Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me. It belongs to Naoko
Takeuchi and a great many wonderful people who, if they were so
inclined, could make things very unpleasant for me. (However, they
are all MUCH too generous and benevolent to do any such thing.) This
is a work of fiction and while the original idea does not belong to
me, this story does. Remember that, because if you don't, I'm
sending the Senshi after you . . . .
Castles and Kingdoms
by Fushigi Kismet
Chapter Two:
~New Arrivals~
As Serenity hurried away (to where, she had no idea, her thoughts
completely and utterly taken up with her charming new companion), the
rose held firmly in her hand, its sweet scent wafting up to her, a
riotous racket caught the attention of her ears. Deciding to
investigate, she altered her course and headed to the main courtyard.
As she passed through the stone passage between the courtyard that
she was currently in and the other one, a familiar voice drifted
through the air to her direction, stopping her in her tracks.
"No, no, NO! Take *THAT* trunk down first! The other ones are
just luggage, that contains my *belongings*!"
"Lady, do you want to do this?" a man asked, bent over, his arms
full of an *ENORMOUS* trunk, that he had obviously just taken down
from atop the carriage that rested in the courtyard, the seven black
horses pulling it, pawing and snorting anxiously.
She frowned. "That is Lady Artana M'erla Naava Adora D'amour of
the Second House of Reyre."
"Yeah, okay. Sorry." He set the trunk down, and the resulting
sound resounded like a cannonshot (which none present had ever heard,
seeing as only *pirates* possessed any cannons) throughout the
courtyard.
Serenity jumped, then self consciously composed herself, smoothing
out her dress and patting her hair to make sure that it was behaving
itself. Then she rushed forward without regard for protocol,
yelling, "TANA!"
The woman whirled, blonde hair whirling about her form, sky blue
eyes filling with affection and excitement. "Eren!"
Serenity zoomed past the man who was taking down an even LARGER
trunk and asking, "This one?" As the princess brushed past him, he
nearly fell over, but recovered his balance just in time.
"Tana!" Serenity screamed again.
"Eren!" the woman responded in equal joy as they embraced happily,
the older woman good-naturedly mussing up the younger princess's
hair.
"Arrgh! My hair! Tana!" Serenity shrieked, frantically trying to
smooth down the mess.
The other woman laughed. "Nice to see that thou hast not changed,
Eren."
"I'm sorry I can't say the same for thee!" Serenity stuck out her
tongue.
"Careful. Thou might bite it off," the blonde said lightly.
"Hmmph! Ow!"
Artana threw her head back and laughed.
Serenity fumed. Then she took in her cousin's appearance. She
had grown a good two inches since last she had seen her, and her hair
was longer as well. She wore it loose but for the bit of hair
gathered from each side and braided together. A blue ribbon tied the
braid off. It matched her sky-blue silk dress. She wore long pearl-
drop earrings and an emerald pendant around her neck. She looked
every inch a lady but for the wicked sparkle in her eyes.
"What hast become of thee, Tana?" Serenity asked in wonder. "Thou
hast grown up!"
Her cousin looked at her sadly. "If thou truly believest that,
then thou needs more help than I can give thee!"
"Tana!" Serenity said sharply, only partly reassured by her
cousin's levity. Looking off to one side, her eyes lit open the
largest trunk and she piped up excitedly, "What didst thou bring me,
Tana? Tell me, tell me!"
"Thou art a child at Gift Day!" The woman clucked her tongue.
"What makes thee think that I brought thee anything at all?"
"'Tis almost my Nameday! Thou didst not forget, didst thou?" she
asked anxiously.
Artana hesitated an instant before winking. "Didst thou think
that I could *forget*?!"
Serenity debated whether or not she could beat up on her friend,
but decided that if she did then she would most likely not receive
her Nameday present. "So . . ." she began sweetly. "May I see my
gift, Tana? Please?"
"No," Artana responded quickly. "Don't try to sway me, Princess,
I know *all* the tricks. I invented them!"
"PLEASE?"
"No. But . . . mayhap I'll give thou one of the trinkets I got
thee. All right?"
Serenity jumped up and down like a child in her excitement.
"Yes!"
Artana smiled, then went over to the carriage and pulled open the
door. A short, blue-haired woman tumbled out and into Artana's arms.
Serenity stared aghast at the scene. "Marayr! What happened?!"
"Oh, there thou art!" Artana said blithely, smiling cheerfully.
"I was wondering what had happened to thee!"
A blush rose to Marayr's cheeks. "The door latch got stuck . . ."
Serenity broke into a fit of giggles.
Artana ignored the whole matter. "Oh, then. See, Serenity? Now
thou dost know who chose my clothes! I am not so grown as thou might
believe. Look, we even match." Her tone was good-natured as she
righted the shorter woman and placed her on her feet.
Serenity looked and saw that, indeed, they were both wearing blue
gowns, though Marayr's was paler and she wore pearl clips in her hair
and a string of them about her neck. Her gown was also more modestly
cut and her earrings were sapphire studs to go with the blue sapphire
set in the ring she wore on her right hand.
Artana turned to Marayr who still looked embarrassed. "I wast
looking for where I placed Serenity's "trinket." Didst thou happen
to see it whilst thou wast trapped inside?"
Marayr looked a bit put out, but, sighing, she pointed into the
carriage. "'Tis over there . . . under thy coat, by thy spare pair
of shoes, amidst thy other armful of "trinkets," and placed in the
gold-colored box."
"Oh, thank thee!" Artana got into the carriage and began
rummaging around.
Serenity and Marayr stared for a moment as things began to fly out
of the carriage. First the coat, then the shoes, then one by one the
other "trinkets".
"I'm *so* glad those things art not the breakables," Marayr
sighed.
"Thou traveled all the way here with her?" Serenity asked,
disbelieving.
Marayr sighed again. "Regrettably, yes. And when she sleeps,
thou wouldst not *believe* the things she says."
