"For Serenity's Sake"
By: Isis @}---
isis@moonkingdom.com
Rated: G
Disclaimers: Please do not copy.
AN: The meeting of a destined couple… the beginning to so much
more. Dedicated to the true couples of the world, do not forsake
pure love for romance!
Chapter 2
@}---
The deep blackness of the night could only be put out by the
brightest of flames. Though as Serenity began her decent of the
Grand Hall's stairway she no longer felt the heaviness of the rain
drops she had spent the last hour watching.
The torch stands stood regal and majestic, emitting buttered light
about the mass of people below. Her mother, whom now walked
to her left, had warned her that this would be an event that would
see the whole of the planet turned out for. Indeed it seemed true.
She marveled at the extravagance and colors that floated past her.
The throng of people spread and bulged around them as an
honorary passage was cleared for the Queen of the Moon and her
daughter's court. Yet as they passed in a muted din she could feel
all eyes turned to her and riveted to her movements, which were
still labored by the unusual weight they carried.
Serenity mentally restrained herself from turning to catch their
stares and instead placed up a polite smile for those who she could
catch in her straight posture's focus. Though inside she felt
nothing but the turning of her stomach.
Even on their travel here she did not feel such fear at the prospect
of meeting the prince as she did now. Coming here, she had found
many of her fears unfounded though she was still locked deeply
within terror's talons.
They descended slowly and crossed the Grand Hall towards her
left. Men dressed gallantly in robes of state or partial dress-armor
mutely clamored about with women groomed in flowing gowns of
every shading of her imagination. Though her and her mother
were dressed in the royal white of the Moon Kingdom she saw few
others robed in that composite color.
Their group came upon two brass doors standing open before
them. Was Serenity not of a subdued state of mind she would have
gasped out right at the sight laid out before her. The golden clad
doors stood perhaps over two stories tall and were carved over on
both sides with an entwined design of roses.
Held within them was the scene of the room beyond with its warm,
bright light flooding out to them. The floor within gleamed of
white marble, polished to pristine beauty. The walls were also of a
white plaster, though little of it could be seen.
Stepping up to the doors she could see the room proper and
realized that to dub this a room would be of the utmost
understatement. Surrounding her was fully half of one of the
castle's turret towers. They stood facing that last quarter of the
round tower that peered into the courtyard at the heart of the palace
as great panes of glass showed out into the rainy night in the
gardens.
In the center of the floor was a square area larger than even the
Grand Hall she had marveled at only hours before. Sunk into the
floor by perhaps six steps, the clearing likely served as the
ballroom floor. Around the sides of this stood tables and people
awaiting the banquet.
Slightly off to the sides of the great square stood silent marble
columns leading up to where balconies ran on either side of the
room, a level over their heads. Though, she noticed, the two
balconies did not meet, but instead both came to meet the far wall
of glass. Free standing spiral staircases made from golden brass
with inlaid marble steps made ascent possible towards the second
floor.
So stunned was she that her mother nudged her arm, which was
wrapped through her own, to call her attention to the page that was
beginning their introduction to all assembled. It was then that her
bewildered eyes fell towards the far wall.
The focus of the room was placed on what she presumed to be the
head table, laid out under the two double story windows. Yet it
was the group standing at the end of the ballroom floor, watching
them, that took her heavy breath. She immediately recognized the
royal King and Queen of Earth, though her momentarily awe-
inspired loss of fright was dashed quickly upon seeing five young
men standing with them.
The page read through the formalities of State and the queen glided
down the steps to the floor below, with her daughter on her arm.
Serenity studied the marble beneath her as she descended. Each
step was outlined in a swirled pattern of deep green and blue
jasper; a small accent but one that strangely calmed her.
The beautiful green and blue orb that her home circled around was
now beneath her feet. Though the reasons were frightening for
being here, this was still the place of her dreams. She straightened
herself to look up at the group she was approaching with a new
excitement. Could this be her dream?
She could tell that four of the young men were arranged behind the
royal… yet one stood on par with the ruling couple. Could this
then be her betrothed, Endymion, prince of the Earth Kingdom,
soon to be her wedded husband?
He stood tall, as tall as his father aside him, garbed in shinning
light-armor. Black complimented the silver metal encasing his
shoulders, torso, and lower legs and feet. A high collared jacket
was placed over his breastplate ornamented with silver threading.
A red lined black cape back dropped his soldier-like frame, and his
mother's black hair crowned him more powerfully than gold or
jewels.
Could this truly be the same man that she had heard speak from the
shadows merely an hour before? Though she had not meant to
eavesdrop upon him and Minerva, she had taken the chance to
leave her rooms and practice her over-burdened movements, when
she had been roused by the head servant's voice.
Serenity had not managed a glimpse of him before this moment,
though she imagined a softer man that could speak with gentleness
as he did of Minerva's sister. Was this the man she feared as a
warlord? He seemed to have commanding enough presence for it,
yet she felt no hostility centered in him. On closer appearances she
saw him watching her as fixedly as she was him.
For reasons she could not explain she felt flushed upon walking
into his countenance. She did not meet eyes to his as her mother
stopped before her peers and exchanged quiet words of greeting
again.
It was King Odin that instead made the introduction for his son to
the Queen. Endymion took her hand and bowed formally to her,
though Serenity could hear nothing through the beat of her heart
within her own chest. The Earth's king then turned to her and,
with perhaps too hearty of a smile, spoke to her.
"Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, I am honored to finally
unite you with your betrothed, my son Prince Endymion." She
carefully extended her hand to him when he offered his own and
curtsied before him. Yet as he took her hand within his grasp she
felt an electric shock ripple through her.
She came up a bit startled as she looked at him bowing before her.
Her gaze met directly with two of the most perfect, midnight blue
eyes, looking softly back into hers. As she rose he brought her
hand to his lips in the slightest of kisses before returning to his
straight height. The princess found herself more than flushed as
she stayed locked within his eyes.
"I am sorry that I was not able to great you earlier today, Princess,
though nothing short of this flood would have taken me away."
Serenity smiled at his words, believing him without question. "I
am pleased to meet you as well, Prince Endymion." He smiled
back at her before she found herself tugged aside with her mother.
She slipped slowly to the side as the formalities were made for her
four guardians. Once the girls were named the other four men
were ushered to the front and she became increasingly surprised
that it was the prince who made their introductions to her court.
