Had he ever wondered about the daughter the Queen said was alive?
Braeden certainly had, and he cast the thoughts away with a wave of his
hand. Everyone knew she'd had a miscarriage, but had she? He thought of all
the other "miscarriages". Had it happened at all?
So, subconsciously, he kept an eye out for girls who resembled royalty, held power, or simply were stood out. Upon sending his soldiers out to collect the Temple goers, he issued a special order to his officers.
"If anyone fights back with something besides fists and arrows, do not kill them. Ever." His eyes went faraway and saw the Queen's shocked face, her sapphire eyes, the scarlet blood dripping from his knife.
"Bring them here. To me."
============================
Serena awoke with a jolt. She felt the pain first, and held back a scream. She felt her wound with her hand and found it to be soaked with blood. She closed her eyes, took a breath, then opened them again. She sat up, or as close to it as she could get, and looked at her surroundings. The building was more like a large shack, filled from top to bottom with rickety bunks not three feet apart from each other. She wasn't in a bunk, but a single cot. She could see sunlight through the boards, creeping in, but not providing any comfort or hope. The floor was dirt, smooth and hard from feet shuffling over it.
Her friends lay to her left, each asleep and in cots, and her family and Grandpa Hino lay to her right. Her mother was awake and sitting up. Her back was to Serena and she was shaking. Serena sat up.
"Mother?" she said, shattering the morning silence.
Her mother turned, and showed a tear streaked face. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"Oh, mother," Serena said. She came to her mother's bedside and hugged her. "Everything will be okay. Everything."
"You fought so hard," her mother choked out. "So hard. I was helpless. Helpless."
Serena looked away. "It isn't your fault. Or dad's or Sammy's. I'm just... different."
"You there!" a voice boomed from the doorway of the building. He pointed at Serena. "Return to your bed and do not leave until told to!"
Serena stood up, agruements resting on her tongue. She could fight him, just one. She could beat him. But there would be others. So instead she turned and walked with attitude back to her bed. She sat down upon it and crossed her legs. She closed her eyes, blocked the soldier and her mother out, and flew to the side of the raven haired prince.
============================
He sat in a tent, on a makeshift cot much like her own, and rubbed his face. His eyes looked saddened and he appeared stressed. She sat on the floor next to him and looked up at his downturned face. He jumped in shock and then slipped to the floor beside her. He acted less and less like a prince every time he was around her.
"Princess, you're alive, aren't you?"
She nodded, and her ghostly silver hair shook around her, creating an aura-like effect.
"I tried to find you, but I came too late. Where are you?"
"I don't know," her eerie voice echoed. Darien shivered. He grabbed her hand.
"I promise I will find you. I'll save you."
She smiled and a small silver tear came from the corner of her eye. "I'm not sure you can, my prince." She looked at the entrance of the tent where three generals stood frozen. The fourth had taken part of the army for a surprise attack. She nodded to them, then looked into the deep blue eyes of the Earthen prince. She captured them in her memory, then started to slip away from him.
"Until the next time..."
============================
"Serena," came the sharp whisper and Serena's eyes flew open. She looked over to see her friends awake and aware. They all looked sad, and scared, and they needed her comfort. She wiped the single tear away, and smiled.
"Hello," she said.
A strange thing to say, but it broke the tension. She laughed. And they joined in. Soon they were all laughing in spite of everything that was going on.
"Stop it!" a ragged voice yelled. "Stop it!" A little girl stood in the doorway of the bunk house. Silver tears were streaming from her eyes. "There's nothing to laugh at, nothing." This little girl had seen to much to laugh. The sounded was a horrible torture for her. Happiness she'd never have again.
Serena stood silently. Her face fell in sadness and pity for this girl. "I'm sorry," she said at almost a whisper, yet the entire room could hear it. She took a step forward, and the girl shook her head, tossing her tangle of brown hair. Serena still walked forward until she reached the girl's side. She knelt down beside her and looked into the girl's brown eyes. The sorrow they held were earthshaking.
"I know what you have lost," she said. Pictures flashed in her mind. A woman screaming, clutching the girl close to herself, and a soldier with a grim face. The soldiers yelled for the woman to release the child, and the woman would not. They nodded at an archer who drew his arrow.
Serena flinched and hugged the girl.