"She talks in her sleep?"
"Quite."
"Of what?"
"Men, mostly." Marayr then realized who she was speaking to and
came to herself. Taking Serenity's hands in hers, she smiled warmly
and said, "'Tis good to see thee again, Princess."
"'Tis good to see thee too. I have missed Artana and thee, this
last year."
"Well, thou shalt not be missing us for long! Before thou knowst
it, thou wilt be scheming to get rid of us!"
"Never-"
"Here, look, I found it!" Artana called, bounding up to them,
happily, her face flushed from the exertion of looking. The gaze of
all three of them shifted to the pile of things that she had thrown
out of the carriage. It was a small *mountain* of items.
Without saying a word, the three of them mutually agreed to focus
on the trinket at hand.
Serenity looked up for permission, and Artana readily handed over
the gold box, smiling encouragingly. Opening it, Serenity let out a
gasp.
Within, nestled on black satin, lay a pair of jeweled hair combs.
Their glitter was enough to dazzle Serenity's eyes. "Thank thee,
Artana!" She handed the box to Marayr and flung her arms around her
friend.
"Well, I'm glad thou approves of my little "trinkets!""
"Thou callst these *trinkets*?!"
"Of course! Thou shalt look absolutely stunning tonight and
surprise whomever it is that hast captured thy heart!"
Serenity pulled away. "What dost thou mean, "whomever hast
captured my heart"?"
"That's the second time that thou hast stabbed me in the neck with
that blasted rose!"
"Ooops." Serenity flushed a lovely shade of crimson.
Marayr and Artana exchanged a look, then burst into gentle
laughter.
"Come, come let us make haste and surprise Immara!" Serenity
begged, grabbing her two friends by the hands, which was rather
difficult since she held the rose in one hand and the box in the
other.
Marayr smiled indulgently and Artana sighed. "Very well, my
little cousin-"
Serenity started to run, dragging the two girls behind her.
"What about my LUGGAGE?!!!" Artana cried in dismay.
"It'll keep!" Serenity shouted.
"Of course it will," Marayr said absently, running along after
Serenity, "'tis *luggage* not a cake."
Serenity giggled.
* * *
"Art thou all right, Prince Endymion?"
Endymion turned, gazing calmly at his "Guardian" who stood, a hand
on the nose of his horse. Unruffled blue eyes gazed back out of a
youthful face. The prince sighed, brushing a hand back over his dark
hair. "Fine. Why dost thou ask, Jadyrn?"
The blonde ignored him, turning away. "Thou seemst troubled." He
gently pulled the reins of Ravius and the horse obediently turned
about and followed him, his hooves clicking against the cobblestone
underfoot. "Ravius needed a bit of exercise," he said deliberately.
"The lands about here art quite nice. Perhaps thou wouldst exercise
Darius later?"
"Perhaps," Endymion answered absently.
"The young princess is quite lovely, is she not, Your Majesty?"
Endymion felt a flash of jealousy.
A slight smile formed on Jadyrn's lips, unseen by Endymion. "Do
not feel so, my prince. I have no designs on the princess."
The feeling subsided and curiousity replaced it. "Jadyrn, how
canst thou know what I dare not tell thee?"
"I was young once . . . as thee. Dost thou think that I am
foreign to the desires and feelings of the young?"
"Thou speakst as though, thou wast a thousand years old! Thou art
not so old."
"No. Nor am I so young as thee. Feelings no longer trouble me.
I have learned not to feel so the world can no longer hurt me. As
for thee, my prince . . . Well, thou art young yet. I think the
princess wilt find favor in thee. Enjoy thy happiness . . . I fear
it may be fleeting."
"What dost thou say to me? What omens art thou tossing my way? I
am bewildered by this talk."
"Thou art so young . . ." Jadyrn turned around to face his prince
and looked at him for a long, still moment. Endymion blinked and
broke the stillness between them. When he looked again, his aide-de-
camp was gone.
"What manner of riddles-" Endymion began muttering to himself,
when Nephrayn sauntered into the courtyard. "Hey! Nephrayn!"
"My prince." He paused and sketched a quick, informal bow, then
kept walking towards him, looking pleased with himself. "Good news!
The king and queen instructed me that everything is set for the
Nameday announcement! All thou must do is win the princess over."
"Good God, her Nameday is but a fortnight away!" Endymion looked
troubled.
Nephrayn laughed. "Is that so much trouble for a charmer such as
thee? Courage, Endymion!" He slapped him hard on the back.
Endymion glared.
* * *
Immara walked down an empty hallway, idly wondering where Serenity
had gone. She had finished up with her errands and had gone looking
for the princess, only to discover that no one had seen her.
"Serenity," she muttered under her breath, "wherefore art thou?"
"Boo!" the princess yelled, popping out of a corridor that
intersected the one Immara was walking down.
Immara was so startled that stepping backward, she tripped on the
hem of the back of her green dress and fell down. From her position
on the floor, she glared at the younger girl. "Serenity!"
"I'm sorry," Serenity apologized sheepishly. "Art thou all
right?"
"Fine," Immara muttered, getting to her feet and dusting herself
off with her hands. It was then that she noticed that her fall had
jarred her more than she thought. Her necklace's always faulty clasp
had broken in the fall and the piece of jewelry had fallen to the
ground. She picked it up and sighed.
"Well, so much for our surprise," Artana's voice rang out dryly.
"Tana?" Immara asked incredulously as Artana stepped around the
corner.
"Immie," Tana said matter-of-factly.
The brunette noblewoman stepped forward and hugged the blonde who
had almost been a sister to the princess and her. Tana hugged her
back. "Silly girl, thou acts as though a *year* had passed since
last we saw each other!"
"It has!"
"Oh, yes, there is that," Artana mused.
"And is there to be no greeting for me?" a quiet voice asked.
Immara looked up to see the blue-haired girl. "Marayr!"
Marayr smiled. "Art thou glad to see me too?"