"I have the honor of presenting my own guardians and generals of
the Earth's forces. My high general, Kunzite." A man of perfect
stature stepped forward and bowed first to herself and her mother
and then again to the assembled tutelaries. More than shoulder
length silver hair caped his face and tanned skin. Brilliant crystal
blue eyes traced over the group with the cool well-practiced grace
of a professional protector… or assassin.
"My advisor and strategist, Nephrite." The next in line stepped
forward to repeat Kunzite's example. Dark, waving brown hair
dropped past his shoulders, though without the pristine demeanor
of the former general, he also demanded a confident presence and
measured eye to details.
"My third general is Zoicite, charged with matters of the law and
affaires of state." The man in question came forward and revealed
shorter, light brown hair framing fair skin and accented by vivid
green eyes. Slightly smaller in stature than his predecessors there
was something swift and shifty about him that made one wish to
keep an eye focused on his movements.
"General Jadeite is the newest recruit to my court. He acts as a
historian and messenger." Though the other three generals seemed
impassive and formal in the women's sights, this general smiled
flirtatiously about all of her guardians freely, catching each of their
eyes as he bowed before them. A gleam of mischief showed in his
green eyes, and his short blond hair was swept away from his face
with perfection.
The assembled group was certainly an imposing force to behold,
though Serenity found herself more awe-inspired than frightened.
The four guards stood clothed in dress armor much akin to their
lord's, though each seemed liken to different colors and Kunzite
was the only one to sport a cape of white and blue.
King Odin smiled approvingly of the groups. "Indeed, a better
guardian court was not to be found." Turning to Queen Selenity he
took her hand a moment, "I believe both our charges shall be well
looked after." There was a nod of agreement from her mother as
Serenity stole a glance over the eight warriors pledged to their
protection, and somehow wondered why they should be in need of
such.
The banquet passed quickly without Serenity's notice. She felt
excitement rush through her at every turn of events yet she
contented herself with the act of simple resignation for those
around her to see. Chatting was kept to the minimum and she
found herself idle most of the meal. Idle except perhaps for her
eyes.
The head table, laid out before her, was over laid with a white
tablecloth and vases of beautiful flowers were arranged down it.
One such vase sat in front of her, with blushed pink flowers
overflowing from the crystal holding them.
Her mother had smiled at the arrangement as they were seated and
explained quietly that on Earth at a formal gathering of such, the
betrothed couple would be ornamented by pink roses. At the
mention of roses she took a closer inspection of the vase.
"Yet they do not look like our roses, how are they colored?" she
asked, lightly brushing one with her hand.
"The soil and growth of many things are different here, Serenity.
Flowers come in all colors and they may look or smell different
from our own gardens. You will find many variations." She had
answered quietly. "Roses are an important symbol, much the same
as they are on the Moon, only here each color has separate
meaning."
Serenity had turned to listen whole-heartedly to the explanation as
her mother quietly continued. "The light pink stands for joy, and
hope for happiness, that is why a destined couple is presented with
them."
She wondered how such implications could be given to a simple
flower, yet as she cautiously eyed down the length of the table the
only other vase of pink sat before the prince. Only the three ruling
members sat between them, and yet she somehow felt distanced
from him. But her wondering eyes had much else to entertain
them.
The room, lights, colors, the people themselves, everything envied
her imagination. A happy cloud of dreaming fog blurred her vision
and it soon became her leading guardian's job to keep her from
nodding to sleep. The blond woman from Venus began to banter
with her over which of the prince's generals was the most fair and
she soon found all of her court's members wrapped in the
conversation.
Admittedly the princess felt a bit silly at the comments being
spoken so close to their offending counterparts and though
implored, she kept her tongue as to her thoughts of "her" prince.
Somehow such things seemed displaced so near to her wedding.
The meal was soon finished and it was the musicians who
occupied the crowd's attention. Several songs were ended before
she began to wonder why no one had yet taken the floor. From the
corner of her eye she saw the Earth's ruling couple rise and begin
their way down the steps to the dance floor.
Serenity watched them a moment as the remainder of the room's
inhabitants did also. There seemed an unwritten rule that the
ruling couple would begin the dance themselves before others
could join. It was a custom that showed much respect and
devotion to king and queen, and something she had the impulse to
ask her mother of, when she likewise saw the crowned prince stand
from his place.
A sudden shock of terror ran the length of her spine as he came
toward her. She locked eyes with him as he approached and her
heart found leave to jump to her throat so that its insistent beating
could be heard louder by her ears. The near silent, mocking
exclamations from her four friends did not settle her either as they
exclaimed over how proper it would be to have them on the floor
together for the first dance.
With all flourish deemed necessary in such a formal setting,
Endymion bowed to her and offered his hand. "May I have the
honor of a dance with you, Princess?"
She shakily smiled and nodded. Her fears were more than founded
as she extended her hand to his. Serenity was still unrecovered
from the unusual heaviness of her body on this strange planet. Yet
she took his hand and let him raise her to her feet.
The journey to the dance floor found her only thought to be of
small prayers so that she did not stumble to her face in the
presence of all assembled. Imagine the entire planet's
conversation centered over the klutz of a princess deemed to marry
their prince! Oh yes, the future heir of the System falling on her
face with her first step off the Moon.
She managed to the floor gracefully and the prince stopped to face
her, bowing graciously again as custom would have. She curtsied
also before him and bit her lip as she rose again feeling the strain
in her legs growing. Perhaps Lady Mar's suggestion to work with
her guardians during their training exercises would be beneficial
after all. Not so much for self-protection, as her keeper had stated,
but for simple upkeep of her body if her new position found her on
this planet often. Why did none of her advisors tell her these
useful things before she landed in such a situation?
Gently he moved her to a respectful distance and began to twill her
about the room as his parents were also doing. She was carefully
counting each movement and only realized that she was watching
her feet when she heard him speak softly to her hair. "I believe I
would find it an insult if you find your shoes more interesting than
I?"
She looked up at him a bit startled for being interrupted and
succeeded in stumbling over her hem. She tripped but recovered
quickly due to the balance that the prince provided for her, and
with a small circle placed strategically into their dance steps, he
also covered beautifully. Although nothing that he could do would
keep the bright blush from possessing her checks.
"Forgive me. I did not mean to throw you off balance."
There was a slightly amused humor that she heard in his voice and
Serenity did not appreciate it. "It is not your fault, I have been off
balance since I arrived here. I am not use to such gravity," she
mumbled to make her excuse. It would serve her no good to have
her husband thinking of her as an unruly adolescent.
She instead began to take in the views of the dance floor, the wall,
anything but the man she was moving about with. Others had now
begun to take the floor and as the next song began they continued
whirling about. "I had forgotten about that in all of this. Has this
been your first trip away from home?"
