Author Notes: Hey! I really want to know what you think of this chapter, my Muse has decided I am worthy of her time today. He he… this is when some of the drama comes into play. You didn't think it would stay all nice for long, now did you?
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Sailor Moon!
To use the adjective patient to describe the noun Andrew, would be an incorrect use of the adjective; after only moments of darting expectant glances across the table, to the smug looking Endymion, did he drop his spoon with a definite "clang" into his empty porridge bowl and give Endymion a hard look.
"So?" asked Andrew's face, looking exasperated and impatient.
"What?" Endymion asked in reply – looking rather confused. Andrew's eyes suddenly glazed – perhaps he was deciding which form of physical pain would knock him off his cloud and back to reality the speediest. Reaching into his satchel, he rolled up a work book and hit our prince with a smart "smack" of his make-shift club.
"So what happened after you swept Serena away last night to 'practice her kick'," Andrew asked, exasperated.
Feigning ignorance, the prince replied, "Why are you saying it like that? That's all we did… practice her kick. Why? Were we supposed to practice the combat positions as well? I thought she was quite good at that… no need for extra practice there…"
With a low, dangerous growl, Andrew intervened, "You don't take the only female student in this school – a beautiful girl with a well-toned body and legs the entire school has been drooling over ever since we hit puberty – spend two hours alone in a room, guiding her legs and be within close proximity of her all the while, and just "practice her kick" the entire time. Now perhaps if you wish to continue this game where you feign idiocy, we could fill in the others about what I witnessed last night, and ask what they feel you and Serena might have done – or should have done…" Andrew trailed, before meekly turning his gaze to Lord Leander, who was standing behind Endymion. For one, frightful moment, Andrew believed the Lord had overheard his conversation with Endymion – but that thought was quickly admonished.
Lord Leander cleared his throat, causing Endymion to give a startled turn in the direction of the noise. With a gruff voice, the red-haired, bearded man informed, "Prince Endymion – your father, His Highness King Philip, and Her Highness Queen Isabella of Spain, request your presence tonight, at the Westminster Castle. You are to be prompt for your drive, and be properly attired." With a final warning glance in Andrew's direction, he nodded to both and walked away.
"What was that about?" Andrew inquired, curiosity peaked.
"Frankly,
I'm not quite so sure myself. Anyways, I have to go…" Endymion finished,
getting up and pulling his satchel over his shoulder. Just before leaving the
lunchroom though, the dark-haired prince yelled over his shoulder, "If you even
think about telling anyone about last night… I will kill you."
"Are you threatening me, oh-Prince?" Andrew asked, teasingly.
Endymion's intentions were not to be averted though, "I wouldn't even dream of threatening you, oh cousin-of-a-Prince – that was a promise."
The
first class of the morning, Endymion swept into the classroom, heaving deep
breaths and giving, what he hoped to be, the most sincere, apologetic look he
could muster. He was late, having wandered the halls reminiscing about the
night before and losing his way.
Giving a distracted look in
Endymion's direction, the master just nodded, "Yes, yes… I suppose it will be
alright this time. Goodness knows the last time you were late was, four years
ago… I believe." Smiling to himself, the old master walked towards a pile of wooden
staffs. "Oh, Endymion - you will need a partner to spar with today."
Turning, he searched for Serena – he naturally believed they would be partners. They had been partners ever since she had beaten him the first time. Besides that, no other student could really hold a candle to the two – but today, he realized with bewilderment, that Serena already had a partner. She sat beside Greg, who was blushing profusely merely because of the proximity between him and the beautiful girl. He also appeared to be very nervous – he kept glancing around, until his eyes met Endymion's. Eyes widening in fear, he mouthed, "She made me."
