~~~Chapter 8~~~
"Jadeite's back sweet Serenity." Endymion whispered into Serenity's ear as she sat reading a book in one of the bay window chairs.
"Already? What of Rianet, is she well?" Serenity looked up concerned.
"No, they're fine, just had some bad weather all week and had to stay indoors, such a pity."
Endymion grinned as realization washed over Serenity's face in a blush. "I must be sure to talk to them. Will you be joining me Endymion, or do you have other things to do?"
"I will join."
They talked to Rianet and Jadeite for hours, all parents coming in every once in a while to have a chat with them as well, and send condolences that they had been cut short from their leave, Rianet only beamed while Jadeite smoothly replied that what ever was missed out there wouldn't be for long no matter where they were.
A few days past and Endymion seemed to be spending an awful amount of time with Serenity's father, always in secret and her mother would join a few times. Serenity strolled the halls looking for secret passageways that she never knew as a child and visiting old ones. She ended up in the library at the end of most days, Rianet and Jadeite were together being love birds and even her cousin came to visit this week, but Lord Malachite joined as well so Serenity was left all to her self. But strangely Endymion's mother and Rianet's father talked to her in passing but they seemed off in their own world as well. Everywhere she looked Serenity was seeing people in love and she felt lonesome. That's when she received a letter from another princess, one who lived in a palace not too far from here that Serenity had met by chance, she had ridden too far on horseback from her joy ride in the country side and joined into the small kingdom. The princess was named Amelia; she invited Serenity for a lunch in town. They had gotten together before on occasion and always hit it off very well. Amelia was kind with short bluish tinted black hair and soft baby blue eyes. Serenity was happy, now she had something to do!
So Serenity joined up with Amelia at a small tab for a keep, it was cheery, the owners were pleasant and made their eatery very nice. A mixture of purples and pinks made it feminine yet strong at the same time. They sat there having conversations when the wedding between Rianet and Jadeite popped up, Serenity wasn't sure who started it, but she doubted she brought it up. "So how did you and Rianet meet? How old were you and what was it like?"
"I was 10, I had been in the gardens when they came on royal business, their daughter, Rianet came and talked to me, I was a little intimidated of her at first, she seemed so wild, so passionate, so, I don't know, fiery, that made me want to take notice of her but also wanted to make me moved away very slowly. But after a few years she seemed to mellow and start having an interest in boys, I joined her and we've been friends for about 10 years now. I came to meet Jadeite when I joined Rianet for her summer trip, my parents agreeing to it because they needed me out of town so they could throw together a ball for old people living near by."
"So you don't live that close." Amelia seemed greatly disappointed. "I realize we haven't talked that much, and I probably jumped to the wrong conclusion about being friends with me, it's just, I don't have anybody I can really talk to around here. Prince Endymion, I'm sure you met him already is quite the ladies' man, yet he never seems to bother with bringing them home. He talks to them and then leaves, but I don't know, he's always seemed to scream taken to me, and don't come near unless you want to end up 6 feet under."
"I can't see why anyone would be intimidated by that big baby, he's such a softy at heart, I don't think he could hurt anyone."
"Don't talk so fast, I'm sure you just met him when your friend got married, you can't be of a decent judge."
"Trust me, I've known him long enough to know what he's like and what he's not like." Serenity stated self-assured, her nose wrinkling a little bit as she nodded.
"Well if you're sure, ok." Amelia shrugged. "Now, don't you like this place it's got such a refined taste to it don't you think?"
Amelia visited every once in awhile and Serenity would ride to see her. When not exploring the castle, talking to her friend or being bored out of her mind, Serenity retired to the library, going through it's massive amounts of books for anything that interested her. As of late she was reading a Vampire book about how to kill one, and what was fake about them. Like they didn't wear capes and sleep in coffins, and how a stake through the heart wouldn't kill them. And how holy water or crucifixes didn't affect them. Garlic was an urban legend not to be used at any cost. Serenity was just getting to a good part about how the vampires were made when the book was stolen from her hands. She looked up an outrage upon her lips, ready to scold all who bothered her, but it died upon the full red lips as her breath stopped. She hadn't seen him in days. "Come Serenity, we must go to the great hall." Was all that needed to be said; he didn't want to ruin the mood of seeing each other again in so long.
