Hello everyone! Lots and LOTS of hugs and thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially Gelasia, Sailor Earth, Aylee the Dragon, Tine E. Telford, Electric Pegasus, Saki, lindy*girl, Kismet*, Catasa, Chibi Tsuki, Crystalline Lily, TKDgrl, hatami, and everyone else wherever you are! Thanks for sticking with my story through my bouts of months long writer's blocks; I really appreciate your support. Standard disclaimer applies and now (drumroll pleeze!) onto Chapter 8 . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 8
Serenity stared at the Prince in stunned silence, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and violent emotional colors. The background music and noise had faded into nothingness and the moment was suspended in their own private heaven, their own private hell.

"Did you think I wouldn't recognize you? Did you think you could just waltz in here and pretend not to know me? Not to remember?" Endymion asked, his voice harsh and low with fury.

Serenity stiffened and tried to pull away from Endymion's crushing grip, but it was as if trying to escape from a pile of unrelenting rocks.

"Your Highness, I don't know-" her soft voice began.

"Don't!" Endymion bit out abruptly. His body was rife with tension and Serenity knew that if the Crown Prince of Earth wanted to he could easily snap her in half. The hands gripping her body were trembling slightly, betraying the inner conflict racking Endymion's body.

"Don't pretend that you don't know what I am talking about," he continued, "don't pretend that you don't remember that night."

Serenity flinched slightly at the pain in Endymion's voice. The memories she had unsuccessfully tried to block from two nights before flooded into her mind. It had been beautiful . . .perfect. And as much as she had been trying to fool herself into forgetting about the man that made her life worthwhile, there was always that possibility that it could work. But now. . . 'Play the game until its end Serenity.'

"Endymion, Your Highness, please." Serenity trembled at the darkening of Endymion's already murderous expression, and she subconsciously reached up and patted the crystal nestled between her breasts for comfort. The crystal throbbed hotly against her heart for a few seconds before cooling down to stillness once more. A sense of determination filled her and the Crown Princess and temporary Ruler of the Moon Kingdom braced herself to look Earth's Prince in the eyes. "I am not who you think me to be and I must ask that you release me at once." Her voice intentionally cooled, Serenity jerked herself out of Endymion's grip and turned.

Not a sound came from behind her and she slowly started to edge from behind the large throne. Reality began closing in and the loud waltzes from the Imperial Orchestra once again pervaded Serenity's senses. But still no word from Endymion.

'I cannot keep this up much longer' she thought bleakly as she gently took a step off the dias. One word from Endymion and it might very well be over. And he would hate her for what he would think her people had done when he found out.

Her other foot was just about to join the first when Serenity was spun around and hoisted into Endymion's arms.

"You are she," he whispered desperately, "I know it. I can feel it. I can feel *you.*"

Serenity paled and blushed at the same time. Gone was the privacy found behind the throne, and people were starting to stare at the odd sight of the prince and princess on the dias.

"Put me down Endymion!" Serenity whispered forcefully. Goddess, she could just scream!

"Not until you admit that you are the woman who I met at All Souls Night. The woman who saved my life. The woman I-" he stopped abruptly, a confused expression appearing on his face.

"The woman you what?" Serenity asked, her voice a hush within the cacophony of sound.
Endymion just stood there staring at her, and after a second that felt like Eternity, Serenity eased herself down and pushed herself out of his arms for the second time that night. Not sparing him a glance, she turned and walked into the crowds, disappearing instantaneously in the crush.

Endymion continued to stand there, immobilized by shock and relief. He couldn't believe he had almost said . . . but how? He had only known her for one night! And then there was the tiny fact that she was the bloody Princess of the Moon Kingdom!

He had no doubt that Princess Serenity and the mysterious silver-haired woman were one and the same. They would have been on Earth around the same time and they both had silver hair, which was not a natural color for a Terran. And they both could harness incredible power. The necklace Serenity had been wearing matched the one he had found on the hill. Or had it?

Endymion pondered as he walked idly amongst his guests, stopping to greet people around the room. The chain had looked the same, but he hadn't actually seen the crystal as it had been hidden in her dress. Endymion smiled lasciviously at the thought.
Acutally, he wasn't even sure that the necklace he had found belonged to his mystery maiden. But no, something in his gut pulled at him when he had picked up the fragile chain. Not power, but . . . an essence, almost a recognition.

