CHAPTER EIGHT
CHIVALROUS RIVALRY
While Princess Serena was excited at the thought of seeing her prince again, the Sailor Warriors worried behind the sidelines as they made their preparations and examined the best way to protect the princess, while at the same time allowing the killer out.
The King's court also began arrangements for the ball. While Kunzite lead the Prince's knights in security measures during the ball. As far as the princess' own guard, Prince Endymion personally took the time to train Odin himself.
"Your fighting skills and reflexes exceed that of Kunzite. That is why I chose you. That and you seem like the kind less likely to fall for my Serena. You are a true warrior, Odin. But don't tell him that." The prince smirked at Odin as he replaced the sword back in its resting-place.
He paused as he eyed the long slender blade glistening in the evening sunrays next to his own. He sighed as he reached out to touch it. He closed his eyes firmly trying to shut the painful memory out of his mind. His focus right now had to be upon the princess. He couldn't let even a momentary weakness such as this one get by tonight. But just for now for this moment, away from everyone and his duties, he would allow it. Micah. His youthful laughter that echoed in his mind at the last time he remembered Micah shouting in victory after their last duel together, just days before that fateful night.
"I have finally beaten you Endy! We shall soon see who the better man is! " He gleed with an air of sarcasm as he reached out his arm down towards Endymion who was still trying to process the last five seconds around the dancing stars in his head.
"You may have beaten me with your sword young squire, but there is more to being a man than outwitting your elder brother with your new sword tricks." The prince smirked at his teen brother who proceeded to dust the dirt of Endymion's back.
" I'd like to think that strength of ones mind has far better chances of keeping one alive than the strength of ones arm. Why? Are you challenging me again Endymion, in another field? Do tell, I am anxious to see how else my elder brother intends on humiliating himself before his younger and may I add, much better looking brother." Micah mischievously focused his violet eyes through the sun glare at Endymion.
Although he was only but fifteen, Micah had already grown to Endymion's height, yet still kept a boyish frame and had yet to develop in his arms and torso. Unlike Endymion's nineteen-year frame with muscles filling his entire body, showing more that he defiantly was closer to maturing to a man than Micah was. Furthermore, Micah had acquired his father's wavy hair unlike Endymion who prided his sleek straight tresses from having acquired them from his mother's long beautiful long dark hair. It gave Micah a somewhat bushy and unkempt look especially whenever he'd wear his shoulder length hair down.
But somehow Micah seemed to prefer it that way much to Endymion's annoyance that often had to heed him to tie it neatly back if he ever wanted to attract the ladies. But Micah was nowhere near as classy as his elder brother was and he freely admitted it, especially whenever the King would ask Micah why he could never be like his elder brother. But Micah had somehow had gotten used to his bushy head of hair and his mischievous grin and he purposefully kept it that way as his way of distinguishing himself from his elder brother. He reasoned that most ladies, even the highly noble ones, preferred a man with a hint of roughness even danger to him, even though they'd never admit it to anyone or themselves.
Endymion just smiled back at Micah and placed his hand on Micah's shoulder and leaned closer in "Well we couldn't call it a challenge exactly considering that in order for us to have a challenge we'd need the same goal to achieve. You see my 'oh-so better looking' brother, I have already achieved this goal. The most important one a man will ever have to fight for in his life."
"Is that right? Hmm…" Micah eyed his brother thoughtfully rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger. "Well, well, well so you have finally found yourself a girl!"
" How did you-? I haven't told-! " Endymion eyed Micah with a sheer expression of shock and bewilderment.
"You can hide it from Father, maybe even our dear Mother, though she's had her suspicions a lot longer just don't tell her I said anything." Micah pointed his finger firmly at Endymion with the other hand on his waist gleaming at his elder brother mischievously. "I may be younger, but I'm not dumber!" Micah's eyed Endymion playfully as he patted his elder brother on the back. When he let Endymion walk up further, he paused momentarily bending down resting his hands on his knees and let out a deep sigh.
