Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the characters belong to their rightful author Naoko Takeuchi.
Signs:
"speaking"
' thinking'
[telepathic]
----------------
Hidden Princess
Eliame
Chapter 1.0
Dedicated to my mother, who has to take more than she deserves at the moment.
----------------
... As the two riders entered the forest near the lake, Moonlight let Silverfly slow down to a trot and waited for Endymion to do the same which the prince did only seconds later, waiting for her to draw up beside him again. A nervous smile appeared on Moonlight's face as he smiled at her, while his eyes looked expectantly at her. The healer hadn't spoken since they had departed from the lake and the prince had given her time to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Now he waited for her to speak. "What can you tell me about the Moon Court, Endymion? And what happened after the princess vanished?", she asked finally softly averting her eyes from his to look in front of them. All the time that they had ridden in silence the young woman had played with her thoughts and debated about the strange flashes she had had when she had met the princesses and the queen. Finally she had come to the decision that she had to solve the mystery to understand, but to do so she needed help which she hoped her companion would provide her.
She had also started to accept the possibility that she was the Moon Princess and wanted to find how the vanishing had affected the people of the moon. When Moonlight let her gaze wander back to the prince she looked confused at the surprised expression she saw on his face. "I apologise for asking, Endymion.", the healer said quickly returning her gaze again on the path before them. "You do not have to apologise, Moonlight, but may I ask why you are asking about the princess?", her companion's soothing voice came, after he had finally come over his shock. A smile had lit on his face as he had noticed her referring to him by his first name, taking up the habit as well.
"Of course you may ask, Endymion. It's because I am somehow connected to her and her vanishing, even if I do not surely know how at this moment.", she answered her face growing soft, but at the same time sad and fearful, as she held her gaze on the path. The rider beside her was surprised once more and couldn't stop himself from asking another question. " How do you feel connected to her?", he asked still surprised. "She is somehow connected to my past.", Moonlight stated thoughtful her expression turning serious. When she turned to face Endymion once again to stop the question on his lips she looked apologetically. "But I know about my past as much as you do, Endymion.", she added softly and the prince's eyes widen. 'So she has lost her memory.', he noted and then remembered what she had asked, deciding to answer her questions before he would voice the last question that was on his mind. The prince knew she would either answer truthfully or remain silent.
He smiled at her which she returned before he fixed his eyes in the distance. "The Moon Royals are Queen Selenity and Princess Serenity. King Solaris was killed in a war on Earth, fighting a force which was called the Negaverse. It vanished from the planet afterwards but we do not know with total certainty, if it was defeated. But that was not your question. Part of the Moon Court are also the four Princesses of the Inner Planets who are also the Sailor Senshi. They came to the Moon on the princess' second birthday and vowed to protect her with their lives if necessary. Over the years they absolved their training on the moon and became the best friends of Princess Serenity.", Endymion began and Moonlight's eyes widen as new flashes filled her mind, showing every angle of the palace she had only remembered glimpses of so far, as well as two speaking cats, four girls training in swordsmanship, the queen seemingly scolding her and many other happy, sad, loving, exciting and frustrating occasions.
Endymion felt an uneasy feeling about Moonlight nagging at the back of his mind, as he paused for a moment but he pushed it aside and continued speaking. "The four princesses as well as the queen where always good spirited and social but when the princess vanished the queen became withdraw. The princesses became obsessed with their guilt as they had not been able to save their best friend like they had vowed and so they began to search for her. They believe that Princess Serenity is still alive and would not ever give up hope of finding her. I am amazed at how loyal they are to their friend. The princess must have been a really special person. Not only the court was devastated by her vanishing. The people searched for her a whole year and then did not even have the heart to declare her dead. That was four years ago and the princess' vanishing is still a mystery to all.", he finished while Moonlight lived once again through the scene where the riders had persuaded her. 'I...am Serenity.', she finally comprehended after she had come over the shock of all the memories. 'I am the Moon Princess.', she told herself slowly and gasped.
Endymion turned to face her and his eyes grew concerned as he saw her shocked expression. " Are you alright, Moonlight?", he asked and she nodded slowly but he didn't really believe her. Still he remained silent seeing that she needed time to come to terms with whatever had happened while he had answered her question. His question would have to wait.
