Chapter 3
The Festival of the Flowers was a traditional holiday on the Moon Kingdom celebrating the awakening of the summer blossoms. It was looked forward to by people of all ages all over the kingdom with a singular sort of excitement.
But for Princess Serenity, the type of excitement she felt this summer was completely new to her. She was pleased with herself, it was true. When her friends later asked her that evening where she had been when she missed their date, she remarked triumphantly, "I was with the Prince of Nemesis. And I convinced him to escort me to the festival tomorrow night."
The four pairs of gleaming eyes widened in interest. "The pale one? That man who hardly speaks to anyone? Why except on Earth would you ask him?"
Then Serenity's face fell and she looked rather perplexed. "Well I . . . I didn't have anyone else to escort me."
But her enthusiasm was rekindled as the hour of the festival grew near. It took place in the evening, after the earth rose and lasted through out the night until lunar daybreak.
She met her escort on the tall stair that rose before the main courtyard. Here, the majority of the festivities were to take place. The yard was kindled with luminous torch-light and a platform had been erected with a place for the Queen to sit and oversee her subjects' revelries. The lawn stretched out to touch the banks of a large, gleaming lake over which fireworks would be set off at the height of the evening.
Walking on the open-air balcony that circled the entirety of the palace, Princess Serenity glanced out to the celebrations taking place. In the midst of the merry clamor, she could spot two of her friends, Mars and Mercury, joining in a maidens' dance, which circled round and round a huge display of fiery blossoms. Jupiter, she knew, had secured herself an escort of her own, and if the Princess didn't know any better, was off somewhere seducing him right now. Venus, she imagined, was probably looking for a beau among the throngs of youthful, handsome young men. Her gay laugh and golden looks could attract several of these at a time.
Serenity turned her eyes from the gaieties and found the Prince standing tall and unwavering at the top of the stair. When she came to him, his glance turned from the crowds of people and rested lightly on her. He had been waiting.
They stood unspeaking for a minute there, poised on the graceful staircase. A good pair they made, too, he dressed in his usual pale attire, and she, in a gown of virginal white.
She smiled at him warmly, then seemed to remember that she should curtsey. He in turn bowed deeply to her. Rising, he offered her his arm, but his movements were automatic. There seemed to be no enthusiasm behind them. She took it, and they descended down the marbled stairs.
People looked at them curiously. Who was this grave young man with their Princess? But when they saw that she had every intention of remaining with him, they assumed all must be well.
Prince Demando was her escort, but it was she that escorted him. He knew little of how to celebrate, and the crafty Princess quickly realized she must teach him. She brought him round with her to the games, the dances, the performances. There was a man swallowing fire, dancers fluttering a swan waltz, and the Princess's favorite activity of all . . . the unofficial tradition where the unmarried maidens went out and gathered flowers into garlands and bestowed the gift upon their lovers. It was usually already known by the time of the festival each year to whom which maids would give their garlands, but every now and then, some lucky young man would find himself pleasantly surprised with a gift of flowers.
Serenity blushed youthfully remembering last year's festival - how she had bequeathed her garland to Prince Endymion and how not long after, the two were officially engaged.
But before the garland-making, there was the feast. Queen Serenity rose from her seat on the platform and led the people in a toast. Princess Serenity was obliged to stand at her queen mother's side during her little speech.
She left Prince Demando by a bubbling gray fountain, the idea never crossing her trusting mind that he might escape. The little conversations between them thus far had been mostly one-sided. Serenity would point something out to him, or comment airily as was her way, with little to no response from her gentleman escort. But the girl, as usual, was blissfully unaware.
When Queen Serenity finished her toast, and the participants reclined to dinner (those on the far edges of the city heard it was time by word of mouth), the princess in her joviality forgot to retrieve Prince Demando. But she needn't have remembered. He was already gone, escaped to the farthest reaches of the lake's weatered banks. The princess joined her friends at the feast - out of sight out of mind, at least for the present.
