Someone came to wake her up only moments after she'd slipped under her covers. She got up slowly, playing the part of someone who'd just awoken from sleep and not someone who'd had the most excillerating experience of her life only minutes before.

"Is it morning already?" she moaned. Inside she marveled at her acting skills.

"Yes, Your Highness," the maid said. She pulled a dress from Selene's closet and laid it upon the bed.

"Well, I suppose it must be. Thank you," Selene said. The maid left and Selene stared down at the dress. Hmm.... Dare she wear something so revealing? This particular dress was spaghetti strapped and dipped low enough to let part of her chest show. The back cut off right under her shoulder blades. Well, yes of course she'd wear it. It wasn't that bad... hopefully not teasing enough for Isaiah to feel uncomfortable.

She slipped it on carefully and the silver satin clung tight to her skin. It hugged her features nicely, complimented the natural curves she had. She pulled a see through, ankle length, coat over it. Just to accent the airiness of the dress. Then she left the room only to wish she'd waited a little longer.

Isaiah was in the hallway and he paused momentarily upon seeing her. Thinking of what he'd just shared with this particular girl his heart sped. Then he continued his stride towards his destination.

Selene held her breath and watched him walk by. A shiver traveled down her spine and she closed her eyes. Forget, forget, forget, she chanted in her mind. But she could not. It was hard enough not to chase after him, but forget those beautiful blue eyes? That shock of gold hair? The handsome smile? The gentleness of his lips?

Impossible.

But she continued onto breakfast, and though she was strangely quiet she played the perfect part. She made small talk, she ate regularly, she was proud that she even caught three words of what her parents were saying. Because her mind never left Isaiah. Not once. And she was afraid it never would.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*

The morning went out with the breeze, and the afternoon brought headaches. Selene stepped out onto the veranda to eat with her mother. It was a beautiful private lunch, though Selene often referred to it as her "inquisition".

"So, Selenity dear, just whom do you choose to be your Prince?" her mother asked. She looked very anxious as she nibbled on her meal.

Selene was looking out into space, searching for some sort of answer. Should she answer no one and plead for her life?

"Dear?"

"I..." she bit her lip and looked into her mother's waiting eyes, "I choose no one."

"What?!" It was as if her mother had burst into flame. Her cheeks started to turn red, and her eyes grew angry. She threw down her napkin, losing all composure, and stared at her daughter. "Selenity, you must have chose someone! I saw you after the ball. You were simply floating."

Selene moved her food around with her fork, studying it carefully. Excuse. She needed an excuse. "Well, mother, you see, I... I was just a little tipsy last night."

"You have got to be kidding me."

"I had too much wine, but that was some of the best wine I've ever tasted and... I just couldn't stop myself."

She pulled off the lie quite easily. Her mother had now forgotten all about the suitor business and was more worried about her daughter, a princess, being a drunk wench.

"Well, then you shall have no more wine for two weeks, young lady."

Selene feigned sadness and regret. In truth she had been a little drunk. Drunk on Isaiah, that is. She told her mother she had riding lessons, which she didn't, and made her exit quickly. The crisis had been avoided. For now.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*

"I have a bad feeling, Apollo," Diana said. She was pacing again. "A very bad feeling."

Apollo tried to joke around. "Bad meat, perhaps?"

Diana gave him her signature look. "This is not a matter to joke about. You know what's happening in the Universe. And I fear if we do not watch out, our sun with be the next star to go."

"Now, dear, you know that's impossible. We have the task of protecting the sun, and we have the strongest army in all the Milky Way."

She looked at him with saddened eyes. "That's why I'm worried. If you wished to taint our sun and get it so that it was unprotected, where would you attack?"

"Why here, of course."

"Exactly, Apollo, exactly."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*

Selene made her way to the knight's quarters decisively. Each step was sure, though her mind was not. What was she to say to him when she got there? How could she explain that she still needed him?

She came to a sort of commons area, where many knights were sitting around talking. Many more had fallen asleep. When they caught sight of her, they froze.

"Can I help you, your Highness?"

"I wish to talk to a knight by the name of Isaiah."

A shine of gold caught her eye. "I'm right here."

His blue eyes were tired and sad. They caught the sun in just the right way, making them glitter. She took a deep breath, a gasp really, and motioned for him to come with her. He made his way to her, but refused to look directly at her.

They walked down the halls, quietly at first, before she finally got the courage to speak.

"About this morning," she said. "I... I was quite shaken when I saw the sunlight and I believe I have may overreacted."

"Overreacted about what, your Highness?"

She looked at him with sharp eyes. "Don't play stupid, Isaiah."

"Ah, but as a lowly knight unworthy of you, isn't that all I play?"

She stopped and balled her fists. "Stop being so damn stubborn!"

"Stubborn? Who's the stubborn one here? Admit it."

"Admit what?"

"Admit that you're too stubborn to tell me that you love me." He smiled with satisfaction.

Her jaw dropped. "You pompous-"

She was cut off as he pressed his mouth against hers. Though somewhat shocked, she recovered quickly and gave into desire. She pressed herself into him, the cold metal of his armor brought goosebumps out of her skin. It was silent for those moments, just the two of them.

Then chaos broke out.