"I'm so sorry," she said and held the girl close. Tears spilled from her eyes and the pictures wouldn't stop. Another child lay in the mud, motionless. Serena begged for them to stop. And they did. At her expense.
A large stick slapped against Serena's shoulder blades and forced her to release the girl, who ran out of the reach of the guard. The stick then hit the back of her legs, knocking her to her knees.
"Get off her!" Raye yelled, and ran at the soldier, flames drawn and ready. This private was quick, though, and dodged the fire. He swung the stick around and hit Raye behind the knees, causing her to fall. By now, the rest of her friends had come forth. They got ready to defend her. Lita's hair raised as lightening cackled in the sky. Rain began to fall, and Mina shone golden.
The private stepped back in fear.
"You're... you're the ones with power!" He pulled a whistle to his lips and blew three sharp calls. Within seconds the entire camp laid on the ground while reinforcements came to back up the private. Serena had stood up by now and she looked peaceful between her friends, each angry. She held her hand up.
"Don't."
The girls gave her surprised looks, but tucked their powers away. They stood to her sides like one group. The soldiers all had a fear of these girls. The rumors had spread about their powers but no one really belived them. Until now.
Commander Olyn stepped to the front of the group and looked at the girls.
"Line up," he said to them. "Outside. Now."
They did as they were told.
"You will not move," he said, "until I release you. Powers will not be used here. Ever."
Protest was held tight in their throats and laughing thoughts. How was he going to stop them? Five swordsmen lined up behind them, close enough so the blades could tear through their backs.
"Move, and you die."
They stood facing the west, straight and tall, bare feet sinking into the new mud. They stayed quiet, the thoughts in their mind all the company they could stand. They watched the orange globe of the sun sink slowly behind the horizon. Hunger rumbled in their stomachs and fatigue riddled their bones. Serena's shoulders and legs hurt where welps and bruises were growing.
The sun fell and they were left in darkness. They'd seen the people of this camp. All were thin and dirty and kept far away from them. The little girl had only given Serena a glance before running off in fear.
Commander Olyn returned when darkness had fallen for two hours. He looked at all of them.
"You can relax now."
They all did. Serena fell to the ground to sit immediately, while the others did so slowly. Serena looked at her arm which ached tremendously. She needed to heal it, and the others. But no powers meant no powers she was finding out.
"Come on. You're leaving here."
They all looked up at him.
"But my family..."
The commander gave her a sharp look. "We both know they're not your blood. Come on."
They stood up reluctantly and followed. Lita had trouble keeping the electricity inside, her hair was having a tendency to rise. Raye as well had sparks bouncing from her fingers. Mina's clenched fists were tinted gold. Serena's hand was completely silver, she did not mask the growing orb there.
"How dare you," she whispered. "How dare you insult me like that! It's not the blood, it's the heart!"
Commander Olyn turned, his eyes wide as she raised her hands. She pointed them at him, making the night glow. Her face was twisted into anger, her blue eyes determined. She would have fired then, sent him flying back into the fence that was caging her in, but he had turned away, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
Olyn's mind was busy processing what he could not understand. The power was the same, her face the same angry look the Queen's used to take on. To turn her in...
"Put your magic away. To kill me would not help you."
Serena's eyes widened and the silver disappeared.
Olyn turned and looked straight at her. "I'm going to help you. I'm going to give you three days before I turn you in."
"Turn us in?"
"The Duke has commanded that all those with powers be turned in to him." He looked at the sky, the darkness of the night. "You have three days to form a way to escape, or to be killed. I don't care either way. Now return to your bunks."
"Wait," Serena said suddenly. "Can you tell me where we are?"
He looked at her and cocked his head. "Twenty miles south of Crescent. Why do you wish to know?"
Serena did not answer, but as she turned to go back to the cold cot that would be her resting place she whispered to herself.
"To tell our liberators."
Author's Note: I updated, finally. I've just had so many revisions of this chapter it took me forever to scrape this out of it all. Please review! I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. It shouldn't be too long.
And I really haven't clarified how long this war has gone on, I'm sorry. The Night Of Orange Moonlight was in early fall, and the war was underway right after that. They went to the tree in the late spring and stayed in the tree for about two months. I know, I'm bad at time. So basically, it's summer now. The war has been going on for about ten months.
Sorry 'bout that.
Oh, and I need your help. My summary of this story isn't drawing readers as it should. If you happen to be good at summaries, please send one to me for this story! My e-mail is ainosenshi_2001@yahoo.com. I would appreciate it very, very much!
