Hi people. I've been on a little break but now I'm back. Thank you to all the reviewers who reviewed A Knights Tale. In the next few chapters I think I'll go into the characters pasts and personalities a lot more. I'm not going to rush the feelings of Mamoru and Usagi, because not everyone falls in love at the same time. I hope it doesn't get to confusing. If so feel free to ask questions. This chapter introduces one of my favorite villains Diamond! He's so much fun. SM belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, so I give her full credit for SM, but the story is mine. Now on with the story.
Beryl stroked Mamoru's dark hair as he slept. They had made love five times and she felt drowsy and languid. She smiled with satisfaction. How could she ever live without this man? She lifted the thin sheet that covered them and looked down at her soft white stomach. She frowned at the shapely flatness. Not one bulge in sight. Normally this would be a good thing, but not in her situation.
She dropped her head back on the pillow and looked up at the dark blue canopy that held the four posters of her bed. If only a child would develop he'd have to marry her or make her his permanent mistress, or whatever the case may be. She was no ignorant woman. She knew the old laws of the country. The law had been twisted by the old king because of the harlot Metalica, but she knew better. Metalica had been an uneducated whore. She was much more cunning, and she would go to any lengths to become queen.
She absently moved her hand back to her stomach all the while fingering the bangs of her lovers hair with her other. It somehow made her feel connected to him to just touch him. She had never once used the oils the medicine women had given her to prevent pregnancy and still… After nights of blinding passion she'd waited weeks and weeks. Nothing. She knew she wasn't sterile.
She'd found that out at a very early age.
She turned to look at Mamoru sleeping so placidly beside her. She could watch him forever. He had become her obsession. Fate gave her no slack. It was against her. Fate, she thought however, as she moved Mamoru's wet bangs from his forehead was on his side. She moved slowly afraid he would wake. She kissed his forehead lightly and clenched her teeth as she eased herself back down to the bed.
She was quite positive none of his other mistresses had ever born him a child or else they all would be fighting their way to the thrown. It never crossed her mind that the problem could lie within Mamoru. She bit her lip. A child was her ticket to the throne, she was so sure of it. She'd stake everything on it. As if a light had been turned on in her head her eyes widened in wonder.
An idea began to brew in her head. She looked down at Mamoru's face. The light the snuck through the closed drapes of the room reflected on his face. She stared in a dream. It was risky. She knew if she crossed Mamoru, and he found out her life would be on the line. She leaned back against the head board. But hadn't she always gotten her way? Her eyes grew bright and an impish smile spread across her face as Mamoru stirred in his sleep.
Savet paced back and forth in her room. She'd just been to see her husband. His state of mind had greatly depressed her. He had seemed as if had not known her, and had stared through her when she'd spoken his name. She was in turmoil. She felt uneasy. Something was terribly wrong. She couldn't pin point it. 'Something's not right.' she thought rubbing her hands together erratically.
Mamoru would soon be king, perhaps within the next two weeks. No matter what she did to distract herself from her own doubts and troubles, she couldn't shake the feeling of unrest she had. She walked back to the window, and her eyes searched for Usagi. She found her lying beside the red rose bushes.
She began to flick the dirt from beneath her nails. She stopped when she realized what she was doing. It was a bad habit she had and did it only when she was nervous. An heir. Mamoru must have an heir to the thrown or else if anything happened to him the throne would immediately go to Diamond. She'd been made to study the laws of the kingdom when she was a child. She knew almost everyone by heart and there were literally thousands.
Her head throbbed when she thought of the whole situation that surrounded Mamoru and Diamond. It was all one big giant mess. When it had been discovered that the harlot Metallica was pregnant with Mamari's child, Metallica had been sent away to expel the rumors. The old king her husbands father had divided the land between Mamari's illegitimate son Diamond and the first born son of her marriage to Mamari.
Diamond's mother had been given the title of queen in the West lands. She Mamari and their son would rule the East. Everyone had praised the old king on his "wise" decision. She had been the only one who had been horrified at the foolishness of it. Of course it had been better than the alternative, which was Metallica becoming queen.
The biggest problem, or so she thought was that the old king had altered the law. Two weeks later the store room that held the very same law, and may others had been "mysteriously" destroyed in a fire. She knew a rivalry had developed between the two brothers. No one, not even her self dared speak Diamonds name around Mamoru.
She'd sworn to herself that she would unify her country before she died. Sometimes she blamed Mamari then herself. Perhaps…perhaps had she not been playing with his heart, her beloved would not have become depressed and fallen into the arms of the first person who offered themselves without question to him.
She tapped the glass of the window and looked intently at Usagi. 'You my dear will be the most crucial pawn in my plans' she thought. Usagi was a beautiful girl. Why could Mamoru not see that? She knew there was someone close to him, who had already drawn a ballot and was more than willing to take her place as queen. She refused to speak that detestable woman's name.
She would be dammed if she gave her the chance. Usagi was her candidate and she was more than willing to do almost anything to place her in succession to the throne. She would hold a ball to put her plan into action. It would be a grand ball honoring her husband. It was either that or drugging her and Mamoru and placing them both in the same bed. She believed the latter was a better plan.
She was going to invite everyone, starting with Diamond and his court. A lump formed in her throat. She hoped to God it would work. She smiled trying to reassure herself that this was a good plan. Her hand went to the string of pearls at her throat.
She rapped the small jewels around her fingers, trying to stop the quiet shaking of her hands.
