Elios woke to the daylight streaming in through her curtains, "Damn, she
might as well have killed me." Seeing that the hour was a bit late, he
shook her awake, "Elios?" He shushed her; "I have to go now."
"Princess Serena, are you awake? Oh well, I'm coming in." Elios dropped to the floor, and slid under the bed, "My, but you are late to rise this morning!" A servant of course! He smiled wryly, "I had a late night, what news have you?" The servant noisily bustled around the room, "Only one bit of news that I caught. Prince Elios has been missing since a guard saw him leave his room late last night. The man got in a load of trouble for not following the Prince! You have no care for that news though, or do you? The word is."
"That is none of your business, I will not say either way." How had it gotten out? Elios wondered for a moment if they had been spied upon, "So sorry milady, here, let me gather your things for you."
"I will take a bath now."
"Nonsense milady, you took one before you retired! Where are you shoes? Must be under the bed, I'll get them."
"I can dress myself."
"Then I'll just grab them and be on my way." Elios tried to balance himself under the frame, and realized that his cloak was gone, as were the shoes, "Damn!" He muttered and then listened for the servant to go, "What is this cloak doing under your bed? Why, it belongs to Prince Elios! I saw him wearing it just yesterday." The servant opened the door; "I must report this to the Queen!" Elios was glad to hear the door slam right before he slipped and fell onto the floor, "Elios are you all right?" He saw Rini's feet touch down to the floor as he rubbed his head, "Fine." He muttered more loudly than he had the curse, and felt her delicate fingers encircle his wrist, and pull to help him up, "Don't be cross."
Rini said, and eased him to his feet, "The palace is in an uproar because I'm nowhere to be found, and I just hit my head on your floor, I have every right to be cross." She laughed, and Elios smiled, "Now, how to remedy this problem, you'll need an explanation."
"It's really no use, my mother can read my mind, and just be forewarned that she can read yours too." She lifted an eyebrow, "That's not comforting." Rini didn't know what he could say, "I'll just tell them that I had to leave my room to pray; it wouldn't be the first time. I may still have to deal with Mother, but not anyone else." Elios once again went to the hidden terrace with her trailing behind him. Rini watched as his wings popped out of his back, and he took off, "Elios." She regretted calling him back at once, but he took the hint, and tilted her chin up. Rini let him kiss her softly, and then pulled back, blushing furiously, "Do not be embarrassed, Rini, I would have turned back anyway."
Elios said gently, neither mocking, nor making fun of her. He stroked her cheek, and kissed her one last time, "I have to go now." He said, and then dove down into the entrance of the palace. His wings quickly disappeared, and he turned to enter his home. Elios went inside, and made his way through the palace to his mother's office. He was almost there when one of Rini's ladies in waiting intercepted him, "Prince Eriosu, where were you, we were all so very worried."
"I am back now, and there was no reason for anyone to suspect." The girl nodded, "I just.well, Princess Serena is not very nice is she?" Elios' mouth twitched into a smirk, "You think that hmm?" The girl nodded, "She's so spoiled and mean, but I'm nice, so if things don't work out between the two of you."
"I have no interest in ladies who mock their liege, I shall be sure to tell Princess Rini of your words."
"Rini. I never thought that she would tell you that name. She only tells it to the people closest to her, wait!" Elios cursed himself; he had said too much already. The large doors to his mother's office suddenly opened, "Eriosu. and Zara, good to see the both of you. Where were you?" Elios walked to Queen Rainbow, "Praying of course, what was all of the hubbub about?" He heard the doors close behind him, "You cannot keep disappearing like this."
"I must if I am to stay true to my faith." He replied to the representative that had said that. The whole house was there, "Mother.?" He looked to his mother, and saw that she was aggravated, but not by him, "They have come to discuss your marriage with Princess Serena." Oh great, "Marriage? I have barely known her for two days." He scowled at the reps, "Would someone please get the Princess in question, we do not have all day!"
