Here is Chapter 7 after a terribly long delay. I am SOOOOO sorry minna for taking so long (organic chemistry is the bane of my existence). I am making an effort to balance schoolwork and fun work (i.e. fanfic!) so don't give up on me yet. Thanks to all the beautiful people who reviewed- it really does mean a lot to me. Standard disclaimer applies (*of course*)
Without further ado . . .
Chapter 7
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
And moving to the pagan sound
The lingering remains of the setting sun cast one last futile glow to the countryside as night fought for dominance. Laughing voices could be heard as countless courtiers rambled the hallways and courtyard of the Royal Palace.
Endymion gazed silently out the window in his personal suites as he waited for his Guardians, his body tense. He had hoped to find her quickly, but as the day wore on it soon became clear that she had disappeared as effectively as a phantasm.
A beautiful, silver-haired phantasm who had . . .who had what?! Hurt him? Healed him? Loved him?
Endymion sighed and shook his head in disgust. This woman had become an obsession that was making him weak. She consumed his every waking moment and he had started to neglect the affairs of his kingdom. But Goddess help him, he had to find her again.
The experience had taken a toll on him physically as well. He was so consumed in finding her that he hadn't eaten anything all day. His eyes were bloodshot and the stress was making him haggard.
His back was still turned when Kunzite and Zoicite returned, entering the room silently. Endymion sensed their dejection and carefully clenched and unclenched a fist before turning to face them.
Kunzite's expression was impassive, but a touch of sympathy glimmered in his eyes. Zoicite averted his eyes to keep from looking at the expressions of anger and despair that warred on Endymion's face.
As they stood in the tense silence, Nephrite and Jadeite burst into the room amidst loudness and laughter.
"Endymion we have . . ." Nephrite trailed off as he saw the expression on Endymion's face. "What's wrong?" He asked in a concerned tone.
"What do you *think*?" Zoicite responded peevishly. Sometimes Nephrite was really dense.
"But we have good news!" Jadeite exclaimed. At the skepticism on Zoicite's face, he hurriedly continued with "A merchant in the village directly outside of the palace walls told us of a silver-haired woman inquiring about a crystal necklace."
"And she was there earlier today, which means she is staying in the area." Nephrite added triumphantly. But when he glanced at his Prince, the Guardian did not see any change in expression on his liege's face.
Jadeite also looked at Endymion curiously. He didn't seem overjoyed about the verification of the existence of the mysterious silver-haired lady. But Endymion had always had better control over his emotions than they did; he had learned early how to block himself off from others and had perfected the skill to surpass even Kunzite.
"What would you have us do Endymion?" Kunzite asked into the silence.
Two or three heartbeats passed before Endymion shifted his stance and looked them in the eye. The Guardians were struck by the desperation that blazed in eyes. Kunzite had never seen Endymion so involved in another person before and he wondered if perhaps it was unhealthy. Endymion looked as if he would perish if he could not possess this woman. When he found her, she would extol a power over him that none could combat and that made Kunzite nervous and apprehensive.
"I want one of you to sell the necklace to the merchant tomorrow morning and remain there to observe any women that approach the stall. Everyone report to me before the masque tomorrow. Now leave me." Endymion spoke flatly and dismissively, but he couldn't keep all the emotion out of his voice.
The Guardians glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They had been through too much with their Prince to not recognize one of his moods. He needed to be alone.
No lanterns had been lit in the room and Endymion stood impassively in the darkness until the echoing of his Guardian's footsteps could no longer be heard. He then picked up a crystal goblet sitting on the table and through it at the wall with all the force of his pent-up emotions. The shattered pieced flew all over and Endymion stared at them, fixated by the reflection of the moonlight on the shards.
"I will find you," he whispered forcefully, "or I will die trying."
* * * * * *
The rising sun the next day shone brightly on a woman as she scurried furtively along the main road. She was dressed in the clothes of a noblewoman, but scarves of flowing gossamer covered her burning red hair and wrapped around her neck and mouth to reveal only her slanting green eyes.
Silently she veered off the main road and entered a forest, plunging deep into the verdant darkness. Following an unmarked path, she suddenly stopped and waited as three other figures, similarly cloaked, melted out of the shadows.
"Is everything in order?" the woman asked the men. When her eyes caught the eyes of one he gulped nervously and looked away. Muttering in the affirmative, the men described the details of plan that was already in motion.
The woman smiled maliciously and clapped her hands in delight. Giving some final instructions, she watched as the men hurried away, casting somewhat fearful glances over their shoulders.