After each person had eaten to his or her satisfaction, the garland-making was unofficially initiated.
The maids ran off into the unruly summer gardens. They had been allowed to grow wild just for this very evening - both the girls and the flowers.
Laughing and trotting through the tall sweet-smelling grasses near the lake, Serenity and her friends gathered the soft-petaled moon blossoms. Some were wild, some were garden natives, but all of them had reached their prime on the Moon at this time of year. Their fragrance perfumed the air, sweet, but un-stifling.
Something about the occasion made the young women giddy and childish. Venus's favorite blossoms were the bright yellow blazes, while shy Mercury tended to the subtle blues and pinks. Fiery Mars's blooms were drops of blood near her fair cheek, and Jupiter's violets and indigos contrasted divinely with emerald eyes. Serenity, herself, preferred the pale moon flower, its gossamer petals nearly transparent.
Their scavenges come to an end, the five princesses collapsed in a breathless heap on the tilted grassy slope, bushes of flowers enveloping them, a curtain for their feminine secrets. They laughed, sang old love- songs they learned from the nursery, and began their garlands.
"Who are you giving yours to, Jupiter?" Venus asked mischievously, a twinkle in her azure eye.
"Whomever I decide," she parried back just as teasingly.
Just then, Serenity remembered. "Oh," startled. "I don't know who will get my garland this year, with Endymion gone."
Mars shrugged at her, waved her concern away. "Just give it to someone else." Then she added coyly, "You're not married yet . . ."
"Mars!" Serenity shrilled, giggling, throwing a loose blossom at her friend, which grazed her raven crown and fell harmlessly on her lap.
Princess Mars picked up the stray flower and added it to her own garland, grinning devilishly.
Mercury added timidly, "I might give mine to that young man from Earth. What do you think? Should I venture it?"
The other four exchanged knowing looks. If they nodded any more vigorously, their dainty heads would have flown off.
Mercury's face couldn't have blended if she'd been in front of a front of a bonfire.
"I know!" sat up Venus. She could have been Serenity's sister, at least her cousin, with the same royal grace and Arian coloring. "Serenity, give your garland to that prince from Nemesis."
"That prince" or "the pale man" was how everyone referred to him.
Serenity grew still. Then, "Oh, no! Demando! I'd forgotten all about him!" She rose to her feet, as gracefully as she could manage in a gossamer gown on the hill. "I've got to find him! See you later, everyone!" and dashed off.
The princess felt guilty, she admitted. Only a prodigious distraction such as the celebrations of the long-anticipated festival could have caused her to forget another. And he had been so quiet all along, it had been easy to disregard him.
She slowed as the idea entered her mind that he might not wish to be found. After all, Demando had looked the very reluctant escort and she had, after all, been traipsing him around all evening.
Serenity emerged from the flowered copse onto the main lawn. Other girls were already returning with her, their garlands in hand, ready to be bestowed.
The princess looked down and realized she still carried her garland. Perhaps she would do like Venus suggested and give it Demando after all.
But the prince, at any rate, did not want to be found. So Serenity retreated, feeling herself grown somewhat tired from both the garlanding and the searching, to the banks of the smooth lake, where the people were fewer and the atmosphere was calmer.
Here and there, strolling along, she passed couples hand in hand. As she passed them, instinctively she looked up at the rising earth, its glowing sapphire blues and vibrant greens contrasting sharply with the ebony sky. The earth's reflection showed in the smooth surface of the lake, and her gaze trailed down to follow the rippling path of light on the water. There she noticed just in front of her, a figure with its back to her, silhouetted in the earthlight.
The hair gleamed a burning white like stars. It was Prince Demando.
"There you are," she said cheerfully, approaching him.
He looked back expectantly, his head over his shoulder, slightly tilted to the side. His face was not welcoming, but neither reproachful.
Serenity sat next to him, spreading her skirts inconveniently and pointed at the earth. "My fiancé lives there."