He had no other choice. For some reason he had become obsessed with his silver-haired phantom and to have her be so close was driving him insane. Something inside him rebelled against the thought of treating this as merely a temporary insanity, but Endymion quenched the defiant thought.

* * * * * *

Time slowly passed for the Crown Prince as he found himself craning for glimpses of shimmering silver beauty. His Guardians sent concerned glances his way and muttered among themselves. The Prince's restlessness was nothing new these past few months, but they had never seen him so...restrained. To their trained eyes, in a matter of hours Endymion had become a breathing simmering barely controlled storm that could unleash at any moment.

Kunzite thought back the last time he had seen his Prince, his friend this agitated, not common for a man who had been forced by necessity to maintain ramrod self-control at all costs. As Endymion swirled by on the arm of a giggling girl, Kunzite saw flashes of unease and anger surrounding the Prince, and he remembered auras that had disturbed the Prince from before All Souls Night. His visions, his agitation, and now this, this barely controlled fury that cloaked Endymion like a velvet glove.

And then the dance changed and as people switched partners Endymion saw a head of silver hair turn and dashed toward the Princess of the Moon. With a quelling look at her next partner, Endymion grasped her hands and pulled the shocked Princess into his arms and onto the dance floor.

"What are you doing?" Serenity hissed as Endymion grasped her firmly around the waist with one hand and drew her closer to his body. Ah, he could practically taste the anger and relief mixing through her aura, almost paralleling the emotions swirling through him at the moment. Emotions that would hopefully release him from his imprisonment when he had the answers he was looking for.

"What does it look like *Princess*, I am dancing with you of course," Endymion answered smoothly, a smug smile on his lips. He had her to himself for at least another five minutes and he wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

"I warned you Endymion, leave me alone," Serenity tried to insert a note of authority in her voice even as her arms wanted to wrap themselves around his neck and never let go. Traitors.

Goddess, but how could something that felt so right be so wrong? Against her conscience and against her country her mind battled- she new she couldn't allow herself to let Endymion know the entire truth, but in his arms she felt complete. All the restlessness and pain of the past few months since she has assumed her mother's role in the Moon Kingdom was quieted only when she was near this man, in this man's arms.

Was it weakness? Serenity knew she had had to learn hard and quickly the ways of effective diplomacy, intrigue, and absolute sovereignty and perhaps part of her had been locked away in an effort to fill her mother's role. And perhaps that part of her yearned to be set free at the expense of everything she had worked for.

And so they danced, staring in each other's eyes with an air of watchfulness and waiting. He thought the truth would set him free. She knew the truth would ruin everything.
"Why won't you admit it?" Endymion asked suddenly, breaking the silence. He spoke casually, but his expression was guarded and his grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly.

"Why do you want to know so badly?" Serenity countered, closing her eyes briefly to the look on his face.

"Because I want to thank you for saving my life, because I want to continue our conversation that we held under the stars, because I want to sing to you, because I-" Endymion stopped suddenly, amazed at his angry outburst. It was as if a dam had opened inside him and all the emotions he had been suppressing for the past week poured through him.

Serenity's eyes widened at the passion and fury in Endymion's voice. How could she have been so foolish? This whole time she had only been worried about her emotions and her pride and honor. She hadn't thought that night had affected Endymion as deeply as it had affected her, but looking at his face and the tortured gleam of his eyes, she knew. And when she tentatively sent out a mental screen and saw the flaring of his aura in recognition of her, she knew.

Whatever happened afterward she would deal with it with every scrap of dignity she possessed, but Goddess she just couldn't hold it off any longer.

"Endymion, I-"

A loud crash erupted in the hall as one of the banquet tables was overturned and four figures completely covered in dark robes pulled out throwing knives and swords.

One instant of stunned immobilization, and then the guards started charging the intruders. But that onesecond was all they needed and even as the men were pushing the women behind them a knife was flying through the air straight at the back of the Crown Princess.

"Endymion!" Kunzite cried out in horror and watched as the Prince pushed Serenity out of the knife's path. But not before it scraped along her back, and as the two hit the ground with a painful *thump* a line of red appeared amidst the glitter of silver.

