched into fists, and he held them in front of his chest,
bouncing lightly on his heels. "You think you're so high and mighty
because you can wave your hand around and weave light into pretty
pictures, but I'll show you what real strength is. C'mon, I dare you
to try your worst on me!"
Serena breathed deeply, trying to control the rage inside her
but failing miserably. "You -Healers- are all the same. You're all
spoiled, egocentric brats who can't tell real Gifts from imagined ones!"
Her voice, if it were possible, was even louder than before, carried
upon the rising wind as if by magic. "You'll never understand the
Goddess's Will because you never take the time to sit quietly and
embrace it. Don't you remember the vow you took upon entrance to
the Commune? 'Never use your Gifts to hurt others'."
A faint yellow glow had begun to gather around her torso,
iridescent tendrils that radiated outward from her body. Talorak
tried not to cringe. He hadn't meant to provoke such a strong reaction
from her...he actually thought she was rather cute when she was angry...
and he certainly didn't feel like getting fried - for even though Serena
was lecturing to him about the Goddess's Will, he knew that once her
emotions got the best of her, she would have no control over her actions.
"Hey, Serena, calm down, okay?" He dropped his fighting
stance and let his arms fall neutrally to his sides. "We're supposed to
be having fun out here, remember?" If his abrupt change was completely
baffling to Serena, his reasons for surrendering were perfectly obvious
to the observers. They didn't particularly feel like getting fried to a crisp
either.
"Yeah, don't mind him, Serena." A slight girl with dark, bluish
hair had stepped from the huddled cluster to approach her friend.
"Can't you feel it? There's something in the air, and it's affecting us
all." Ami grasped the other's arm, her eyes closing as the glowing
energy drained through her body back into the ground.
Serena, her cheeks flushed from anger and effort, turned her
glare on her friend, teeth clenched together. "Why did you do that?
Didn't you hear what he said? He said that the Goddess - "
A second student had appeared at Ami's side, a girl with long,
jet-black hair and expressive eyes. "It doesn't matter what he said.
Don't you realize what you almost did?" she interrupted, returning the
other's glare unflinchingly. "What do you think would have happened
if you'd just released that energy into the air?" She paused, and when
Serena didn't reply she gestured broadly and continued. "I'll tell you
what; You would have created a giant explosion and completely
ruined the meadow, not to mention burning half of us to a crisp in the
process. Is that what you wanted? Is that what the Goddess would
have wanted?"
Serena shook her head slightly, jerking her arm away from Ami's
grasp and biting her lip in chagrin. "I...I never wanted to hurt anyone,"
she stammered, stepping away from the dark eyes that held her captive.
"Well, if I were you, I'd think good and hard about that because
you had us fooled for a moment there," Rei replied indignantly. But
when she saw her friend backing away from her she sighed and rolled
her eyes. "Serena, Serena, what would we do without you to keep us
on our toes?"
And from a window high above a pale face looked down upon
the students' antics with quiet amusement. They'd never really been in
any danger - it was her duty as the Lady of the Commune to protect
those under her charge, and she would have easily deflected any attack
Serena had thrown. Still, it was useful for them to sort out their
differences without her involvement, and Ariane had to admit that she'd
been in her share of scruffs as a girl as well. 'But I'd never live it down
if the Princes got wind of such' she thought as she closed the curtains and
wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. The door closed behind her,
and Lady Ariane drifted down the stairs to go join in the fun.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was a reoccurring nightmare, a virulent image that haunted his
subconscious by night and darkened his manor by day. And now, it
had once again become reality. He'd climbed the tower stairs alone to
light the fire, to start the flames that would blow the ashes of his sister
out across the desert sands like fluttering memories returning home to
heaven.
This time he'd done it without anyone telling him to - he wanted
to be the one to honor the Princess, his sister, Kerri. After his parents'
death he'd looked up to her both for comfort and for guidance. She
always had a moment for her kid brother, always a penny for his
thoughts. But now... He slammed his fists against the wall. 'Damn it,
why am I always so alone'.
He trudged back down the stairs, eyes half-closed against the
smoke, one palm pressed against the wall for support. He paused for
a moment, thinking of the last time he'd walked down the steps alone.
'It was when my parents...died, when Ariane showed me the conjure
in the pond'.
Ever since that day he'd carefully examined every blond-haired
girl he came across - but none were 'his'. The memory had faded, as
memories of children often do, but he knew that he'd recognize her
when he saw her, knew that he'd love her. But damn, he didn't even
know her name, let alone where she lived...if she lived, if Ariane hadn't
lied. What if his Godmother had merely used the conjure to give a
distraught, six-year-old orphaned prince something else to think about?
What if she'd only wanted to make sure that he had something to live
for? What if....
