by Makura Koneko
I was aware, but I was not awake. I was seeing, but I had no eyes. I felt the winds of time and space, but I had no
body…
"This is definitely ranking a ten on the freak-o-meter…" I muttered, surprised to find that I even had a voice. I
touched my hair; my 'odangos' were still in place, my hair as silver as it had been when I had been Princess Serenity
of the Silver Moon Kingdom; not a single trace of gold anywhere.
I 'heard' someone behind me. Not so much as they made a sound or moved, but I just suddenly became aware of
their existence, like I was hearing their emotions… I turned, and my eyes bulged and I gasped. Laying in a bed with
four, tall posts made of spiraling vines of silver and pearl, with a soft white coverlet over her, was me! Or at least, my body…
Oh my god! I panicked…Was I…dead? No, no…I forced myself to calm, and saw that my body was still
breathing. God, I looked so pale! Icky…
I had to find my friends, I suddenly realized. Whatever was going on, they'd be able to tell me… I looked for a
door, but before I even found it, I felt myself fading. Was I dying, now? I shut what ghost-eyes I had, forcing myself
not to panic. Was I going back into my body? Oh, I hoped so…
I felt my transportation stop.
I peeked open one eye, prepared to scream my ghost-lungs out if anything icky jumped out at me… But instead I
squealed for joy.
"Guys!!!!" I cried. I wanted to dance! They were all around me, sitting on arched-up-out-of-the ground things that
looked like giant, silver roots and big rocks…the ground was covered in a soft silvery-blue moss that made a super
pretty carpet. To my left, between two huge trees –the roots of which Aragorn and Boromir were sitting on- I could
see a beautiful stream, almost big enough to be called a tiny river. On the other side of the mini river I could see
more beautiful ethereal looking trees, and more treehouses.
I looked away and examined my friends' faces when I realized they had not acknowledged me. Were they that
mad? I spotted Legolas, and my heart sang before falling again. He wasn't even looking at me! What had I done to
make them ignore me like this?
"Guys?" I asked, noting their solemn, sad expressions. What was going on? I bit down my panic again. Was any of
them hurt? Quickly I counted. Raye, Ami, Hotaru, Haruka –I winced; she did not look happy- Boromir, Aragorn,
Gimli, Legolas –why the heck did my heart jump like that? The hobbits weren't there…I squeaked as panic
threatened to overcome me…were they hurt? And where was that tall old guy?
I forced myself to watch and listen as another elf dude that was most definitely some sort of guard came up to
Legolas. He and Legolas exchanged words in some super pretty language that I had not the slightest clue of how to
understand, and the elf-guard dude left.
"I have been informed that Galadriel will see us on the morrow," Legolas said after a moment. "Once we have
rested. Until then she says we have but to request anything we desire, and it shall be ours. She bids us rest and
replenish ourselves while our companions heal."
"Then I suppose 'tis time to play our Butterfly's game, eh?" Gimli said with forced false cheerfulness. I wanted to
hug him.
"Butterfly?" Haruka growled.
"My nickname for the princess," Gimli said gruffly, his beard hiding a slight flush. I giggled as Haruka grumbled and
scowled, but said nothing, for once.
"What game is this?" Ami asked.
"We ask a question, you answer," Aragorn said. "Then you ask a question, and we answer."
"Ah, that game," Raye grinned slightly. "Also know as a variation of Truth or Dare."
"Pardon?" Boromir asked.
"A popular game among teenage girls where we come from," Raye explained. "I'll tell you about it later, if you want."
"I think we'll pass." Gimli said stiffly, insulted that he might want to know how to play a girl child's game. Ami
grinned slightly, as did Hotaru. It was then that I realized that I really was some sort of ghost; they couldn't see me.
So I just stood and listened, for once.
"First question," Aragorn said. "Frodo still has the Ring. You were the last people to actually talk to him, since he
collapsed once we got here. Why does he still bear the Ring?"
Ami sighed. I was curious as to why this was, too, after all I'd heard about this evil piece of jewelry.
"I'll give you the short version." Ami said. My eyes widened. Boy, she must be really tired if she was just going to
give the simple explanation instead of the in-depth, much more information providing ones she usually did.