The healer in the meantime tried to calm herself to be able to think rationally again. ' Calm down, Sere. ... Yes, Sere, my nickname.', she remembered and smiled, tears pooling in her eyes. Quickly brushing them away she was aware of Endymion watching her. Turning to him she looked apologetically. "Take your time and sort out whatever is troubling you. If you need to talk with someone, I am here.", he told her softly, even if he was concerned and she nodded gratefully before the two sank into silence.
Flashes of her dream once again came back to the young woman riding on Silverfly. ' What where the last words my persuader has spoken?', it shot through her mind and the words echoed through her mind. ~ It will be a pleasure to bring her to Lord Se...~ ' What is the full name of the Lord? What would he want with me?', question over question formed in her mind and she grew more and more confused. In the meantime the Prince of Earth didn't cease to watch her. ' What has happened while I answered her question? Could she know something or could she have remembered something?', he asked himself at the same time worrying if she would be alright. The sun rose in the sky as they two were deep in their thoughts. When Moonlight finally looked up with the intention to tell her companion everything and to ask him to help her, she was met with the sight of the great gates of Vendish. Surprised she stopped what she was about to do and decided to fulfil her duty to the Lord's wife first.
Endymion frowned a bit as he saw her stop from speaking to him, but he slowly decided not to push her and so the two rode up to the gates. When the guards saw him arriving, Endymion saw Moonlight drawing up her hood out of the corner of her eyes. The guards bowed greeting him with a " Welcome to Vendish, Your Highness. We will immediately inform the Lord.". With that one of them turned while Endymion and Moonlight passed through the door. "I welcome you as well, Healer. We have not awaited you for another week.", a richly clothed but friendly looking man on a horse who waited for them on the street, leading through the village and up to the castle, stated. "The Lord requested my presence earlier, Sir Mark.", she told him softly slipping into formal mode again. Endymion smiled as he watched her before he was addressed.
"It is nice to welcome here as well, Your Highness. I guess the princesses and the queen will arrive shortly and I see you are already acquainted with Healer.", came the friendly welcome and Endymion grinned. "Yes, indeed and thank you for the warm welcome, Sir Mark.", the prince replied. "I am sorry to have to cut this conversation short but the Lord needs me. I am sure we will meet again in the next days, won't we, Sir Mark?", came the apologetic voice of Moonlight and the man smiled brightly nodding before he left them to continue their way quickly. "How did you get acquainted?", Endymion asked, wanting to know the relation between the two. Moonlight smiled under her hood. "I healed his son two years ago and lost consciousness afterwards as I had drawn on to much energy. When I woke up his son and his son's wife thanked me before they left while he and the lady invited me to dinner. He has become like a father to me over all the times I have been here to heal.", she told him and he was surprised as he let go of a breath he hadn't know he had held.
' I love her.', it suddenly became clear to him and he sighed. ' But I can't help but feel that their is more to her. Whatever the mystery is about her I have the feeling that I won't find out until she tells me.', he concluded watching her out of the corner of his eye before he focused his attention on the court they had just entered. He was surprised when he found the Lord personally waiting for them, a somewhat worried but at the same time relieved expression on his face. The two halted their horses in the middle of the court while Lord Castal waited at the entrance of the castle. The two dismounted and there was immediately a stableman who lead their horses away.
The pair began to walk into the direction of the entrance when Moonlight suddenly spoke up. " Endymion.", she said softly, drawing back her hood once again and Endymion looked down at her. "Can you spare some time for us to talk after I shall have taken a look at Lady Sabrin?", she asked her eyes looking hopefully up at him. The prince was flooded with warmth and smiled. "Did I not tell you that I would be there if you needed to talk, kind lady?", he asked a bit teasing and a hue of pink spread on the healer's cheeks before she smiled thankfully and nodded.