"Hey Darien, you alright?" A strong hand closed around his arm
saving him, at the last moment, from tripping on the bottom step of the
tower. Shaking his head, he hid the thoughts of his princess back into a
private corner of his mind and lifted his eyes to meet those of Kerri's
husband, Andrew. "Yeah, sure - just peachy."
Andrew was less than convinced. "Um, I bet." He led his brother-
in-law away from the tower, blatantly ignoring his protests. "I don't care
what you say. You look like Hell warmed over, and your sister would
skin me alive for letting you torture yourself into desperation." He leaned
against the door to his bathing chamber and pushed Darien inside. "You
may be the Crown Prince, but you're in my rooms now, and you have to
do what I tell you to," he continued, grinning.
Of the few people that Darien let close to him, Andrew was
second only to his sister. The prince's senior by several years, he had
a vibrant nature and an oddball personality. No one was ever more
concerned about those he cared about than he, and no one knew how
to deal with Darien as well as he did.
"I'm not letting you out until you get yourself into the tub and clean
off the soot. You're completely covered in it." Darien scowled as Andrew
shut the door and locked it with a soft click. "Why should I listen to you?"
he demanded, his tone harsher than he'd meant it to be. "Why not? You
would have fallen down the stairs and landed on that royal nose of yours
if I hadn't caught you." And Darien had to admit that, for once, Andrew
was right. He was, if anything, completely exhausted.
He sank thankfully into the warm water, relaxing for the first
time in days. Traveling across the empty desert, Kerri's carriage had
been overtaken by bandits...mercenaries paid to spill royal blood then
disappear into the night. 'First my parents, then my sister' he thought
to himself. 'I doubt it's merely a coincidence'. He closed his eyes,
mind wondering, and would have fallen asleep if not for a loud banging
on the bathroom door.
"Dar-ien, hey Dar-ien. What are you doing in there, drowning
yourself?" He started at the sound of Andrew's voice - he'd
completely forgotten that his friend was waiting outside. "Sorry,
Andrew...I'll be out in a second." The water drained from the bath,
taking most of the soot away, and Darien ran his rag around the
bottom of the tub, wiping away the rest. 'If only moving on were as
easy as cleaning up'.
- - - - - - - - - -
Lady Ariane, a stiff pillar of white robes, stood at the window and
frowned. The blazing chain of fires had finally reached the Commune, and
it could only mean one thing: Kerri had died. She wasn't surprised; the
moon never lied - but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
She turned away and slammed the shutters closed behind her, the
breeze ruffling her silver hair. 'I hope I'm not too late'. Light footsteps
faded behind her as she disappeared down the stairs into the library.
Light and warmth enveloped her in a smothering embrace, and she
shivered. After seventy years of lonely nights with only the stars and
moon for company she shied away from comfort and companionship
as a wary cat does from water.
Ariane knew where she'd find the girl, knew that she wasn't
sleeping. The gentle crashing of the waterfall hid her approach as she
slipped into the arboretum, and she regarded the young woman
before her with quiet skepticism. "Serena."
Serena, barely more than an awkward child, pivoted sharply
at the sound of her name, and the flowers she clutched with nervous
fingers scattered haphazardly across the floor. "I'm...I'm sorry Lady
Ariane. I couldn't sleep...I was dreaming" Her blue eyes opened
wide with trepidation, and she trembled slightly as she spoke. "I
promise I won't sneak out again. I promise, I promise, I really do."
And to her surprise, Ariane's gaze softened, and the 12th Lady
of the Commune actually smiled. "You can't hide anything from the
moonlight, dear. I know you've been coming here every night." She
bent down to help collect the scattered blossoms, and Serena quickly
squatted beside her, dropping as many as she returned. "But don't
worry. If I were angry I would have approached you before. You
know that."
Serena did. She'd been ten years old, an energetic child with a
voracious curiosity and an eye for trouble. The library had invited her,
the fire warm and the glittering moonlight mysterious. Her mouth had
dropped open with awe, and she hadn't expected Ariane to materialize
before her. "What do you think you're doing here, Serena?" She'd
trembled and bit her lip to keep from crying. "You are never to come
into the library without permission. Never. Do you understand?" Serena
had nodded, nodded and then fled.
Now again, she nodded again but this time without fear. "Why
seek me out, Lady Ariane? I don't suppose this is merely a social visit."
She clutched the returned flowers to her chest, finger nails nervously
digging into the stems.
"You supposed correctly. It's time - we're leaving tomorrow."
Ariane replied firmly. "Go on, you need to get some rest." She patted
the other's shoulder reassuringly, then swept out of the arboretum leaving
a dumbstruck Serena standing behind her.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was late evening, moments before dusk, and the sinking sun
cast long shadows across the low shrubs before him. Darien casually
ran his hand over the tops of the greenery, making a mental note to trim
them by daylight. Then he realized that by the next sunset he's be the
Desert's ruling Prince. 'Oh Kerri, why did you have to go off alone?
