Chapter 6:
"May a have a word with you, my King?"
Endymion looked up from his papers to give the young captain an annoyed
glare.
"It is important, your highness."
"Make it quick."
"Yes, sire. I just wanted to inform you that our messengers have heard that
at the tournament this weekend the Princess' husband will be chosen."
Endymion looked up form his work once more and Jadeite thought he had
seen a hint of jealousy ion his ruler's eyes for a moment be fore he answered
coolly "And what do I care? Don't bother me with such things anymore."
"Yes, my lord." Jadeite sighed and left the tent.
Later that night a tall figure sitting on a rock by the lake could be seen. The
Moon illuminated his face and made him look even more handsome than
usual...
The water brushed against the rock silently and everything seemed to be
peaceful.
Everything but Endymion himself.. he was deep in thought struggling with
himself about this girl... this girl that had captured his heart.. and had ripped
it right out of his chest.
But still.. he couldn't get her out of his mind.. he had tried.. he had buried
himself with work and had not even sleep to avoid dreaming of her.. but it
didn't help.
He still felt her soft hand touching his cheek lovingly, could still taste her on
his lips, still could smell her wonderful flowery scent and could still feel her in
his arms..
"Aghh!! Why can't I forget her??!!" he screamed into the darkness.
"Because you are in love with her, my boy." A dark gentle voice came from
behind him.
Endymion turned around to stare at his old friend Malachite.
He sighed and then looked back at the lake again.
"You are a foolish old man." He stated.
Malachite raised one delicate silver brow and sat down beside this young man
he loved like his own child.
"I have seen enough men who had fallen for a beautiful girl.. but are
definitely the worst case.. you don't eat and don't sleep anymore.."
"That's because I have to work on a plan how we can defeat Alexander.."
Endymion tried to convince the elderly man.
"Sure.." malachite sighed and then stood up patting the young man's shoulder
in the process and then started to walk away from the rock slowly.
"Malachite!"
"Yes my lord?" he asked turning around.
"Do you think she ever really loved me or did she just play a role to survive?"
"Search your heart and answer this question yourself." He stated while staring
to walk again.
"Malachite?"
"Yes Endymion?"
"Do you think she'll forgive me?"
Malachite just smiled and left his leader for himself by the lake.
*****************
"You can't keep crying like that forever, Serenity!"
"I can't stop even if I wanted to- which I don't.." sobbed the young Princess.
Rei who had been watching her best friend's misery in the last three weeks
knelt down beside Serenity's bed and tried to soothe her.
"I know he didn't mean it... he was just surprised and angry you didn't tell
him before.."
""He DID mean it.. I know it.. I saw it in his eyes.. they were so cold..." she
whispered again burying her head in the fluffy pillow.
"Don't say things like that.. everything will be alright."
Serenity looked up again..
"Alright?? How can everything be all right again when I have to marry the
man who wins that stupid tournament tomorrow.. I don't have a choice.. I'll
have to obey my father... when there was Endymion everything seemed to
turn out well.. but now.. I don't believe in it anymore.. in fact I don't believe
in anything anymore.. I'll just spend the rest of my life with a man I don't
love.." and with that she turned away from Rei indicating that the
conversation was over for now.
Rei left Serenity's room with a heavy heart.. it hurt her to see her best friend
like that.. but she didn't know what she could do to help the poor girl.
They were running out of time.. the tournament was next morning and some
Prince she didn't know would marry the Princess in the evening.
Of course a lot of men would come and fight for the Princess' hand.. and they
all wanted one thing.. Alexander's power. None of them loved Serenity and
Rei was sure that none of them deserved her love.
Entering her room she put on her nightgown and fell into an exhausted sleep
.. tomorrow would be a very hard day...
Serenity had woken up that night due to a terrible storm and couldn't get to
sleep anymore. She decided to take a midnight snack and tiptoed down the
halls to finally arrive at the large kitchen.
What surprised her was that there was still light in the room. She slowly
opened the door to reveal her mother standing at the table making herself a
sandwich.
"Mother what are you doing here?"
The Queen looked up startled but when she saw her daughter smiled lovingly
at her
"The same as you, I guess.. I couldn't sleep."
"And father?"
"He's still working.. want a sandwich, sweetheart?"
"I'd loved to." The Princess beamed.
The two women sat comfortably at the large oak table in the dining room and
were talking about god and the world.
Serenity smiled.. she remembered when she was still a little child and she and
her mother used to do such things more often.
"Mother... can I ask you something?"
"Of course, what is it you want to know?" the Queen asked softly.
"It's about the amulet.. I want to know about it.."
"Hmm.. as you know the amulet of the Golden Snake is very powerful.