'They are smart to fear me,' she thought as she walked out of the forest, careful not to disturb a single leaf or twig with her inhumanely light step.
"The moonchild will die," she whispered to herself, "and Earth will rule the universe . . ."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Serenity sent Rei and Minako in search of the jewelry merchant of the big floppy hat as soon as the household had been roused. The stricken expression on her face was enough to relay the gravity of the situation, and the two senshi set out grimly.
As Minako retraced the steps she and Serenity had taken the day before, Ami and Makoto stayed with their Princess and tried to draw her out of her unusually gloomy mood.
"I've heard the Prince is very handsome," Makoto offered after the silence became unbearable.
Serenity shrugged her shoulders wearily and started pacing around the room. She missed the stricken glance Makoto sent Ami and the helpless headshake that was Ami's silent response. Their princess had become withdrawn and quiet in the past few months, but this was beyond anything they had ever seen before.
Serenity looked incredibly fragile; her skin was so pale it was translucent and her eyes were too bright. Her hands would occasionally start shaking and she took to clasping them together in front of her heart.
Makoto and Ami kept attempting conversation, but all Serenity could think about was *him* and how much this was going to hurt *him*
For she couldn't marry him under such false pretenses. She couldn't destroy herself that way, not for her mother and not for her kingdom. And yet, did she have a choice? There *had* to be another way to diffuse any built-up hostility, there just had to be.
'Am I to be an unwilling sacrifice on the altar of peace?' Serenity murmured to herself and she stopped her pacing and stared sightlessly out the window.
"Please Sere, won't you tell us what's wrong?" Ami finally cried desperately. Serenity turned and looked at her blue-haired friend and the worry in her aqua blue eyes.
Her face softening at the distress in her best friends' faces, Serenity hugged first Ami and then Makoto. Her friends were wonderful to worry, but there was nothing they could do.
"Nothing the Crown Princess and Temporary Head of the Moon Kingdom can't handle." Serenity answered wryly, her eyes flashing with pain for a second.
"I think I am going to nap before we have to get ready for the masque tonight. Can you wake me up when Mina and Rei return?" she asked them, injecting just the right amount of optimism and warmth into her voice.
Makoto and Ami nodded and smiled, relieved at Serenity's more positive mood change but not entirely reassured. They left their princess sitting eerily still in a chair by the window, the sun's rays highlighting the silver strands in her blonde hair.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Serenity are you almost ready? We are going to be late to the- oh!" Minako paused abruptly in her tirade as she strode into Serenity's dressing room.
A sight of shimmering incandescence turned her head slightly and smiled. Only if one looked very closely could they see the fine, fine silver chain hanging around her pale neck and disappearing into her gown.
"Do you like it?" Serenity asked archly, trying to suppress her laughter at the astounded look on Minako's face.
"Why Sere, you look, I mean that color . . .and that *neckline* and, well you look absolutely wonderful!" Minako rushed.
"Thanks Mina," Serenity smiled and glided over to pick up her mask from the bureau. "You look very nice too."
The Princess from Venus blushed slightly and gave a little twirl, letting the orange silk waft delicately over her body. "I thought it would be nice to shake these stuffy Terrans up a bit," she said, grinning slyly, "and a masque ball, well it's positively wicked! You could be dancing with a prince or a butler and never know it."
'I hope at least one Terran never knows it,' Serenity thought glumly as she and Minako went to join the others in the courtyard.
The carriages made haste to the Royal Palace, and as they entered the main courtyard, Serenity marveled at the lavishness arranged in her honor. The palace was awash in lights and color, and music and laughter invaded every open space.
The entrance of the Princess and temporary Imperial Ruler of the Moon Kingdom brought the immense ballroom to a silent standstill. The crowd parted to allow the Princess and her retinue to approach the dais and greet the Queen and Crown Prince.
Serenity's face flushed and then paled as she heard the whispers, and tittering of the guests. Luckily, the crescent moon mask covered most of her face and neck, but nothing could hide the slight trembling of the hand holding the mask as she neared the dais.
She refused to look at the tall, imposing figure of the Crown Prince, his own sun mask lying dejectedly on the floor. Instead, Serenity locked eyes with the Queen and paused before her, sweeping low in a devastating curtsy.
"Your Highness," the Queen said warmly, standing and motioning for Serenity to rise, "Thank you so much for gracing us with your visit. On behalf of my people I welcome you to Earth."