Immara gave her a hug then turned to look at Serenity accusingly.
"Princess, thou art wicked to spring them both on me at once!"
Serenity simply smiled and said nothing.
"It took us awhile to find thee," Artana complained. "Serenity
had to put away her things in her rooms first. Then we had no idea
where to find thee."
"How canst I be hard to find? I was seeking Serenity! Now, shall
we walk out to the gardens?" Immara suggested.
The girls agreed and the four of them went outside, drinking in
the golden sunshine.
* * *
Kunzyn rode his white stallion Marcus along the woodland trails
and through the fields that the princess of Reyre favored. He jumped
him over low-lying hedges and half-rotted logs in the path and only
when a sheen of sweat covered them both did he stop and let his horse
rest. They ambled slowly back along the way they had come and Kunzyn
patted the horse's side gently. As he neared the forest gate he saw
Zoyzer up ahead, walking his chestnut steed, Zane. Urging the tired
steed into a slow gallop, he quickly caught up with Zoyzer who nodded
at him. They both halted at the gate. Kunzyn dismounted and they
both looped their horses' reins about the iron bars covered in green
growth and let them rest. For a long moment the two men were silent,
drinking in the beauty of the forest.
"Why dost thou not ride?" Kunzyn asked, pushing back his sweaty
bangs.
"To exhaust myself like thee?" Zoyzer looked away, leaning against
the gate. "I think not, Kunzyn. I have other things to occupy my
time."
Kunzyn snorted. "Like what?"
"The trouble brewing might prove worrisome, but that is yet to be
seen. I assure thee," Zoyzer smiled, "that worrying over nothing
wilt not get us one whit closer to solving it, and certainly now is
not the time to spend doing nothing. The prince's marriage is all
but final. Now is a time of celebration! Before the battles and the
wars, we must enjoy ourselves, lest we die unsatisfied."
"Thy point being?"
"Here there be women," Zoyzer grinned. "And here there be I."
Kunzyn looked at him blankly for a moment, then burst into
laughter. "Aye, and thou wilt make full use of thy time."
Zoyzer looked away, chuckling quietly to himself and his eyes lit
upon the gate which towered over the two of them, standing about
eight feet tall. "Why dost this gate stand here, in the middle of no
road, leading to nowhere?"
Kunzyn glanced at it. "'Tis the forest gate, or so I have heard
it called. It originally blocked a road leading to the castle."
"And while the castle still stands, the road is no more," his
companion finished.
Kunzyn frowned. "Nay, neither stand. The castle that harbored us
this last night was not the one that stood behind this gate. Both
burned . . . the castle and the road."
"How can that be?"
"Invaders came and took these lands . . . and more. Dalayne and
Reyre both . . . 'Twas many years before . . . There wast a war and
much confusion. Eventually, King Lucent and Endymion's ancestors
drove out the invaders from their lands. The king of Reyre built a
new castle from which he would rule the land. The gate is the only
thing remaining from those times, overgrown and forgotten . . . as
the war itself is."
Zoyzer stared at the gate and shuddered as his friend continued,
his low voice never rising, a fierce, driving anger behind each word.
"In time, the people forgot the wars . . . forgot that their land had
ever been anything but peaceful . . . 'Tis not wise to forget the
old lessons, for then the old punishments will come again, a
hundredfold along with the centuries . . ."
"Thou fears the same," Zoyzer said, his eyes wide. "Reyre and
Dalayne. Thou fears the same . . . that history wilt repeat itself .
. ."
"I know it wilt. It always does." Kunzyn touched the iron bars
of the gate. "Only united might we survive. Everything hinges on
Endymion's marriage. *Everything* . . ."
* * *
Serenity let out a sigh. "It looks like we're all here."
"But one," Marayr interjected.
"But one," Immara agreed.
"And where is Raslym?!" Artana demanded, an edge to her voice.
"Here!"
Four heads turned to see a girl stride into the courtyard, dressed
in red velvet, with her black hair plaited and put up, pretty pearls
threading their way through her hair and the netting that kept it in
place. She wore a necklace with a ruby dangling on the end around
her neck and out of the five of them managed to be the only one
wearing gloves. The other four immediately hid their hands behind
their backs, feeling guilty at having forgotten, especially Marayr
who was usually sensible about such things.
Raslym halted in front of them and looked at them haughtily.
"Forgot thy gloves, did thee?" she asked, addressing no one in
particular.
They fidgeted.
The smile spreading across her face ruined the arrogant effect
that she was trying to convey. "Sillies! 'Tis just like thee to
forget!"
They all broke into smiles, then laughter, since the last of their
close-knit group had arrived.
After some quick catching up, where Raslym railed about how there
had been no one to meet her and Artana had retorted that everyone had
been too busy see to her and Marayr's comfort to be bothered with
Raslym, Serenity remarked on Raslym's appearance. "I thought that
Artana had turned into a lady, but I find that I am wrong."
Artana made a face.
"But it seemst as though thou hast acquired the mannerisms of
one." Serenity looked at Raslym's hair. "And since when hast thou
put thy hair *up*?"
Raslym smiled mysteriously. "That, thou shalt never know."
"I knew it! 'Twas this morning, wasn't it?!" Artana crowned.
Raslym's smile faded and she advanced on Artana. "Thou art
impossible!"
As Raslym began to chase the fleeing Artana, Serenity smiled to
herself. "'Tis good to know that no one hast changed *that* much."
"LADIES!"
The girls turned to the voice. A petite, dark-haired, blue-eyed
woman stood before them, hands on her hips. "Art thou *quite*
finished?!"
"Monica!" they all cried, remembering well the slightly older
governess who had taken care of them all as young children whenever
they visited Serenity.
"'Twill be a *long* day," Serenity whispered as the woman ushered
them all inside and demanded that they behave like "proper young
ladies."