"A) The 'knowledge' that the Ring could only be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom was a trap, set out my
Sauron ages ago so that if anyone were able to resist the Ring and be able to set out to destroy it, they would only
end up bringing it right to him." She ignored the shocked expressions of the men and continued. "B) The Ring is
made of an alloy known as Moongold. There were only four pieces of Moongold ever found. Moongold is naturally
very magically potent, which is what gave the Ring, since it was made out of Moongold, its edge over all other Rings
of Power.
"C) Moongold is only found on the Moon, and can only be handled, crafted, molded, or destroyed by one of the
Lunarian Royal Family. Also, the magic of Moongold is naturally that of positive magic, good magic. I suspect it was
the good magic that was in the actual alloy that the Ring is made of that combated the evil in the Ring itself, keeping
it from Sauron as long as it did until it could summon the only one that could destroy it.
"D) Serena is the only living member of the Lunarian Royal Family. She was summoned here. You put the rest of
the pieces together."
Now I was worried. Ami must be really tired and upset to be this snappy!
"So you're saying that this Ring has a will of its own, Ami-chan?" Raye asked incredulously.
"Precisely." Ami confirmed. "The actual Ring itself 'wants' nothing more than to return to its master, to wreak havoc
on the world and plunge everything into darkness and shadow and evil. But the alloy of the ring, the Moongold,
wants the opposite, and thus it summoned Serena to destroy it so that what the Ring wants will never happen."
"So the One Ring has…two wills?" Boromir sought a more clear confirmation. Ami nodded.
"Basically," The blue haired girl said. "The will of the Ring is to destroy all good, but the will of the Moongold is to
destroy all evil. I suspect these two wills have been conflicting since the day the Ring was created. But, luckily for all
of us, the true will of the Ring overcame the evil will, and managed to bring Serena over to this ti-" She had
hesitated. "To this time." She had finished.
"Serena mentioned she believed she was from the future," Legolas recalled. Ami looked surprised, and Raye
scowled.
"Trust that meatball head to so freely give away that bit of info," She grumbled. I stuck my tongue out at her, even
though I knew she couldn't see or hear me.
"So how exactly are you here from the future?" Gimli asked. "I get that what little good was in the Ring –though I
find that a bit hard to believe- brought Butterfly here, but how did you all get here?"
"No asking questions out of turn," Haruka growled. I grinned. Gimli glowered peevishly, but said nothing more.
"Gandalf pretty much told us everything we need to know," Hotaru said. "But I do believe that we have all yet to be
formally introduced, so how about we all give introductions before we go on? Consider our question to be an
inquiry as to your identities, then we will explain how we followed our Princess. Okay?"
"Perfectly acceptable, lady." Boromir conceded after a nod from Aragorn.
"I'll start," Gimli volunteered, and he stood. "I am Lord Gimli, cousin to the late Lord of Moria, son of Gloin, a
Master among dwarves, sworn to the service of the Ring-Bearer, though if anyone touches either him or the
Butterfly, they'll face my ax and all my fury behind it." He gave a sort of salute with his battle-ax before fastening it
to his side once more and sitting down.
"I am Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood," Legolas told them. "My father is King there, and I, too, am sworn to the
service of the Ring-Bearer, though my protection also now extends to the Princess Serenity."
"I am known as the ranger Strider," Aragorn told them. "Though my birth name is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, king of
Gondor, and heir of Ilsildur. The Ring-Bearer and the Moon Princess both are under my ward."
"My name is Baron Boromir, and I am the son of the Steward of Gondor, whom is currently overseeing things until
Aragorn reclaims his throne. I am also sworn to assisting the Ring-Bearer, though my allegiance is first to my King,
and then to the Princess." He nodded to Aragorn, and threw a glance up the stairs behind me. I flushed and felt
tears in my eyes. These people felt like they owed their protection and allegiance to me? Part of me felt sad that
even more would be willing to die for me, and yet another, even larger part was thrilled that I had so many
wonderful friends…
"Name's Haruka Ten'ou," Haruka nodded to the males present. "Professional race car driver, test runner, and gold
medal Olympic champion in both the sprint and marathon run divisions." She didn't bother to explain what any of
these things were. "Also known as the Senshi of the Sky and Wind, Uranus."