"Welcome, Your Highness, as well as you, fair Moonlight. I thank you for coming on my request.", Lord Castal greeted them when they reached him. The healer smiled. "But may I asked where Sir Frederick is?", he asked after a minute, his face growing concerned. "Do not worry, kind Lord. He was exhaust when we reached the royal camp and as a healer I had to restrain him from riding further. Prince Endymion was so kind to accompany me. The rest of the royals will arrive tomorrow. But tell me what seems to be wrong with your wife?", she answered smiling apologetically while the Lord looked for affirmation from the prince who nodded, before turning back to her, his face growing concerned. "She seems to have some bad case of the flu and is rather tired. She also seems to not be able to hold much down.", he explained worriedly and the young woman in front of him nodded in understanding, having an inkling what could be the cause.
She knew that the Lord and the Lady weren't married for more than three years and that Castal had taken the lead of Vendish Castle two years ago, when his father had retired. "Does the master bedroom still have the same location and has another healer already looked at the lady, Sir?", she asked calmly while Endymion stood by and waited until the matter was solved and the lord could concentrate on him. "Yes, my lady, it is still located in the same ward and no, we unfortunately don't have a healer at the current time, as our passed on about a month ago. We have already sent a request to the palace but it will take another week for him to arrive. That is also one of the other reason why I asked for your presence before time.", Castal answered truthfully.
"I understand, kind Lord.", the healer said nodding before she looked at him smiling. "I shall take a look at your wife now and shall meet you in the throne room when I am finished, if that suggestion meets with your agreement, Sir.", she asked and on his affirming nod she asked Endymion to wait for her there as well. The prince smiled softly at her while confirming that he would do so. The two man looked after her as she walked up the door. "There is no need to worry, kind Lord.", she said softly without turning before entering the castle. Castal sighed. "I am sorry for not immediately paying attention to you, Your Highness.", he said somewhat guilty as he turned to his other guest but Endymion smiled and denied the fact. "I guess we should go and wait for news from your wife, Lord Castal.", he suggested sympathetically and Castal looked grateful, nodding his head before the two men vanished into the castle as well.
...
+++++++++++++++++
A/N: Chapter 10, yay. Chapter 11 in a week.
Eliame
Thank you for reviewing. So much told me they liked it and that really helped me write this chapter. Thank you all.
Signs:
"speaking"
' thinking'
[telepathic]
----------------
Hidden Princess
Eliame
Chapter 1.0
Dedicated to my mother, who has to take more than she deserves at the moment.
----------------
... As the two riders entered the forest near the lake, Moonlight let Silverfly slow down to a trot and waited for Endymion to do the same which the prince did only seconds later, waiting for her to draw up beside him again. A nervous smile appeared on Moonlight's face as he smiled at her, while his eyes looked expectantly at her. The healer hadn't spoken since they had departed from the lake and the prince had given her time to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Now he waited for her to speak. "What can you tell me about the Moon Court, Endymion? And what happened after the princess vanished?", she asked finally softly averting her eyes from his to look in front of them. All the time that they had ridden in silence the young woman had played with her thoughts and debated about the strange flashes she had had when she had met the princesses and the queen. Finally she had come to the decision that she had to solve the mystery to understand, but to do so she needed help which she hoped her companion would provide her.
She had also started to accept the possibility that she was the Moon Princess and wanted to find how the vanishing had affected the people of the moon. When Moonlight let her gaze wander back to the prince she looked confused at the surprised expression she saw on his face. "I apologise for asking, Endymion.", the healer said quickly returning her gaze again on the path before them. "You do not have to apologise, Moonlight, but may I ask why you are asking about the princess?", her companion's soothing voice came, after he had finally come over his shock. A smile had lit on his face as he had noticed her referring to him by his first name, taking up the habit as well.
"Of course you may ask, Endymion. It's because I am somehow connected to her and her vanishing, even if I do not surely know how at this moment.", she answered her face growing soft, but at the same time sad and fearful, as she held her gaze on the path. The rider beside her was surprised once more and couldn't stop himself from asking another question. " How do you feel connected to her?", he asked still surprised. "She is somehow connected to my past.", Moonlight stated thoughtful her expression turning serious. When she turned to face Endymion once again to stop the question on his lips she looked apologetically. "But I know about my past as much as you do, Endymion.", she added softly and the prince's eyes widen. 'So she has lost her memory.', he noted and then remembered what she had asked, deciding to answer her questions before he would voice the last question that was on his mind. The prince knew she would either answer truthfully or remain silent.