* * *
Immara walked down the hallway and outside, having managed to
escape Monica by uttering some excuses. She held the necklace
tightly in her hand and headed towards the goldsmith shop in the main
courtyard near the stables and the other smith shops. Perhaps one of
the goldsmith would be in . . . despite it being a restday. As she
neared the area she saw to her disappointment that no one was around
. . . the area was all but deserted.
Sighing, she headed over to the stables to look at the horses.
Hers knickered and she stroked her nose gently. "Hello, Ako," she
whispered gently. "How hast thou been?"
She rested her cheek against the horse's head and shut her eyes.
"Oh, 'tis hard . . . so hard . . ."
* * *
Nephrayn finished brushing his horse at the far end of the stable
and unlatched the door of his stall. He strode out and relatched the
door. It was then that he caught sight of a woman walking towards a
stall. Being the only human being around, he decided that she
wouldn't mind a bit of conversation.
As he neared her, he heard her whispering, "Oh, 'tis hard . . . so
hard . . ."
He paused then continued forward, concerned now. "Art thou all
right?" he asked.
She whirled about, seeing him for the first time, a frightened
look on her face.
"I didn't mean to startle thee," he said awkwardly.
Her expression softened and the fear went away. He noticed that
she was quite lovely, with large green eyes and delicate features.
Turning back to her horse, she said, "'Tis all right. I should've
noticed thee coming."
"My Lady . . . ?"
"Immara," she supplied.
"My Lady Immara, I could not but overhear . . . Art thou
troubled?"
She looked at him grimly. "Troubled? Nay."
His lips quirked in a half smile. His words were kind. "Then why
can I not believe thee?"
Immara turned about again and stared at him boldly, leaning back
against the stall door, not trying in the least to be demure. She
uttered each word precisely, "Perhaps due to the fact that thou art a
bone-headed brute?"
His smile widened. "Thy words are harsh, Lady Immara. Yet, I
cannot see thee as being quite so cruel."
"Thou knowst me not! How canst thou make judgments?"
"If thou wouldst allow me to make thy acquaintance more
intimately, then perhaps thou wouldst allow me to make such
judgments?"
"Intimately?" she repeated, looking at him skeptically.
"Surely thou canst not judge *me* without learning my character?"
"I could start with learning thy *name*," she bit out.
"Nephrayn," he bowed more deeply then he had to Endymion earlier.
"One of Prince Endymion's Guardians," he lied calmly.
"Indeed?" She looked anything but impressed. "I am Immara K'irta
Hann'yl Jrrynya D'oak of the Fourth House of Reyre. Thou hast
nothing that wilt impress me. Hast thou even a House name?" she
asked idly.
Nephrayn bit back his ready reply. He *was* after all a lord and
had gone along with Endymion and the rest as a jaunt. But, Endymion
had cautioned him on revealing his true identity, lest the Royalty of
Reyre felt themselves lied to or betrayed by their deception.
Mentally he groaned, he was from the Third House of Dalayne, himself,
which certainly outranked *her*, but he was to pretend to be a lowly
Guardian. Gritting his teeth, he growled out. "No."
She smiled at him kindly all of a sudden. "I am sorry. That was
petty of me. I am not that low . . ."
"Neither am I," he snarled. He didn't need her pity. He was
insulted by the implication that since he *said* he had no House that
he was worthless in her eyes.
Her face closed against him. "Then I shall leave thee." She
moved away but he caught her by the wrist, suddenly penitent. How
else was she to treat him? A lady of high rank?
"Nay, Lady, I . . . have wronged thee."
"Art thou not satisfied with what thou hast wrought?!" she cried,
wrenching her arm away.
"Please . . ." he whispered. "I have acted like a fool and I can
only beg thy forgiveness."
She stared at him hard for an instant. "I cannot judge what I do
not know."
He looked down. "Thou must have come for a reason . . ."
Immara held out her hand and something metallic glittered in the
light. "I was searching for a goldsmith . . . The clasp is broken."
He reached out and took it, examining it carefully. "'Tis a
valuable piece. An heirloom?"
"A gift . . . from my father."
"Rich girl's gifts," he muttered without thinking.
"Before he died!" she screamed at him, her eyes filling with
tears. "His last gift to me! A deathgift!" Then she ran off,
sobbing and he could only look after her with wide eyes, the delicate
necklace in his hand.
He pulled his hand down his face. "A deathgift. How *stupid*
canst thou be, Nephrayn?!" he addressed himself, staring at the bit
of jewelry. "How insensitive a cad art thou?"
* * *
Immara leaned against a wall, her back pressed to the cold stone,
her breath heaving in and out. "Thou art a *fool*, Immara!" she
berated herself, her hand clenched tightly. "How canst thou have
left thy father's deathgift in the hands of a *Guardian*? How wilt I
ever get it back?"
"Indeed," a velvety voice asked. "How wilt thou?"
She looked up and her eyes met two red ones gazing intently at her
out of the darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand
covering her mouth cut her off.
Someone laughed. "Should we cut off her ears or her tongue?"
"Nay, her eyes first . . ." a third voice answered.
Oooh, three mysterious people . . . Okay, okay, so the plot's a
little *slow* so far . . . It'll be better soon, I promise! The
action will start next time, I'm pretty sure. And it may not be
quite what you expect . . . Let me just say that this might be a
romance (Have I written anything that isn't?) but it's also an
adventure story . . . and sitting around the castle and riding horses
are *not* going to be the only things that the characters will be
doing for long. Well, as long as it takes me to get the next part
out. ^^;;; And yes, I *am* working on the next part of "IAL:TLB."
Look for lots of new stuff to be out sometime soon.
On another little happy note, I *finally* took the plunge and got a
webpage at: http:///www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/3649
Not much is up yet, only a few links and things, but once I learn
some HTML and set up my page the way I want it, expect my 'fics to
appear there (definitely the current ones, maybe the others), and
previews of new ones. There, that's incentive to visit, isn't it?
I'll try to work on the page in my spare time. (What's that?
^^;;;) Arigato for reading, minna!