Serenity followed Endymion to the dinner room and everybody sat down waiting for dinner as they came through. "Hello everybody." She smiled. They responded in kind, and seemed to just stare at her waiting for something.
"I would like to ask something before we eat." Endymion said. Everybody nodded eagerly. "King Louis, may I have your daughter's hand in marriage?"
"You may young prince, only if my daughter agrees."
"Serenity would you marry me?" Serenity kissed him. "Arrange the marriage." He declared, taking that as a yes.
It was all that Serenity wanted, but she couldn't help feeling like it was a little pushed for the wrong reasons. She knew he loved her, but she wasn't sure whether or not he realized it yet, so she had to reply as she did. "Wait."
"What? You're all that I ever wanted, you're beautiful."
"Thank you, but what else." That was definitely not what not what Serenity expected him to say.
"What else?" Endymion was at a loss of words.
"Is beauty all that matters to you?" Serenity was now very curious.
"What else is there?" Endymion knew in his heart when he said beauty it meant everything including looks, but he couldn't get the words out and he knew he lost her at that moment.
She looked around him to her family and friends. "I'm sorry everyone, but I'm not hungry right now." She turned and left.
"Way to go Endymion, what else is there?" Jadeite shook his head disapprovingly. "I would smack you over the head if I was next to you right now."
Endymion ignored his friend. "I'm sorry King Louis."
"It's all right boy, I know what your going through, I did the same thing with my wife, except I said you rich, what else is there? They get over it once you apologize correctly and mend their belief in you."
"Now we have to find another princess." Queen Babbet ignored all thought of them getting together again, she knew Serenity probably would never set foot near this place again. "What with your opinion and demand: 'your beautiful, so we marry' deal." She growled. "I am going to go make plans." She too left the dinning room angry with Endymion.
Queen Claudia sympathized with Endymion as she stood. "Prince Endymion, I'll go talk to them and try to make them see. Everything will be all right, just wait." Claudia decided to talk to her daughter first, get an understanding of exactly what was wrong and how much time roughly before it was fixed. But as she reached her daughter's door her heart went out her. The sound was pitiful and depressing, she opened the door quietly and slowly before she went in and sat down next to her daughter. She placed a hand on Serenity's back as she lay there on her stomach crying. "Oh dear, I'm sorry, it's not what you wanted, I know. But I've never seen you so worked up about an offer gone wrong, many people have asked you already some worse then his. Even Malachite asked badly, yet you didn't mind and said no to him very calm and polite, like he was just some kid asking."
"But that's because I hadn't known them forever, and I knew Malachite didn't like me that way, nor I him. But Endymion, he, he was different, I had a connection with him that I didn't have with anybody else, and he blotted this all up. It would have been a very easy answer, and it would have gone smoothly and we would have been married soon, but now I may never marry somebody I love." Serenity cried.
"Honey, give him a chance, I talked to him this last week, we were talking about you and he told me all these wonderful memories of you and how special you were, your beauty never came up."
"Really?" Serenity whipped her eyes and looked to her mother.
"Yes, really, but if you wish we could leave in 2 days and go home, some distance might do you some good and we'll come back during a winter season, like a change in tradition? It might break some hold keeping everything the same."
"I would like that, thank you."
"Anything for my daughter, now though I have to keep your future mother in law from ruining our plans, I think she believes you never loved her son, and it also seems everything she plans goes to ruins so she wants some control over events. I think she's fearful that she and King William won't marry."
"I knew there was something going on there I just wasn't sure." Serenity giggled. "Thank you mother, you always know what to say to me to make me happy again."
"It's the least I can do within the time I actually spend with you."
"Don't say that, I understand, and I get enough time with you, I know girls who have mean mothers and their fathers are never home, gone days at a time, they hardly know them. I at least have two very loving parents that I know very well."