He smiled at her which she returned before he fixed his eyes in the distance. "The Moon Royals are Queen Selenity and Princess Serenity. King Solaris was killed in a war on Earth, fighting a force which was called the Negaverse. It vanished from the planet afterwards but we do not know with total certainty, if it was defeated. But that was not your question. Part of the Moon Court are also the four Princesses of the Inner Planets who are also the Sailor Senshi. They came to the Moon on the princess' second birthday and vowed to protect her with their lives if necessary. Over the years they absolved their training on the moon and became the best friends of Princess Serenity.", Endymion began and Moonlight's eyes widen as new flashes filled her mind, showing every angle of the palace she had only remembered glimpses of so far, as well as two speaking cats, four girls training in swordsmanship, the queen seemingly scolding her and many other happy, sad, loving, exciting and frustrating occasions.
Endymion felt an uneasy feeling about Moonlight nagging at the back of his mind, as he paused for a moment but he pushed it aside and continued speaking. "The four princesses as well as the queen where always good spirited and social but when the princess vanished the queen became withdraw. The princesses became obsessed with their guilt as they had not been able to save their best friend like they had vowed and so they began to search for her. They believe that Princess Serenity is still alive and would not ever give up hope of finding her. I am amazed at how loyal they are to their friend. The princess must have been a really special person. Not only the court was devastated by her vanishing. The people searched for her a whole year and then did not even have the heart to declare her dead. That was four years ago and the princess' vanishing is still a mystery to all.", he finished while Moonlight lived once again through the scene where the riders had persuaded her. 'I...am Serenity.', she finally comprehended after she had come over the shock of all the memories. 'I am the Moon Princess.', she told herself slowly and gasped.
Endymion turned to face her and his eyes grew concerned as he saw her shocked expression. " Are you alright, Moonlight?", he asked and she nodded slowly but he didn't really believe her. Still he remained silent seeing that she needed time to come to terms with whatever had happened while he had answered her question. His question would have to wait.
The healer in the meantime tried to calm herself to be able to think rationally again. ' Calm down, Sere. ... Yes, Sere, my nickname.', she remembered and smiled, tears pooling in her eyes. Quickly brushing them away she was aware of Endymion watching her. Turning to him she looked apologetically. "Take your time and sort out whatever is troubling you. If you need to talk with someone, I am here.", he told her softly, even if he was concerned and she nodded gratefully before the two sank into silence.
Flashes of her dream once again came back to the young woman riding on Silverfly. ' What where the last words my persuader has spoken?', it shot through her mind and the words echoed through her mind. ~ It will be a pleasure to bring her to Lord Se...~ ' What is the full name of the Lord? What would he want with me?', question over question formed in her mind and she grew more and more confused. In the meantime the Prince of Earth didn't cease to watch her. ' What has happened while I answered her question? Could she know something or could she have remembered something?', he asked himself at the same time worrying if she would be alright. The sun rose in the sky as they two were deep in their thoughts. When Moonlight finally looked up with the intention to tell her companion everything and to ask him to help her, she was met with the sight of the great gates of Vendish. Surprised she stopped what she was about to do and decided to fulfil her duty to the Lord's wife first.
Endymion frowned a bit as he saw her stop from speaking to him, but he slowly decided not to push her and so the two rode up to the gates. When the guards saw him arriving, Endymion saw Moonlight drawing up her hood out of the corner of her eyes. The guards bowed greeting him with a " Welcome to Vendish, Your Highness. We will immediately inform the Lord.". With that one of them turned while Endymion and Moonlight passed through the door. "I welcome you as well, Healer. We have not awaited you for another week.", a richly clothed but friendly looking man on a horse who waited for them on the street, leading through the village and up to the castle, stated. "The Lord requested my presence earlier, Sir Mark.", she told him softly slipping into formal mode again. Endymion smiled as he watched her before he was addressed.