Chaos, panic, call it what you will erupted at the sight of the Princess of the Moon limp on the floor. Minako screamed and she and the other Senshi ran toward their Princess, desperate and fearful glances flitting from face to face.

The Queen ordered the guards to clear the area, and dazed guests were gently escorted from the main ballroom to various parlors and sitting rooms down the hallway. After casting one worried look over to her son, the Queen left to calm the guests down.

Endymion knelt down next to Serenity and felt for her pulse. The knife had jus grazed her so she could be in shock. But at his slight shakes she didn't stir. And her pulse was slowing down.

"Serenity!" Ami rushed forward and looked at her friend, tears streaming down her face. Taking a deep breath and choking back a sob, she used Endymion's hands to help her gently turn Serenity over to inspect her back. The grim-faced Guardians stood to one side while the shocked Senshi stood to the other, watching unblinkingly as Ami examined the cut along the width of Serenity's back.

Ami closed her eyes and sent a mental touch along the wound, using her innate power senses to find what just her eyes could not. After a few seconds she leaned over and sniffed the area, grimaced, and looked up at the small huddle.

"The knife tip was poisoned," she said flatly, her trembling lip belying her voice. Makoto gasped slightly and Endymion closed his eyes in pain.

"What did she do to them? Nothing! They did this to her for nothing!" Rei stated hoarsely, her fist clenching in anger. And what she said next surprised everyone.
"I *knew* we should never have come here. This land is cursed, it has been for centuries and it will continue to wreak havoc on everyone's lives."

Jadeite stiffened at her words and opened his mouth to retort when Endymion held up his hand wearily and looked at Ami.

"We don't have time to sit and argue. What can I do for her?" He asked impatiently. He cradled her body in his arms and shuddered slightly at the coolness of her skin. Her breathing was shallow and Endymion could barely see her chest expand for breath.

"We have no medicines from the Moon here, those would be the most effective. I would try to heal her with magic, but I haven't the strength and it is difficult for us to combine our magicks so far away from the Moon..." shrugging her shoulders dejectedly, Ami looked up at Endymion's eerily still face.

"But I have the strength, my lady," he said quietly, his hand brushing Serenity's hair out of her face, " and I have a debt to repay. A life for a life." He could not allow himself to think of a life, an existence without her. The fragile form in front of him had dared invade his mind and body and if she were to die then he was afraid a piece of him would die with her.

And so the Senshi and the Guardians stepped back and watched the awesome power of the planet Earth work through the Crown Terran Prince. His eyes closed, his jaw clenched, he ran his hands over Serenity's back and poured the Earth's life force into her body.

'Serenity,' he cried mentally, 'you can't leave me now, not here, not like this.' His aura merged with hers and with the connection came recognition. He could see the pain she felt for her mother's illness and the anxiety she faced for such a demanding position. He could see her wonder that night when she saw him at the festival, her inner struggles in confiding the truth to him.
'Serenity I see it all. I understand now. Come back to me,' he urged even as he could feel her blood start pumping again. The pure golden energy of Earth eased around the poison and spread it thin, so thin that it lost its potency.

She was breathing now, deep cleansing breaths that brought color back to her face.
And in his mind he heard her voice, 'Endymion...Endymion!' and from somewhere deep inside him he was suddenly filled with joy and desire.

'Serenity,' he sent the thought to her infused with emotion, 'Come back to me. Stay with me... Be with me?'

Serenity slowly opened her eyes and lay her forehead against the marble floor. She tried to use her arms to prop herself up, but before she could lift herself off the ground, strong arms scooped her up and carried her over to the group huddled on the other side of the room.

Endymion cradled Serenity and balanced her head against his shoulder. She turned her face up to his shyly, a hesitant expression crinkling her brow. As Endymion strode across the room he murmured huskily in her ear, "You never answered my question."
* * * * * *

Meanwhile, a day's ride away a courier battled a torrential rainstorm as he rode across the mountains. In his soaked leather satchel contained a missive to the Crown Prince from his spies (*ahem* diplomatic agents) about a recent act of sabotage that would provide grounds for retaliatory attack against the Moon Kingdom.