Demando's gaze followed the direction in which she pointed, but made no attempt to respond.
A few seconds passed in silence.
"Why isn't he here with you?" Demando couldn't imagine why the man would wish to be away from the woman's light at all now it was his . . . despite his attempts to convince himself that she was actually nothing spectacular. Yet that whole night he had felt it, her glow, stronger than ever. No matter - all people meant nothing to him, even those who posessed comforting, if indeed oppressive auras.
Serenity was a bit taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected any reaction at all.
But she smiled when she answered, "He's a prince there, you see. He has duties to attend."
Demando nodded, taking it in slowly.
"Prince Demando," she spoke the name reverently, kindly. "Do you have a loved one, back where you're from?"
"On Nemesis?"
"Yes."
He paused. It was none of her business. He should tell her so. "Yes." That will that was not his was taking over again.
She widened her eyes, but they only drank in the starlight. "You do?" she breathed. "Who is she? What's her name?" She was intrigued at the idea that this melancholy man could have a lover, and it had made her forget her manners. But she felt a little something else, a little disappointment, and she didn't know why.
Demando didn't even glance at her, but looked steadily at the earth. The light of it highlighted his features. He looked eerily aglow. "Not a lover," he said bluntly, in his stoic fashion. Why did he bother? Why was he even speaking with her? He should drop the conversation now.
The woman was becoming too easy around him. He needed to amend this. These meandering thoughts were subconscious, though. Or else he might not have conquered them.
"It's," he hesitated. He'd never spoken on this subject with anyone before. He'd never known it could be a subject, a topic of conversation. Love and affection was not mentioned where he came from, and were chiefly considered weaknesses. Should he go on? Should he stop? He found now that he had set things flowing, it felt oddly comforting, nice to let go. He wanted to talk to her, and the feeling was new to him. He mistakenly thought anything new must conclusively be wrong. "I have a younger brother."
The disappointment was lifted, but was replaced by even more surprise. Still, she gently urged him to continue, "What's his name, your little brother?"
"Saffir."
She smiled, eyes and mouth together. Yes, it was suiting: Demando and Saffir.
"What's he like?"
Demando faultered. No one had asked him to describe his brother before - the second prince, the forgotten heir. On his brother's behalf, if not on his own, he was vaguely touched, though he didn't recognize the feeling. "He's . . . a great advisor and valuable consultant. Poised and cool, like a hard, glittering gem." He struggled to find the right words, "Yet he's soft, softer than gold, once you chip through the firm exterior. Intelligent. So intelligent and foresighted . . . an invaluable friend."
Demando stopped, unsettled by how much he had let himself waver and how easily the princess-fey had managed to get him off his guard.
Serenity was pleased beyond words. Somehow, she felt that in revealing his brother to her, the smooth, apathetic prince was inadvertently revealing himself. The graceful man sat ever-so-slightly uncomfortably. The vaguest of frowns marred his otherwise perfectly schooled features.
"He sounds like a good man. I'd like to meet him." Her wish was genuine.
Demando prohibited himself from glancing at her. He said nothing more. For reasons beyond his comprehension, he was afraid to look once more into her navy blue eyes. She was a warm, glowing ember - innocent enough in itself, and also soothing, but dangerous when not handled with caution. He should keep his distance.
"Demando?"
The lilting voice was not disrespectful, though it left off his proper title. It was hopeful and bright and enticing, like a cool stream, and filled with a selfless, freely-surrendered love. His response to the voice was beyond his own control.
His eyes landed on her and he knew that he would no longer be able to resist her. Oh yes, most undoubtedly, unfortunately, and completely against his will, the unresponsive Prince Demando had unintentionally made a friend.
"Here." She held out to him a flower-garland of some kind. Pallid, delicate blossoms smudged the air white with every movement.
This time, he met with no inner opposition whatsoever when he bowed his head slightly to receive the heart-felt gift over his head.
