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: So whatcha think so far? I've read all your reviews so far before I re-edited (although it really didn't effect this Chapter.) Anyway, Chapter 4 and 5 are up! (Well After I repost this that is!)

Last Time: Haruka's Letter Home

Haruka lamented as Serenity huffed into her chambers. "I had just reason, Serenity," she stated and re-sheathed her sword, to which Serenity simply replied 'humph'. Haruka unbuckled her belt and set her scabbard on a nearby table, watching the fuming Princess plop herself down on her bed and humph again. "Now you listen to me, Serenity Angelique d'Eliese, I did have a reason to stop whatever might have happened out there and when I tell you, you *will* appreciate my help."

Serenity gaped quietly. 'Haruka has never taken such a tone with me before.' She slowly closed her mouth and nodded as Haruka sat in a chair near the bed, sighing deeply and rubbing her temples. She looked over to the now quiet princess and sighed, leaning forward in her chair, propping her elbows on her breech covered knees and sighed.

"Serenity…" she paused and glanced at her princess through lowered lashes. 'She's too innocent for this,' she thought with a sigh. 'This is going to ruin her.' Haruka took a deep breath and motioned for Serenity to come over to her. Serenity nodded, gathering her skirts and kneeling on the floor by her loyal guard and friend, placing a tentative hand on her leg.

"Haruka? What in the world is the trouble?" she asked quietly, truly concerned for what her friend was thinking about. "What is so gravely important that makes you act this way? I hate to see you like this." Haruka smiled at her friend and took her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Serenity..." she paused. "Has Endymion spoken to you about any rumors lately?" Serenity raised a confused brow and shook her head 'no' quietly. Haruka sighed and ran her long fingers through her short, pale blond hair. "Ah me..." At Serenity's questioning glance she continued softly. "There have been rumors, Serenity, about you and Prince Endymion's relationship, and tonight, they have gotten quite viscous." Serenity's pale blue orbs widened measurably.

"Tonight, I heard two of the maids whispering as I walked to my room. They had been watching from the side as you and the prince were announced and they said they had never known the prince to be so obvious about his lovers. Serenity, the both of you... well, when you entered, you certainly gave the impression that something," she paused for the right word, "scandalous was happening between you." She sighed and stood angrily, scaring poor Serenity witless.

"And those two blabbering ninnies have been running their mouths all night long. By tomorrow, the entire court will think you and Endymion are more than recent acquaintances." Serenity remained on the floor, staring quietly at nothing.

'Endymion and I? Lovers?!' She shook her head and looked up at her pacing guard. 'What does Endymion think?' She stood softly and walked outside to her moonlight balcony, hearing the clock strike chime for the twelfth time. She sighed softly and glanced up at the moon. 'I would suppose he does not even distress over these scandalous rumors. He was dancing almost half the night with that Italian woman.' An inner voice in her mind chided that he had also danced half the night with Serenity herself, as well. Serenity however, always ignored this little voice. 'But that woman was so very lovely... unlike myself... Why would he and I....' she felt her cheeks grow hot, 'why would someone as handsome as he want me as a lover?'

She glanced back up at the moon and caught a flicker of light from the corner of her eye. She turned her head and saw one of the many library windows lit by a candle, across the courtyard on the floor below hers. She raised a slender, blond brow and wondered who that could be wandering about the library so late at night. 'Endymion, perhaps?'

She looked back into her room and saw that Haruka had returned to her own adjoining room. She tiptoed slowly past Haruka's open door and exited her room quietly, then quickly made her way to the end of the hall. Seeing that Haruka had not noticed her absence, she quickly ran down the stairs and took a right to the castle library.

She gently opened the door and saw the flickering candle at the end of the massive library, next to a large chair with its back to her. She had been in here once before, having been quite bored earlier that day and discovered it while exploring the extensive castle. She slowly walked towards the candle when someone grabbed her from behind and placed a knife to her neck. A large hand covered her mouth and muffled all her cries. Her pounding heart rumbled in her ears and she barely heard the scuffle of feet and the breaking of pottery around her. The next thing she knew, she was on the floor, head thumping wildly as someone stood over her, fists clenched and her attacker lay unconscious on the floor. With one last glance at her savior, she closed her eyes softly, falling into unconsciousness.

***

"...And the dim-witted chit was creeping about the castle in the middle of the night. What in the name of Spain was I supposed to do? There I was, guarding Endymion while he was waiting for Lady Beryl and the next thing I know some figure is sneaking past me. I thought she was an assassin and by the time I realized she was the princess, Endymion had smashed an urn against my head," the man touched a hand to his tender forehead and turned from his fellow guard towards his prince.

"For God's sake, Endymion, it was a simple mistake." The man looked up and growled. "Would you stop pacing? She fainted. Good Lord! I declare, I have not seen you this distressed over a woman since Elisabe-" The man was cut off by a fist inches from his nose.