Until the next time,
Ai No Senshi
So, subconsciously, he kept an eye out for girls who resembled royalty, held power, or simply were stood out. Upon sending his soldiers out to collect the Temple goers, he issued a special order to his officers.
"If anyone fights back with something besides fists and arrows, do not kill them. Ever." His eyes went faraway and saw the Queen's shocked face, her sapphire eyes, the scarlet blood dripping from his knife.
"Bring them here. To me."
============================
Serena awoke with a jolt. She felt the pain first, and held back a scream. She felt her wound with her hand and found it to be soaked with blood. She closed her eyes, took a breath, then opened them again. She sat up, or as close to it as she could get, and looked at her surroundings. The building was more like a large shack, filled from top to bottom with rickety bunks not three feet apart from each other. She wasn't in a bunk, but a single cot. She could see sunlight through the boards, creeping in, but not providing any comfort or hope. The floor was dirt, smooth and hard from feet shuffling over it.
Her friends lay to her left, each asleep and in cots, and her family and Grandpa Hino lay to her right. Her mother was awake and sitting up. Her back was to Serena and she was shaking. Serena sat up.
"Mother?" she said, shattering the morning silence.
Her mother turned, and showed a tear streaked face. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"Oh, mother," Serena said. She came to her mother's bedside and hugged her. "Everything will be okay. Everything."
"You fought so hard," her mother choked out. "So hard. I was helpless. Helpless."
Serena looked away. "It isn't your fault. Or dad's or Sammy's. I'm just... different."
"You there!" a voice boomed from the doorway of the building. He pointed at Serena. "Return to your bed and do not leave until told to!"
Serena stood up, agruements resting on her tongue. She could fight him, just one. She could beat him. But there would be others. So instead she turned and walked with attitude back to her bed. She sat down upon it and crossed her legs. She closed her eyes, blocked the soldier and her mother out, and flew to the side of the raven haired prince.
============================
He sat in a tent, on a makeshift cot much like her own, and rubbed his face. His eyes looked saddened and he appeared stressed. She sat on the floor next to him and looked up at his downturned face. He jumped in shock and then slipped to the floor beside her. He acted less and less like a prince every time he was around her.
"Princess, you're alive, aren't you?"
She nodded, and her ghostly silver hair shook around her, creating an aura-like effect.
"I tried to find you, but I came too late. Where are you?"
"I don't know," her eerie voice echoed. Darien shivered. He grabbed her hand.
"I promise I will find you. I'll save you."
She smiled and a small silver tear came from the corner of her eye. "I'm not sure you can, my prince." She looked at the entrance of the tent where three generals stood frozen. The fourth had taken part of the army for a surprise attack. She nodded to them, then looked into the deep blue eyes of the Earthen prince. She captured them in her memory, then started to slip away from him.
"Until the next time..."
============================
"Serena," came the sharp whisper and Serena's eyes flew open. She looked over to see her friends awake and aware. They all looked sad, and scared, and they needed her comfort. She wiped the single tear away, and smiled.
"Hello," she said.
A strange thing to say, but it broke the tension. She laughed. And they joined in. Soon they were all laughing in spite of everything that was going on.
"Stop it!" a ragged voice yelled. "Stop it!" A little girl stood in the doorway of the bunk house. Silver tears were streaming from her eyes. "There's nothing to laugh at, nothing." This little girl had seen to much to laugh. The sounded was a horrible torture for her. Happiness she'd never have again.
Serena stood silently. Her face fell in sadness and pity for this girl. "I'm sorry," she said at almost a whisper, yet the entire room could hear it. She took a step forward, and the girl shook her head, tossing her tangle of brown hair. Serena still walked forward until she reached the girl's side. She knelt down beside her and looked into the girl's brown eyes. The sorrow they held were earthshaking.
"I know what you have lost," she said. Pictures flashed in her mind. A woman screaming, clutching the girl close to herself, and a soldier with a grim face. The soldiers yelled for the woman to release the child, and the woman would not. They nodded at an archer who drew his arrow.
Serena flinched and hugged the girl.
"I'm so sorry," she said and held the girl close. Tears spilled from her eyes and the pictures wouldn't stop. Another child lay in the mud, motionless. Serena begged for them to stop. And they did. At her expense.