The Festival of the Flowers was a traditional holiday on the Moon Kingdom celebrating the awakening of the summer blossoms. It was looked forward to by people of all ages all over the kingdom with a singular sort of excitement.
But for Princess Serenity, the type of excitement she felt this summer was completely new to her. She was pleased with herself, it was true. When her friends later asked her that evening where she had been when she missed their date, she remarked triumphantly, "I was with the Prince of Nemesis. And I convinced him to escort me to the festival tomorrow night."
The four pairs of gleaming eyes widened in interest. "The pale one? That man who hardly speaks to anyone? Why except on Earth would you ask him?"
Then Serenity's face fell and she looked rather perplexed. "Well I . . . I didn't have anyone else to escort me."
But her enthusiasm was rekindled as the hour of the festival grew near. It took place in the evening, after the earth rose and lasted through out the night until lunar daybreak.
She met her escort on the tall stair that rose before the main courtyard. Here, the majority of the festivities were to take place. The yard was kindled with luminous torch-light and a platform had been erected with a place for the Queen to sit and oversee her subjects' revelries. The lawn stretched out to touch the banks of a large, gleaming lake over which fireworks would be set off at the height of the evening.
Walking on the open-air balcony that circled the entirety of the palace, Princess Serenity glanced out to the celebrations taking place. In the midst of the merry clamor, she could spot two of her friends, Mars and Mercury, joining in a maidens' dance, which circled round and round a huge display of fiery blossoms. Jupiter, she knew, had secured herself an escort of her own, and if the Princess didn't know any better, was off somewhere seducing him right now. Venus, she imagined, was probably looking for a beau among the throngs of youthful, handsome young men. Her gay laugh and golden looks could attract several of these at a time.
Serenity turned her eyes from the gaieties and found the Prince standing tall and unwavering at the top of the stair. When she came to him, his glance turned from the crowds of people and rested lightly on her. He had been waiting.
They stood unspeaking for a minute there, poised on the graceful staircase. A good pair they made, too, he dressed in his usual pale attire, and she, in a gown of virginal white.
She smiled at him warmly, then seemed to remember that she should curtsey. He in turn bowed deeply to her. Rising, he offered her his arm, but his movements were automatic. There seemed to be no enthusiasm behind them. She took it, and they descended down the marbled stairs.
People looked at them curiously. Who was this grave young man with their Princess? But when they saw that she had every intention of remaining with him, they assumed all must be well.
Prince Demando was her escort, but it was she that escorted him. He knew little of how to celebrate, and the crafty Princess quickly realized she must teach him. She brought him round with her to the games, the dances, the performances. There was a man swallowing fire, dancers fluttering a swan waltz, and the Princess's favorite activity of all . . . the unofficial tradition where the unmarried maidens went out and gathered flowers into garlands and bestowed the gift upon their lovers. It was usually already known by the time of the festival each year to whom which maids would give their garlands, but every now and then, some lucky young man would find himself pleasantly surprised with a gift of flowers.
Serenity blushed youthfully remembering last year's festival - how she had bequeathed her garland to Prince Endymion and how not long after, the two were officially engaged.
But before the garland-making, there was the feast. Queen Serenity rose from her seat on the platform and led the people in a toast. Princess Serenity was obliged to stand at her queen mother's side during her little speech.
She left Prince Demando by a bubbling gray fountain, the idea never crossing her trusting mind that he might escape. The little conversations between them thus far had been mostly one-sided. Serenity would point something out to him, or comment airily as was her way, with little to no response from her gentleman escort. But the girl, as usual, was blissfully unaware.
When Queen Serenity finished her toast, and the participants reclined to dinner (those on the far edges of the city heard it was time by word of mouth), the princess in her joviality forgot to retrieve Prince Demando. But she needn't have remembered. He was already gone, escaped to the farthest reaches of the lake's weatered banks. The princess joined her friends at the feast - out of sight out of mind, at least for the present.