Why couldn't you have been more careful? Why hadn't I gone with
you?' He sank onto a bench, chin in his hands, depressed.
"It isn't good for your health to feel sorry for yourself, Darien."
He jumped quickly to his feet, hand at the hilt of his sword, but he
relaxed when he recognized the voice. "Ariane, you scared me half
to death. Where did you come from? How did you get here?"
"On the wings of the moonlight, my dear. I'm not -really- here,
remember, not in the conventional sense at least." She looked the Prince
over from head to toe, scowling slightly when she noticed he was both
armed and exhausted. "You'll see me in person tomorrow, so don't run
off and do anything rash. I want you well-rested and in one piece when
you meet her."
Darien had opened his mouth to retort that he was an adult
and thus knew what was best for himself - but he froze at Ariane's last
remark. 'She?' he thought to himself. "Do...do you mean?" Ariane
smiled, pleased to have caught her ever-calm princeling off-guard. She
nodded, half in affirmation, half in satisfaction. "I can't hold the conjure
any more, Darien. Take care of yourself - and remember."
Her image faded, leaving behind a silver shimmer that hung briefly
in the air then evaporated into the darkness, and Darien turned away.
'Damn it. What -is- it with Ariane? Why do I always feel like she's in
my mind?' He kicked a large rock and watched it tumble away from him.
Then, with customary precision he straightened his shoulders and walked
calmly out of the garden and into the stables.
"Just going for a ride around the grounds, Alex," he called to the
guard at the door as he tightened his horse's girth. The staff was used
to their Prince's idiosyncrasies, and the guard returned Darien's gaze
impassively. "Come back if you see any scoundrels about, milord," he
replied with a wink. But Darien didn't hear; he was already flying across
the desert sands, away from the castle, away from the memories.
- - - - - - - - - -
Serena sat uneasily in her saddle, her eyes half-closed in thought.
The mid-morning sun was hot on her back, and the desert winds swirled
bits of white sand into her hair. After all the passing years it was finally
happening - her dream was becoming reality.
It had begun when she was not much older than ten. Every night,
a gentle, dark-haired man would sweep into her dreams and steal her heart
away. She would wake up in the morning feeling empty inside, tears
sprinkling down upon her rumpled sheets. As usual, it was Lady Ariane
who'd approached her, comforted her, and reassured her that the dreams
weren't merely the result of an overactive imagination. "When you're older,
Serena, you'll meet him," she'd said with unquestionable authority.
Serena smiled at the memory and sighed pensively - only to be
pitched forward against her horse's neck; she would have ended up on
the ground had a quick hand not shot out and grabbed the reins. "Head
in the clouds again?" Lita accused with a good-natured laugh. "Better
watch where you're going or you'll be black and blue by the time we
reach Crystal Castle."
Blushing crimson, Serena readjusted herself and flexed her cramped
fingers before reluctantly taking the reins back from her friend. She guided
her mount away from Ariane's, trying to put a little distance between them
without being noticeably overt. "Thanks...I'm so nervous - to finally meet
him after all this time." The wind tossed a wisp of hair flew across her face
and she caught it with her tongue. "What if he doesn't like me? What if I
can't stand him? What if he's an egocentric slob with less intelligence than a
garden snake?" As she chewed mulishly on her hair images of fat, dull, stuffy
princes came to mind.
"Forget it. Once you see him and he sees you we'll have trouble
keeping you two apart. Right, girls?" Lita glanced back over her shoulder
at the other three members of Serena's entourage. "Actually, Serena has a
point; if he doesn't like her - "
"Then he's a fool," Mina finished, cutting off Amy's comment. "No
need for second plans until the first ones don't work. Besides, if he's
ignorant enough to throw away an opportunity like this one he doesn't
deserve her."
"Stupidity's not the question. You don't have to be an idiot to be
unsure. Many people are apprehensive of those who have lived at the
Commune with the Goddess, and if he only sees Serena as a-" Ami had
come up beside Mina, insistent that she not be misunderstood.
"Can you guys stop talking about me as if I'm not here?" Serena
grumbled in irritation. She smiled, an afterthought to soften her words.
"Sorry, I guess we're all a bit tense today..." her voice trailed off into awed
silence as she glanced up and beheld more water than she'd ever seen in
her life.
"Look sharp girls, we've come to the river crossing," Ariane called
from up ahead, pretending that she hadn't overheard the conversation behind
her. "If anyone has second thoughts about coming with Serena and me,
now's you last chance to voice them." The girls exchanged glances, but none
uttered an objection.
*end of Chapter 1*
I appolgize to all you who are reading the fic for the first time
because of the discrepency between plot elements. I was debating
whether to post the revison all at once or as I'm finished with the
chapters...the later won out, as you can see. Email me if you have
any questions concerning the differences. I don't bite, and perhaps
I'll get the rest of the revisions out faster... :).
- Mir (11.26.00 ~ revised ~ 02.10.01)
.