He sunk down into a chair, and ran his fingers through his hair, "Princess Serena sirs." Rini walked in, and raised her eyebrow questioningly. Elios shrugged as she took the seat next to him, and he whispered in her ear, "They want to talk about our marriage." He took her hand under the table while she whispered back, "Isn't it a bit early?" He squeezed her hand in reassurance, "So what is this all about gentlemen?" Elios asked rather irritably, "The terms of the marriage of course."
"Is this regulation, because these are not exactly normal circumstances." All of them whispered amongst themselves, "This is what we propose, when this marriage takes place, all power will go to Prince Eriosu."
"You know as well as I that is not allowed." Elios interrupted, pulling Rini back into her seat, "Let's continue, shall we? The Sun shall be the base of power again, and Princess Rini will reside on the Moon of Earth to help run the planets of the outer solar system, while Prince Eriosu will stay here to send orders to her. A child will be produced by the fifth year of marriage, or Princess Rini will surrender all power and will live on the moon as an ordinary citizen." The two Queens, as well as he and Rini were appalled, "What in the name of the moon are you talking about? Are we your cattle or something?" Rini demanded, and he was proud of her, "There are no terms to this marriage, if and when it takes place, good day gentlemen!" Of course they were older, and considered themselves to be the ones holding power, "Take your seat children, now ladies, what do you think?" Elios used that, "You're right, we are children, but we seem to have a hell of a lot more sense then any of you." Queen Rainbow spoke, "First, when such a union takes place, it will not be for political purposes, but for love. Second, the kingdom by all rights will belong to my daughter, and that is final."
"My Queen, we have already decided." She glared at the rep that said that; "I would not speak if I were you. Third, this kingdom belongs to Princess Lily, not Prince Eriosu, no insult intended."
"None taken." He replied, "Go look for jobs in the morning, I never thought that you would fail like this, you are dismissed." The reps looked shocked, but they each stormed out of the palace, "What ridiculous ideas, really! Why did you not dismiss them sooner?"
"They hadn't done anything drastic yet, they just gave me a headache. Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do about having three hundred job openings." Elios groaned, "I still don't understand why everyone was so worried about me." His mother smiled, "We were worried because you were not praying at all."
"I told you that it would not work." Rini sighed, "How much trouble are we in?" Queen Rainbow chuckled, "Just know that you are being watched far more closely."
"Next time, Serena, do not ask him to stay, and that is as far as your trouble goes. As for you Elios."
"Here it comes."
"Just stay out of each other's rooms, okay? Oh, and you have to tell someone when you are praying at odd times, and no, I do not mean in the morning also." Elios was relieved that nothing worse had happened, so he lead Rini out of the room while the two Queens reminisced, "How did you know that you were in trouble?"
"She never calls me Elios."
"I see." He pushed her against the wall, and kissed her, "We have company." Elios said when they parted, "Come with me." They went out the back, and he flew them up into the same tree as the day before, "They cannot see us up here."
"I did not think so."
"Your lady in waiting named Zara is bad news."
"Why? I always liked her the most."
"She called you spoiled and mean, and then she made it clear that she was available."
"That is unfortunate," to his surprise, she kissed him, and his back slid down the trunk until he was in a sitting position, with her on her knees in front of him, "for her." He laughed lightly, and took her in his arms; "You should wear your hair down."
"It gets in the way, and I just find that it is easier to keep it up." They kissed again, but it was cut short when someone yelled, "Prince Eriosu, Princess Serena, are you there?" Elios stole a glance at Rini, then said; "Yes, we are."
"I have been told to tell you that the Prince of Jupiter, and the Princess of Mercury will be arriving shortly, and that there will be a ball tonight in their honor."
"All right." He scowled, and she raised an eyebrow. "I rather dislike both of them." Elios explained, and she nodded. "Be on your best behavior, it would not bode well for your kingdom toe make enemies of their own kingdoms." "Now you sound like my mother." He laughed, and kissed her softly. "If there is to be a ball, then we must be ready for it, come on." Helping her up, he took them back down to the garden, and they walked into the palace.