After each person had eaten to his or her satisfaction, the garland-making was unofficially initiated.
The maids ran off into the unruly summer gardens. They had been allowed to grow wild just for this very evening - both the girls and the flowers.
Laughing and trotting through the tall sweet-smelling grasses near the lake, Serenity and her friends gathered the soft-petaled moon blossoms. Some were wild, some were garden natives, but all of them had reached their prime on the Moon at this time of year. Their fragrance perfumed the air, sweet, but un-stifling.
Something about the occasion made the young women giddy and childish. Venus's favorite blossoms were the bright yellow blazes, while shy Mercury tended to the subtle blues and pinks. Fiery Mars's blooms were drops of blood near her fair cheek, and Jupiter's violets and indigos contrasted divinely with emerald eyes. Serenity, herself, preferred the pale moon flower, its gossamer petals nearly transparent.
Their scavenges come to an end, the five princesses collapsed in a breathless heap on the tilted grassy slope, bushes of flowers enveloping them, a curtain for their feminine secrets. They laughed, sang old love- songs they learned from the nursery, and began their garlands.
"Who are you giving yours to, Jupiter?" Venus asked mischievously, a twinkle in her azure eye.
"Whomever I decide," she parried back just as teasingly.
Just then, Serenity remembered. "Oh," startled. "I don't know who will get my garland this year, with Endymion gone."
Mars shrugged at her, waved her concern away. "Just give it to someone else." Then she added coyly, "You're not married yet . . ."
"Mars!" Serenity shrilled, giggling, throwing a loose blossom at her friend, which grazed her raven crown and fell harmlessly on her lap.
Princess Mars picked up the stray flower and added it to her own garland, grinning devilishly.
Mercury added timidly, "I might give mine to that young man from Earth. What do you think? Should I venture it?"
The other four exchanged knowing looks. If they nodded any more vigorously, their dainty heads would have flown off.
Mercury's face couldn't have blended if she'd been in front of a front of a bonfire.
"I know!" sat up Venus. She could have been Serenity's sister, at least her cousin, with the same royal grace and Arian coloring. "Serenity, give your garland to that prince from Nemesis."
"That prince" or "the pale man" was how everyone referred to him.
Serenity grew still. Then, "Oh, no! Demando! I'd forgotten all about him!" She rose to her feet, as gracefully as she could manage in a gossamer gown on the hill. "I've got to find him! See you later, everyone!" and dashed off.
The princess felt guilty, she admitted. Only a prodigious distraction such as the celebrations of the long-anticipated festival could have caused her to forget another. And he had been so quiet all along, it had been easy to disregard him.
She slowed as the idea entered her mind that he might not wish to be found. After all, Demando had looked the very reluctant escort and she had, after all, been traipsing him around all evening.
Serenity emerged from the flowered copse onto the main lawn. Other girls were already returning with her, their garlands in hand, ready to be bestowed.
The princess looked down and realized she still carried her garland. Perhaps she would do like Venus suggested and give it Demando after all.
But the prince, at any rate, did not want to be found. So Serenity retreated, feeling herself grown somewhat tired from both the garlanding and the searching, to the banks of the smooth lake, where the people were fewer and the atmosphere was calmer.
Here and there, strolling along, she passed couples hand in hand. As she passed them, instinctively she looked up at the rising earth, its glowing sapphire blues and vibrant greens contrasting sharply with the ebony sky. The earth's reflection showed in the smooth surface of the lake, and her gaze trailed down to follow the rippling path of light on the water. There she noticed just in front of her, a figure with its back to her, silhouetted in the earthlight.
The hair gleamed a burning white like stars. It was Prince Demando.
"There you are," she said cheerfully, approaching him.
He looked back expectantly, his head over his shoulder, slightly tilted to the side. His face was not welcoming, but neither reproachful.
Serenity sat next to him, spreading her skirts inconveniently and pointed at the earth. "My fiancé lives there."