She looked up at him again. There were very few that referred to
their seat of power as "home" even when speaking with the Royal
Family. "Yes. I should have been more prepared for this, but I
never took to heart the differences that I would find."
"You must be all but overwhelmed." There was genuine concern
centered in his eyes and she began to relax in his embrace. She
nodded and again set her mind to take in this man that she was
destined to marry.
He looked away absently a moment, locked in memory it seemed.
"I have forgotten how different the Moon is from us. I remember
little of it, but while there I found myself checking to see if I was
floating or not."
She looked up at him a bit shocked; when had he ventured to the
Moon? "You have visited?" she asked spontaneously.
He smiled at her a bit and chuckled lightly before nodding. "Once,
when I was still very small. I do not remember much else. Only
the feeling I suppose. It is like nowhere else."
Serenity felt pride touch her as his words did. There were always
compliments from those who visited her home, yet his casual
sentence brought more emotion to her then all of those carefully
crafted compliments combine. "Thank you," she said quietly
studying the silver threading on his jacket.
"Princess?" he asked. She again looked up to his much taller
height and felt her head swim a bit. "Are you all right?"
"I am sorry," she said quickly. "This is wearing on me horribly."
Indeed she felt a bit light headed and her body was weighted now
more than ever.
Strategically he waltzed them to the side of the floor and escorted
her to the head table again, careful to supply her with an arm lest
she need the balance. They found that both of their courts had
taken the dance floor as well. Even her mother was enjoying the
festivities on the arm of one of the Earth's High Council. She
could not help but feel a touch self-conscious as she could sense
half the eyes in the room turn to them as he helped her into her seat
again.
"I would not concern yourself much over what the court thinks.
They are notorious for finding something to gossip over no matter
what the situation." She looked up at his comment, smiling
appreciatively.
"I am sorry for being so bewildered."
He slid into what had been her mother's seat and lounged next to
her for the time. "Do not be. In truth I wondered if you would
even be here." She looked at him oddly a moment before he
smiled at her. "Princesses normally are not above barricading
themselves in their quarters when confronted by something they
are angered at."
For the first time since they met she smiled whole-heartedly at the
young man before her. Light heartedness reflected in his words,
and she felt herself growing more comfortable with him here.
There was an ease between them. "And who is to say that I was
angered over this?"
He placed his arm over the back of his chair and leaned his head on
his hand, gazing at her. "And do you consider this an appropriate
wedding plan?"
Serenity crossed her arms in her lap and watched them. "I do not
know how appropriate this is, yet I am well aware of my station."
There was a pause during which she was reminded of several
dozen fears that still clung tightly to her heart and pried at her
mind. She felt him lean towards her a bit a whisper quietly, "Are
you normally this submissive or have you simply given up hope?"
His question plagued her a moment and she did not raise her eyes
to look at him. Had she now resigned herself so completely to this
placement? What choice did she have? In essence, what choice
did either of them possess?
She felt him place a finger under her chin and raise it to look at
him. There was again, the same light shock that she noticed when
they met. His touch was soothing to her mind and she wondered at
it. Yet she gazed up into his eyes, still a respective distance away,
and found nothing but concern.
"Please tell me Princess, what are your feelings of this match?"
"I am resigned to this mating," she whispered the same words that
she had spoken to her mother less than a sun's journey ago.
"And yet?" he pushed.
"And yet," she stammered a bit, searching for words. "And yet, I
have hope for the out come of our marriage. It is the last hope that
I hold on to," she confided. Her voice was nothing but a murmur
but the prince seemed to hear. He nodded silently and dropped his
hand from her chin again seemingly digesting her words.
"I too have hope for us, Princess. Again, if nothing else can be
hoped for."
She studied his face a moment before asking, "Then you were not
inclined to this marriage?"
He chuckled a bit at her and nodded again. "I have trouble with
the time frame we are running on."
"Indeed," she agreed, "I suppose this way they keep us from
running away."
He smiled honestly at her speech and secretly took her hand, which
lay beneath the table's coverings. "I promise I will not run if you
promise also."
She smiled warmingly and nodded easily. She again felt herself
calm and dwell on the peace that they could come to this night. It
was then that Serenity noticed her hand in his once more. Was it
only her imaginings or did his touch truly have an affect on her?
She thought of it a moment and looked up to find him absently
watching the dancers on the floor. Contemplating his profile she
began to wonder as she remembered the slight shocks that she had
found herself subject to this evening.
Catching her gaze he looked at her a bit quizativly. "Princess?"
"Forgive me," she looked down to her lap and slid her hand out of
his, careful to notice the difference in feel. Minusculy she felt the
slightest force leave her as if some magnetic field was broken from
around her. What kind of sorcery was this?
"No, forgive me, Princess." She looked up to stare into his deep
blue eyes. "As yet, I am not use to you."
"What do you mean?"
He smiled at her inquisition. "To tell you that means that I have to
explain myself." Serenity simply waited for him to continue so he
began in a low voice suited for her ears alone.
"Much as your guardians take special powers from their home
planets, as I know, I too have certain gifts. They are ones that have
not been seen within my line here on Earth for many years, so
information is roughly sketched, but my powers come from the
senses of this planet. I have the gift of psychometry, through my
hands I can mentally sense anything I touch."
She involuntarily looked towards his hand, which was again
propping up his chin, before meeting his eyes again. "Was that
what I felt when you took my hand? This mental probe of yours
attempting to 'feel' me?"
The prince's eyes blinked back at her words as though thrown off
of his well practiced guard. Silently he shook his head and a small
smile crept at the corner of his mouth. The princess found herself
becoming much more uncomfortable with each quick breath she
drew until he spoke.
"Please Princess, you need not think harshly of me. It is true that
my powers may be used to look through any person who I could
bring within my touch but I have never found reason or morality
enough to do so." He again smiled quietly as he gazed down at
her. "Most, even within these walls, do not know of my power. I
have no intention of making it public knowledge without sufficient
justification as to the panic it would cause among my Councils. In
truth, close to no one has ever felt my touch directly."
Serenity wondered at his words. "You say then that no one else
feels as I did when we touched?"
"Not many, Princess. My mother was the first to see my power
when I was a child. My father, also, felt it as did my four
guardians, though outside of them, few else have seen it."
"Then you say," she paused looking instead at the pink roses still
settled on the table's top, "that I have felt something that most of
your own planet do not?"
