CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

A COOL WINTER IN THE NIGHT

Some of the knights of the Triode Kingdom yet believed that the world needed a strong militaristic force in order to achieve unity while at the same time defending their planet against forces trying to rise up against their Kingdoms, such as these tyrant killers. Although, the knights saw them as nothing more than as an annoyance, they feared rebels such as these did more harm then anything else did. They believed a strong planetary militaristic force would make people think twice about rising up against their kingdoms or any outside forces wanting to take advantage of Earth's fine resources, like so many years ago.

But many of the men simply reasoned that the prince and the king just wanted to bury that part of human nature that loves to fight and those avoiding to confront that part of humanity are just as guilty as those who cause conflicts. Their philosophy was that only through conflicts could man truly be strengthened. Furthermore, without any outside threats, many of the young men had never been in a real battle and their warrior instincts were slowly burning inside of them.

It was also rumored that the prince had been courting a young lady from a faraway Kingdom. It is said this kingdom holds great power and the prince would soon announce his engagement to the young princess. This union would allow that kingdom to influence the actions of the Triode Kingdom and guide all the planetary kingdoms to world peace through their shared ideology of pacifism.

One of the prince's closest guards by the name of Kunzite, was one of the leading forces behind this secret society. Unknown to the prince himself, Kunzite, had his suspicions about this New Kingdom and its identity. Although he was loyal to his prince, his rising conflict in his ideals often found him in many disagreements and heavy discussions with his majesty.

"Your majesty, a small kingdom north of our borders witnessed more of the rebels around their villages. " Kunzite had approached the prince as soon as he received a letter from the village representative of the sightings. "The people are passive and afraid. They aren't strong enough to stand up against these rebels and they seek our protection."

"I will go and resolve the matter at once." Prince Endymion commanded.

"Your majesty, it could be a trap. These rebel warriors might be just trying to get your attention to assassinate you. They may be in league with their King as well." Kunzite warned.

"Kunzite…" The prince sighed as shook his head back and forth, "…nonsense. They are small in numbers and have nothing to gain by killing me. Why must you fight me on everything? Furthermore, my father personally opened discussion with that King some time ago and they sought a peaceful alliance with us. That kingdom is now prosperous and their people happy, why would they want to destroy our home that provides their peace?"

"Forgive me your majesty for thinking otherwise, but peace isn't handed to you on a silver platter, people must fight for it. I am merely concerned for you majesty and our kingdom. You should at least send out execution orders immediately for these rebels." Kunzite suggested.

The prince began getting a bit agitated at Kunzite's suggestion and raised his voice, "We are heading towards peace, Kunzite. To act in a violent way now will only contradict our beliefs. Besides, there is no longer any need for senseless battles!" The prince sighed and looked more warmly at his friend, "Kunzite, if we are going to have peace we have to stop fighting each other." The prince then had decided to allow Kunzite to join him on his journey to this village to ease his nerves and to show him his true intentions and that the kingdoms were not at all secretly hostile like Kunzite felt.

All the while Winter was still in conflict with the feelings she had for the prince while at the same time making regular visits to her mysterious knight. To avoid direct contact with Prince Endymion, she'd place the scroll next to a white rose underneath the same tree the princess and him would meet. In turn, he'd leave a letter for the princess with a red rose for the princess and she'd deliver it to Spring who'd meet her on earth in a cave in a nearby mountain.

" How is the princess?" One night Winter asked Spring.

"Oh the princess glows now whenever she receives the letters! What a sweet romance they share." Spring's eyes glittered as she spoke excitedly. "But, she has not spoken of you since-."

"As it should be! She must forget me, as must you." Winter interrupted the shocked emerald-eyed maiden.

"You've been her friend as long as her guardian soldiers have. You are highly spoken of among the servants. Everyone envied you while you waited on the princess. Your strength and courage, and love for the princess will never be forgotten.

"They told us you caused the princess' sorrow and failed in your duties. But that is all they said. I know there is more to the truth. I confess that I admire you myself. But I know I will never equal to you."

Winter stared out of the opening of the cave into the sea of stars. "I guess then there are two of us. I don't know whom this person is you describe." She turned her dark hazel eyes at Spring and sneered, "I am nothing. You must forget me."

Spring felt something catch in her throat at the harsh words. But she cleared her throat and quietly replied, "Yes ma'am. I shall go now." She bowed down and fled from the cave with the scroll and rose in her hands. Winter just stood and glared outside into the darkness where Spring had just disappeared.

