Chapter 5: Crushed Dreams & Harsh Realities.
When Serena woke up the next morning, Darien was gone. She wasn't too upset though, knowing he couldn't afford to stay & get caught. When she sat up, he hand brushed against something silky on her bed sheets. Serena looked down & smiled. It was a rose.
Getting up, she bathed then but on her very best casual dress. It was a plain light weight pink satin gown that stopped at her ankles. She didn't dress up when it was a normal day at the palace. She then put on the matching satin shoes.
Knowing she missed breakfast, she ran down to the study on the first floor. Her parents always goes there after breakfast. When she got there, she fixed her hair & clothes & knocked on the door.
"Come in!", A deep voice boomed from the other side. Serena's father, King Alexander.
When she opened the door, she walked in & saw her father sitting at his desk. Her mother, Queen Serenity, was sitting on the window sill among pillows, looking at her calender. The study was covered by bookcases all around. Many of the books were of different languages. Serena's father read them to her when she was little, teaching her the languages of the universe. The walls were decorated by murals depicting the Moon's history of previous monarchs, & the floor was covered with thick, handmade oriental rugs that looked to beautiful to walk on. Serena walked up to the desk & curtseyed.
"Good morning father, mother", She began formally. "I trust you had a good morning so far?".
"Yes sweetheart we did", The King replied. "I trust you had a good sleep. You weren't at breakfast".
"I was up late reading", Serena lied. It would have to do until she told them. "I...I have something I want to tell you two".
The Queen looked up from her calender & gave Serena her full attention. "Go on dear, we're listening", she said with a smile.
Serena nodded. Her mouth was dry, & she felt the lump rising in her throat. She knew this would happen, but she had to tell them.
"Mother, father, I don't want to marry Prince Justinian". She said in a rush.
Both royals stared in shock. She never complained about it before, so why now? And 2 weeks before the ceremony?
"Why ever not precious?", the King asked. "Justinian loves you & will make a fine husband.
"No he won't!", Serena shouted. She never spoke out of context, but she was fed up with people telling her how good we was when they didn't know he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. "Father, he treats me so horribly! Justinian only puts on a show for everyone. He only wants to marry me because I will inherit the kingdom! He doesn't care about me at all!".
"Serenity!", Her father yelled. He only called her by her full name when he was angry. "Just because you don't like someone, doesn't give you the right to talk about them that way. You are to marry him 2 weeks from today!".
"I don't love him, father! I love Prince Endymion!!", she countered. Then she immediately regretted her words. Serena didn't want to blurt it out that way.
Oh God...they know now...Selene help me....
The King bolted up in shock.
"How the hell could you know about him?! No one from earth has set foot on this planet in over a millennium!!", he screamed. Then it dawned on him. Darien must have been sneaking up here, or Serena was sneaking down to see him! The King was not having it.
"He's been sneaking up here hasn't he?!", he yelled. The silence he receive was the only answer he needed from her. "I forbid it! He will not come here again! I'll have guards watch the transporter 24/7 if I have to & you will not leave your room without an escort from now until your wedding!".
"NO!! Father please! I love him!! He purposed & we want to get married!!", Serena yelled back, choking on tears.
"I won't let you go off & marry a filthy Earthling! He doesn't deserve my daughter!", the King countered.
"How would you know what Darien or I deserve?! You don't even care!!", Serena shrieked before running out the study & up the stairs.
********
The King was so angry, he was flushed. He crashed down on the window sill by his wife & buried his face in his hands.
"How could she do this?? With an Earthling?!", he cried.
Queen Serenity embraced him from behind & rested her head on his shoulders.
"She is in love Alexander", she said. They didn't use formality in private. "You wasn't born on the moon, but I married you because I loved you".
"That was different! I'm not an earthling either! I won't allow it!", the King said before storming out.
Queen Serenity sighed & looked out the window. She looked at the stars & smiled a smiled she only gets when she knows something good will happen.
Have patience Serena. Fate is going to be in your favor...
******
When Serena reached her bedroom, she flung herself onto her bed & cried. She could still smell Darien's scent there. Darien!!
I have to tell him. I'm so sorry Darien...So sorry...
*****
When Darien got back from his anointing ceremony, he was a Minister of Peace! He touched the medal on his neck & smiled with pride. Hoping that his missions would work according to the plans he made yesterday.
When he opened the door to his room, he noticed a letter on his dresser. Francis must have left it for him. Darien's best friend knew about the romance between him & Serena, & have been carrying the messages back & forth.
I owe him big
Darien opened the letter & read the writing on it. His heart stopped. He felt hot, but shivered. His insides began to hurt & he felt like he swallowed ice. Soon, he lost his grip on the paper & it fluttered to the ground. Darien then felt to his knees & wept.
The forgotten letter had landed on the floor & drifted under his bed.
Dearest Endymion,
Know that my love for you is stronger than life & goes beyond time. But my father will not relent & allow me to marry you. Forgive me, my love...I love you forever!