"Indeed it would seem as such," he said attempting to look into her
eyes as much as she would allow. "Though I am not much
surprised. I am told that your own gifts may even rival your
mother's."
There was a rising of one eyebrow as she detected a slight tease
behind the prince's words. Could this highly praised lord of such
an "untamed" planet be capable in small words of jest? Either way
the words brought a light pink rush to her checks. "Do not believe
the rumors, I am no match to my mother's abilities."
She did not raise her chin with her reply and there was a moment's
pause as the two sat deafly listening to the music floating over
them. "Forgive me, Princess. I did not mean to touch an
uncomfort in you."
Again, for some reason, Serenity was inclined to take his words as
truth. Perhaps she was being too trusting of this man she had only
met, yet she sensed no ill will from him; had no reason to suspect
him. Though she was not the part of the pair who could sense
other so well.
"Might I ask something of you?" she questioned, attempting to
desperately escape the former subject.
"Anything you desire, Princess," he answered formally.
Once more she relaxed the tense lump in her throat. "If you do not
directly sense someone with your power, what can you feel?"
Serenity was taken slightly aback as he smiled easily at her. "I had
believed it would be a challenge to tell you of this, yet you seem
curious enough to understand me."
She blinked a few times not understanding him. "What do you
mean?"
"Most would find the thought disconcerting at the least. I would
say that most of those again would not trust their own minds while
in my presence," he explained.
She nodded, understanding her own uneasiness as something more
since this conversation began. "I can see how many would find
themselves intimidated."
"Unfortunately it is true." There was a close to defeated sigh
inside his voice but he gazed down easily at her. "Yet to answer
your question, I can sense vaguely a person's mood or emotions if
they are strong. I can also give or take away from those emotions
by offering my own thought, though this is not usually a conscious
effort."
She gazed at him stilly a moment before gathering her question.
"Is that the calmness that I have felt with you this evening?"
Again she caught the flicker in his eyes as though surprise claimed
him for the barest of moments. "You intrigue me, Princess. My
attempts at such things are normally much too subtle for even my
guardians to notice." He gazed at her studyingly a moment, "Does
it bother you? I truly mean no harm or interference by it. In truth,
this night I have set this to calm myself more than it was to have
any affect over you. I rarely use it, though tonight we have both
been walking a broken bridge."
"It is a frightening power you hold," she carefully admitted.
"Please do not fear it, once I become use to your presence my
senses become immune to you, so to speak."
"Immune?" He nodded quietly as they noticed Mina, Lady Venus,
wave to them slightly as she whizzed by between the arms of the
high general Kunzite. They both smiled at the pair as they
promenaded onward. Spirits raised again they turned back to each
other. And though the princess could feel herself being drug down
more by fatigue, her curiosity would not let her loose her
perception of reality.
"I hardly notice it when I am within my own circle. They are
familiar and nearly unreadable unless I concentrate on them," he
continued, though looked at her a bit oddly. "Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
In truth she was bordering on exhaustion and she again felt a touch
lightheaded by her surroundings. "Yes, simply tired is all."
"I do know that these festivities get long." She silently agreed and
again watched the couples turning and moving about the floor.
The lighting had been dimmed as the music had come up and small
lamps shining down from the second floor balconies made for a
romantic atmosphere. She truly wished that she could enjoy this
more.
"This is truly a beautiful place," she mused more to herself than
anyone. "I never imagined my dream was true." The happy fog
that she found herself in cleared slightly as she felt Endymion
nudge her on the arm.
"I am afraid to warn you of what might happen should you have
that dream in the flower vase in front of you."
She blinked a few times to bring the pink roses back into focus as
the pillowy mist lifted from her completely. "Oh," she mumbled.
"I am in danger of falling asleep on the table!"
She heard him chuckle and turned to give him a rather unamused
look. He took it in stride and slowly rose to his feet, offering her
his hand once more. "I do believe that your escape has been
planned."
She looked at him confused, not truly wanting to be helped to her
feet again. He looked over her head and nodded to someone
entering behind her. "Queen Selenity, Council Bob." *
Serenity started and let herself be carried to her feet by the prince
in order to turn to her mother. The woman held a happy smile on
her face and easily excused herself from the High Council member
she had been with. "You seem tired, Serenity."
"I suppose the trip has not been kind to me."
Her mother took her arm in her own and nodded to the prince.
"She is completely unaccustomed to this difference."
"As I can well imagine, my Queen."
Turning again to her daughter the queen looked her over
appraisingly. "I believe we should take the chance to retire early.
We can use this night's rest." Serenity nodded back easily as she
noticed that her guardians were gathering next to the table. "I shall
excuse us from the king and queen if you will do the same with
your escort?"
The small jest was enough to bring a blush to her checks again for
no reason she could name. "I will," she mumbled.
Endymion stepped forward and bowed the queen. "Have a
pleasant night, Queen Selenity. It is an honor for us to have you
under our shelter."
"Thank you, Prince Endymion. It is an honor to be excepted here."
Selentiy made her pleasantries and went again to take leave of their
hosts.
"Will you be all right to find yourself to your rooms?" he asked
once she was out of hearing.
Serenity nodded and motioned to her assembled guardians near the
foot of the table. "The others will be by my side to ensure I find
the hall well enough."
He smiled at her once more and bowed to kiss her hand again.
"May I set up a meeting with you in the morning? I may well be
gone before breakfast is served but would you join me for a tour of
the palace afterwards?"
"I would be honored. I do wish to see this place," she motioned
around her again to encompass the expanse of the castle around
them. The thought of seeing it all sent her to a much lighter step
though she was much too close to being bowed to the flooring.
He chuckled again at her enthusiasm. "Wonderful. Minerva will
know my plans for tomorrow and where I will meet with you."
She nodded and took a step to take her leave before turning back
suddenly. "Will you be out again because of this flooding?" she
asked spontaneously.
He looked at her a bit taken aback, but answered, "Yes, there is
still much that is needed to be taken care of." His voice carried
with it a note of confusion as to her question.
Serenity only paused thoughtfully a moment before looking into
his eyes once more and uttering only a quite, "Be cautious," before
turning to let her guardians lead the way around the dance floor
and out of the hall.
* Council Bob should truly be Council Phaedo, but during my
proofing, it was the suggestion of my, slightly goofy, boyfriend to
simply name him Bob and go on. …He also did not believe that I
would leave it as such! ;-)
@}---_____________
"Oh, friends are just enemies who don't have enough guts to kill
you." - Judy Tenuta
"You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if
you knew how seldom they do." - Olin Miller
By: Isis @}---
isis@moonkingdom.com
Rated: G
Disclaimers: Please do not copy.