"My name is Raye Hino," Raye said, tossing her long black braid over her hair as she leaned against a slender tree,
her right leg bent and her foot against the trunk of the tree, her hands tucked behind her after flipping her braid. "I
am a shinko –a shine maiden- at my grandfather's shinto shrine, and keeperof the Sacred fire, which goes in tune
with my duties as the Senshi of Fire and Passion, Mars."
"Ami Mizuno," Ami said. "My mother is a doctor, and I am studying to follow in her footsteps. In my spare time I
like to go to swim at the local gym. I am the Senshi of Ice and Wisdom, Mercury."
"Hotaru Tomoe," Hotaru said softly. "Um….as for background info… My mother died when I was born, and when
I was three I nearly died, and would have if my father hadn't… Er, that's another story, though. Haruka and
Michiru and Setsuna are my parents now. They raised me, and they and Serena taught me how to control the evil
side of my power as the Senshi of Destruction, Saturn." She stood and curtseyed. "Pleasure to meet you all."
"Likewise." Legolas said politely. Hotaru smiled gently at him. I giggled, wondering if maybe the young girl had a
crush on the elven prince… Why did that make me feel like my eyes were turning green?
"Now about the time travel," Boromir began. I wanted to listen, but I groaned as I felt myself being pulled at
again…I felt myself fade away from the presence of my friends, and I found myself again in the room I had first been
in. I felt myself drift towards my body…being pulled back to the world of the flesh…and as I was pulled, I began to
forget all I had heard and seen…
When I awoke, it was to a face that I felt I was more glad to see than I should be. Then again, Legolas had saved
my life –and my pride, on several of my blundering occasions. He touched my cheek with a cool cloth, and I
realized for the first time, as he said something gently and as I blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear my blurry eyes,
that I was in a bed.
"Where am I?" I tried to ask, but only ended up coughing weakly. The cloth retreated, and I closed my eyes to wait
for the fit to subside. I felt myself lifted and then laid against a familiar, upright chest. An arm encircled my waist and
another hand settled my head into the crook of a familiar shoulder. A hand gently guided a glass of water to my lips
as soon as the coughing had subsided enough for me to drink, and I did so. The first sip was a shock; not cold, but
so revitalizingly fresh that it tasted crystalline.
"Yulna, elle nim-loki," A voice I knew well whispered in my ear. I had absolutely no freakin' idea what the words
meant, but I got the idea as the glass was presented to my lips again, and I drank.
"Will she be okay?" A voice asked softly, a voice that was suppressing tears.
Hotaru!
"W-wata imei s-sakari…" I managed in Japanese; I noticed for the first time that I was neither Princess Serenity or
in my unnamed Senshi form; I was simply Serena, which explained why I could only speak Japanese at the moment
"Wataimei a-appu k-ken aku.. o-oite iie jikoko, yoshei?"
I heard Hotaru sniffle even as I my strength, spent by making so long a speech –at least, it felt like it had been a
speech, with how exhausted I was now, right after it.
"What did she say?" Legolas asked Hotaru as he slipped out from behind me and laid me back down on the cloud-
soft bed and pillows, tucking a silky smooth comforter around my shoulders and tucking a strand of my hair behind
my ear.
"Sh-she said…" Hotaru sniffed, and I heard feet moving, so I knew she was coming closer. "She said she'd be fine,
and that she'd be up and about in no time." Her voice still sounded so broken… If I'd had the strength, I would
have winced. I knew why. But I'd had no choice but to use the Crystal! I'd known that, for all their determination to
save me without my help, another jump, with seven people to carry, after two teleportations in a row, would have
killed them without an extra little power boost…okay, a big power boost. One that had almost killed me to extract
from the Crystal. But hey, we were all okay, right?
…right…?
Oh, God…
"H-Hotaru-ch-chan…" I murmured. Immediately I felt the youngest Senshi at my side, and felt her small, cool hand
clasp over mine. I summoned all the strength I could, and opened my eyes to look at her. Legolas was standing
behind her, his hand on her shoulder. I glanced at him, and seeing his eyes like that…filled with concern…somehow,
I felt strength, just enough to go on, fill me…
How…?
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Meatball head, I heard Raye chasten in my mind.
