By Tsuki1 aka Moonie1
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own it-so don't sue me...I also do not own the song 'Closer'-that beautiful ditty is by the Corrs^.^ Thankyou and have a nice day^.~ Notes: Thanks to Jen for putting up with my endless nagging and editing this for me. Thanks to Andi who beta's this for me (also was a victim of endless nagging by me...eh heh *sweat drop* sorry) And thankyou to you…yes you-the one with the face-you know who you are! Thankyou for reading this! ^.~ NEXT chapter!**...** = Song lyrics.
'...' = Thought.
~*~
Endymion dismounted from his horse and slowly walked towards her. As he approached,
leaves of golden brown and red danced lightly at their feet.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"What does it matter" she stated matter of factly.
He was close to her now, so close he could see the amazing sky- blue colour of her eyes.
Her milky white skin looked like silk to touch and her hair seemed to glisten in the
afternoon sun. His fingers ached to touch her but he managed to hold himself back.
' I don't even know her. How is she doing this to me!?'
"It matters because I say it does." His deep rich voice sent shivers up her spine, but she
wouldn't let him know that...not yet.
The girl laughed at him, the sound like silver bells."Why do you mock me?" He all but
growled at her, his ocean blue eyes boring into her own. She reached up to tenderly
brush a stray piece of his unruly raven hair from his eyes. Her touch electrified his senses
and made his eyes widen slightly.
"Oh Endy," she sighed, "So many questions; how about you answer mine?" He looked at
her quizzically.
"Tell me Prince, do you love her?"
"What?" His face filled with confusion, the effect she was having was driving him
insane.
"Lady Beryl, do you love her?" Her eyes searched his for an answer.
"I..." he stammered, the look she was giving him unnerved him yet excited him at the
same time. As she tilted her head up closer to his, he could feel her delicate breath on his
face.
"It's a simple question." She ran a slender finger down his face and once again,
something akin to electricity jolted through his system.
"Yes," she looked into his eyes, "or..."
"No" he finished for her. "No, I don't love her" he added softly. She smiled radiantly at
him. She was close, her lips were inches away from his. He could easily close the
distance and kiss the sweet smile from her face.
"Your Highness?" the magic of the moment was shattered, as the Prince turned his head
swiftly at the interuption.
"Prince Endymion?" another voice shouted from somewhere within the forest. 'The
guards most likely' the Prince thought with a hint of petulance. He turned to face where
the girl was, but all he saw were the leaves still fluttering their own endless dance.
She was gone.
~*~
Angrily, Endymion threw back the covers. He hadn't slept a wink since the archery
contest, and it hadn't been because he had lost. He just couldn't stop thinking about that
girl...no, that woman.
With the blinding rays of sun in his eyes, he sighed in frustration, his handsome features
creasing slightly.
Today was the first day of the harvest festival. Every year the palace grounds would fill
with groups of entertainers from throughout the kingdom. His younger sister, Cecily
specially loved the festival; meeting all the different people in their brightly coloured
clothes and hearing all their stories. Being only 8, she was still very much an innocent
girl seeing the good in everyone.
Smiling, he prayed that she would never change.
Inevitably however, his thoughts soon turned back to his encounter with the mysterious
yet incredibly beautiful golden haired woman.
He pictured the wind lightly playing with her hair and how the sun had made it glisten
like stars. Rubbing a hand over the back of his stiff neck, he peered up at the ceiling.
"Perhaps she was just some crazy illusion," he mused. Shaking his head from distraction,
he went about preparing for the days festivities.
~*~
"Can we go over there now Endy? Pleeeaase!?" A petite brown haired girl with large
blue eyes tugged on her brother's arm imploringly.
"Over where Cecily?"
She pointed to where a crowd was forming. Motioning to the guards to provide a space at
the front of the crowd, Endymion guided his sister through. A travelling band, their
clothes of bright oranges, greens and browns were getting ready on stage.
His attention was caught by a girl with pale, blonde hair as she stepped up to the front of
the small band. The girl's hair hung down to almost her knees. She wore a simple
sleeveless blue dress with a belt hung around her slim waist. The band began to play and
her voice immediately captured the audiences attention.
**I see you, walking everyday, with a smile beneath frown,
But I won't look away, yeah, what does it mean?
What's there to see? If I look closer, closer,
Closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer,
Where are you going? And what are you thinking at all?
Your eyes show nothing more, than a dazed oblivion,
What does it mean? What will I see?
When I look closer, closer, closer, closer, closer,
Closer, closer, closer, ah, yeah,**
Her eyes flickered towards his as the song went on, sky blue orbs fixing on pools of
cobalt. Something about her sparked recognition within him but he couldn't place it, her
gaze capturing him even more.
**You don't see me, watching everyday,
my smile could warm your frown,
And I'd never look away never look away,
There's more to me There's more to me,
Than what you see, when you look closer, closer, closer,
Closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer,
Closer, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Closer, closer, closer, no, no, no**
Her voice was that of an angel and even though the song had finished, neither Endymion
or the girl broke eye contact.
That is until Cecily pulled on his hand. Before he could say or do anything, he was face
to face with the mystery girl and the rest of the band. A middle-aged man with silver hair
who had been playing the drums bowed to them.
"Your Highness," he gazed down at Cecily. "Princess," he smiled at her warmly. "Did
you like our performance?"
"Oh yes! It was absolutely wonderful!" The young princess gushed. She peered up at the
singing girl. "You have a beautiful voice," she said shyly. The girl knelt down so she
was eye level with Cecily.
"Thank you Princess, I'm honoured you liked it." Cecily beamed at her.
"Oh I did! Your hair..." she gently lifted a piece and let it run through her fingers. "Its so
pretty, and so soft! I wish my hair was as pretty as yours. Feel her hair Endy! Its
like..like silk!" she breathed. The Prince uncharacteristically gulped nervously.
"Uh...I'll take your word for it." The girl didn't look up at him, but he could tell she was
smiling. Again recognition sparked within him.
"Are you a Princess?" His sister enquired. The girl giggled, "You are the Princess here."
She lightly tapped Cecily's nose, causing her to also giggle.
"We must go child." The silver haired man placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Of course. It was an honour to meet you Princess, and you Prince Endymion." She
smiled as she stood and followed the rest of her band mates.
~*~
Endymion was still wracking his brains at the end of the day, trying to remember where
he recognised the girl from. As the entertaining groups were packing up, his question
was answered.
Noticing the mystery girl's band, he searched the group hoping to catch another glance
of her. Walking closer to them, he was able to put 2 and 2 together.
There, standing next to her pale chestnut horse was the mysterious singer. Her sunshine
coloured hair was plaited down her back and she was wearing clothes similar to those
she had worn the day of the archery contest. This time, however, she wore no mask.
Endymion was stunned; the singer and the challenger were one and the same.
Her eyes lifted at that moment, as if sensing someone watching, and connected with his.
Seeing his realisation, she smiled coyly at him before mounting her horse and riding off
with the rest of her company.
~*~
Feel free to review-opinions much appreciated^.^
Siggy_johnston@optusnet.com.au