Serenity felt comforted at the genuine friendliness in the Queen's voice and smiled brightly in return.
"I thank your Majesty for the honor of this ball. I have been delighted with my visit thus far and hope there will be many more in the future." Serenity's voice rang like crystal bells over the crowd and men sighed at its beauty. All men except one.
With a signal from the Queen, the orchestra commenced playing music once again, and the focus of the guests left the interplay on the dais for the time being.
"May I present my son, the Crown Prince Endymion." Serenity barely heard the Queen's voice over the suddenly increased pounding of her heart.
'Don't look at him, don't look at him!' The panic in her mind warned her, and Serenity pasted a slight smile on her face and curtsied vaguely in response to Endymion's slight bow, focusing her eyes on the ornate chair behind him. 'Now turn and leave Serenity.'
At that moment, Endymion reached for her hand to raise it to his lips for a perfunctory kiss. Caught off-guard, Serenity jerked back her hand and took a step back, right onto the hem of her gown. The crescent moon mask fell to the floor, forgotten.
As she felt herself lose balance, Serenity closed her eyes and prayed no one in the crowd would notice her embarrassing clumsiness. She then felt a warm rough hand grab her waist and steady her back onto her feet.
Oh dear goddess, what was she doing? She was supposed to be putting distance between them, not hurling herself into his arms! But it felt so wonderful to finally be back in his arms . . . as if she truly belonged there.
Serenity allowed herself a few more seconds of being held, for memory's sake, before she opened her eyes.
"Thank you, your Highness," she said breathlessly, keeping her eyes averted.
Endymion smiled absently and murmured something noncommittal, his mind elsewhere. Until the princess in his arms started to draw away and turned her head at such an angle as to catch the lantern light on her neck.
Endymion grabbed the Princess's hand and jerked her behind one of the tall chairs on the dais.
Questioningly, Serenity looked into Endymion's eyes and hissed, "What are you doing? Let go of me before people start looking over here!" Goddess, why did he have to look at her like that? Serenity let herself get angry, anything to block the pain in her heart.
Endymion gazed down at the silvery-blonde head and the irate blue eyes. His face expressionless, he let his fingers trail over Serenity's neck, and at her gasp he lifted the fine chain until the crystal was visible.
Serenity stiffened in shock and fear as the passionate fires of every emotion known to man stared at her from earth blue eyes.
Painfully gripping her fragile hand, Endymion uttered softly, wonderingly, menacingly-
"It's you."
Without further ado . . .
Chapter 7
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
And moving to the pagan sound
The lingering remains of the setting sun cast one last futile glow to the countryside as night fought for dominance. Laughing voices could be heard as countless courtiers rambled the hallways and courtyard of the Royal Palace.
Endymion gazed silently out the window in his personal suites as he waited for his Guardians, his body tense. He had hoped to find her quickly, but as the day wore on it soon became clear that she had disappeared as effectively as a phantasm.
A beautiful, silver-haired phantasm who had . . .who had what?! Hurt him? Healed him? Loved him?
Endymion sighed and shook his head in disgust. This woman had become an obsession that was making him weak. She consumed his every waking moment and he had started to neglect the affairs of his kingdom. But Goddess help him, he had to find her again.
The experience had taken a toll on him physically as well. He was so consumed in finding her that he hadn't eaten anything all day. His eyes were bloodshot and the stress was making him haggard.
His back was still turned when Kunzite and Zoicite returned, entering the room silently. Endymion sensed their dejection and carefully clenched and unclenched a fist before turning to face them.
Kunzite's expression was impassive, but a touch of sympathy glimmered in his eyes. Zoicite averted his eyes to keep from looking at the expressions of anger and despair that warred on Endymion's face.
As they stood in the tense silence, Nephrite and Jadeite burst into the room amidst loudness and laughter.
"Endymion we have . . ." Nephrite trailed off as he saw the expression on Endymion's face. "What's wrong?" He asked in a concerned tone.
"What do you *think*?" Zoicite responded peevishly. Sometimes Nephrite was really dense.
"But we have good news!" Jadeite exclaimed. At the skepticism on Zoicite's face, he hurriedly continued with "A merchant in the village directly outside of the palace walls told us of a silver-haired woman inquiring about a crystal necklace."
"And she was there earlier today, which means she is staying in the area." Nephrite added triumphantly. But when he glanced at his Prince, the Guardian did not see any change in expression on his liege's face.