"Hotaru-chan," I whispered. "S-sai min-minna-chan yoroshii?" I wished I could say the words so Legolas could
understand them…I even heard in my mind how I could say them so he could hear… 'Is everyone okay?' were
the words in Common, I knew. But I didn't have the strength…
Hotaru nodded, and sniffed.
"Hai," She answered. "Minna-chan yoroshii, goumo kega, ikkou."
Her words echoed in my mind and heart… Yes, everyone's okay, not hurt, not at all.
Hotaru then giggled. "Demo Raye-chan sai seiranshoku! Sou sai Haruka-papa!" Even I had to grin… 'But Raye is
livid!' She had said. 'So is Haruka!'
"Suitou Raye-chan ketsu naraba hon'in appu ken yaku motte'ashita," I said weakly. Tell Raye-chan that if I'm not
up and about by tomorrow, "Sokode senpou kanawa koukou kara ware setsuyaka senpou daijei." Then she
can't yell at me for saving her butt.
Hotaru giggled, and while I heard her relay my words to Legolas, my strength gave out, and I slipped back into
slumber, a smile on my face.
"She cares for you all very much." Aragorn told them, sitting on pearly colored root that arched up out of the
ground at the edge of the small, circular 'room' formed by trees, earth, and bushes by a medium sized stream while
he cleaned and sharpened his dagger; his sword was being repaired by the elves. "You can't really blame her for
what she did."
"Hell, yes we can!" Raye snapped, pacing furiously, now in normal garb. At least, what Aragorn and Boromir
considered normal for women while traveling; leggings and blouse. Well, actually, blouse and skirt with a doublet-
corset would have been more appropriate, but they had refused to wear such things, but had consented to trade in
their rather revealing warrior goddess getups for the traveling outfits they wore now.
Raye's wild anger, displayed in her jerky movements, angry pacing, and flashing eyes, were nothing compared to
the silent rage that radiated off of Haruka, leaning against a tall, young tree.
"Figures that not even a place so peaceful as this could calm them." Ami sighed. Frodo, beside her, gave her a
sympathetic smile and squeezed her hand. Blushing gently, but smiling, she returned the gesture.
"She woke up!" A delighted voice cried out. Hotaru, clad in a flowing, ethereal pale violet gown with flowing angel
sleeves and a swooped neckline, edged in dark silver embroidery, dashed down the steps that encircled a huge tree,
the trunk the size of a house and at least eleven stories high. At the top of the trunk, nestled at the base of all the
branches, was a lush tree house, almost a miniature palace made out of twisting, sloping, braiding, interweaving
pearly silver-white branches and golden leaves.
"She what?" Raye whirled, full, flowing burgundy sleeves, cuffed at her wrists, swished about her arms as she did
so, her long black braid whiling with her and landing over her shoulder.
"She woke up for a few moments." Legolas said, following the bubbling girl. Hotaru, whose shoulder length jet
black hair shimmered and her bangs were clipped back with pearls and amethysts, plopped down beside Ami. The
clothing and hair accessories had been gifts from the elves of Lothlorien, where they had found themselves when
they had all awoken after that last exhausting transportation from…wherever they had rescued Merry and Pippin
from. The Hobbits –except for Frodo- were still resting along with Gandalf, who -despite Hotaru having healed
most of his injuries- was still not a young man anymore. And even Ami was unable to explain how all of his injures –
broken ankle and twisted wrist and all- had disappeared when they'd been transported from Khazad-dum to right
in the middle of their fight.
"And Raaaaye…" Hotaru drawled; seeing her beloved princess awake had done much for her previously
devastated spirits. "She says that if she's up and about by tomorrow, you can't yell at her for –and I quote- saving
your butt!"
"Don't worry Raye," Haruka said lowly. "She won't be up by tomorrow because we won't let her be up by
tomorrow! She'll stay in that bed with us to nurse her until I decide she's well enough to get up and come home!"
Without another word, the Senshi of Wind, pale cream blouse and fitted navy blue leggings betraying her taut
muscles and stiff posture, pushed away from the tree, whirled, and disappeared from the room.
"Out of all of us," Ami said softly. "Haruka is the most protective of our Princess. She, like us, would give her life
and soul to keep Serenity from harm. That Serena would willingly put herself in danger for her…that tears her apart,
because that is the one harm Haruka cannot protect her from."