Endymion heard Micah taking a deep breath and he turned to see him leaning over himself, "Champion feeling weak of breath?" Endymion smirked.
Micah looked up through his long dark bangs and eyed Endymion almost disgustingly, "I'm fine, the air must not have agreed with me." He simply replied.
The prince's gaze focused back up at his hand clasping the blade of the sword. Micah, how long did you know? How long were you waiting behind those bushes? I won' t believe my own brother meant to kill me out of sheer jealousy. You weren't like that Micah that wasn't your way. You were always happy and always playing practical jokes on the family. Was it all a façade? Did you put on a show on purpose to hide your true feelings? But now I know why you always outsmarted me, in battle and outside of it. Oh Micah, I'm sorry for not listening to you…sooner. I thought there would always be time…to say…I'm sorry. At that moment when the prince was staring at his own hand, did he catch another sword being placed next to his own out of the corner of his eye.
"Odin?" The prince looked at the bushy haired knight next to him. So much like Micah, the prince thought. The way he looks at me now with those open eyes, just like Micah used to. The wavy hair, he wore it the same way and his eyes, identical. But this serious stone look soldier next to him was a stark contrast to the mischievous and jovial young man Endymion always loved to hear whenever he'd be feeling down, just like the way he was right now. I'm sure Micah would have something sarcastic to say right about now. As the prince smiled weakly at Odin, that rock in his chest weighed him down, even now.
But Odin did not reply, just smirked at the remark the prince made about his own guard being weak to his own emotions. It gave Odin a sense of pride to have his emotion in check better than the prince's own guard did, better than the prince. As much as Odin wanted to respect the prince for that compliment, his conscience forbid him from it.
Yet at the same time he wanted to laugh out loud but had to suppress the urge to. The prince may not understand the amusing nature given the current situation. The thoughts ran through his head as he hung the sword next to the prince's.
Odin himself wasn't very fond of this Kunzite and respected him even less mostly for his arrogant nature. He could tell the prince found this arrogant Kunzite as much of an annoyance at times as Odin frequently did himself. But this soldier had also many years with the prince, something Odin lacked, not that he really cared anyway. Odin wouldn't let anyone interfere in his objective, even if he was the prince's own guard or friend. If he became an obstacle, then he would have to be removed. That is how Odin reasoned it.
The Prince continued in his speech to Odin as they turned and walked together, "Your only duty is to protect the princess at all cost, nothing more. If the perpetrator flees or retaliates, leave that to the others! Your job is to get her to safety is that understood? " The prince stopped and eyed the bushy haired youth before him.
"Protect the princess at all cost. Understood, your majesty." Odin halted as well and stood before the majestic prince glaring at him indifferently.
"Do you?" The prince looked at Odin questioningly.
"I will protect her with my life from all outside perpetrators." Odin reassured the prince huskily.
"Please do." The prince paused and lowered his head to eye the ground. He then softly began trying to push the ball of pain back down his throat. The prince knew that it should be him to be by his love to protect her, not this other man nearly his own age. After all isn't that what knights and warriors worldwide are sworn to protect, that which they love? But he's not a knight, he's the prince. A prince who has men of his own giving their life for him. "You are strong. Indeed, a true warrior Odin. She's-"
"I know." Odin interrupted monotonely, then gave, what the prince thought what looked like a faint smile.
Odin looked into the Prince's eyes and for a moment bitterly cursed at himself internally as a mild sting filled his soul. Damn! He cursed at himself.
"You are dismissed. The princess will be arriving shortly. Be at the entrance fully uniformed in two hours!" The prince commanded.
"Your majesty, the killers may attempt an attack while she is in route to the function. I would prefer to be at the princess' side the moment she arrives on Earth and escort her personally." Odin stood firm as he replied.
"Hmm…," the prince looked back at Odin thoughtfully. " You have a very good point. Very well, Odin, you have my permission. Take several of the imperial guards with you. Zoisite, one of my elite guards will accompany you as well. The escort party is gathering even as we speak. They will leave before sundown. You best hurry."