Takeuchi and a great many wonderful people who, if they were so
inclined, could make things very unpleasant for me. (However, they
are all MUCH too generous and benevolent to do any such thing.) This
is a work of fiction and while the original idea does not belong to
me, this story does. Remember that, because if you don't, I'm
sending the Senshi after you . . . .
Castles and Kingdoms
by Fushigi Kismet
Chapter Two:
~New Arrivals~
As Serenity hurried away (to where, she had no idea, her thoughts
completely and utterly taken up with her charming new companion), the
rose held firmly in her hand, its sweet scent wafting up to her, a
riotous racket caught the attention of her ears. Deciding to
investigate, she altered her course and headed to the main courtyard.
As she passed through the stone passage between the courtyard that
she was currently in and the other one, a familiar voice drifted
through the air to her direction, stopping her in her tracks.
"No, no, NO! Take *THAT* trunk down first! The other ones are
just luggage, that contains my *belongings*!"
"Lady, do you want to do this?" a man asked, bent over, his arms
full of an *ENORMOUS* trunk, that he had obviously just taken down
from atop the carriage that rested in the courtyard, the seven black
horses pulling it, pawing and snorting anxiously.
She frowned. "That is Lady Artana M'erla Naava Adora D'amour of
the Second House of Reyre."
"Yeah, okay. Sorry." He set the trunk down, and the resulting
sound resounded like a cannonshot (which none present had ever heard,
seeing as only *pirates* possessed any cannons) throughout the
courtyard.
Serenity jumped, then self consciously composed herself, smoothing
out her dress and patting her hair to make sure that it was behaving
itself. Then she rushed forward without regard for protocol,
yelling, "TANA!"
The woman whirled, blonde hair whirling about her form, sky blue
eyes filling with affection and excitement. "Eren!"
Serenity zoomed past the man who was taking down an even LARGER
trunk and asking, "This one?" As the princess brushed past him, he
nearly fell over, but recovered his balance just in time.
"Tana!" Serenity screamed again.
"Eren!" the woman responded in equal joy as they embraced happily,
the older woman good-naturedly mussing up the younger princess's
hair.
"Arrgh! My hair! Tana!" Serenity shrieked, frantically trying to
smooth down the mess.
The other woman laughed. "Nice to see that thou hast not changed,
Eren."
"I'm sorry I can't say the same for thee!" Serenity stuck out her
tongue.
"Careful. Thou might bite it off," the blonde said lightly.
"Hmmph! Ow!"
Artana threw her head back and laughed.
Serenity fumed. Then she took in her cousin's appearance. She
had grown a good two inches since last she had seen her, and her hair
was longer as well. She wore it loose but for the bit of hair
gathered from each side and braided together. A blue ribbon tied the
braid off. It matched her sky-blue silk dress. She wore long pearl-
drop earrings and an emerald pendant around her neck. She looked
every inch a lady but for the wicked sparkle in her eyes.
"What hast become of thee, Tana?" Serenity asked in wonder. "Thou
hast grown up!"
Her cousin looked at her sadly. "If thou truly believest that,
then thou needs more help than I can give thee!"
"Tana!" Serenity said sharply, only partly reassured by her
cousin's levity. Looking off to one side, her eyes lit open the
largest trunk and she piped up excitedly, "What didst thou bring me,
Tana? Tell me, tell me!"
"Thou art a child at Gift Day!" The woman clucked her tongue.
"What makes thee think that I brought thee anything at all?"
"'Tis almost my Nameday! Thou didst not forget, didst thou?" she
asked anxiously.
Artana hesitated an instant before winking. "Didst thou think
that I could *forget*?!"
Serenity debated whether or not she could beat up on her friend,
but decided that if she did then she would most likely not receive
her Nameday present. "So . . ." she began sweetly. "May I see my
gift, Tana? Please?"
"No," Artana responded quickly. "Don't try to sway me, Princess,
I know *all* the tricks. I invented them!"
"PLEASE?"
"No. But . . . mayhap I'll give thou one of the trinkets I got
thee. All right?"
Serenity jumped up and down like a child in her excitement.
"Yes!"
Artana smiled, then went over to the carriage and pulled open the
door. A short, blue-haired woman tumbled out and into Artana's arms.
Serenity stared aghast at the scene. "Marayr! What happened?!"
"Oh, there thou art!" Artana said blithely, smiling cheerfully.
"I was wondering what had happened to thee!"
A blush rose to Marayr's cheeks. "The door latch got stuck . . ."
Serenity broke into a fit of giggles.
Artana ignored the whole matter. "Oh, then. See, Serenity? Now
thou dost know who chose my clothes! I am not so grown as thou might
believe. Look, we even match." Her tone was good-natured as she
righted the shorter woman and placed her on her feet.
Serenity looked and saw that, indeed, they were both wearing blue
gowns, though Marayr's was paler and she wore pearl clips in her hair
and a string of them about her neck. Her gown was also more modestly
cut and her earrings were sapphire studs to go with the blue sapphire
set in the ring she wore on her right hand.
Artana turned to Marayr who still looked embarrassed. "I wast
looking for where I placed Serenity's "trinket." Didst thou happen
to see it whilst thou wast trapped inside?"
Marayr looked a bit put out, but, sighing, she pointed into the
carriage. "'Tis over there . . . under thy coat, by thy spare pair
of shoes, amidst thy other armful of "trinkets," and placed in the
gold-colored box."
"Oh, thank thee!" Artana got into the carriage and began
rummaging around.
Serenity and Marayr stared for a moment as things began to fly out
of the carriage. First the coat, then the shoes, then one by one the
other "trinkets".
"I'm *so* glad those things art not the breakables," Marayr
sighed.
"Thou traveled all the way here with her?" Serenity asked,
disbelieving.
Marayr sighed again. "Regrettably, yes. And when she sleeps,
thou wouldst not *believe* the things she says."
"She talks in her sleep?"