"We –the Inners- came to accept long ago that if Serena set her mind to something, not even death itself was going
to keep her from doing that something," Raye said, her voice tight. "Even if it was saving us through death she was
aiming for. We had no choice but to decide to just make sure that there would always be a way for us to bring her
back, and make sure that she would never, ever have to make a sacrifice of herself ever again."
In the thoughtful silence that followed, none noticed that Legolas had once again retreated up the steps to the mini-
tree palace that Serena rested within. He made quick work of the spiraling steps, and brushed aside the silken
curtains that made for a door. More transparent lengths of silken cloth hung around the edge of the platform, falling
to the floor and concealing the low, three-foot high wall that surrounded the edge, the curtains blowing between the
white pillars that were atop the short walls, each one five feet apart.
"You're friends are worried about you," Legolas said softly as he touched Serena's pale cheek, her chest rising and
lowering gently and steadily with the breath of sleep. He sat in the chair he had pulled up beside her hours ago –or
was it days ago?- when he had awoken, fully rested, and had demanded to know where she was.
And here she lay, still, in a flowing sheath of pure white linen, no longer in the ethereal gown fit for the royalty she
was, not even in the garb of her moon warrior form. Her crescent moon gone, she wasn't even in the clothing –
black skirt and pink top- that she had been in when he had first found her… It all seemed so long ago…
The Ring may answer to Sauron, but the Moongold answers to Serenity…He had forgotten about that silvery, whispery voice he had heard on the banks of the River. Forgotten it until earlier
that afternoon, when Hotaru –so sweet and yet so eternally sad a mortal child he had never met- had gently pried
him from his elle nim-loki, his little white dragon, to a meeting where they would all, Fellowship –those of it that
were awake- and Senshi would finally understand each other.
Legolas understood all he needed to; they had come to take Serena home, if she would go. They all knew she
would. She loved her home and her duty to her home too much to not return.
After he had gotten over that, he had learned why the Ring-Bearer still bore the Ring, and why they would all stay
together until Serena awoke…
Moongold. So that was why the Ring was the Master Ring. That was why she was here…what good still remained
in the Ring because of what it was made out of had called her…part of the Ring detested what it was, and had
summoned the only one who could rid the world of the evil it carried…
So much power in so small a girl… So much fate and destiny resting on her delicate shoulders… What cruel entity
would lay so much responsibility at the feet of a creature such as her? In this particular case, it was whoever had
locked that bit of love and light deep within the 'molecular structure of the original form of the lunar originated and
malleable alloy known as Moongold' according to the blue haired girl, Ami, or Mercury.
"So you're saying that this ring has a will of its own?" The black haired one, Raye, had asked incredulously.
"Precisely." Ami had confirmed. "The actual ring itself 'wants' nothing more than to return to its master, to
wreak havoc on the world and plunge everything into darkness and shadow and evil. But the alloy of the
ring, the Moongold, wants the opposite, and thus it summoned Serena to destroy it so that what the Ring
wants will never happen."
"So The One Ring has…two wills?" Boromir sought a more clear confirmation. Ami nodded.
"Basically," She had said. "The will of the ring is to destroy all good, the will of the Moongold is to destroy all
evil. I suspect these two wills have been conflicting since the day the Ring was created. But, luckily for all of
us, the true will of the ring overcame the evil will, and managed to bring Serena over to this ti-" She had
hesitated. "To this time." She had finished.
That had lead to introductions, which he had stayed for, but once an entirely different discussion on time travel
awakened just after that, he had slipped away, uninterested. He'd made his way up to Serena's treeroom,
dismissed the elf maiden attending Serena, and had begun to see to her needs himself when Hotaru had made the
fact that she had followed him apparent by asking if the golden haired girl would be all right.
And now, yet again, he found himself here by her side. Why? Why did he feel such a tender protection towards
her? Why?
Another very rare time when he didn't know the answer was added to his growing list as he simply sat and watched
over her.
"You belong to me, just as your mother did…you cannot escape your fate, my daughter…come to
me…bring to me what is mine, even as you wear my gift to you…"
Serena shivered in the darkness, her eyes closed tight against the giant, black snake eye that was wreathed in living
flame.