Jadeite also looked at Endymion curiously. He didn't seem overjoyed about the verification of the existence of the mysterious silver-haired lady. But Endymion had always had better control over his emotions than they did; he had learned early how to block himself off from others and had perfected the skill to surpass even Kunzite.
"What would you have us do Endymion?" Kunzite asked into the silence.
Two or three heartbeats passed before Endymion shifted his stance and looked them in the eye. The Guardians were struck by the desperation that blazed in eyes. Kunzite had never seen Endymion so involved in another person before and he wondered if perhaps it was unhealthy. Endymion looked as if he would perish if he could not possess this woman. When he found her, she would extol a power over him that none could combat and that made Kunzite nervous and apprehensive.
"I want one of you to sell the necklace to the merchant tomorrow morning and remain there to observe any women that approach the stall. Everyone report to me before the masque tomorrow. Now leave me." Endymion spoke flatly and dismissively, but he couldn't keep all the emotion out of his voice.
The Guardians glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They had been through too much with their Prince to not recognize one of his moods. He needed to be alone.
No lanterns had been lit in the room and Endymion stood impassively in the darkness until the echoing of his Guardian's footsteps could no longer be heard. He then picked up a crystal goblet sitting on the table and through it at the wall with all the force of his pent-up emotions. The shattered pieced flew all over and Endymion stared at them, fixated by the reflection of the moonlight on the shards.
"I will find you," he whispered forcefully, "or I will die trying."
* * * * * *
The rising sun the next day shone brightly on a woman as she scurried furtively along the main road. She was dressed in the clothes of a noblewoman, but scarves of flowing gossamer covered her burning red hair and wrapped around her neck and mouth to reveal only her slanting green eyes.
Silently she veered off the main road and entered a forest, plunging deep into the verdant darkness. Following an unmarked path, she suddenly stopped and waited as three other figures, similarly cloaked, melted out of the shadows.
"Is everything in order?" the woman asked the men. When her eyes caught the eyes of one he gulped nervously and looked away. Muttering in the affirmative, the men described the details of plan that was already in motion.
The woman smiled maliciously and clapped her hands in delight. Giving some final instructions, she watched as the men hurried away, casting somewhat fearful glances over their shoulders.
'They are smart to fear me,' she thought as she walked out of the forest, careful not to disturb a single leaf or twig with her inhumanely light step.
"The moonchild will die," she whispered to herself, "and Earth will rule the universe . . ."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Serenity sent Rei and Minako in search of the jewelry merchant of the big floppy hat as soon as the household had been roused. The stricken expression on her face was enough to relay the gravity of the situation, and the two senshi set out grimly.
As Minako retraced the steps she and Serenity had taken the day before, Ami and Makoto stayed with their Princess and tried to draw her out of her unusually gloomy mood.
"I've heard the Prince is very handsome," Makoto offered after the silence became unbearable.
Serenity shrugged her shoulders wearily and started pacing around the room. She missed the stricken glance Makoto sent Ami and the helpless headshake that was Ami's silent response. Their princess had become withdrawn and quiet in the past few months, but this was beyond anything they had ever seen before.
Serenity looked incredibly fragile; her skin was so pale it was translucent and her eyes were too bright. Her hands would occasionally start shaking and she took to clasping them together in front of her heart.
Makoto and Ami kept attempting conversation, but all Serenity could think about was *him* and how much this was going to hurt *him*
For she couldn't marry him under such false pretenses. She couldn't destroy herself that way, not for her mother and not for her kingdom. And yet, did she have a choice? There *had* to be another way to diffuse any built-up hostility, there just had to be.
'Am I to be an unwilling sacrifice on the altar of peace?' Serenity murmured to herself and she stopped her pacing and stared sightlessly out the window.
"Please Sere, won't you tell us what's wrong?" Ami finally cried desperately. Serenity turned and looked at her blue-haired friend and the worry in her aqua blue eyes.
Her face softening at the distress in her best friends' faces, Serenity hugged first Ami and then Makoto. Her friends were wonderful to worry, but there was nothing they could do.
"Nothing the Crown Princess and Temporary Head of the Moon Kingdom can't handle." Serenity answered wryly, her eyes flashing with pain for a second.
"I think I am going to nap before we have to get ready for the masque tonight. Can you wake me up when Mina and Rei return?" she asked them, injecting just the right amount of optimism and warmth into her voice.
Makoto and Ami nodded and smiled, relieved at Serenity's more positive mood change but not entirely reassured. They left their princess sitting eerily still in a chair by the window, the sun's rays highlighting the silver strands in her blonde hair.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Serenity are you almost ready? We are going to be late to the- oh!" Minako paused abruptly in her tirade as she strode into Serenity's dressing room.