"Quite."
"Of what?"
"Men, mostly." Marayr then realized who she was speaking to and
came to herself. Taking Serenity's hands in hers, she smiled warmly
and said, "'Tis good to see thee again, Princess."
"'Tis good to see thee too. I have missed Artana and thee, this
last year."
"Well, thou shalt not be missing us for long! Before thou knowst
it, thou wilt be scheming to get rid of us!"
"Never-"
"Here, look, I found it!" Artana called, bounding up to them,
happily, her face flushed from the exertion of looking. The gaze of
all three of them shifted to the pile of things that she had thrown
out of the carriage. It was a small *mountain* of items.
Without saying a word, the three of them mutually agreed to focus
on the trinket at hand.
Serenity looked up for permission, and Artana readily handed over
the gold box, smiling encouragingly. Opening it, Serenity let out a
gasp.
Within, nestled on black satin, lay a pair of jeweled hair combs.
Their glitter was enough to dazzle Serenity's eyes. "Thank thee,
Artana!" She handed the box to Marayr and flung her arms around her
friend.
"Well, I'm glad thou approves of my little "trinkets!""
"Thou callst these *trinkets*?!"
"Of course! Thou shalt look absolutely stunning tonight and
surprise whomever it is that hast captured thy heart!"
Serenity pulled away. "What dost thou mean, "whomever hast
captured my heart"?"
"That's the second time that thou hast stabbed me in the neck with
that blasted rose!"
"Ooops." Serenity flushed a lovely shade of crimson.
Marayr and Artana exchanged a look, then burst into gentle
laughter.
"Come, come let us make haste and surprise Immara!" Serenity
begged, grabbing her two friends by the hands, which was rather
difficult since she held the rose in one hand and the box in the
other.
Marayr smiled indulgently and Artana sighed. "Very well, my
little cousin-"
Serenity started to run, dragging the two girls behind her.
"What about my LUGGAGE?!!!" Artana cried in dismay.
"It'll keep!" Serenity shouted.
"Of course it will," Marayr said absently, running along after
Serenity, "'tis *luggage* not a cake."
Serenity giggled.
* * *
"Art thou all right, Prince Endymion?"
Endymion turned, gazing calmly at his "Guardian" who stood, a hand
on the nose of his horse. Unruffled blue eyes gazed back out of a
youthful face. The prince sighed, brushing a hand back over his dark
hair. "Fine. Why dost thou ask, Jadyrn?"
The blonde ignored him, turning away. "Thou seemst troubled." He
gently pulled the reins of Ravius and the horse obediently turned
about and followed him, his hooves clicking against the cobblestone
underfoot. "Ravius needed a bit of exercise," he said deliberately.
"The lands about here art quite nice. Perhaps thou wouldst exercise
Darius later?"
"Perhaps," Endymion answered absently.
"The young princess is quite lovely, is she not, Your Majesty?"
Endymion felt a flash of jealousy.
A slight smile formed on Jadyrn's lips, unseen by Endymion. "Do
not feel so, my prince. I have no designs on the princess."
The feeling subsided and curiousity replaced it. "Jadyrn, how
canst thou know what I dare not tell thee?"
"I was young once . . . as thee. Dost thou think that I am
foreign to the desires and feelings of the young?"
"Thou speakst as though, thou wast a thousand years old! Thou art
not so old."
"No. Nor am I so young as thee. Feelings no longer trouble me.
I have learned not to feel so the world can no longer hurt me. As
for thee, my prince . . . Well, thou art young yet. I think the
princess wilt find favor in thee. Enjoy thy happiness . . . I fear
it may be fleeting."
"What dost thou say to me? What omens art thou tossing my way? I
am bewildered by this talk."
"Thou art so young . . ." Jadyrn turned around to face his prince
and looked at him for a long, still moment. Endymion blinked and
broke the stillness between them. When he looked again, his aide-de-
camp was gone.
"What manner of riddles-" Endymion began muttering to himself,
when Nephrayn sauntered into the courtyard. "Hey! Nephrayn!"
"My prince." He paused and sketched a quick, informal bow, then
kept walking towards him, looking pleased with himself. "Good news!
The king and queen instructed me that everything is set for the
Nameday announcement! All thou must do is win the princess over."
"Good God, her Nameday is but a fortnight away!" Endymion looked
troubled.
Nephrayn laughed. "Is that so much trouble for a charmer such as
thee? Courage, Endymion!" He slapped him hard on the back.
Endymion glared.
* * *
Immara walked down an empty hallway, idly wondering where Serenity
had gone. She had finished up with her errands and had gone looking
for the princess, only to discover that no one had seen her.
"Serenity," she muttered under her breath, "wherefore art thou?"
"Boo!" the princess yelled, popping out of a corridor that
intersected the one Immara was walking down.
Immara was so startled that stepping backward, she tripped on the
hem of the back of her green dress and fell down. From her position
on the floor, she glared at the younger girl. "Serenity!"
"I'm sorry," Serenity apologized sheepishly. "Art thou all
right?"
"Fine," Immara muttered, getting to her feet and dusting herself
off with her hands. It was then that she noticed that her fall had
jarred her more than she thought. Her necklace's always faulty clasp
had broken in the fall and the piece of jewelry had fallen to the
ground. She picked it up and sighed.
"Well, so much for our surprise," Artana's voice rang out dryly.
"Tana?" Immara asked incredulously as Artana stepped around the
corner.
"Immie," Tana said matter-of-factly.
The brunette noblewoman stepped forward and hugged the blonde who
had almost been a sister to the princess and her. Tana hugged her
back. "Silly girl, thou acts as though a *year* had passed since
last we saw each other!"
"It has!"
"Oh, yes, there is that," Artana mused.
"And is there to be no greeting for me?" a quiet voice asked.
Immara looked up to see the blue-haired girl. "Marayr!"
Marayr smiled. "Art thou glad to see me too?"