Though he understood how persuasive his regular sparring partner could be, his anger would not be lessened. Left only with Greg's usual partner, Chad, Endymion picked up a staff distributed by the training master and began a flurry of attacks at Chad. Chad was just as nervous as Greg had ever been; in short, Endymion was pissed. Really pissed. Extremely pissed. You could almost see the prince's Spanish blood emit an aura of strength and superiority, and if it was possible, his dark blue eyes darkened to the color of a raging storm; alike in ferocity as well as color. Jesus! What the hell's going on between Serena and Endy? Chad thought, desperately trying to defend himself from the furious strikes of the prince.
She knew I wasn't ill, or injured today! A fuming Endymion thought to himself, meanwhile whipping around the staff and meeting Chad's quivering staff with a "Clack!" She's purposely, "Clack!" trying, "Clack!" to avoid me, "Clack!"
"Four years and you would think she would wait three blasted minutes!" He roared out loud, stunning Chad with his outburst long enough to switch his staff to his right hand, turn about, and met Chad's legs with a loud "Crack!" cracking the staff into two. "You," he snarled, pointing towards the only female in the room, "outside, now!"
Realizing, after staring at her expectantly and receiving nothing but defiant, indignant glares, that the stubborn girl would not come with him on her own accord, he stalked towards her and without hesitation, flung her small, lithe body over his shoulder and stormed out of the room, slamming the door on his way out. The class merely stared at the closed door for a few moments, then suddenly scrambled and shoved for a place at the door.
The prince stalked down the hall, ignoring the curious glances of those who passed by. One even looked as if he intended to rescue the kicking and screaming female hoisted over his shoulder – one menacing glare from the Prince quickly chased away any disillusions of such a notion.
Finally reaching a deserted hall, Endymion halted and dropped Serena to the ground. With a low growl, he said, "You're avoiding me. Why?"
One would expect such a petite frame of a girl to cower at such an intimidating tone – but Serena was still too pissed off to feel any other emotion than indignant anger. How dare he throw her over his shoulders like she was one of those sickening ladies of the court and demand anything with that tone. "What do you mean, I'm avoiding you? You were late, so I got another partner. Simple as that."
Eyes narrowing dangerously, Endymion spoke once again. "You know as well as I do that this has nothing to do with my punctuality. So we kissed – I thought that meant we were getting somewhere. At least I thought we were… just when I think I start to understand women…" he said, muttering the last part. He looked pensive for a moment, then was suddenly looking quite lost, exclaiming in a loud, exasperated voice, "What the hell did I do wrong?"
The blond merely stared at him in response, eyeing the ring insignia on his left hand, that which told of his rank as the Prince of Spain and heir to the throne. Hesitating, she finally spoke, "You're a prince – a prince of one of the greatest empires of the world. You can't marry me; you'd have to marry a princess, or empress, or some other ladylike girl that's stunningly beautiful. Take a look at me, Prince Endymion," here, a bitter note escaped her lips, "I'm not some princess – hell, I pummeled my ten year old brother when I was six for making fun of the dress I was wearing. I'm a lady knight – I've stomped on, ripped up, and burned every etiquette rule in existence about being a lady the day I stepped into this castle and started my training. No, your parents wouldn't approve – I'm not good enough for you." She spat, but her eyes began welling up, and embittered tears fell from her fair face.
Realization engulfed Endymion like a tidal wave, and he suddenly understood. Taking her into his arms, he hugged her reassuringly. Resting his chin amidst her golden hair, he thought for a moment, and then said with a quiet voice, "Marry me, Serena."
Startled, Serena looked up with wide eyes at her raven-haired companion. "What – what are you suggesting?" she asked in a quiet, frightful voice – as if she was in some surreal dream.
Smiling, he said with great certainty, "Exactly what I said. Marry me, and be my queen."
"You – you can't do that. You have to marry for the benefit for your country – for treaties, for – wealth, land -- power. You can't marry for love – it isn't done." And yet, Endymion glimpsed a sparkle of hope within her teary eyes, and was encouraged to persist.
"Of course we can, love – and that's' what I intend to tell my mother and father tonight when I convene with them tonight."
