Title: Peace, Love, and Serenity
Author: Mei Mei (Formerly known as Sailor Peace)
Rating: R (I don't think it will ever be NC-17, but just warning you... I'm not sure...)
Author's Notes: OKay - I know I'm probably going to confuse people by referring to Elena as Princess now rather than queen, but think about it... Queen Elizabeth's husband is referred to as Prince Phillip, even though he is married to the queen. I suppose it was the same for French and Spanish monarchy as well... Anyway

Last Time : We find a little bit out about Endymion's past... dun dun duuuuuuh... Note to the no depth people... REMEMBER THIS PART!... LoL Happy Readin'!

Henri d'Eliese smiled knowingly as the royal messenger read the invitation for the
upcoming ball of the Spanish Royalty. Of course he would allow Serenity to attend. As much as
he didn't like Endymion's reputation, a union between France and Spain would do wonders for
their economy and countries. It was a King or Princess's dream to have the two countries united,
and though many had tried before them, he had a gut feeling this was the union to surpass them
all. After dismissing the royal court, Henri walked over to his wife, a sly grin on his face.
"Henri, dear, what are you planning?" Madeline asked, knowing full well what he was
scheming. Her husband had many schemes and plans for making his kingdom better, all with
good intent though many of them usually floundered. Madeline had always stated her opinion
when Henri schemed, though he rarely listened to her. It was not that he was a bad husband,
no, far from it, it was rather that Henri was one of the most stubborn men to ever grace God's
wide earth.
She knew full well what Henri was planning this time, like she had possessed previous
hunches on many of his other plans. However, unlike his other plans, she was going to stick her
foot in this time, making sure Henri did not foul anything up when it dealt with her niece,
Serenity.
"Oh nothing, my dear," He said as his grin grew wider, "except the joining of two great
nations." Madeline nodded slowly. She knew it. He was planning a union between their niece and
the prince of Spain. She sighed softly and watched as her husband's cocky grin grew wider. She
recalled times when she had swooned for that same grin, but when her eyes fell upon it this
time, she simply wanted to slap it off his face. Whether Henri liked it or not, she was going to
have her say so in this matter, come hell or high water.
"But have you even considered Serenity's feelings on this?" Henri stopped his grinning
a moment and pondered her question. Madeline smiles thinking Henri would perhaps finally give
a second thought to one of his ideas before going through with it. How wrong she was.
"No, but she should be joyous! This is the greatest opportunity she could hope for as
the future Princess of France." He stated quite assured of himself. Madeline sighed and frowned
at her husband. Men never were too intelligent on the matters of marriage and romance,
especially matters like these.
"But Henri, dear. Serenity does not even know Prince Endymion, much less does she
have a reason to love and marry him." she paused a moment and stared her husband in the eye.
"She will not be happy. With Endymion's reputation at stake, I do not think he will get rid of all
his women callers just for his wife, if indeed they agree to this marriage."
Henri looked at his wife and smiled softly, nodding as he recalled one of the many
reasons he loved her. She was always more intelligent than he was in the ways of love and
parenthood. She was such a good mother figure for Serenity, trying to be there for her yet never
tried to replace Serenity's real mother. Henri wrapped his arm around his wife and kissed her
gently on the lips.
"You're right as always, Madeline." At this Madeline laughed, causing Henri to raise and
eyebrow. "Love?"
"You? Admitting I am right? I never thought I'd live to see the day!" Madeline laughed
again softly. Henri smirked a bit and winked at her.
"That old love?" Madeline's laughing face immediately turned to an angry one as she
removed herself from his embrace and began to walk away. Henri laughed softly and caught up
with her. "Darling I'm sorry. You look not one day older than the day I proposed and I am an old
goat for saying otherwise." When Madeline smiled and kissed his lips he finished his previous
thought. "Perhaps you should go inform Serenity of the Spanish ball first and we will worry about
marriage propositions when the time occurs." Madeline smiles softly back at her husband.
"I know I worry too much, Henri, but Serenity is like a daughter to me. She has grown
up so fast and day by day she looks more and more like Marie. I just want to see her happy."
Henri nodded and smiled lovingly at his wife.
"I know, Belle. I love her like my own as well, but I know she and Endymion were
made for each other. She is so much like Marie and look how she changed my brother's life. This
will be the best for them both." Madeline laughed and once again kissed her husband.
"Like I was the best for you?" She asked, winking as she turned to leave the room.
Henri laughed as well before turning and leaving the room as well.
Little did they know that they were being watched the entire time.