The room was dark and damp. There was a smell of incense in the air. The huge drapes that covered the massive windows of the North Palace were shut, drawn together by scarlet chords, blocking out the light of day. The only light in the vast throne room was that of the candelabra that hung above the two thrones. Music thrummed through the hall leaving echoes to bounces off the dark granite walls.
Six musicians with fear filled eyes sat cross- legged in front of a huge pillar, ever so often taking quick peaks from hooded eyes, at the man the man sitting on the throne, and then down at the ground. All were afraid of missing even one beat on their instruments. Their delicate fingers shook with the weariness. They had not had a break in hours. Five dancers veiled in thin red scarves danced with gold coins jingling around their vibrating waits and slim ankles.
On the main thrown sat King Diamond. Above him was the portrait of a striking woman with long dark hair, undoubtedly the picture of the late queen. His intense blue eyes stared intently at the women dancing before him, each trying to out do the rest with seductive movements of their hips to win the favor of their silent master. The only movements he made were his tapping fingers on the armrest of his chair. One ankle rested on the knee of his other leg. His shoulder length white hair hung loose and flowing just reaching his shoulders.
He was a great contrast, dressed in all white to his dimly lit surroundings. His skin was a flawless ivory. His emotionless face was beautiful and looked so very delicate. His emotionless eyes showed no sign of interest in the women who displayed themselves before him. "Do you not find one of these maidens to your liking my lord?" his commanding general Rubeus asked from the seat beside him.
Diamond sighed heavily. "They are one in the same Rubeus. You and Sapphire may have them if you wish" he said waving his hand at the women. "You are most generous my lord." Rubeus said eyeing the women's barely clothed bodies. His attention was distracted when he heard foot steps in the darkness beyond the throne. "My lord," Rubeus said looking at Diamond. He stood up and drew his sword. Immediately the musicians stopped playing. The dancers stopped and looked at Diamond in confusion.
Diamond didn't move, not even to lift his eyes to see who the new arrival was. Rubeus squinted into the dim light. "Who dares interrupt his majesty?" he shouted. "It is I, Falcon." the intruder said finally stepping into the light. Rubeus relaxed and placed his sword back in it's sheath. Diamond stopped tapping his fingers and looked up at the man. "Permission to speak my lord." Falcon said removing his hat and bowing.
"Permission granted." Diamond said. Falcon cleared his throat. "I'd like to speak with you in private my lord." Falcon said glancing at the curious dancers. Diamond sighed. "Permission denied. Speak hear" Diamond said. Falcon ran his fingers through his coarse dark hair. He clutched his hat tightly in his sweaty hands. "W-Well my lord" he swallowed hard. "The mission failed. I was confronted with a distraction." Diamond stared into Falcons eyes. Falcon quickly averted his eyes to the floor. "The mission was nearly impossible to complete my lord."
Diamond arched his fine brow. "Tell me of this distraction falcon" he said. Falcon glanced once more at the dancers and musicians, who immediately turned their gazes to the ground. "Well the night of the.. you know, there was another there before I came. They came bounding out of his window like a bird flying to the ground!" Falcon's voice faltered when he saw Diamond unsheathe a dagger from his side and begin to twirl it around.
"I've never seen such skills my lord.' Falcon pleaded. "The assailant seemed to fall backwards in the mud. I'm sure it was some kind of military tactic." Falcon paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "When I tried to retreat the assailant jumped up like a-a tiger and unsheathed a luminous sword that shown like the sun. I was afraid to make much noise so I retreated as fast as I could." Falcon concluded.
Diamond placed the dagger on his arm rest. He stood, causing Falcon to take a tentative step back. His pride kept him from taking another. "So what you are saying is you failed to assassinate my brother." Diamond said bluntly. Falcon hung his head. "Perhaps if I were given another chance my lord?" he asked. Diamond looked at him then down at a large chest that sat at the foot of his throne. In the chest lay jeweled swords, daggers, bows, quivers, and many other bejeweled weapons.
All were "gifts' from kings of the surrounding countries he'd conquered. He bent down and pulled out a bow mad of steel with a matching arrow. His movements were so graceful they seemed to flow rather than be limited by clumsy human movements. "Do you like this bow Falcon?" Diamond asked putting the arrow to the bow. Falcon smiled weakly. "Yes my lord." he said "It was a gift from the king of Farulan." Diamond said running his fingers along the engraved words written in a ancient language.
"Do you want it Falcon?" Diamond asked. "Yes." Falcon said. "Then it's yours. A gift for your services." Diamond said. "T-Thank you my lord." Falcon stuttered. Diamond looked directly at Falcon. His eyes were bright and intense. Falcon couldn't help but think how beautiful those eyes were. "Catch," he said pulling back the string and launching the arrow. "Please-" was all that was heard from the doomed Falcon before the arrow tore through his heart. Diamond looked down at the bow in a trance. "It's so beautiful. It's shame I gave it away." he said. He handed the bow to Rubeus. "Burry it with him." he said. "Yes my lord." Rubeus said.
Diamond sat down. He turned his attention to the shocked dancers and shivering musicians. "Continue." he said with a wave of his hand. The musicians immediately began to play and the dancers began to dance, but with much less enthusiasm than before.
Finally done. Well how do you like chapter four? I really like how it turned out. The ball is going to be fun. It plays a crucial part in the story I think. Next chapter we're back to my favorite character Usagi!!!!! Now go review!