"And I have one very sweet gorgeous daughter that is smart and carefree when she can be." Claudia smoothed her daughter's hair. "I'll get Minako in here later tomorrow, she would like to talk to you, she feels like you've been avoiding her this last year."
"Do tell her I'm sorry, I wasn't avoiding her, just avoiding all those love filled glances they were sending at each other and I didn't want to intrude."
"I'm sure she'll understand. Good night dear."
"Good night mother." Serenity yawned; she was more tired than she thought. She closed the door after her mother left and changed into her sleeping clothes. They consisted of a silk like texture light reddish orange pants and a matching top that was native to the Chinese culture. It had sleeves ending below the shoulders and it went down to mid-thigh in flaps from the waist down. She folded back the comforter and sheets of her bed and slipped into it. She fell fast asleep.
-
Serenity's mother upon leaving her daughter walked to her friend's bedroom. "Queen Babbet, it is I, Claudia, I wish to speak to you about our children."
"Come in, but you may not be able to sway me, Endymion's a jerk, I should have realized it long ago and corrected it, but I didn't realize he was so shallow."
"Endymion's not shallow, my husband was the same way. He didn't know how to express his feelings when pressed, he finally learned how to, it just took him some time." Claudia reassured. "We're leaving in 2 days, this will give Endymion a little time to try and make it up to her now. She likes him, and I believe she loves him, but she needs this one reassurance before they marry that it isn't just looks that he likes about her. We'll be back in the winter months sometime, hopefully he won't be married off by then, I don't know what Serenity would do if that happened."
"All right, I'll hold off pressuring him for a year, no longer, I want him to be happy, but he also needs a family, he can't be a bachelor forever." Babbet pouted. "I won't let him go down that way."
"Deal." Claudia shook her hand. "They will be at least courting within a year."
"No, engaged." Babbet looked sternly at her. "Nothing less, I could have said married, but that wouldn't do would it?"
"Engaged then, I'll see you tomorrow, I must continue on to bed."
"Good night dear friend." Babbet patted Claudia's back.
"Jadeite's back sweet Serenity." Endymion whispered into Serenity's ear as she sat reading a book in one of the bay window chairs.
"Already? What of Rianet, is she well?" Serenity looked up concerned.
"No, they're fine, just had some bad weather all week and had to stay indoors, such a pity."
Endymion grinned as realization washed over Serenity's face in a blush. "I must be sure to talk to them. Will you be joining me Endymion, or do you have other things to do?"
"I will join."
They talked to Rianet and Jadeite for hours, all parents coming in every once in a while to have a chat with them as well, and send condolences that they had been cut short from their leave, Rianet only beamed while Jadeite smoothly replied that what ever was missed out there wouldn't be for long no matter where they were.
A few days past and Endymion seemed to be spending an awful amount of time with Serenity's father, always in secret and her mother would join a few times. Serenity strolled the halls looking for secret passageways that she never knew as a child and visiting old ones. She ended up in the library at the end of most days, Rianet and Jadeite were together being love birds and even her cousin came to visit this week, but Lord Malachite joined as well so Serenity was left all to her self. But strangely Endymion's mother and Rianet's father talked to her in passing but they seemed off in their own world as well. Everywhere she looked Serenity was seeing people in love and she felt lonesome. That's when she received a letter from another princess, one who lived in a palace not too far from here that Serenity had met by chance, she had ridden too far on horseback from her joy ride in the country side and joined into the small kingdom. The princess was named Amelia; she invited Serenity for a lunch in town. They had gotten together before on occasion and always hit it off very well. Amelia was kind with short bluish tinted black hair and soft baby blue eyes. Serenity was happy, now she had something to do!
So Serenity joined up with Amelia at a small tab for a keep, it was cheery, the owners were pleasant and made their eatery very nice. A mixture of purples and pinks made it feminine yet strong at the same time. They sat there having conversations when the wedding between Rianet and Jadeite popped up, Serenity wasn't sure who started it, but she doubted she brought it up. "So how did you and Rianet meet? How old were you and what was it like?"