***

As the week drew on, Serenity had agreed, although she would have said she was
forced, to go to the Spanish ball. She had been fitted for a new dress and as a special surprise,
Henri pulled out the family jewels, letting Serenity wear her mother's crown and necklace.
While Madeline and Serenity prepared for the ball, Henri sent an acceptance letter to
King Phillipe as well as a private letter from himself. He made Phillipe aware of his plans for
engagement, which Phillipe agreed to wholeheartedly. He had once loved Marie, her daughter,
from rumors around the kingdoms, was her exact likeness in every way, and if his son was
anything like himself, he would fall for Serenity on day one.
The week of the ball drew near and Serenity's travel preparations had been made. She
would travel with her nurse, Epien and her personal guard Haruka, daughter of the
Amourette family in France. Her father had been the personal guard of Serenity's parents and
the duty had been passed down to her since she was the eldest of three children. Normally the
duty was passed to the son, but since their only son had not yet been born at the time of
Haruka's knighthood, it was instead given to her.
Upon arriving in Spain, Serenity, Epien, and Haruka would stay at the palace for a
month, since Serenity's trip was over a great distance and it was customary for monarchs to stay
a good deal of time.
She left Paris bright and early on Monday morning, the week before the ball. The trip
to Madrid took four days and the princess and her escorts arrived at teh palace on Thrusday, still
8 days until the ball. Their rooms had been prepared far in advance and their things were sent in
a carriage ahead of them to be ready for them when they arrived.
As the hour of their arrival in Madrid drew near, servants in the Spanish castle were
frantic, bustling about to get everything in order and also to prepare their monarchs for the
welcoming reception. Endymion was a wreck. His father had been hinting all week of Serenity's
beauty and such and Endymion felt far too much anticipation for her arrival, but not for Serenity
herself. As soon as she arrived he could begin counting down the days until she left again and he
would be rid of her. No more silly air-headed girls seeking his bed.
As Serenity's carriage arrived in the palace courtyard, servants and footmen rushed to
their assistance, but Haruka had already let herself down from the front of the carriage and
helped Serenity and Epien out. The servants and footmen gawked and whispered in their
native tongue about the 'tall, feminine man who dared do their jobs.' Haruka simply smirked and
spoke to the carriage driver in fluent Spanish.
"Muchos gracias, Señor. Here are 100 extra pesos for the smooth ride." The servants
gawked and hushed as she turned back to them.
"Muchos gracias, Señorita!" he called and drove the carriage around to the stables as
the servants picked their jaws up off the ground, and pulled their feet from their mouths.
Serenity stopped and stared at her in silence, then shook her head. 'Never did care much for
Spanish.' She thought and turned to Madeline and spoke to her in French.
"Epien, do you think the royal family is nice? Will I make a good impression on
them? Will they-" epien shushed her and turned her attention back to the castle, from which
the guards were now preparing to announce her arrival. She straightened her back and lifted her
skirts as she began to climb the many steps. No sooner had she reached the top than did the
guards announce them to the Spanish court.
"Presenting her royal highness, Princess Serenity d'Eliese of France, her personal
guard, Señorita Haruka of Amourette and her nurse, Señora Epien the family Notirelle..." Serenity
caught her breath unnoticeably as she entered the grand throne room and wondered what the
Spanish man had said. All she understood were their names, and he had said them so fast she
barely caught them. She was starting to wish she had learned Spanish instead of English.
They made their way to the thrones at the end of the large throne room and bowed in
front of the monarchs, who stood after each was announced.

"King Endymion Phillipe Fuerte II..."
"Princess Elena Le Diablo..."
"Prince Endymion Phillipe Fuerte III..."