Immara gave her a hug then turned to look at Serenity accusingly.
"Princess, thou art wicked to spring them both on me at once!"
Serenity simply smiled and said nothing.
"It took us awhile to find thee," Artana complained. "Serenity
had to put away her things in her rooms first. Then we had no idea
where to find thee."
"How canst I be hard to find? I was seeking Serenity! Now, shall
we walk out to the gardens?" Immara suggested.
The girls agreed and the four of them went outside, drinking in
the golden sunshine.
* * *
Kunzyn rode his white stallion Marcus along the woodland trails
and through the fields that the princess of Reyre favored. He jumped
him over low-lying hedges and half-rotted logs in the path and only
when a sheen of sweat covered them both did he stop and let his horse
rest. They ambled slowly back along the way they had come and Kunzyn
patted the horse's side gently. As he neared the forest gate he saw
Zoyzer up ahead, walking his chestnut steed, Zane. Urging the tired
steed into a slow gallop, he quickly caught up with Zoyzer who nodded
at him. They both halted at the gate. Kunzyn dismounted and they
both looped their horses' reins about the iron bars covered in green
growth and let them rest. For a long moment the two men were silent,
drinking in the beauty of the forest.
"Why dost thou not ride?" Kunzyn asked, pushing back his sweaty
bangs.
"To exhaust myself like thee?" Zoyzer looked away, leaning against
the gate. "I think not, Kunzyn. I have other things to occupy my
time."
Kunzyn snorted. "Like what?"
"The trouble brewing might prove worrisome, but that is yet to be
seen. I assure thee," Zoyzer smiled, "that worrying over nothing
wilt not get us one whit closer to solving it, and certainly now is
not the time to spend doing nothing. The prince's marriage is all
but final. Now is a time of celebration! Before the battles and the
wars, we must enjoy ourselves, lest we die unsatisfied."
"Thy point being?"
"Here there be women," Zoyzer grinned. "And here there be I."
Kunzyn looked at him blankly for a moment, then burst into
laughter. "Aye, and thou wilt make full use of thy time."
Zoyzer looked away, chuckling quietly to himself and his eyes lit
upon the gate which towered over the two of them, standing about
eight feet tall. "Why dost this gate stand here, in the middle of no
road, leading to nowhere?"
Kunzyn glanced at it. "'Tis the forest gate, or so I have heard
it called. It originally blocked a road leading to the castle."
"And while the castle still stands, the road is no more," his
companion finished.
Kunzyn frowned. "Nay, neither stand. The castle that harbored us
this last night was not the one that stood behind this gate. Both
burned . . . the castle and the road."
"How can that be?"
"Invaders came and took these lands . . . and more. Dalayne and
Reyre both . . . 'Twas many years before . . . There wast a war and
much confusion. Eventually, King Lucent and Endymion's ancestors
drove out the invaders from their lands. The king of Reyre built a
new castle from which he would rule the land. The gate is the only
thing remaining from those times, overgrown and forgotten . . . as
the war itself is."
Zoyzer stared at the gate and shuddered as his friend continued,
his low voice never rising, a fierce, driving anger behind each word.
"In time, the people forgot the wars . . . forgot that their land had
ever been anything but peaceful . . . 'Tis not wise to forget the
old lessons, for then the old punishments will come again, a
hundredfold along with the centuries . . ."
"Thou fears the same," Zoyzer said, his eyes wide. "Reyre and
Dalayne. Thou fears the same . . . that history wilt repeat itself .
. ."
"I know it wilt. It always does." Kunzyn touched the iron bars
of the gate. "Only united might we survive. Everything hinges on
Endymion's marriage. *Everything* . . ."
* * *
Serenity let out a sigh. "It looks like we're all here."
"But one," Marayr interjected.
"But one," Immara agreed.
"And where is Raslym?!" Artana demanded, an edge to her voice.
"Here!"
Four heads turned to see a girl stride into the courtyard, dressed
in red velvet, with her black hair plaited and put up, pretty pearls
threading their way through her hair and the netting that kept it in
place. She wore a necklace with a ruby dangling on the end around
her neck and out of the five of them managed to be the only one
wearing gloves. The other four immediately hid their hands behind
their backs, feeling guilty at having forgotten, especially Marayr
who was usually sensible about such things.
Raslym halted in front of them and looked at them haughtily.
"Forgot thy gloves, did thee?" she asked, addressing no one in
particular.
They fidgeted.
The smile spreading across her face ruined the arrogant effect
that she was trying to convey. "Sillies! 'Tis just like thee to
forget!"
They all broke into smiles, then laughter, since the last of their
close-knit group had arrived.
After some quick catching up, where Raslym railed about how there
had been no one to meet her and Artana had retorted that everyone had
been too busy see to her and Marayr's comfort to be bothered with
Raslym, Serenity remarked on Raslym's appearance. "I thought that
Artana had turned into a lady, but I find that I am wrong."
Artana made a face.
"But it seemst as though thou hast acquired the mannerisms of
one." Serenity looked at Raslym's hair. "And since when hast thou
put thy hair *up*?"
Raslym smiled mysteriously. "That, thou shalt never know."
"I knew it! 'Twas this morning, wasn't it?!" Artana crowned.
Raslym's smile faded and she advanced on Artana. "Thou art
impossible!"
As Raslym began to chase the fleeing Artana, Serenity smiled to
herself. "'Tis good to know that no one hast changed *that* much."
"LADIES!"
The girls turned to the voice. A petite, dark-haired, blue-eyed
woman stood before them, hands on her hips. "Art thou *quite*
finished?!"
"Monica!" they all cried, remembering well the slightly older
governess who had taken care of them all as young children whenever
they visited Serenity.
"'Twill be a *long* day," Serenity whispered as the woman ushered
them all inside and demanded that they behave like "proper young
ladies."