AN: The meeting of a destined couple… the beginning to so much
more. Dedicated to the true couples of the world, do not forsake
pure love for romance!
Chapter 2
@}---
The deep blackness of the night could only be put out by the
brightest of flames. Though as Serenity began her decent of the
Grand Hall's stairway she no longer felt the heaviness of the rain
drops she had spent the last hour watching.
The torch stands stood regal and majestic, emitting buttered light
about the mass of people below. Her mother, whom now walked
to her left, had warned her that this would be an event that would
see the whole of the planet turned out for. Indeed it seemed true.
She marveled at the extravagance and colors that floated past her.
The throng of people spread and bulged around them as an
honorary passage was cleared for the Queen of the Moon and her
daughter's court. Yet as they passed in a muted din she could feel
all eyes turned to her and riveted to her movements, which were
still labored by the unusual weight they carried.
Serenity mentally restrained herself from turning to catch their
stares and instead placed up a polite smile for those who she could
catch in her straight posture's focus. Though inside she felt
nothing but the turning of her stomach.
Even on their travel here she did not feel such fear at the prospect
of meeting the prince as she did now. Coming here, she had found
many of her fears unfounded though she was still locked deeply
within terror's talons.
They descended slowly and crossed the Grand Hall towards her
left. Men dressed gallantly in robes of state or partial dress-armor
mutely clamored about with women groomed in flowing gowns of
every shading of her imagination. Though her and her mother
were dressed in the royal white of the Moon Kingdom she saw few
others robed in that composite color.
Their group came upon two brass doors standing open before
them. Was Serenity not of a subdued state of mind she would have
gasped out right at the sight laid out before her. The golden clad
doors stood perhaps over two stories tall and were carved over on
both sides with an entwined design of roses.
Held within them was the scene of the room beyond with its warm,
bright light flooding out to them. The floor within gleamed of
white marble, polished to pristine beauty. The walls were also of a
white plaster, though little of it could be seen.
Stepping up to the doors she could see the room proper and
realized that to dub this a room would be of the utmost
understatement. Surrounding her was fully half of one of the
castle's turret towers. They stood facing that last quarter of the
round tower that peered into the courtyard at the heart of the palace
as great panes of glass showed out into the rainy night in the
gardens.
In the center of the floor was a square area larger than even the
Grand Hall she had marveled at only hours before. Sunk into the
floor by perhaps six steps, the clearing likely served as the
ballroom floor. Around the sides of this stood tables and people
awaiting the banquet.
Slightly off to the sides of the great square stood silent marble
columns leading up to where balconies ran on either side of the
room, a level over their heads. Though, she noticed, the two
balconies did not meet, but instead both came to meet the far wall
of glass. Free standing spiral staircases made from golden brass
with inlaid marble steps made ascent possible towards the second
floor.
So stunned was she that her mother nudged her arm, which was
wrapped through her own, to call her attention to the page that was
beginning their introduction to all assembled. It was then that her
bewildered eyes fell towards the far wall.
The focus of the room was placed on what she presumed to be the
head table, laid out under the two double story windows. Yet it
was the group standing at the end of the ballroom floor, watching
them, that took her heavy breath. She immediately recognized the
royal King and Queen of Earth, though her momentarily awe-
inspired loss of fright was dashed quickly upon seeing five young
men standing with them.
The page read through the formalities of State and the queen glided
down the steps to the floor below, with her daughter on her arm.
Serenity studied the marble beneath her as she descended. Each
step was outlined in a swirled pattern of deep green and blue
jasper; a small accent but one that strangely calmed her.
The beautiful green and blue orb that her home circled around was
now beneath her feet. Though the reasons were frightening for
being here, this was still the place of her dreams. She straightened
herself to look up at the group she was approaching with a new
excitement. Could this be her dream?
She could tell that four of the young men were arranged behind the
royal… yet one stood on par with the ruling couple. Could this
then be her betrothed, Endymion, prince of the Earth Kingdom,
soon to be her wedded husband?
He stood tall, as tall as his father aside him, garbed in shinning
light-armor. Black complimented the silver metal encasing his
shoulders, torso, and lower legs and feet. A high collared jacket
was placed over his breastplate ornamented with silver threading.
A red lined black cape back dropped his soldier-like frame, and his
mother's black hair crowned him more powerfully than gold or
jewels.
Could this truly be the same man that she had heard speak from the
shadows merely an hour before? Though she had not meant to
eavesdrop upon him and Minerva, she had taken the chance to
leave her rooms and practice her over-burdened movements, when
she had been roused by the head servant's voice.
Serenity had not managed a glimpse of him before this moment,
though she imagined a softer man that could speak with gentleness
as he did of Minerva's sister. Was this the man she feared as a
warlord? He seemed to have commanding enough presence for it,
yet she felt no hostility centered in him. On closer appearances she
saw him watching her as fixedly as she was him.
For reasons she could not explain she felt flushed upon walking
into his countenance. She did not meet eyes to his as her mother
stopped before her peers and exchanged quiet words of greeting
again.
It was King Odin that instead made the introduction for his son to
the Queen. Endymion took her hand and bowed formally to her,
though Serenity could hear nothing through the beat of her heart
within her own chest. The Earth's king then turned to her and,
with perhaps too hearty of a smile, spoke to her.
"Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, I am honored to finally
unite you with your betrothed, my son Prince Endymion." She
carefully extended her hand to him when he offered his own and
curtsied before him. Yet as he took her hand within his grasp she
felt an electric shock ripple through her.
She came up a bit startled as she looked at him bowing before her.
Her gaze met directly with two of the most perfect, midnight blue
eyes, looking softly back into hers. As she rose he brought her
hand to his lips in the slightest of kisses before returning to his
straight height. The princess found herself more than flushed as
she stayed locked within his eyes.
"I am sorry that I was not able to great you earlier today, Princess,
though nothing short of this flood would have taken me away."
Serenity smiled at his words, believing him without question. "I
am pleased to meet you as well, Prince Endymion." He smiled
back at her before she found herself tugged aside with her mother.
She slipped slowly to the side as the formalities were made for her
four guardians. Once the girls were named the other four men
were ushered to the front and she became increasingly surprised
that it was the prince who made their introductions to her court.