A large stick slapped against Serena's shoulder blades and forced her to release the girl, who ran out of the reach of the guard. The stick then hit the back of her legs, knocking her to her knees.
"Get off her!" Raye yelled, and ran at the soldier, flames drawn and ready. This private was quick, though, and dodged the fire. He swung the stick around and hit Raye behind the knees, causing her to fall. By now, the rest of her friends had come forth. They got ready to defend her. Lita's hair raised as lightening cackled in the sky. Rain began to fall, and Mina shone golden.
The private stepped back in fear.
"You're... you're the ones with power!" He pulled a whistle to his lips and blew three sharp calls. Within seconds the entire camp laid on the ground while reinforcements came to back up the private. Serena had stood up by now and she looked peaceful between her friends, each angry. She held her hand up.
"Don't."
The girls gave her surprised looks, but tucked their powers away. They stood to her sides like one group. The soldiers all had a fear of these girls. The rumors had spread about their powers but no one really belived them. Until now.
Commander Olyn stepped to the front of the group and looked at the girls.
"Line up," he said to them. "Outside. Now."
They did as they were told.
"You will not move," he said, "until I release you. Powers will not be used here. Ever."
Protest was held tight in their throats and laughing thoughts. How was he going to stop them? Five swordsmen lined up behind them, close enough so the blades could tear through their backs.
"Move, and you die."
They stood facing the west, straight and tall, bare feet sinking into the new mud. They stayed quiet, the thoughts in their mind all the company they could stand. They watched the orange globe of the sun sink slowly behind the horizon. Hunger rumbled in their stomachs and fatigue riddled their bones. Serena's shoulders and legs hurt where welps and bruises were growing.
The sun fell and they were left in darkness. They'd seen the people of this camp. All were thin and dirty and kept far away from them. The little girl had only given Serena a glance before running off in fear.
Commander Olyn returned when darkness had fallen for two hours. He looked at all of them.
"You can relax now."
They all did. Serena fell to the ground to sit immediately, while the others did so slowly. Serena looked at her arm which ached tremendously. She needed to heal it, and the others. But no powers meant no powers she was finding out.
"Come on. You're leaving here."
They all looked up at him.
"But my family..."
The commander gave her a sharp look. "We both know they're not your blood. Come on."
They stood up reluctantly and followed. Lita had trouble keeping the electricity inside, her hair was having a tendency to rise. Raye as well had sparks bouncing from her fingers. Mina's clenched fists were tinted gold. Serena's hand was completely silver, she did not mask the growing orb there.
"How dare you," she whispered. "How dare you insult me like that! It's not the blood, it's the heart!"
Commander Olyn turned, his eyes wide as she raised her hands. She pointed them at him, making the night glow. Her face was twisted into anger, her blue eyes determined. She would have fired then, sent him flying back into the fence that was caging her in, but he had turned away, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
Olyn's mind was busy processing what he could not understand. The power was the same, her face the same angry look the Queen's used to take on. To turn her in...
"Put your magic away. To kill me would not help you."
Serena's eyes widened and the silver disappeared.
Olyn turned and looked straight at her. "I'm going to help you. I'm going to give you three days before I turn you in."
"Turn us in?"
"The Duke has commanded that all those with powers be turned in to him." He looked at the sky, the darkness of the night. "You have three days to form a way to escape, or to be killed. I don't care either way. Now return to your bunks."
"Wait," Serena said suddenly. "Can you tell me where we are?"
He looked at her and cocked his head. "Twenty miles south of Crescent. Why do you wish to know?"
Serena did not answer, but as she turned to go back to the cold cot that would be her resting place she whispered to herself.
"To tell our liberators."
Author's Note: I updated, finally. I've just had so many revisions of this chapter it took me forever to scrape this out of it all. Please review! I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. It shouldn't be too long.
And I really haven't clarified how long this war has gone on, I'm sorry. The Night Of Orange Moonlight was in early fall, and the war was underway right after that. They went to the tree in the late spring and stayed in the tree for about two months. I know, I'm bad at time. So basically, it's summer now. The war has been going on for about ten months.
Sorry 'bout that.
Oh, and I need your help. My summary of this story isn't drawing readers as it should. If you happen to be good at summaries, please send one to me for this story! My e-mail is ainosenshi_2001@yahoo.com. I would appreciate it very, very much!
Until the next time,
Ai No Senshi