* * *
Immara walked down the hallway and outside, having managed to
escape Monica by uttering some excuses. She held the necklace
tightly in her hand and headed towards the goldsmith shop in the main
courtyard near the stables and the other smith shops. Perhaps one of
the goldsmith would be in . . . despite it being a restday. As she
neared the area she saw to her disappointment that no one was around
. . . the area was all but deserted.
Sighing, she headed over to the stables to look at the horses.
Hers knickered and she stroked her nose gently. "Hello, Ako," she
whispered gently. "How hast thou been?"
She rested her cheek against the horse's head and shut her eyes.
"Oh, 'tis hard . . . so hard . . ."
* * *
Nephrayn finished brushing his horse at the far end of the stable
and unlatched the door of his stall. He strode out and relatched the
door. It was then that he caught sight of a woman walking towards a
stall. Being the only human being around, he decided that she
wouldn't mind a bit of conversation.
As he neared her, he heard her whispering, "Oh, 'tis hard . . . so
hard . . ."
He paused then continued forward, concerned now. "Art thou all
right?" he asked.
She whirled about, seeing him for the first time, a frightened
look on her face.
"I didn't mean to startle thee," he said awkwardly.
Her expression softened and the fear went away. He noticed that
she was quite lovely, with large green eyes and delicate features.
Turning back to her horse, she said, "'Tis all right. I should've
noticed thee coming."
"My Lady . . . ?"
"Immara," she supplied.
"My Lady Immara, I could not but overhear . . . Art thou
troubled?"
She looked at him grimly. "Troubled? Nay."
His lips quirked in a half smile. His words were kind. "Then why
can I not believe thee?"
Immara turned about again and stared at him boldly, leaning back
against the stall door, not trying in the least to be demure. She
uttered each word precisely, "Perhaps due to the fact that thou art a
bone-headed brute?"
His smile widened. "Thy words are harsh, Lady Immara. Yet, I
cannot see thee as being quite so cruel."
"Thou knowst me not! How canst thou make judgments?"
"If thou wouldst allow me to make thy acquaintance more
intimately, then perhaps thou wouldst allow me to make such
judgments?"
"Intimately?" she repeated, looking at him skeptically.
"Surely thou canst not judge *me* without learning my character?"
"I could start with learning thy *name*," she bit out.
"Nephrayn," he bowed more deeply then he had to Endymion earlier.
"One of Prince Endymion's Guardians," he lied calmly.
"Indeed?" She looked anything but impressed. "I am Immara K'irta
Hann'yl Jrrynya D'oak of the Fourth House of Reyre. Thou hast
nothing that wilt impress me. Hast thou even a House name?" she
asked idly.
Nephrayn bit back his ready reply. He *was* after all a lord and
had gone along with Endymion and the rest as a jaunt. But, Endymion
had cautioned him on revealing his true identity, lest the Royalty of
Reyre felt themselves lied to or betrayed by their deception.
Mentally he groaned, he was from the Third House of Dalayne, himself,
which certainly outranked *her*, but he was to pretend to be a lowly
Guardian. Gritting his teeth, he growled out. "No."
She smiled at him kindly all of a sudden. "I am sorry. That was
petty of me. I am not that low . . ."
"Neither am I," he snarled. He didn't need her pity. He was
insulted by the implication that since he *said* he had no House that
he was worthless in her eyes.
Her face closed against him. "Then I shall leave thee." She
moved away but he caught her by the wrist, suddenly penitent. How
else was she to treat him? A lady of high rank?
"Nay, Lady, I . . . have wronged thee."
"Art thou not satisfied with what thou hast wrought?!" she cried,
wrenching her arm away.
"Please . . ." he whispered. "I have acted like a fool and I can
only beg thy forgiveness."
She stared at him hard for an instant. "I cannot judge what I do
not know."
He looked down. "Thou must have come for a reason . . ."
Immara held out her hand and something metallic glittered in the
light. "I was searching for a goldsmith . . . The clasp is broken."
He reached out and took it, examining it carefully. "'Tis a
valuable piece. An heirloom?"
"A gift . . . from my father."
"Rich girl's gifts," he muttered without thinking.
"Before he died!" she screamed at him, her eyes filling with
tears. "His last gift to me! A deathgift!" Then she ran off,
sobbing and he could only look after her with wide eyes, the delicate
necklace in his hand.
He pulled his hand down his face. "A deathgift. How *stupid*
canst thou be, Nephrayn?!" he addressed himself, staring at the bit
of jewelry. "How insensitive a cad art thou?"
* * *
Immara leaned against a wall, her back pressed to the cold stone,
her breath heaving in and out. "Thou art a *fool*, Immara!" she
berated herself, her hand clenched tightly. "How canst thou have
left thy father's deathgift in the hands of a *Guardian*? How wilt I
ever get it back?"
"Indeed," a velvety voice asked. "How wilt thou?"
She looked up and her eyes met two red ones gazing intently at her
out of the darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand
covering her mouth cut her off.
Someone laughed. "Should we cut off her ears or her tongue?"
"Nay, her eyes first . . ." a third voice answered.
Oooh, three mysterious people . . . Okay, okay, so the plot's a
little *slow* so far . . . It'll be better soon, I promise! The
action will start next time, I'm pretty sure. And it may not be
quite what you expect . . . Let me just say that this might be a
romance (Have I written anything that isn't?) but it's also an
adventure story . . . and sitting around the castle and riding horses
are *not* going to be the only things that the characters will be
doing for long. Well, as long as it takes me to get the next part
out. ^^;;; And yes, I *am* working on the next part of "IAL:TLB."
Look for lots of new stuff to be out sometime soon.
On another little happy note, I *finally* took the plunge and got a
webpage at: http:///www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/3649
Not much is up yet, only a few links and things, but once I learn
some HTML and set up my page the way I want it, expect my 'fics to
appear there (definitely the current ones, maybe the others), and
previews of new ones. There, that's incentive to visit, isn't it?
I'll try to work on the page in my spare time. (What's that?
^^;;;) Arigato for reading, minna!