A small smile washed over Serenity's face as she heard the name of the handsome
Prince and met his eyes, however she found a strange mix of emotions crossing his handsome
features. She tried not to frown as she saw Endymion's reaction and could not quite catch the
word the barely escaped from his lips. She then watched as the coloring in his mother's face
drained slowly before she straightened her back and cleared her throat, looking as if nothing had
happened.
Endymion quickly shook off his daze and looked at the French princess again. She
could definitely pass for Elisabeth at first glance. Serenity looked more like Elisabeth's sister than
Beryl did. He sighed as his parents walked down from the throne and began to greet her. They
all spoke in Spanish, but he soon noticed that Serenity wasn't fairing too well, always turning to
her guard for a translation. He sighed and rolled his deep blue eyes. 'So the chit is an airhead.'
"So, Princess Serenity," the Princess Elena began again in Spanish, not noticing her trouble,
"How was your journey here? Comfortable I hope?" Serenity caught the word 'journey' and the
word 'comfortable'. She flustered and tried not to turn to Haruka again for help.
"Uh... Tu es bien... Si... Si.. muy bien..." she spoke quickly hoping it came out right.
Endymion nearly laughed at her words, as well as the rest of the court. She had just toldhis mother
-'You are good, yes, yes, very good.' Elena frowned and then turned to Endymion and
introduced him.
"This is my son, Endymion." Serenity smiled. Now that was something she understood.
The Princess had just introduced her son.
"Buenos dias, your highness. It's a pleasure to meet you." She said in near perfect
Spanish. Greetings and introductions were something she knew in many languages for she said
nearly the same to every European delegate that visited the French kingdom. Endymion smirked.
'So the chit thinks she is smart?' He grinned. 'Well I'll show her won't I?' Endymion then bent his
head and placed a gentle kiss on her hand.
"Bonjour, Serenity. It's a pleasure to meet you as well." She gasped softly and the
Spanish Princess looked on in shock. 'Since when has our son learned French?' Not many in the
Spanish kingdom knew it, not even the King and Princess themselves, for only recently had Spain
and France decided to aim towards peace.
"B-Bonjour, your highness. I did not know you knew French, or I would have spoken to
you that way." He smirked.
"But then I could not have seen the lovely shocked look on your face..." He grinned.
'The chit doesn't know what she's getting into.'
"Your highness, don't flatter me. I simply tried to speak in your native tongue because
it is customary and proper to speak the language of your hosts. One cannot say I did not try my
best." He smirk grew. 'So the chit has some brains.. it gets more interesting every moment.'
"So how do you like my country, your highness?" he laughed at her look.
"Your country?"
"But, of course. I should take you on a tour after the festivities." Serenity laughed.
"That you will have to do, I find it grand you should want to show me *your* country,
your highness. But, if you could excuse us, we have a 'fiesta' to attend tomorrow, if you haven't
forgotten and I need some rest after my long day journey." Endymion nodded, but then smirked
once more and lifted her arm to join his.
"Well then let me escort you, Your Majesty. And while we are talking of tomorrow,
might I request the honor of being your escort for the ball as well?" Serenity smiled and nodded.
"Only if you promise to behave, good sir. I have heard too many rumors and I fear for
my safety alone with you." Endymion was about to growl several curse words at the young
princess until he saw the joking grin on her face. "Easily riled, your highness?"
Endymion laughed, "Only when I hear an untruth about myself..." Serenity raised a
brow and Endymion sighed. "Alright, it was probably partly true..." Serenity laughed. Endymion
smiled seductively back at her. "Just let me know warn you, that you should not fear your safety
with me, Highness. If I wanted you, Princess, you'd want me back even more." Serenity blushed
becomingly, thankful Harukla had not been standing close enough to here his words. Endymion
grinned triumphantly and turned and excused Serenity and himself from his parents' presence
After walking a few yards from the throne room, Endymion noticed the princess's personal guar
close behind them. He smirked. 'Damn woman should give her some room to breath...' He smiled
down at Serenity and spoke to her again in French. "So, Princess... what is your country like?"
At his words Serenity gasped and glared at him.
"My *people's* country is glorious... and I miss it very much..." She sighed gently with
a wistful look in her eyes and looked away. After receiving a icy glare from the guard, Endymion
turned to apologize, but a guard of his own ran up to him and began speaking rapidly in Spanish.
Serenity turned and looked at the little man with chubby round cheeks and frowned, not
understanding a single word he said. Endymion sighed and turned to Serenity.
"Your highness, it seems I have an urgent political matter to attend to. My guard will
show you to your room. I hope to see you again before tomorrow's festivities; if not, be well and
adieu..." and with those words he bowed, kissed her hand again and left. Serenity smiled softly,
a faint blush on her cheeks. The guard soon began to lead her to her room and upon reaching
their destination he stopped and bowed like the Prince had just done and kissed her hand. He
stood, blushing a bit and Serenity couldn't help but smile. He spoke to her again in fluent
Spanish before hurriedly walking off. Haruka started to pull her sword from her sheath, but
Serenity stopped her.
"Haruka! He only kissed my hand. What are you doing?" Serenity asked, shocked at
her guard's behavior.
"Only kissed your hand?! Serenity! He said you were so delicious he'd like to eat you! I
should cut off his tongue!" Serenity immediately blushed and turned away. Haruka sighed,
"Honestly, Serenity... You should have learned Spanish instead of English," and with those words
she opened the door to Serenity's room and as she entered a chill ran through her. It seemed so
cold in this room and so eerie.
'Almost like... death.'


Author's Notes...

Hmm... Haruka is starting to sound a little like our dear friend, Rei... Speaking of Pyro...I'm debating whether or not to put Rei into this fic... but who knows...

ANYWAY! Check out my personal site:

http://www.geocities.com/dechirant

Next Time: The Ball...Phillipe is sure set on this marriage thing...Endymion finds out which room Serenity is staying in... oooh...