"Yes sir!" Odin nodded while walking back and then turned back hastily leaving the prince alone. What a fool! The youth smirked as he dashed for the stables to tend to Wing.
But when Odin returned to the stables to check on his white steed, he found someone else waiting for him.
"Winter," Odin glared at the long dark-haired woman caressing Wing's mane in the distance. He turned to shut the door and walked toward the cloaked woman. "I am going to make this really simple. I don't have time for useless chatter. "
"Yes I know. I have something I need to say as well." She sadly replied turning her dark-green eyes at him.
Odin began to speak, but his voice lost itself in the rustling of the stable noise as he noted the color of her eyes had changed from the usual light brown to a dark green. The crinkle between his eyes confirmed Winter's assertions that Odin was confused about something he observed about her.
"What?" She asked suspiciously
"Your eyes." He commented huskily.
"Oh!" She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked down and smiled. "Hazel eyes change color with…" she paused and looked back up at his peering prussian blue eyes, "…our moods." She walked from behind Wing to the front of Wing's head. She could feel his warm breath tickling her neck.
"I relieve you of your obligation. I no longer have a use for you." He began sternly almost with a faint tint of anger. But behind it she seemed to get the feeling that he was fighting hard to sound angry enough that it would alarm her.
"Hmm…" she smiled at him.
"What is so funny?" He spouted at her insultingly.
"I came here to tell you the same thing. Especially since you'll be quite preoccupied from now on. But I also wanted to say 'Thank You', Odin for your kindness and for treating me like…" she forced her most confident tone of voice as she continued, "…like a lady. Even though I know the real reason you asked me to visit you." She refused to break before him. She wanted to show him that she was strong just like he was in his convictions. " Quite frankly, I don't know whether to hate you for it, or to respect you for it."
Odin stood continuing his glare on her, unsure how to process all of the information he just heard. This wasn't part of the plan, although it was something he anticipated and had prepared for. Still, he had ended up engaging their entire discussions in political affairs and history. Something he never intended on doing but enjoyed it nonetheless. He mentally slapped himself for it. He'd never accept it and now was no exception. He was determined to rid himself of this weakness, this kindness that she claims he had given her. But at the same time he wasn't going to explain his action to her either. This confusion in his mind angered him even more.
After a long silence passed between them he replied coldly his expression growing darker, "So what do you think of me now, some kind of friend? I'm a soldier, nothing more, perhaps even less. I have no friends and I'd like to keep it that way. As I said before, I may still have reason to murder you, so don't count your blessings!"
"I'll keep that in mind. It is better this way, anyway." She turned around and wrapped her arms around Wing's neck burying her face into his silky mane, "Farewell Wing." Then she released his neck and turned around again to face Odin. As she was about to walk forward, something pushed her forcefully from the back, and spontaneously fell. But she didn't mean to fall into Odin's arms. What's more, and to his own surprise, he caught her.
"I'm sorry," She replied as she raised herself from his arms and straightened her cloak, "Your horse seems to have a different opinion about us."
"Wing!" Odin put his hands on his waist and sneered shaking his head back and forth disapprovingly. The stallion raised his head and eyed his master revealing his teeth as he neighed over Winter's shoulder. If one could read behind an animal's expressions with the will of his mind, you could easily deduce Wing's joy of victory over his master on this particular occasion.
"Farewell to you, Odin." With that she looked into his deep blue eyes one more time and then walked around him and out of the stables.
Odin trailed her with his eyes then turned around to the entrance of the stables as she disappeared behind the doors. After a while Wing panted and stomped his hoof on the ground behind him. "Yes Wing, you made it pretty obvious you liked her." He stared out forward into the early evening dusk, then he mumbled softly, "Good show old friend." He turned back around to face his gallant steed. "I want to avoid eliminating anyone without attracting anymore attention than necessary. Fortunately, we won't have to worry about that this time." Wing reared his head again and neighed at his master, "Let's hoof it then!" He spouted impatiently as he began prepping Wing for the evening.