"Princess Serena, are you awake? Oh well, I'm coming in." Elios dropped to the floor, and slid under the bed, "My, but you are late to rise this morning!" A servant of course! He smiled wryly, "I had a late night, what news have you?" The servant noisily bustled around the room, "Only one bit of news that I caught. Prince Elios has been missing since a guard saw him leave his room late last night. The man got in a load of trouble for not following the Prince! You have no care for that news though, or do you? The word is."
"That is none of your business, I will not say either way." How had it gotten out? Elios wondered for a moment if they had been spied upon, "So sorry milady, here, let me gather your things for you."
"I will take a bath now."
"Nonsense milady, you took one before you retired! Where are you shoes? Must be under the bed, I'll get them."
"I can dress myself."
"Then I'll just grab them and be on my way." Elios tried to balance himself under the frame, and realized that his cloak was gone, as were the shoes, "Damn!" He muttered and then listened for the servant to go, "What is this cloak doing under your bed? Why, it belongs to Prince Elios! I saw him wearing it just yesterday." The servant opened the door; "I must report this to the Queen!" Elios was glad to hear the door slam right before he slipped and fell onto the floor, "Elios are you all right?" He saw Rini's feet touch down to the floor as he rubbed his head, "Fine." He muttered more loudly than he had the curse, and felt her delicate fingers encircle his wrist, and pull to help him up, "Don't be cross."
Rini said, and eased him to his feet, "The palace is in an uproar because I'm nowhere to be found, and I just hit my head on your floor, I have every right to be cross." She laughed, and Elios smiled, "Now, how to remedy this problem, you'll need an explanation."
"It's really no use, my mother can read my mind, and just be forewarned that she can read yours too." She lifted an eyebrow, "That's not comforting." Rini didn't know what he could say, "I'll just tell them that I had to leave my room to pray; it wouldn't be the first time. I may still have to deal with Mother, but not anyone else." Elios once again went to the hidden terrace with her trailing behind him. Rini watched as his wings popped out of his back, and he took off, "Elios." She regretted calling him back at once, but he took the hint, and tilted her chin up. Rini let him kiss her softly, and then pulled back, blushing furiously, "Do not be embarrassed, Rini, I would have turned back anyway."
Elios said gently, neither mocking, nor making fun of her. He stroked her cheek, and kissed her one last time, "I have to go now." He said, and then dove down into the entrance of the palace. His wings quickly disappeared, and he turned to enter his home. Elios went inside, and made his way through the palace to his mother's office. He was almost there when one of Rini's ladies in waiting intercepted him, "Prince Eriosu, where were you, we were all so very worried."
"I am back now, and there was no reason for anyone to suspect." The girl nodded, "I just.well, Princess Serena is not very nice is she?" Elios' mouth twitched into a smirk, "You think that hmm?" The girl nodded, "She's so spoiled and mean, but I'm nice, so if things don't work out between the two of you."
"I have no interest in ladies who mock their liege, I shall be sure to tell Princess Rini of your words."
"Rini. I never thought that she would tell you that name. She only tells it to the people closest to her, wait!" Elios cursed himself; he had said too much already. The large doors to his mother's office suddenly opened, "Eriosu. and Zara, good to see the both of you. Where were you?" Elios walked to Queen Rainbow, "Praying of course, what was all of the hubbub about?" He heard the doors close behind him, "You cannot keep disappearing like this."
"I must if I am to stay true to my faith." He replied to the representative that had said that. The whole house was there, "Mother.?" He looked to his mother, and saw that she was aggravated, but not by him, "They have come to discuss your marriage with Princess Serena." Oh great, "Marriage? I have barely known her for two days." He scowled at the reps, "Would someone please get the Princess in question, we do not have all day!"