"I may be your daughter by blood," Serena shouted at him. "But I am also the daughter of Queen Selenity!
She raised me, not you, therefore she is my true parent! Nothing you can do or say will hold any sway over
me, ever!"
"I am your father, Serenity…your blood sings to mine…you cannot deny it… Part of me is inside
you…embrace it! Bring me what is mine, my child… Me with my Ring, you with your mother's
Crystal…imagine it, beloved. We would rule everything…"
"You were never my father, and never will be!" Serena screamed, clamping her hands over her ears. "And I
want nothing more than to be with those I love! If I wanted to rule all, I would not have run away from who
I was so long ago, I wouldn't have run away from being the Moon Princess!" She took her hands away from
her ears and her head snapped up. She glared defiantly at the Eye, and stood. In a low, angry voice, she said,
"Now I know why my mother looked at the Earth with such hatred. It wasn't the Earth she hated; it was
you! She wanted you dead, she wanted you gone from the world, and by her blood and our ruined kingdom I
swear will carry out her ever unspoken wish! Do you hear me, father? I will destroy you! You and your evil,
forever! I shall destroy your precious ring, then I am coming for you! Never again shall you hurt my mother,
or anyone she held dear! Never! Do you hear me? I'm coming for you!"
The Eye flared, Sauron roared his rage, and a scalding wind surrounded her. She stood her ground, the moonlight
silk of her gown flapping wildly around her, her hair forming a silver-golden tornado around her. Serena clenched
her fists and stood tall and proud, defiant before her father.
"By my order, the Crown Princess Serenity," Serena screamed out, her voice radiating power and purity as a
silver fireball slashed through the darkness and flared up around in a roar of raging purity. "By my order, entity of
evil, I, Heir to the Throne of the Silver Alliance, Ruler of Earth, Bearer of the Silver Crystal," At this, the
Crystal appeared in her hands, held out before her, with a wild burst of unrestrained power that flared outwards all
around her. "I demand you release me! Release me now, Sauron! I will not stay in your place of evil
nightmares any longer! Release me!"
Sauron roared, but the roar of Serena's silver power drowned out his, and quicker than you could blink, the pure
silver and white energy lashed out, and melted the darkness. Serena's promise echoed as she was released from the
realm of nightmares…
"I am coming for you, father… For all you did to my mother, I am coming for you."
Serena awoke, breathing heavily, but oddly calm.
It took her a moment to gather herself, to bring all of herself, mind, body, and spirit, to the real world…
It was night out, but the light of the Moon illuminated the pearly surface of the trees of and the branches that formed
her bed, giving the entire room and the forest she could see beyond the 'window's' of her room an ethereal glow.
The silk curtains blew in a gentle wind, in and out between the white pillars that were along the edge of the platform
that her bed was in the center of.
"Serena…" Serena turned her head to see Legolas. He had been standing at the window. He had turned at the
sound of her sitting up. Serena pulled the covers aside and swung her legs over the side, the silky, cascading, wispy
material of her Princess Serenity gown brushing over her legs as she stood. Legolas looked her up and down, noting
the garb that Serena somehow knew she had not been wearing till a few moments ago.
"Where are we?" Serena asked softly. Her gaze fixed on a palace-like structure, visible in the distance, that looked
like it was made out of interwoven moonbeams. She walked to the low wall, between two pillars, were the curtains
had been drawn aside. Legolas, beside her, touched her elbow.
"We are in Lothlorien, the place we told you Lady Galadriel resides." Legolas turned her to face him. She looked
up at him unblinkingly, and Legolas knew she something had happened in her sleep. Her eyes shone with a heavy
light no one, not even an immortal like herself, should ever have to bear.
"What is it?" Legolas asked her. Serena looked out through the pillars, up at the Moon.
"He came to me." She said softly, her filled with a childlike, curious wonder, a tone that Legolas knew stemmed
from the wall she had erected around her heart to ward off terror. "He wants me to join him, Legolas. He says that
because I'm his daughter, I am like him. He says a part of his evil is with me…he wants me to let it out, to bring to
him what he says belongs to him…"
"Serena?" Legolas took her chin his hand and turned face gently to look up at him. "Do you speak of Sauron?" She
blinked and nodded.