"I swear if you mention her name you will regret it, my friend." Endymion lowered his fist and walked over to the large terrace through the side doors of his room. His friend watched calmly, slowly realizing what Endymion was feeling towards the French princess.

"You care about her, do you not?" The young man stood up quickly and crossed the room to Endymion, who was leaning against the doorframe to the terrace. "And what is more, you care about her not because you know her, but because if anything happened to her, it would be like losing Elisabeth all over agai-" His words were once again interrupted by a fist, but this time it came in contact with his nose and the man went sailing to the floor.

"I warned you, Motoki, do not mention her name and from now on do not speak to me of Serenity, either." Endymion grabbed his sword and sheathed it as he headed out the doors and across the terrace to the stables.

***

Serenity opened her eyes slowly, flinching as the light shone onto her face. After her eyes adjusted, she slowly looked about her surroundings to find she was back in her room and it was no longer dark outside.

"Well look who finally decided to grace us with her presence! For Heaven's sake, Serenity! Epien and I nearly went mad worrying over you last night. Were you trying to give the maids something more to talk about?" Haruka paced back and forth in front of Serenity's bed.

"Haruka, for goodness sake I am fine and no I was not..." She sighed and looked out the window.

"Was not what?" Haruka questioned.

"I was not trying to give the maids something to gossip about, I just wanted to hear Endymion's opinion on this matter." Serenity slid softly out of her bed, wobbling a bit at first but she soon regained her balance. She made her way to the balcony and sat down on the ledge. 'Endymion must think me a fainthearted ninny for fainting at such a thing. I suppose he is laughing about me at this very moment.'

Oh contraire, Cheré Princess...
***

'I have to get Serenity off my mind!' Endymion thought as he led his horse from the stables, carefully watching for any guards. 'And I won't be escorted by guards, either!'

Once he saw the coast was clear, he jumped quickly onto the horse and took off in a swift gallop, deciding to have a bit of fun to lighten his day. He changed his direction and headed straight for the courtyard, where his mother and Lady Beryl happened to be having an early burnch with a few noblewomen of the court.

***

"Endymion!!!!!" a high pitched voice screeched as horse hooves echoed through the court yard. Serenity, glanced to the courtyard just in time to catch a glimpse of a laughing Endymion on horseback and five very mad, tea covered women. She covered her mouth in a slight giggle when she realized that two of the women were none other than Lady Beryl and Princess Elena.

She glanced back towards Endymion and saw he had stopped and turned to look at the women from a safe distance. If she didn't know any better, she could have sworn he caught glimpse of her. She quickly retreated into her room and a few moments later she poked her head back out slowly and saw Endymion was no longer there. She sighed and walked back into her room. 'Time for a long day with a now ill Princess.' she thought, frowning softly. 'For a moment there I actually thought Endymion would come back and get me. I would rather deal with one thousand rumors a day than stay here and deal with Lady Beryl and the Princess.' She laughed again at remembrance of their faces. 'I shall never forget the look on their faces as they watched Endymion ride away! I must commend him on a job well done when he returns.'

***

Endymion jerked the reins backwards, almost violently, bringing his horse to a sudden stop. Tying her to a tree, he stripped off his jacket and sheath before running straight forward, twenty feet or so, and diving off the edge of a bank. He reemerged in the water below, pushing his wet bangs back off of his forehead.

He floated on his back in the water, gazing softly up at the sagging branches of the trees lining the river bank, a gentle breeze rustling them softly. He sighed. 'Motoki is right,' he thought, swimming back to the river bank. 'Serenity does remind me of Elisabeth.' Sloshing to the bank he stopped a moment. 'But why?' He sat on a large, smooth rock on the edge of the river and began to skip a few small stones in the water.

'They both resemble each other, but not nearly enough to be mistaken for the other. They both are of the same build, small and petite and their hair is nearly the same color. Perhaps it is their personalities that resemble. Elisabeth was light-hearted and good natured. Serenity seems so, but I have not known her long enough to fully judge her well.' He closed his eyes gently, picturing both Serenity and Elisabeth in his head. He imagined their stature, mannerisms, and facial expressions.

'That is it!' he thought. 'Their facial expressions. Serenity smiles the way Elisabeth once smiled at me. When Serenity laughs, her nose crinkling up at the bridge and her eyes glittering, it is exactly like Elisabeth used to laugh.' He smiled gently at remembrance of Elisabeth and looked softly skyward. 'Thank you, my Lord. You've returned part of her to me,' and with that though he gathered his things, mounted his horse and headed home.


Author's Notes...

None really...

ANYWAY!Like I said last time... Coming soon - Part Two!

Next Time: Serenity takes a walk with Endymion's 'Mother Dearest' and Butt-hole... er... Beryl... We find out that Serenity does know a foreign language... and there is a close encounter with ...