"I have the honor of presenting my own guardians and generals of
the Earth's forces. My high general, Kunzite." A man of perfect
stature stepped forward and bowed first to herself and her mother
and then again to the assembled tutelaries. More than shoulder
length silver hair caped his face and tanned skin. Brilliant crystal
blue eyes traced over the group with the cool well-practiced grace
of a professional protector… or assassin.
"My advisor and strategist, Nephrite." The next in line stepped
forward to repeat Kunzite's example. Dark, waving brown hair
dropped past his shoulders, though without the pristine demeanor
of the former general, he also demanded a confident presence and
measured eye to details.
"My third general is Zoicite, charged with matters of the law and
affaires of state." The man in question came forward and revealed
shorter, light brown hair framing fair skin and accented by vivid
green eyes. Slightly smaller in stature than his predecessors there
was something swift and shifty about him that made one wish to
keep an eye focused on his movements.
"General Jadeite is the newest recruit to my court. He acts as a
historian and messenger." Though the other three generals seemed
impassive and formal in the women's sights, this general smiled
flirtatiously about all of her guardians freely, catching each of their
eyes as he bowed before them. A gleam of mischief showed in his
green eyes, and his short blond hair was swept away from his face
with perfection.
The assembled group was certainly an imposing force to behold,
though Serenity found herself more awe-inspired than frightened.
The four guards stood clothed in dress armor much akin to their
lord's, though each seemed liken to different colors and Kunzite
was the only one to sport a cape of white and blue.
King Odin smiled approvingly of the groups. "Indeed, a better
guardian court was not to be found." Turning to Queen Selenity he
took her hand a moment, "I believe both our charges shall be well
looked after." There was a nod of agreement from her mother as
Serenity stole a glance over the eight warriors pledged to their
protection, and somehow wondered why they should be in need of
such.
The banquet passed quickly without Serenity's notice. She felt
excitement rush through her at every turn of events yet she
contented herself with the act of simple resignation for those
around her to see. Chatting was kept to the minimum and she
found herself idle most of the meal. Idle except perhaps for her
eyes.
The head table, laid out before her, was over laid with a white
tablecloth and vases of beautiful flowers were arranged down it.
One such vase sat in front of her, with blushed pink flowers
overflowing from the crystal holding them.
Her mother had smiled at the arrangement as they were seated and
explained quietly that on Earth at a formal gathering of such, the
betrothed couple would be ornamented by pink roses. At the
mention of roses she took a closer inspection of the vase.
"Yet they do not look like our roses, how are they colored?" she
asked, lightly brushing one with her hand.
"The soil and growth of many things are different here, Serenity.
Flowers come in all colors and they may look or smell different
from our own gardens. You will find many variations." She had
answered quietly. "Roses are an important symbol, much the same
as they are on the Moon, only here each color has separate
meaning."
Serenity had turned to listen whole-heartedly to the explanation as
her mother quietly continued. "The light pink stands for joy, and
hope for happiness, that is why a destined couple is presented with
them."
She wondered how such implications could be given to a simple
flower, yet as she cautiously eyed down the length of the table the
only other vase of pink sat before the prince. Only the three ruling
members sat between them, and yet she somehow felt distanced
from him. But her wondering eyes had much else to entertain
them.
The room, lights, colors, the people themselves, everything envied
her imagination. A happy cloud of dreaming fog blurred her vision
and it soon became her leading guardian's job to keep her from
nodding to sleep. The blond woman from Venus began to banter
with her over which of the prince's generals was the most fair and
she soon found all of her court's members wrapped in the
conversation.
Admittedly the princess felt a bit silly at the comments being
spoken so close to their offending counterparts and though
implored, she kept her tongue as to her thoughts of "her" prince.
Somehow such things seemed displaced so near to her wedding.
The meal was soon finished and it was the musicians who
occupied the crowd's attention. Several songs were ended before
she began to wonder why no one had yet taken the floor. From the
corner of her eye she saw the Earth's ruling couple rise and begin
their way down the steps to the dance floor.
Serenity watched them a moment as the remainder of the room's
inhabitants did also. There seemed an unwritten rule that the
ruling couple would begin the dance themselves before others
could join. It was a custom that showed much respect and
devotion to king and queen, and something she had the impulse to
ask her mother of, when she likewise saw the crowned prince stand
from his place.
A sudden shock of terror ran the length of her spine as he came
toward her. She locked eyes with him as he approached and her
heart found leave to jump to her throat so that its insistent beating
could be heard louder by her ears. The near silent, mocking
exclamations from her four friends did not settle her either as they
exclaimed over how proper it would be to have them on the floor
together for the first dance.
With all flourish deemed necessary in such a formal setting,
Endymion bowed to her and offered his hand. "May I have the
honor of a dance with you, Princess?"
She shakily smiled and nodded. Her fears were more than founded
as she extended her hand to his. Serenity was still unrecovered
from the unusual heaviness of her body on this strange planet. Yet
she took his hand and let him raise her to her feet.
The journey to the dance floor found her only thought to be of
small prayers so that she did not stumble to her face in the
presence of all assembled. Imagine the entire planet's
conversation centered over the klutz of a princess deemed to marry
their prince! Oh yes, the future heir of the System falling on her
face with her first step off the Moon.
She managed to the floor gracefully and the prince stopped to face
her, bowing graciously again as custom would have. She curtsied
also before him and bit her lip as she rose again feeling the strain
in her legs growing. Perhaps Lady Mar's suggestion to work with
her guardians during their training exercises would be beneficial
after all. Not so much for self-protection, as her keeper had stated,
but for simple upkeep of her body if her new position found her on
this planet often. Why did none of her advisors tell her these
useful things before she landed in such a situation?
Gently he moved her to a respectful distance and began to twill her
about the room as his parents were also doing. She was carefully
counting each movement and only realized that she was watching
her feet when she heard him speak softly to her hair. "I believe I
would find it an insult if you find your shoes more interesting than
I?"
She looked up at him a bit startled for being interrupted and
succeeded in stumbling over her hem. She tripped but recovered
quickly due to the balance that the prince provided for her, and
with a small circle placed strategically into their dance steps, he
also covered beautifully. Although nothing that he could do would
keep the bright blush from possessing her checks.
"Forgive me. I did not mean to throw you off balance."
There was a slightly amused humor that she heard in his voice and
Serenity did not appreciate it. "It is not your fault, I have been off
balance since I arrived here. I am not use to such gravity," she
mumbled to make her excuse. It would serve her no good to have
her husband thinking of her as an unruly adolescent.
She instead began to take in the views of the dance floor, the wall,
anything but the man she was moving about with. Others had now
begun to take the floor and as the next song began they continued
whirling about. "I had forgotten about that in all of this. Has this
been your first trip away from home?"