"It is nice to welcome here as well, Your Highness. I guess the princesses and the queen will arrive shortly and I see you are already acquainted with Healer.", came the friendly welcome and Endymion grinned. "Yes, indeed and thank you for the warm welcome, Sir Mark.", the prince replied. "I am sorry to have to cut this conversation short but the Lord needs me. I am sure we will meet again in the next days, won't we, Sir Mark?", came the apologetic voice of Moonlight and the man smiled brightly nodding before he left them to continue their way quickly. "How did you get acquainted?", Endymion asked, wanting to know the relation between the two. Moonlight smiled under her hood. "I healed his son two years ago and lost consciousness afterwards as I had drawn on to much energy. When I woke up his son and his son's wife thanked me before they left while he and the lady invited me to dinner. He has become like a father to me over all the times I have been here to heal.", she told him and he was surprised as he let go of a breath he hadn't know he had held.
' I love her.', it suddenly became clear to him and he sighed. ' But I can't help but feel that their is more to her. Whatever the mystery is about her I have the feeling that I won't find out until she tells me.', he concluded watching her out of the corner of his eye before he focused his attention on the court they had just entered. He was surprised when he found the Lord personally waiting for them, a somewhat worried but at the same time relieved expression on his face. The two halted their horses in the middle of the court while Lord Castal waited at the entrance of the castle. The two dismounted and there was immediately a stableman who lead their horses away.
The pair began to walk into the direction of the entrance when Moonlight suddenly spoke up. " Endymion.", she said softly, drawing back her hood once again and Endymion looked down at her. "Can you spare some time for us to talk after I shall have taken a look at Lady Sabrin?", she asked her eyes looking hopefully up at him. The prince was flooded with warmth and smiled. "Did I not tell you that I would be there if you needed to talk, kind lady?", he asked a bit teasing and a hue of pink spread on the healer's cheeks before she smiled thankfully and nodded.
"Welcome, Your Highness, as well as you, fair Moonlight. I thank you for coming on my request.", Lord Castal greeted them when they reached him. The healer smiled. "But may I asked where Sir Frederick is?", he asked after a minute, his face growing concerned. "Do not worry, kind Lord. He was exhaust when we reached the royal camp and as a healer I had to restrain him from riding further. Prince Endymion was so kind to accompany me. The rest of the royals will arrive tomorrow. But tell me what seems to be wrong with your wife?", she answered smiling apologetically while the Lord looked for affirmation from the prince who nodded, before turning back to her, his face growing concerned. "She seems to have some bad case of the flu and is rather tired. She also seems to not be able to hold much down.", he explained worriedly and the young woman in front of him nodded in understanding, having an inkling what could be the cause.
She knew that the Lord and the Lady weren't married for more than three years and that Castal had taken the lead of Vendish Castle two years ago, when his father had retired. "Does the master bedroom still have the same location and has another healer already looked at the lady, Sir?", she asked calmly while Endymion stood by and waited until the matter was solved and the lord could concentrate on him. "Yes, my lady, it is still located in the same ward and no, we unfortunately don't have a healer at the current time, as our passed on about a month ago. We have already sent a request to the palace but it will take another week for him to arrive. That is also one of the other reason why I asked for your presence before time.", Castal answered truthfully.
"I understand, kind Lord.", the healer said nodding before she looked at him smiling. "I shall take a look at your wife now and shall meet you in the throne room when I am finished, if that suggestion meets with your agreement, Sir.", she asked and on his affirming nod she asked Endymion to wait for her there as well. The prince smiled softly at her while confirming that he would do so. The two man looked after her as she walked up the door. "There is no need to worry, kind Lord.", she said softly without turning before entering the castle. Castal sighed. "I am sorry for not immediately paying attention to you, Your Highness.", he said somewhat guilty as he turned to his other guest but Endymion smiled and denied the fact. "I guess we should go and wait for news from your wife, Lord Castal.", he suggested sympathetically and Castal looked grateful, nodding his head before the two men vanished into the castle as well.
...
+++++++++++++++++
A/N: Chapter 10, yay. Chapter 11 in a week.
Eliame
Thank you for reviewing. So much told me they liked it and that really helped me write this chapter. Thank you all.