"I was 10, I had been in the gardens when they came on royal business, their daughter, Rianet came and talked to me, I was a little intimidated of her at first, she seemed so wild, so passionate, so, I don't know, fiery, that made me want to take notice of her but also wanted to make me moved away very slowly. But after a few years she seemed to mellow and start having an interest in boys, I joined her and we've been friends for about 10 years now. I came to meet Jadeite when I joined Rianet for her summer trip, my parents agreeing to it because they needed me out of town so they could throw together a ball for old people living near by."
"So you don't live that close." Amelia seemed greatly disappointed. "I realize we haven't talked that much, and I probably jumped to the wrong conclusion about being friends with me, it's just, I don't have anybody I can really talk to around here. Prince Endymion, I'm sure you met him already is quite the ladies' man, yet he never seems to bother with bringing them home. He talks to them and then leaves, but I don't know, he's always seemed to scream taken to me, and don't come near unless you want to end up 6 feet under."
"I can't see why anyone would be intimidated by that big baby, he's such a softy at heart, I don't think he could hurt anyone."
"Don't talk so fast, I'm sure you just met him when your friend got married, you can't be of a decent judge."
"Trust me, I've known him long enough to know what he's like and what he's not like." Serenity stated self-assured, her nose wrinkling a little bit as she nodded.
"Well if you're sure, ok." Amelia shrugged. "Now, don't you like this place it's got such a refined taste to it don't you think?"
Amelia visited every once in awhile and Serenity would ride to see her. When not exploring the castle, talking to her friend or being bored out of her mind, Serenity retired to the library, going through it's massive amounts of books for anything that interested her. As of late she was reading a Vampire book about how to kill one, and what was fake about them. Like they didn't wear capes and sleep in coffins, and how a stake through the heart wouldn't kill them. And how holy water or crucifixes didn't affect them. Garlic was an urban legend not to be used at any cost. Serenity was just getting to a good part about how the vampires were made when the book was stolen from her hands. She looked up an outrage upon her lips, ready to scold all who bothered her, but it died upon the full red lips as her breath stopped. She hadn't seen him in days. "Come Serenity, we must go to the great hall." Was all that needed to be said; he didn't want to ruin the mood of seeing each other again in so long.
Serenity followed Endymion to the dinner room and everybody sat down waiting for dinner as they came through. "Hello everybody." She smiled. They responded in kind, and seemed to just stare at her waiting for something.
"I would like to ask something before we eat." Endymion said. Everybody nodded eagerly. "King Louis, may I have your daughter's hand in marriage?"
"You may young prince, only if my daughter agrees."
"Serenity would you marry me?" Serenity kissed him. "Arrange the marriage." He declared, taking that as a yes.
It was all that Serenity wanted, but she couldn't help feeling like it was a little pushed for the wrong reasons. She knew he loved her, but she wasn't sure whether or not he realized it yet, so she had to reply as she did. "Wait."
"What? You're all that I ever wanted, you're beautiful."
"Thank you, but what else." That was definitely not what not what Serenity expected him to say.
"What else?" Endymion was at a loss of words.
"Is beauty all that matters to you?" Serenity was now very curious.
"What else is there?" Endymion knew in his heart when he said beauty it meant everything including looks, but he couldn't get the words out and he knew he lost her at that moment.
She looked around him to her family and friends. "I'm sorry everyone, but I'm not hungry right now." She turned and left.
"Way to go Endymion, what else is there?" Jadeite shook his head disapprovingly. "I would smack you over the head if I was next to you right now."
Endymion ignored his friend. "I'm sorry King Louis."
"It's all right boy, I know what your going through, I did the same thing with my wife, except I said you rich, what else is there? They get over it once you apologize correctly and mend their belief in you."
"Now we have to find another princess." Queen Babbet ignored all thought of them getting together again, she knew Serenity probably would never set foot near this place again. "What with your opinion and demand: 'your beautiful, so we marry' deal." She growled. "I am going to go make plans." She too left the dinning room angry with Endymion.