She looked up at him again. There were very few that referred to
their seat of power as "home" even when speaking with the Royal
Family. "Yes. I should have been more prepared for this, but I
never took to heart the differences that I would find."
"You must be all but overwhelmed." There was genuine concern
centered in his eyes and she began to relax in his embrace. She
nodded and again set her mind to take in this man that she was
destined to marry.
He looked away absently a moment, locked in memory it seemed.
"I have forgotten how different the Moon is from us. I remember
little of it, but while there I found myself checking to see if I was
floating or not."
She looked up at him a bit shocked; when had he ventured to the
Moon? "You have visited?" she asked spontaneously.
He smiled at her a bit and chuckled lightly before nodding. "Once,
when I was still very small. I do not remember much else. Only
the feeling I suppose. It is like nowhere else."
Serenity felt pride touch her as his words did. There were always
compliments from those who visited her home, yet his casual
sentence brought more emotion to her then all of those carefully
crafted compliments combine. "Thank you," she said quietly
studying the silver threading on his jacket.
"Princess?" he asked. She again looked up to his much taller
height and felt her head swim a bit. "Are you all right?"
"I am sorry," she said quickly. "This is wearing on me horribly."
Indeed she felt a bit light headed and her body was weighted now
more than ever.
Strategically he waltzed them to the side of the floor and escorted
her to the head table again, careful to supply her with an arm lest
she need the balance. They found that both of their courts had
taken the dance floor as well. Even her mother was enjoying the
festivities on the arm of one of the Earth's High Council. She
could not help but feel a touch self-conscious as she could sense
half the eyes in the room turn to them as he helped her into her seat
again.
"I would not concern yourself much over what the court thinks.
They are notorious for finding something to gossip over no matter
what the situation." She looked up at his comment, smiling
appreciatively.
"I am sorry for being so bewildered."
He slid into what had been her mother's seat and lounged next to
her for the time. "Do not be. In truth I wondered if you would
even be here." She looked at him oddly a moment before he
smiled at her. "Princesses normally are not above barricading
themselves in their quarters when confronted by something they
are angered at."
For the first time since they met she smiled whole-heartedly at the
young man before her. Light heartedness reflected in his words,
and she felt herself growing more comfortable with him here.
There was an ease between them. "And who is to say that I was
angered over this?"
He placed his arm over the back of his chair and leaned his head on
his hand, gazing at her. "And do you consider this an appropriate
wedding plan?"
Serenity crossed her arms in her lap and watched them. "I do not
know how appropriate this is, yet I am well aware of my station."
There was a pause during which she was reminded of several
dozen fears that still clung tightly to her heart and pried at her
mind. She felt him lean towards her a bit a whisper quietly, "Are
you normally this submissive or have you simply given up hope?"
His question plagued her a moment and she did not raise her eyes
to look at him. Had she now resigned herself so completely to this
placement? What choice did she have? In essence, what choice
did either of them possess?
She felt him place a finger under her chin and raise it to look at
him. There was again, the same light shock that she noticed when
they met. His touch was soothing to her mind and she wondered at
it. Yet she gazed up into his eyes, still a respective distance away,
and found nothing but concern.
"Please tell me Princess, what are your feelings of this match?"
"I am resigned to this mating," she whispered the same words that
she had spoken to her mother less than a sun's journey ago.
"And yet?" he pushed.
"And yet," she stammered a bit, searching for words. "And yet, I
have hope for the out come of our marriage. It is the last hope that
I hold on to," she confided. Her voice was nothing but a murmur
but the prince seemed to hear. He nodded silently and dropped his
hand from her chin again seemingly digesting her words.
"I too have hope for us, Princess. Again, if nothing else can be
hoped for."
She studied his face a moment before asking, "Then you were not
inclined to this marriage?"
He chuckled a bit at her and nodded again. "I have trouble with
the time frame we are running on."
"Indeed," she agreed, "I suppose this way they keep us from
running away."
He smiled honestly at her speech and secretly took her hand, which
lay beneath the table's coverings. "I promise I will not run if you
promise also."
She smiled warmingly and nodded easily. She again felt herself
calm and dwell on the peace that they could come to this night. It
was then that Serenity noticed her hand in his once more. Was it
only her imaginings or did his touch truly have an affect on her?
She thought of it a moment and looked up to find him absently
watching the dancers on the floor. Contemplating his profile she
began to wonder as she remembered the slight shocks that she had
found herself subject to this evening.
Catching her gaze he looked at her a bit quizativly. "Princess?"
"Forgive me," she looked down to her lap and slid her hand out of
his, careful to notice the difference in feel. Minusculy she felt the
slightest force leave her as if some magnetic field was broken from
around her. What kind of sorcery was this?
"No, forgive me, Princess." She looked up to stare into his deep
blue eyes. "As yet, I am not use to you."
"What do you mean?"
He smiled at her inquisition. "To tell you that means that I have to
explain myself." Serenity simply waited for him to continue so he
began in a low voice suited for her ears alone.
"Much as your guardians take special powers from their home
planets, as I know, I too have certain gifts. They are ones that have
not been seen within my line here on Earth for many years, so
information is roughly sketched, but my powers come from the
senses of this planet. I have the gift of psychometry, through my
hands I can mentally sense anything I touch."
She involuntarily looked towards his hand, which was again
propping up his chin, before meeting his eyes again. "Was that
what I felt when you took my hand? This mental probe of yours
attempting to 'feel' me?"
The prince's eyes blinked back at her words as though thrown off
of his well practiced guard. Silently he shook his head and a small
smile crept at the corner of his mouth. The princess found herself
becoming much more uncomfortable with each quick breath she
drew until he spoke.
"Please Princess, you need not think harshly of me. It is true that
my powers may be used to look through any person who I could
bring within my touch but I have never found reason or morality
enough to do so." He again smiled quietly as he gazed down at
her. "Most, even within these walls, do not know of my power. I
have no intention of making it public knowledge without sufficient
justification as to the panic it would cause among my Councils. In
truth, close to no one has ever felt my touch directly."
Serenity wondered at his words. "You say then that no one else
feels as I did when we touched?"
"Not many, Princess. My mother was the first to see my power
when I was a child. My father, also, felt it as did my four
guardians, though outside of them, few else have seen it."
"Then you say," she paused looking instead at the pink roses still
settled on the table's top, "that I have felt something that most of
your own planet do not?"