A sight of shimmering incandescence turned her head slightly and smiled. Only if one looked very closely could they see the fine, fine silver chain hanging around her pale neck and disappearing into her gown.
"Do you like it?" Serenity asked archly, trying to suppress her laughter at the astounded look on Minako's face.
"Why Sere, you look, I mean that color . . .and that *neckline* and, well you look absolutely wonderful!" Minako rushed.
"Thanks Mina," Serenity smiled and glided over to pick up her mask from the bureau. "You look very nice too."
The Princess from Venus blushed slightly and gave a little twirl, letting the orange silk waft delicately over her body. "I thought it would be nice to shake these stuffy Terrans up a bit," she said, grinning slyly, "and a masque ball, well it's positively wicked! You could be dancing with a prince or a butler and never know it."
'I hope at least one Terran never knows it,' Serenity thought glumly as she and Minako went to join the others in the courtyard.
The carriages made haste to the Royal Palace, and as they entered the main courtyard, Serenity marveled at the lavishness arranged in her honor. The palace was awash in lights and color, and music and laughter invaded every open space.
The entrance of the Princess and temporary Imperial Ruler of the Moon Kingdom brought the immense ballroom to a silent standstill. The crowd parted to allow the Princess and her retinue to approach the dais and greet the Queen and Crown Prince.
Serenity's face flushed and then paled as she heard the whispers, and tittering of the guests. Luckily, the crescent moon mask covered most of her face and neck, but nothing could hide the slight trembling of the hand holding the mask as she neared the dais.
She refused to look at the tall, imposing figure of the Crown Prince, his own sun mask lying dejectedly on the floor. Instead, Serenity locked eyes with the Queen and paused before her, sweeping low in a devastating curtsy.
"Your Highness," the Queen said warmly, standing and motioning for Serenity to rise, "Thank you so much for gracing us with your visit. On behalf of my people I welcome you to Earth."
Serenity felt comforted at the genuine friendliness in the Queen's voice and smiled brightly in return.
"I thank your Majesty for the honor of this ball. I have been delighted with my visit thus far and hope there will be many more in the future." Serenity's voice rang like crystal bells over the crowd and men sighed at its beauty. All men except one.
With a signal from the Queen, the orchestra commenced playing music once again, and the focus of the guests left the interplay on the dais for the time being.
"May I present my son, the Crown Prince Endymion." Serenity barely heard the Queen's voice over the suddenly increased pounding of her heart.
'Don't look at him, don't look at him!' The panic in her mind warned her, and Serenity pasted a slight smile on her face and curtsied vaguely in response to Endymion's slight bow, focusing her eyes on the ornate chair behind him. 'Now turn and leave Serenity.'
At that moment, Endymion reached for her hand to raise it to his lips for a perfunctory kiss. Caught off-guard, Serenity jerked back her hand and took a step back, right onto the hem of her gown. The crescent moon mask fell to the floor, forgotten.
As she felt herself lose balance, Serenity closed her eyes and prayed no one in the crowd would notice her embarrassing clumsiness. She then felt a warm rough hand grab her waist and steady her back onto her feet.
Oh dear goddess, what was she doing? She was supposed to be putting distance between them, not hurling herself into his arms! But it felt so wonderful to finally be back in his arms . . . as if she truly belonged there.
Serenity allowed herself a few more seconds of being held, for memory's sake, before she opened her eyes.
"Thank you, your Highness," she said breathlessly, keeping her eyes averted.
Endymion smiled absently and murmured something noncommittal, his mind elsewhere. Until the princess in his arms started to draw away and turned her head at such an angle as to catch the lantern light on her neck.
Endymion grabbed the Princess's hand and jerked her behind one of the tall chairs on the dais.
Questioningly, Serenity looked into Endymion's eyes and hissed, "What are you doing? Let go of me before people start looking over here!" Goddess, why did he have to look at her like that? Serenity let herself get angry, anything to block the pain in her heart.
Endymion gazed down at the silvery-blonde head and the irate blue eyes. His face expressionless, he let his fingers trail over Serenity's neck, and at her gasp he lifted the fine chain until the crystal was visible.
Serenity stiffened in shock and fear as the passionate fires of every emotion known to man stared at her from earth blue eyes.
Painfully gripping her fragile hand, Endymion uttered softly, wonderingly, menacingly-
"It's you."