Princess Serenity
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? and who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.
When Serena woke up the next morning, Darien was gone. She wasn't too upset though, knowing he couldn't afford to stay & get caught. When she sat up, he hand brushed against something silky on her bed sheets. Serena looked down & smiled. It was a rose.
Getting up, she bathed then but on her very best casual dress. It was a plain light weight pink satin gown that stopped at her ankles. She didn't dress up when it was a normal day at the palace. She then put on the matching satin shoes.
Knowing she missed breakfast, she ran down to the study on the first floor. Her parents always goes there after breakfast. When she got there, she fixed her hair & clothes & knocked on the door.
"Come in!", A deep voice boomed from the other side. Serena's father, King Alexander.
When she opened the door, she walked in & saw her father sitting at his desk. Her mother, Queen Serenity, was sitting on the window sill among pillows, looking at her calender. The study was covered by bookcases all around. Many of the books were of different languages. Serena's father read them to her when she was little, teaching her the languages of the universe. The walls were decorated by murals depicting the Moon's history of previous monarchs, & the floor was covered with thick, handmade oriental rugs that looked to beautiful to walk on. Serena walked up to the desk & curtseyed.
"Good morning father, mother", She began formally. "I trust you had a good morning so far?".
"Yes sweetheart we did", The King replied. "I trust you had a good sleep. You weren't at breakfast".
"I was up late reading", Serena lied. It would have to do until she told them. "I...I have something I want to tell you two".
The Queen looked up from her calender & gave Serena her full attention. "Go on dear, we're listening", she said with a smile.
Serena nodded. Her mouth was dry, & she felt the lump rising in her throat. She knew this would happen, but she had to tell them.
"Mother, father, I don't want to marry Prince Justinian". She said in a rush.
Both royals stared in shock. She never complained about it before, so why now? And 2 weeks before the ceremony?
"Why ever not precious?", the King asked. "Justinian loves you & will make a fine husband.
"No he won't!", Serena shouted. She never spoke out of context, but she was fed up with people telling her how good we was when they didn't know he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. "Father, he treats me so horribly! Justinian only puts on a show for everyone. He only wants to marry me because I will inherit the kingdom! He doesn't care about me at all!".
"Serenity!", Her father yelled. He only called her by her full name when he was angry. "Just because you don't like someone, doesn't give you the right to talk about them that way. You are to marry him 2 weeks from today!".
"I don't love him, father! I love Prince Endymion!!", she countered. Then she immediately regretted her words. Serena didn't want to blurt it out that way.
Oh God...they know now...Selene help me....
The King bolted up in shock.
"How the hell could you know about him?! No one from earth has set foot on this planet in over a millennium!!", he screamed. Then it dawned on him. Darien must have been sneaking up here, or Serena was sneaking down to see him! The King was not having it.
"He's been sneaking up here hasn't he?!", he yelled. The silence he receive was the only answer he needed from her. "I forbid it! He will not come here again! I'll have guards watch the transporter 24/7 if I have to & you will not leave your room without an escort from now until your wedding!".
"NO!! Father please! I love him!! He purposed & we want to get married!!", Serena yelled back, choking on tears.
"I won't let you go off & marry a filthy Earthling! He doesn't deserve my daughter!", the King countered.
"How would you know what Darien or I deserve?! You don't even care!!", Serena shrieked before running out the study & up the stairs.
********
The King was so angry, he was flushed. He crashed down on the window sill by his wife & buried his face in his hands.
"How could she do this?? With an Earthling?!", he cried.
Queen Serenity embraced him from behind & rested her head on his shoulders.
"She is in love Alexander", she said. They didn't use formality in private. "You wasn't born on the moon, but I married you because I loved you".
"That was different! I'm not an earthling either! I won't allow it!", the King said before storming out.
Queen Serenity sighed & looked out the window. She looked at the stars & smiled a smiled she only gets when she knows something good will happen.
Have patience Serena. Fate is going to be in your favor...
******
When Serena reached her bedroom, she flung herself onto her bed & cried. She could still smell Darien's scent there. Darien!!
I have to tell him. I'm so sorry Darien...So sorry...
*****
When Darien got back from his anointing ceremony, he was a Minister of Peace! He touched the medal on his neck & smiled with pride. Hoping that his missions would work according to the plans he made yesterday.
When he opened the door to his room, he noticed a letter on his dresser. Francis must have left it for him. Darien's best friend knew about the romance between him & Serena, & have been carrying the messages back & forth.
I owe him big
Darien opened the letter & read the writing on it. His heart stopped. He felt hot, but shivered. His insides began to hurt & he felt like he swallowed ice. Soon, he lost his grip on the paper & it fluttered to the ground. Darien then felt to his knees & wept.
The forgotten letter had landed on the floor & drifted under his bed.
Dearest Endymion,
Know that my love for you is stronger than life & goes beyond time. But my father will not relent & allow me to marry you. Forgive me, my love...I love you forever!
Princess Serenity
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? and who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.
