Passion for a Prince
Chapter 4

By: Silent Moon

Mail: silentmoonstar@yahoo.com

Rated: R

Disclaimer: standard


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And he finds a home in me
For what misfortune sows, he knows my touch will reap

And all my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep
And all my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep
Fiona Apple
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Sere sang absently as she worked. Her thoughts--like her heart--settled softly.

She had adjusted to the life here....befriended the staff....nothing seemed quite
so terrible in the company of such spirited people...and protected by Endymion.

She would not admit that the fire of her spirit had faded some...but she was beginning
to confess something else....

Molly came out and spoke the words, "Sere, you've the eyes of a woman in love..."

"Molly! Hush!"

Molly giggled as her friend blushed. But then she grew serious and took her friends
hands solemnly,
"I'm glad. Sere, listen to me. I know you've settled in here and all seems well,
but...this is not for you. Your beauty, your heart...your mind...they are meant for
something else...something more."

Sere looked startled, "Thank you....that is the most beautiful compliment I have ever
received."

Molly smiled.


Elsewhere in the castle....

Endymion was swordfighting with his soldiers.....keeping them in practice as well as
himself.
He fought well. Better in fact.....he was unmatched in skill.
But today the men who fought for their cruel King and with awe against his youngest
kindest son, could feel a difference in him. Something had changed.

He often spoke with them about their orders....urging them to be kind when fate allowed.
Often practiced with them to keep their skills sharp in case the Kingdom was attacked.
Wanting them to be prepared to defend the people his father ruled by terror and pain.

It was an odd paradox.

That a King so utterly fearsome could yield so mild and compassionate a son.
Those who had not known the Queen were utterly baffled.

And yet, the one thing his soldiers knew that Endymion did not, was that they admired
his compassion and would show him loyalty above all others if asked.

Several of the generals watched as their Prince fought one of the younger soldiers.

"He seems changed...."

"As though a fire had been lit within him."

"I agree."

"What do you suppose it is?"

"There is only one thing that can make a man suddenly come to life in such a manner."

They all chuckled lightly, knowing what he meant.

Endymion finished, breathing heavily and approached them. One of the generals, an older
man who'd known Endymion nearly all his life--had urged him countless time to put more
heart into his sword--grinned wickedly as he joined them.

"What is her name?"

Endymion started visibly and the old man laughed.

"What are you talking about?"

"I see passion in your fighting. Passion in a man is awakened only by one thing
I know of.....so what is her name?"

And to the surprise of all three men, Endymion blushed. The pale Prince who barely
smiled was suddenly dreadfully uncomfortable. But then he collected himself and
faced them with a strength in his eyes that had not been there before,

"Serenity." He said calmly, "Her name is Serenity."

"Lovely name."

"She is lovely." He replied and they all smiled.



He walked away then, strong in heart, with all intention of telling her that night that
he loved her. But as he strode by the Castle's main hall, fireplace roaring, he
caught sight of his father and brother arguing.

He stepped back behind the doorway and listened.

"Father, I do not see why you are allowing this foolishness to continue! You know
he is only keeping her to spite me!"

The King arched an eyebrow, "Andrew, I may not understand him but I do know him well
enough to realize he would not do anything for the sake of spite."

Andrew just huffed and glared.

"I am surprised at you son. Endymion has never been jealous of you in all his life.
Why do you suddenly show such obvious jealousy towards him? It is his choice if he beds
a woman and all the better! Why does it bother you so? Because he has something you do not?
I am disappointed to see you so worked up over such a trivial matter."

Endymion almost smiled. Though his father was a tyrant, by times his intelligence lent
a humor to the truth that was unexpectedly in Endymion's favour.

He continued on and did not hear the next words out of Andrew's furious mouth,
"I do not think he takes her. I think he is trying to protect her....from me."

The King looked startled by this, "Why, whatever do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean?! You know it would be just like him to hide her away in his
room to save her from being a mistress! Can you even imagine him being aggressive enough
to take her if he wanted to?"

The King paled a little at the semblance of truth in his son's words.

"You do not think that is it do you?"

"Of course I do!"

The King's eyes narrowed, "Find out." Was all he said and Andrew nodded grinning.


Endymion meanwhile, was thinking uneasily of his brothers fury. Andrew was not letting
this go. He was waiting till he let Sere out of his sight and then....he shuddered.
But what could he do? Keep her with him forever? Hopefully, in time, he would forget about
her...afterall, if he were to become King he would need a wife and his father wished to
retire the crown soon. That comforted him some. But it did not solve his own personal
dilemma.

Perhaps confessing his love to this woman would only make matters worse? But....things could
not continue on in this way....he couldn't sleep now for sake of staying awake watching her
beautiful face as she did.

And there was something else. Something unsettling. As though this one matter of his
heart were significant of more?

He reached his room and walked in to find it empty. The fireplace was
lit and the bed turned down....

"Sere?" He queried softly.

And then she emerged from the bathroom, looking far more serious then he could
recall since their meeting. Her hair was brushed down and lay over one shoulder, and
as she walked towards him in her robe it seemed she wore nothing beneath it.

He paled and took a shaky step back. All his confidence in telling her how he felt
fled, overwhelmed by a desire he had never known. A desire he feared would overtake him,
fill his body and force it to reach out for her and--and--

"You never answered my question." She said softly, blue eyes staring with a half-fearful
determination in them.

"Qu-question?" He faltered, stepping back and hitting the door.

For this brief moment he was the hunted...and she the hunter.

"The first question I ever asked you." She persisted.

"And what was that?" He asked in barely a whisper...she was barely two steps away...and
what was that look in her eyes....it couldn't be...desire?

And then she slipped off the robe and it trailed to a heap at her feet, she held
out her arms, her eyes ablaze, "Do you want me?"

His eyes widened and then, in a body that was no longer his, he was to her, wrapping his
arms around her sweet soft body and kissing her with all the pent up hunger she alone had
kindled.

Everything grew hazy after that as he felt her own lips return the warm pressure he was
offering hers....claiming her with....
Her hands were tugging at his shirt....slipping off his clothes and he was burning,
burning throughout for her.

In a moment...perhaps a lifetime? Who could tell? He was as bare as she was and they
were tangled up in each other, pressing softly against one another....but then it was he
who caught her up and carried her to the bed....laid her back and took her with the smooth,
kind assurance of a true lover....and the sound of her breath, of her soft moans in his
ear told him he had done right.

"I love you." He breathed in the last moments of it. His blue eyes cloudy with
pleasure, his previously pale cheeks flushed and alive.

And as he settled down beside her, gathered her into his arms and tucked her beneath his
chin, she said the only thing he wanted to hear, "I love you too."

And then, as he lay stroking her soft hair, more content then he could ever recall being,
he fell asleep....holding the woman he loved in his arms.

Sere listened to the steady beat of his heart....felt the strength hidden in so gentle
a body and smiled at the pleasure of knowing so unique a man. She knew she had made the
right decision, kindling that look back into his eyes to reveal if it really was passion
for her afterall. To inspire passion in a man like this was something beautiful...even
she recognized it--dazed with love as she was. She snuggled deeper into his embrace,
blissfully peaceful with the knowledge that her heart was in good hands.....swearing
fiercely that she would always be careful and worthy with his. Then she too drifted
into pleasant sleep.

And that was how Andrew found them. Upon pushing Endymion's door open a crack and peering
in, there they lay, the blankets failing to conceal that they were lovers.....he narrowed
his eyes angrily.

Fine. So they were. He would find another way to punish his brother for trying to take
something he wanted. He had never had to share before and he certainly wasn't about to
start now.

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