He sunk down into a chair, and ran his fingers through his hair, "Princess Serena sirs." Rini walked in, and raised her eyebrow questioningly. Elios shrugged as she took the seat next to him, and he whispered in her ear, "They want to talk about our marriage." He took her hand under the table while she whispered back, "Isn't it a bit early?" He squeezed her hand in reassurance, "So what is this all about gentlemen?" Elios asked rather irritably, "The terms of the marriage of course."
"Is this regulation, because these are not exactly normal circumstances." All of them whispered amongst themselves, "This is what we propose, when this marriage takes place, all power will go to Prince Eriosu."
"You know as well as I that is not allowed." Elios interrupted, pulling Rini back into her seat, "Let's continue, shall we? The Sun shall be the base of power again, and Princess Rini will reside on the Moon of Earth to help run the planets of the outer solar system, while Prince Eriosu will stay here to send orders to her. A child will be produced by the fifth year of marriage, or Princess Rini will surrender all power and will live on the moon as an ordinary citizen." The two Queens, as well as he and Rini were appalled, "What in the name of the moon are you talking about? Are we your cattle or something?" Rini demanded, and he was proud of her, "There are no terms to this marriage, if and when it takes place, good day gentlemen!" Of course they were older, and considered themselves to be the ones holding power, "Take your seat children, now ladies, what do you think?" Elios used that, "You're right, we are children, but we seem to have a hell of a lot more sense then any of you." Queen Rainbow spoke, "First, when such a union takes place, it will not be for political purposes, but for love. Second, the kingdom by all rights will belong to my daughter, and that is final."
"My Queen, we have already decided." She glared at the rep that said that; "I would not speak if I were you. Third, this kingdom belongs to Princess Lily, not Prince Eriosu, no insult intended."
"None taken." He replied, "Go look for jobs in the morning, I never thought that you would fail like this, you are dismissed." The reps looked shocked, but they each stormed out of the palace, "What ridiculous ideas, really! Why did you not dismiss them sooner?"
"They hadn't done anything drastic yet, they just gave me a headache. Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do about having three hundred job openings." Elios groaned, "I still don't understand why everyone was so worried about me." His mother smiled, "We were worried because you were not praying at all."
"I told you that it would not work." Rini sighed, "How much trouble are we in?" Queen Rainbow chuckled, "Just know that you are being watched far more closely."
"Next time, Serena, do not ask him to stay, and that is as far as your trouble goes. As for you Elios."
"Here it comes."
"Just stay out of each other's rooms, okay? Oh, and you have to tell someone when you are praying at odd times, and no, I do not mean in the morning also." Elios was relieved that nothing worse had happened, so he lead Rini out of the room while the two Queens reminisced, "How did you know that you were in trouble?"
"She never calls me Elios."
"I see." He pushed her against the wall, and kissed her, "We have company." Elios said when they parted, "Come with me." They went out the back, and he flew them up into the same tree as the day before, "They cannot see us up here."
"I did not think so."
"Your lady in waiting named Zara is bad news."
"Why? I always liked her the most."
"She called you spoiled and mean, and then she made it clear that she was available."
"That is unfortunate," to his surprise, she kissed him, and his back slid down the trunk until he was in a sitting position, with her on her knees in front of him, "for her." He laughed lightly, and took her in his arms; "You should wear your hair down."
"It gets in the way, and I just find that it is easier to keep it up." They kissed again, but it was cut short when someone yelled, "Prince Eriosu, Princess Serena, are you there?" Elios stole a glance at Rini, then said; "Yes, we are."
"I have been told to tell you that the Prince of Jupiter, and the Princess of Mercury will be arriving shortly, and that there will be a ball tonight in their honor."
"All right." He scowled, and she raised an eyebrow. "I rather dislike both of them." Elios explained, and she nodded. "Be on your best behavior, it would not bode well for your kingdom toe make enemies of their own kingdoms." "Now you sound like my mother." He laughed, and kissed her softly. "If there is to be a ball, then we must be ready for it, come on." Helping her up, he took them back down to the garden, and they walked into the palace.