Queen Claudia sympathized with Endymion as she stood. "Prince Endymion, I'll go talk to them and try to make them see. Everything will be all right, just wait." Claudia decided to talk to her daughter first, get an understanding of exactly what was wrong and how much time roughly before it was fixed. But as she reached her daughter's door her heart went out her. The sound was pitiful and depressing, she opened the door quietly and slowly before she went in and sat down next to her daughter. She placed a hand on Serenity's back as she lay there on her stomach crying. "Oh dear, I'm sorry, it's not what you wanted, I know. But I've never seen you so worked up about an offer gone wrong, many people have asked you already some worse then his. Even Malachite asked badly, yet you didn't mind and said no to him very calm and polite, like he was just some kid asking."
"But that's because I hadn't known them forever, and I knew Malachite didn't like me that way, nor I him. But Endymion, he, he was different, I had a connection with him that I didn't have with anybody else, and he blotted this all up. It would have been a very easy answer, and it would have gone smoothly and we would have been married soon, but now I may never marry somebody I love." Serenity cried.
"Honey, give him a chance, I talked to him this last week, we were talking about you and he told me all these wonderful memories of you and how special you were, your beauty never came up."
"Really?" Serenity whipped her eyes and looked to her mother.
"Yes, really, but if you wish we could leave in 2 days and go home, some distance might do you some good and we'll come back during a winter season, like a change in tradition? It might break some hold keeping everything the same."
"I would like that, thank you."
"Anything for my daughter, now though I have to keep your future mother in law from ruining our plans, I think she believes you never loved her son, and it also seems everything she plans goes to ruins so she wants some control over events. I think she's fearful that she and King William won't marry."
"I knew there was something going on there I just wasn't sure." Serenity giggled. "Thank you mother, you always know what to say to me to make me happy again."
"It's the least I can do within the time I actually spend with you."
"Don't say that, I understand, and I get enough time with you, I know girls who have mean mothers and their fathers are never home, gone days at a time, they hardly know them. I at least have two very loving parents that I know very well."
"And I have one very sweet gorgeous daughter that is smart and carefree when she can be." Claudia smoothed her daughter's hair. "I'll get Minako in here later tomorrow, she would like to talk to you, she feels like you've been avoiding her this last year."
"Do tell her I'm sorry, I wasn't avoiding her, just avoiding all those love filled glances they were sending at each other and I didn't want to intrude."
"I'm sure she'll understand. Good night dear."
"Good night mother." Serenity yawned; she was more tired than she thought. She closed the door after her mother left and changed into her sleeping clothes. They consisted of a silk like texture light reddish orange pants and a matching top that was native to the Chinese culture. It had sleeves ending below the shoulders and it went down to mid-thigh in flaps from the waist down. She folded back the comforter and sheets of her bed and slipped into it. She fell fast asleep.
-
Serenity's mother upon leaving her daughter walked to her friend's bedroom. "Queen Babbet, it is I, Claudia, I wish to speak to you about our children."
"Come in, but you may not be able to sway me, Endymion's a jerk, I should have realized it long ago and corrected it, but I didn't realize he was so shallow."
"Endymion's not shallow, my husband was the same way. He didn't know how to express his feelings when pressed, he finally learned how to, it just took him some time." Claudia reassured. "We're leaving in 2 days, this will give Endymion a little time to try and make it up to her now. She likes him, and I believe she loves him, but she needs this one reassurance before they marry that it isn't just looks that he likes about her. We'll be back in the winter months sometime, hopefully he won't be married off by then, I don't know what Serenity would do if that happened."
"All right, I'll hold off pressuring him for a year, no longer, I want him to be happy, but he also needs a family, he can't be a bachelor forever." Babbet pouted. "I won't let him go down that way."
"Deal." Claudia shook her hand. "They will be at least courting within a year."
"No, engaged." Babbet looked sternly at her. "Nothing less, I could have said married, but that wouldn't do would it?"
"Engaged then, I'll see you tomorrow, I must continue on to bed."
"Good night dear friend." Babbet patted Claudia's back.