Demando's gaze followed the direction in which she pointed, but made no attempt to respond.
A few seconds passed in silence.
"Why isn't he here with you?" Demando couldn't imagine why the man would wish to be away from the woman's light at all now it was his . . . despite his attempts to convince himself that she was actually nothing spectacular. Yet that whole night he had felt it, her glow, stronger than ever. No matter - all people meant nothing to him, even those who posessed comforting, if indeed oppressive auras.
Serenity was a bit taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected any reaction at all.
But she smiled when she answered, "He's a prince there, you see. He has duties to attend."
Demando nodded, taking it in slowly.
"Prince Demando," she spoke the name reverently, kindly. "Do you have a loved one, back where you're from?"
"On Nemesis?"
"Yes."
He paused. It was none of her business. He should tell her so. "Yes." That will that was not his was taking over again.
She widened her eyes, but they only drank in the starlight. "You do?" she breathed. "Who is she? What's her name?" She was intrigued at the idea that this melancholy man could have a lover, and it had made her forget her manners. But she felt a little something else, a little disappointment, and she didn't know why.
Demando didn't even glance at her, but looked steadily at the earth. The light of it highlighted his features. He looked eerily aglow. "Not a lover," he said bluntly, in his stoic fashion. Why did he bother? Why was he even speaking with her? He should drop the conversation now.
The woman was becoming too easy around him. He needed to amend this. These meandering thoughts were subconscious, though. Or else he might not have conquered them.
"It's," he hesitated. He'd never spoken on this subject with anyone before. He'd never known it could be a subject, a topic of conversation. Love and affection was not mentioned where he came from, and were chiefly considered weaknesses. Should he go on? Should he stop? He found now that he had set things flowing, it felt oddly comforting, nice to let go. He wanted to talk to her, and the feeling was new to him. He mistakenly thought anything new must conclusively be wrong. "I have a younger brother."
The disappointment was lifted, but was replaced by even more surprise. Still, she gently urged him to continue, "What's his name, your little brother?"
"Saffir."
She smiled, eyes and mouth together. Yes, it was suiting: Demando and Saffir.
"What's he like?"
Demando faultered. No one had asked him to describe his brother before - the second prince, the forgotten heir. On his brother's behalf, if not on his own, he was vaguely touched, though he didn't recognize the feeling. "He's . . . a great advisor and valuable consultant. Poised and cool, like a hard, glittering gem." He struggled to find the right words, "Yet he's soft, softer than gold, once you chip through the firm exterior. Intelligent. So intelligent and foresighted . . . an invaluable friend."
Demando stopped, unsettled by how much he had let himself waver and how easily the princess-fey had managed to get him off his guard.
Serenity was pleased beyond words. Somehow, she felt that in revealing his brother to her, the smooth, apathetic prince was inadvertently revealing himself. The graceful man sat ever-so-slightly uncomfortably. The vaguest of frowns marred his otherwise perfectly schooled features.
"He sounds like a good man. I'd like to meet him." Her wish was genuine.
Demando prohibited himself from glancing at her. He said nothing more. For reasons beyond his comprehension, he was afraid to look once more into her navy blue eyes. She was a warm, glowing ember - innocent enough in itself, and also soothing, but dangerous when not handled with caution. He should keep his distance.
"Demando?"
The lilting voice was not disrespectful, though it left off his proper title. It was hopeful and bright and enticing, like a cool stream, and filled with a selfless, freely-surrendered love. His response to the voice was beyond his own control.
His eyes landed on her and he knew that he would no longer be able to resist her. Oh yes, most undoubtedly, unfortunately, and completely against his will, the unresponsive Prince Demando had unintentionally made a friend.
"Here." She held out to him a flower-garland of some kind. Pallid, delicate blossoms smudged the air white with every movement.
This time, he met with no inner opposition whatsoever when he bowed his head slightly to receive the heart-felt gift over his head.