"Oh – oh Endy!" Serena exclaimed, with a cry of happiness. She lunged toward him and encircled her arms around his neck, her lips capturing his in a sweet, gentle kiss. "You've made me so happy!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excited joy. "Shall I see you tomorrow morning then?"
"Yes – oh, I just know the moment they meet you, they'll forget any obligation I might have to marry royalty. I shall bring them tomorrow, so you can meet them and dazzle them with your charm. That reminds me – I must be getting ready soon… until tomorrow then!" He added, running off to his dormitories.
Smiling to herself, she hummed a tune as she walked to the mess hall for supper.
Endymion was appropriately nervous at the moment, twisting his cloth napkin as he glanced nervously at his parents, then shifting his eyes back to his plate, which had remained untouched all evening. Announcing that you didn't intend to marry royalty when you were the Prince of Spain was a very perplexing demon to vanquish.
Raye was getting increasingly annoyed at her brother's fidgety state. He would glance back and forth to his parents, and to his plate. What she also noted was that his plate was empty – something that simply didn't occur in this dimension. Her brother, the cocky, obnoxious pig that he was – was never nervous either. Ha! She thought to herself, he must have done something horrible. Perhaps he got kicked out of school, she thought with a twisted humor. She gave him an expectant stare, but exasperated by his distracted state, dropped her fork with a delicate "ring" of its silver properties and said, "Alright – so what did you do?"
Endymion's eyes widened in a frightened horror – but he quickly placed a mask of confidence upon his face and met her blunt accusation with his own, "Whatever do you speak of, dear sister? I haven't done anything – you on the other hand, have repeatedly had your name paired with a certain knight quite recently. Now sister – I would never dream of accusing you of being untrue to your engaged, our lovely Prince Jadeite – but the rumors really do speak for themselves." He finished, flashing her a devious grin.
Raye, in response, turned a bright red, and spat out with a mean viciousness, "And what of you, dear brother? I have heard you and that lady knight, Serena, would spend every night together. Of course, it was veiled under the claim that you two were "practicing," but surely you know that a baroness is not good enough for the heir to Spain's throne? At least I am engaged to a Prince – it's coming rather close to your eighteenth birthday – but of course, you have some prospective royalty in mind?" Her violet eyes crackled with a fiery spirit as she saw her dear brother recoil at what she had mentioned. She had won this battle.
"Dammit!" the prince thought to himself, "you're so stupid, Endymion! Now that your damnable sister has brought up the subject, mother will be sure to…"
"That reminds me, my son," his mother interrupted
"… follow" he finished, groaning inwardly at how the such delicate topic was thrust out in such a manner. He looked up to meet his mother's eyes, and saw the same fiery determination he often saw in Raye when she was determined to do something. He didn't even want to dream of what she might say.
"Your father and I have been discussing this topic for quite some time now – delegating with other kings and queens and the sort. Raye brought up a good point," here, Raye gave a triumphant look, "you are nearing the age of eighteen, and we feel we have given you more than enough time to search for a wife. Since you appear to have some difficulty in deciding, your father and I have taken upon ourselves to decide for you. We have spoken with the Queen of England, and both sides have agreed it would be best if you married the Princess of England and join our two countries together. In other words – you are engaged to the Princess of England." Queen Isabella finished, searching the shell-shocked look in her son's eyes, wondering why he appeared to be so disturbed by such news. He knew this would happen eventually…
"But – but mother," he sputtered out, choking on his words,
"Now Endymion – we worked very hard for this agreement to come about. There will be no discussion about it. You are to marry the Princess, and you shall follow my orders accordingly." The King Phillip announced, rising from his seat and leaving the room, his wife following closely behind him.
"…Shit…" Endymion muttered under his breath, fully aware of the fact that the night's occurrence had just chased away any hopes of him and Serena ever marrying…
Author Notes: So!!!! What do you think? I made it EXTRA long for you guys, sorry for such a long wait. I got some great responses from all of you, and the chapters should start coming out more regularly now that exams are over. *dances around happily*.
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