"He's my father…" She whispered. "I know I should be screaming and yelling and denying it, but…it makes
sense… Why my mother seemed to always hate something about the Earth, not really the Earth itself…why she also
seemed to fear it… Why Diamond was able to hypnotize me…why Raye thought I was an evil spirit the first time
we met… Why Hotaru and I connect so well…"
"Serena, you have no evil in you." Legolas told her, touching her cheek.
"Yes I do." She said. "At least now I do. I didn't when I was truly Princess Serenity; the light of the Moon kept
that at bay, but I was reborn as a human…the evil that is in the blood that I got from my father grew while I was
human, Legolas. I'm not going to try to deny it or wish it away. It's a part of me…" She opened her palm, which
until then had been closed. She raised her hand, palm up, between Legolas and her, revealing a round, many-
faceted stone of sparkling milky silver. "It's as much a part of me as this crystal is…" She looked up at Legolas.
"Touch it," She asked him softly, without really asking at all, looking at him with her eyes…those eyes that seemed
to hold the universe within their crystalline depths.
Legolas touched the crystal that hummed and glowed softly, hovering just a few millimeters above her slender, pale
palm.
The Crystal unfurled itself into a crystallized rose.
"Endymion was the only one that could make my Crystal become a rose…only him and his love for me…" Serena
said in the same, childlike wonder she had spoke in earlier. She looked up at Legolas, the crystal in her hand
glowing softly and warmly. "I think…" She reached up with her other hand and touched his temple with a butterfly
soft touch as Legolas drowned in the universe that glowed out from her eyes.
"There was always something Endymion had that Darien had always been missing," Serena said softly. "Something
that was lost when he was reborn. I never questioned it; I loved him anyway. But now I think I know where that
missing something went… That missing something was the tenderness he always treated me with, his tolerance, his
sense of honor and duty. Part of that left Endymion when he died…and now I know where it went…" She drew her
fingers on his temple down his cheek to his chin, and back up again, her eyes studying him as if really looking at him
for the first time.
For the first time Legolas realized she had tears in her eyes. He raised one hand and put it over hers on his cheek,
and his other reached up to wipe away a single tear from her cheek before he closed that hand over the Crystal
Rose in her palm. She closed her eyes rested her cheek against his chest, her hand clutching her crystal against her
breast between them as his arms went around her.
"It explains so much…" She whispered.
"What does it explain?" He asked her, smoothing her hair away from her face. She pulled her head away from his
chest enough so that she could look up at him.
"It explains why I think I'm beginning to fall in love with you so easily." She whispered, staring up into the sort of
eyes she'd thought she'd never see again, after seeing her Endymion's eyes close for the last time on the Moon, so
long ago… Eyes that drew her in so that she felt like she was drowning in the sensations of being loved, protected,
treasured. Eyes that she wanted to drown in…eyes that drew her in just as her face was being drawn up to the face
that belong to those eyes, just as he was drawn down to meet her…
Two hearts met and two pairs of lips kissed and touched softly, in a light mist of a caress that whispered of
promises…
And for the moment, the promise Serena had made to her father was forgotten as she discovered once more who
she really was in the arms of the one she knew she was already beginning to give her heart to…
To Be Continued…Oh dear… I think I just became a Serena/Legolas fan…that was so…easy to write! With Darien I'm constantly
trying to make him seem loving and still keep him in character at the same time…not an easy thing to do…
Endymion is a whole lot easier to do, for some reason –maybe because he's a prince- but I now foresee a lot more
Serena/Legolas pairings in my writing future… Oh, don't worry, I'm still a Serena/Darien shipper, I just now think
maybe my 'shipperness' is divided between Serena/Legolas and Serena/Darien.
So, you people happy now? Did I bring this on too quick? Did I manage to do the couple justice?
Review and lemme know!
Once again, I am very well aware how inaccurate most of the things concerning Lord of the Rings is in this story,
but I assure you all that it is by no means through lack of research or laziness that this is so, it's mostly because
when merging to such complex plots, compromises must be made. That and some of the things I simply found it
fun to play with. ^^
Anyhoo, see you all next time! Ja!
Hope Makes the Universe Shine,
Makura Koneko
*ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY*