It is said that an evil sorcerer was once banned by a beautiful fairy into an
amulet for he had been a plague upon earth and killed innocent people who
wouldn't bow to him. It is said that he almost destroyed the earth and only
the fairy of love could ban him, but she lost her life while doing so.. it took
her too much energy to lock the sorcerer into the amulet and she died after
having succeeded."
"That's so sad, mother, but how did we get it?" Serenity asked, keen to know
more
"Well, as far as I know your great grandfather found it in one of his battles in
the mountains. He was in cave looking for sanctuary when he saw something
glittering on the cave's wall. It is said the amulet spoke to him and promised
him the power to rule the world. The price for this power was the first born
child in every generation.. a body the amulet could claim.."
Serenity suddenly started shivering thinking about what would happen to her
"Does this mean that the evil sorcerer lives through the person who's wearing
the amulet?"
"Yes.." whispered the Queen.
"And nobody can stop it?"
"There was a premonition .. it is said that a young rebel will destroy the
power of the legendary amulet and the evil will be banned forever.."
"Is that why father killed all those people?" Serenity asked quietly.
"Yes, I fear so.." the queen sighed heavily before continuing "You better go to
bed now, my angel."
"Good night mother."
The Queen watched her daughter leave the kitchen and was dreading the next
day when she would be forced to marry a man she didn't love and who
wouldn't love her either.
***************************
The royal family was sitting on the tribune watching all the young nobleman
warming up.
Serenity was wearing a light blue dress which brought out her eyes nicely and
had a delicate crown resting on her head elegantly- a present from her father.
She was looking around the crowd and also risked a glance at the men in
armor..
She noticed the different colors and styles and the various insignias ..wolves..
dragons...bears..
It bothered her that she couldn't see their faces.. that she didn't know what
her future husband looked like.
The fights started and Serenity sat there absentmindedly until something
caught her eye.. a young man who fought extraordinarily well and seemed to
defeat all of his rivals.
His armor was black with silver highlights and he had what seemed to be a
silver Rose on his shield.
Serenity couldn't help but somehow cheer for the brave knight who seemed to
fascinate her.
After long hours of fighting only two men where left who now would fight for
the Princess' hand in marriage.
One of the two knight was the man with the insignia of the silver rose and the
other was a Prince she knew from her childhood days.. Milao- he was a cruel
and sadistic man- he had always been like that; even as a child he had
tortured little animals.
Serenity hope so much the knight in the shining black armor would win.
After a long and hard fight Milao sunk to the ground exhausted and
defeated...
Serenity gulped.. she had hoped that the mysterious knight would win.. but
what now.. he was practically her husband now..
The brave men came forward and knelt before the young Princess.
"Don't fear me Princess.. " he whispered and she thought she had heard that
voice before.
Before she could ask him who he was her father had started to speak.
"Brave knight you have fought for my daughter's hand and the amulet's
power and have won. You have defeated a few of the best men of this world
and are worthy of my throne.
As my future son in law I will free your people and give you my power. Now
stand up and face your bride." He finished.
The knight stood up and slowly took off his helmet.
A collective gasp from the people and from Serenity could be heard...
"Endymion" Serenity whispered.
He took a step toward her and took her small hand in his and kissed it softly..
"My Princess." He whispered back.
"You!!" Alexander shouted.
"Nobody said I couldn't fight for your daughter's hand, Alexander! You already
granted my people freedom.. you wouldn't break your word...KING..."
Endymion stated coolly.
"You have tricked me!!" and with that Alexander took his sword and was
about to ram it into Endymion's heart when Serenity threw herself between
them "NOO!!"
Alexander stopped his sword millimeters away from his daughter's chest
looking at her incredulously.
"Go away, child.. so I can kill him!" he screamed.
"No! I won't let you do that, father! I love him!" Serenity shouted back.
Both Endymion and Alexander's jaws hung open.
Endymion on the one hand was very happy to know that his Princess still love
him while Alexander on the other hand was raging mad.
"All this time I have been searching for the rebel who would destroy my
power only to find out that my only child is the traitor!!"
"You sold me to the amulet! I never wanted to be like you! Father don't you
see what the amulet's doing to you??" Serenity tried to convince him.
"No!!Nooo! I won't listen to you! Amulet give me the power!!" he screamed in
madness.
It seemed as if the amulet was reacting to his madness for it started to glow
and seemed to get stronger with every second of Alexander's madness.
They all watched in horror as the blood red ruby started crack blood started to
flow out of it.
It slowly made it's way to the floor where it formed a snake which started to
glow golden.
Serenity gasped in shock as she saw her father fall backwards landing with a
thud on the cold stone floor unmoving.
No trace that he was still moving -still alive.
She tried to run to him but as soon as she was close to the puddle of blood
she flew backwards with much force.