A few nights later, the prince bided his time behind a tree hoping he'd be able to catch the princess who he thought was placing the letters down for him. But it was a surprise to him when he saw Winter had been the one placing the letters underneath the tree. The prince had always felt uneasy around Princess Serena's maiden, especially the way she'd look at him. He could tell behind her eyes she was fighting something back, and when he saw her placing the rolled letter below the tree as she eyed him in the same way again, it confirmed his suspicions.

"How could you?" The prince slithered out from behind the bushes and attacked Winter coldly. But Winter was thrown back and confused to the prince's attack at her. "After everything you were for the princess. She trusted you with her heart!"

"What are you saying?" she asked shockingly throwing her wide eyes at the knight prince, "you think I wrote all those letters? I am nothing like her majesty. I won't deny that I do not share emotions that the princess has for your highness. But, I did not write those words. I could never write such pureness that comes from her majesty's heart. I am nothing compared to that person in those letters." She looked upon him trying to avoid his dark eyes.

But the prince moved quickly toward her, and Winter had quickly stepped back but not quick enough where he grabbed her arm and pulled her in. "Look at me in the eyes, and tell me you love your Princess with all your heart!"

Winter felt uneasy and attempted to free herself of his hold, but he grabbed her by both of her arms and shock her, "Tell me!" he shouted sternly and narrowed his hateful eyes at her.

Winter looked into his deep blue eyes and she felt herself weaken. All she's tried to suppress began welling in her eyes to the point that it would make her faint. Her face felt hot and in defeat she eased her expression somewhat sadly, "I am not the princess' maiden any longer, your highness. I am no longer the one to serve her this way. You see, my mind is fighting against what I know to be right to where my heart is concerned. I did not ask for it to happen, nor did I embellish in it. I fought it hard. I had to be cold and distant so she…" she paused and regained her strength before continuing, "… or you wouldn't become aware of my feelings. I am nothing like the princess therefore I do not deserve her happiness or love. But do I love the princess or do I envy the princess? Pick one." And that was all she said.

Up until then, it was the only time she'd allow herself to show her weakness before anyone, especially a man. This would make her stronger, she reasoned. It had to be done at least now it is in the open. Winter felt a sense of relief all of a sudden, that the she would no longer have to carry the burden alone deep inside her heart.

The prince released his hold of her and backed off. He started to turn away from the woman when he stopped midway and glared back down at her. He felt a sudden sense of rage burn inside of him. A heated conversation with Kunzite earlier in the day had agitated the prince and he felt a slight rage boil to the surface once again. Though as much as he wanted to beat any moral sense into his fellow comrade, he would not dare attack one of his own men. It was against the code.

His mind was clouded, confused, those hazel eyes behind that dark wavy hair refused to part with his. She still looked upon him with such desire, how dare she? His heart burned for his princess, and he would accept no substitutions. Suddenly he felt his left arm raise across his chest. He kept it there digging his nails into his palm, gritting his teeth and groaning as her eyes slowly closed. Then, with a quick swift motion, it flew across that pale cheek.

The prince fumed as he pointed down at her in that same betrayed look, "I want you to remember that, each time you think about betraying your princess, or me! I will not be so kind next time!" the prince coldly replied and turned away.

Winter just stood in shock and lowered her head in shame allowing the sting on her cheek to throb in a slow pain.

That night when she went to visit Odin her head hung down, her face partially covered by her long tresses. He shut the stable door and turned narrowing his prussian eyes suspiciously at her. He swiftly picked up the pace behind her and grabbed her by the arm turning her to him.

She gasped, startled at his action and tried to wriggle out of his tight grasp. But his other hand firmly reached for her chin. He jerked her head away as he looked upon the slight discoloration on her cheek and blood on her lip.

The lines in his forehead deepened his dark frown at her. Then, an unfamiliar voice resonated from the fuming knight in an almost evil tone. "Who did this to you?" He demanded as if she had become his property, like his stallion.

It all sent a sense of alarm and urgency all throughout Winter. She was glad now he turned her away from him. She knew now coming tonight was a bad idea, why didn't she listen? "It is nothing, just my own carelessness. Let me be." She begged softly, "please."

Odin released her slowly, though rather reluctantly at first. He backed up slowly and turned reaching for a rag then dunking it in a close tank of water. His fingers twisted the poor rag viciously draining the excess fluid out. He placed the damp rag in her hand not giving her even a look as he brushed by her. "Don't let it get infected."

She looked down at it and patted her cheek gently, "Thank you."