"Indeed it would seem as such," he said attempting to look into her
eyes as much as she would allow. "Though I am not much
surprised. I am told that your own gifts may even rival your
mother's."
There was a rising of one eyebrow as she detected a slight tease
behind the prince's words. Could this highly praised lord of such
an "untamed" planet be capable in small words of jest? Either way
the words brought a light pink rush to her checks. "Do not believe
the rumors, I am no match to my mother's abilities."
She did not raise her chin with her reply and there was a moment's
pause as the two sat deafly listening to the music floating over
them. "Forgive me, Princess. I did not mean to touch an
uncomfort in you."
Again, for some reason, Serenity was inclined to take his words as
truth. Perhaps she was being too trusting of this man she had only
met, yet she sensed no ill will from him; had no reason to suspect
him. Though she was not the part of the pair who could sense
other so well.
"Might I ask something of you?" she questioned, attempting to
desperately escape the former subject.
"Anything you desire, Princess," he answered formally.
Once more she relaxed the tense lump in her throat. "If you do not
directly sense someone with your power, what can you feel?"
Serenity was taken slightly aback as he smiled easily at her. "I had
believed it would be a challenge to tell you of this, yet you seem
curious enough to understand me."
She blinked a few times not understanding him. "What do you
mean?"
"Most would find the thought disconcerting at the least. I would
say that most of those again would not trust their own minds while
in my presence," he explained.
She nodded, understanding her own uneasiness as something more
since this conversation began. "I can see how many would find
themselves intimidated."
"Unfortunately it is true." There was a close to defeated sigh
inside his voice but he gazed down easily at her. "Yet to answer
your question, I can sense vaguely a person's mood or emotions if
they are strong. I can also give or take away from those emotions
by offering my own thought, though this is not usually a conscious
effort."
She gazed at him stilly a moment before gathering her question.
"Is that the calmness that I have felt with you this evening?"
Again she caught the flicker in his eyes as though surprise claimed
him for the barest of moments. "You intrigue me, Princess. My
attempts at such things are normally much too subtle for even my
guardians to notice." He gazed at her studyingly a moment, "Does
it bother you? I truly mean no harm or interference by it. In truth,
this night I have set this to calm myself more than it was to have
any affect over you. I rarely use it, though tonight we have both
been walking a broken bridge."
"It is a frightening power you hold," she carefully admitted.
"Please do not fear it, once I become use to your presence my
senses become immune to you, so to speak."
"Immune?" He nodded quietly as they noticed Mina, Lady Venus,
wave to them slightly as she whizzed by between the arms of the
high general Kunzite. They both smiled at the pair as they
promenaded onward. Spirits raised again they turned back to each
other. And though the princess could feel herself being drug down
more by fatigue, her curiosity would not let her loose her
perception of reality.
"I hardly notice it when I am within my own circle. They are
familiar and nearly unreadable unless I concentrate on them," he
continued, though looked at her a bit oddly. "Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
In truth she was bordering on exhaustion and she again felt a touch
lightheaded by her surroundings. "Yes, simply tired is all."
"I do know that these festivities get long." She silently agreed and
again watched the couples turning and moving about the floor.
The lighting had been dimmed as the music had come up and small
lamps shining down from the second floor balconies made for a
romantic atmosphere. She truly wished that she could enjoy this
more.
"This is truly a beautiful place," she mused more to herself than
anyone. "I never imagined my dream was true." The happy fog
that she found herself in cleared slightly as she felt Endymion
nudge her on the arm.
"I am afraid to warn you of what might happen should you have
that dream in the flower vase in front of you."
She blinked a few times to bring the pink roses back into focus as
the pillowy mist lifted from her completely. "Oh," she mumbled.
"I am in danger of falling asleep on the table!"
She heard him chuckle and turned to give him a rather unamused
look. He took it in stride and slowly rose to his feet, offering her
his hand once more. "I do believe that your escape has been
planned."
She looked at him confused, not truly wanting to be helped to her
feet again. He looked over her head and nodded to someone
entering behind her. "Queen Selenity, Council Bob." *
Serenity started and let herself be carried to her feet by the prince
in order to turn to her mother. The woman held a happy smile on
her face and easily excused herself from the High Council member
she had been with. "You seem tired, Serenity."
"I suppose the trip has not been kind to me."
Her mother took her arm in her own and nodded to the prince.
"She is completely unaccustomed to this difference."
"As I can well imagine, my Queen."
Turning again to her daughter the queen looked her over
appraisingly. "I believe we should take the chance to retire early.
We can use this night's rest." Serenity nodded back easily as she
noticed that her guardians were gathering next to the table. "I shall
excuse us from the king and queen if you will do the same with
your escort?"
The small jest was enough to bring a blush to her checks again for
no reason she could name. "I will," she mumbled.
Endymion stepped forward and bowed the queen. "Have a
pleasant night, Queen Selenity. It is an honor for us to have you
under our shelter."
"Thank you, Prince Endymion. It is an honor to be excepted here."
Selentiy made her pleasantries and went again to take leave of their
hosts.
"Will you be all right to find yourself to your rooms?" he asked
once she was out of hearing.
Serenity nodded and motioned to her assembled guardians near the
foot of the table. "The others will be by my side to ensure I find
the hall well enough."
He smiled at her once more and bowed to kiss her hand again.
"May I set up a meeting with you in the morning? I may well be
gone before breakfast is served but would you join me for a tour of
the palace afterwards?"
"I would be honored. I do wish to see this place," she motioned
around her again to encompass the expanse of the castle around
them. The thought of seeing it all sent her to a much lighter step
though she was much too close to being bowed to the flooring.
He chuckled again at her enthusiasm. "Wonderful. Minerva will
know my plans for tomorrow and where I will meet with you."
She nodded and took a step to take her leave before turning back
suddenly. "Will you be out again because of this flooding?" she
asked spontaneously.
He looked at her a bit taken aback, but answered, "Yes, there is
still much that is needed to be taken care of." His voice carried
with it a note of confusion as to her question.
Serenity only paused thoughtfully a moment before looking into
his eyes once more and uttering only a quite, "Be cautious," before
turning to let her guardians lead the way around the dance floor
and out of the hall.
* Council Bob should truly be Council Phaedo, but during my
proofing, it was the suggestion of my, slightly goofy, boyfriend to
simply name him Bob and go on. …He also did not believe that I
would leave it as such! ;-)
@}---_____________
"Oh, friends are just enemies who don't have enough guts to kill
you." - Judy Tenuta
"You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if
you knew how seldom they do." - Olin Miller