Before she made contact with the hard floor two strong arms caught her and
helped her up- Endymion.
She smiled at him thankfully and sank deeper into his embrace as the golden
light of the blood started to take form.
They had to close their eyes from the blinding light and when they opened
them again
in the place of the puddle was standing a tall slender man in along golden
robe.
"Who are you?" Serenity asked frightened.
"Me? I am the essence.. I am power.. I am Marufar.. I have been locked into
this amulet for the last 300 years and now I'm free again.. all that hatred in
your father's heart finally set me free!" his voice boomed.
"And now I shall continue what I have started a long time ago.. you shall all
die and the world will be mine!!" he thundered.
Suddenly a strong wind started hauling and people where running about
hysterically. Endymion tightened his grip on Serenity trying not to let her be
ripped from his arms.
But his attempts were futile when Marufar sent a bolt of lightening at them
separating them brutally.
Endymion was now on the other side of the courtyard and tried to walk
against the storm trying to reach his love.
Marufar laughed down at Serenity evilly...
"I should be thanking you, you know." He stated.
Serenity looked at him puzzled.
"You caused that immense hatred to rise in your father.. it was what set me
free.."
"No!! You killed him!! It was all your fault!" she screamed.
"It doesn't matter anymore anyway.. nothing can stop me now!!" he boomed
"the fairy of love is dead! She was the only one who could destroy but she
died trying to ban me... poor little thing" he added sarcastically.
He then grabbed Serenity's throat and holding her above his head with one
arm.
He laughed up at her evilly " You are going to die now" Serenity shut her eyes
tightly already feeling the air being drained form her lungs.
"Nooo! I won't let you hurt her!" Endymion screamed as he threw his sword
towards Marufar's arms cleanly separating it form the rest of his body.
Serenity fell to the ground with a thud. Coughing she tried to get away a few
steps from the mad sorcerer who had just recovered from his initial shock of
loosing one arm.
He then looked down at the young princess with pure madness in his eyes and
created a huge ball of energy in is hand directing it at Serenity.
Endymion had meanwhile managed to get closer to Serenity and tried now to
reach for her hand.
Serenity's eyes grew wide as she look at the man who would kill her any
minute. She looked to her left to see Endymion on the floor trying to reach
her.
She whispered a soft "I love you" in his direction and to Endymion it sounded
like a good- bye.. but he wouldn't let that happen.. not now.. not ever.. he
had just won her back..
Gathering his last powers he got off of the floor and lunged forward, he put all
his love and passion for that young woman into his desperate attempt to save
her. He landed beside her and grabbed her hand tightly.
Their eyes met just as the energy ball was flying toward them.
Despite their situation they smiled and closed their eyes.. if they were going
to die they would die together ... suddenly a silver light started to explode
from their joined hands.. a light so strong and pure it overwhelmed the
lovers.
They didn't know what was going on the only thing they heard was a loud
painful scream before they shut their eyes tightly.
When they opened their eyes again everything was back to normal.. the sun
shone as brightly as it did just a few moments before.
In front of them lay the broken pieces of the once so powerful amulet.
"What happened?" serenity asked softly staring into her lover's calm and
loving eyes.
"Your love destroyed the evil sorcerer." The queen answered
Both looked at her startled.
"Don't look at me like that.. I knew it all along. Your love is so strong and true
it overcame every obstacle.. nothing could part you.. not war .. not hatred..
not even pure evil.. I knew it all along that my child would be the one to
break the veil spell the amulet had cast upon this family long ago... I'm just
sad your father won't be able to see you.." she said tears starting to roll down
her cheeks as she gathered her death husband's head in her lap.
"But he has found peace at last... he would be happy to you see you both like
this." She took in a deep breath " he was good and loving man once- before
the amulet controlled him..." she then looked up at the two young lovers
again and smiled "You'll bring peace and freedom to the people of earth
again.. give your people hope and love..."
Endymion looked at Serenity lovingly then and started to stroke her cheek
gently
" Will you be my Queen?" he asked softly
"Yes, my King" she whispered into his ear.
And with that he lifted her up of the floor and spun her around while Serenity
was giggling softly. She looked down into his dark blue eyes and blue met
blue..
Endymion carefully put her back down on the ground never loosing eye
contact before leaning in and capturing her lips in a gently but passionate
kiss.
When the people saw their new rulers kissing they started to cheer loudly and
applauded the young couple.
The next day a big wedding was celebrated and a new era began...
An era of peace, freedom and hope.
And not to forget.. a love so strong and pure it could defeat all evil...
~The End~
Authors Notes:
Here it is all finished!! I hope you liked the ending.. any suggestions to make
it better all welcomed.
I have the feeling I rushed this story a bit.. so I might someday revise it and
put more detail into it..