Disclaimer: The use of characters is used purely for the enjoyment of this fan fiction and I am in no way making any profit in this.
Chapter 7
They made their way back to the group, but others were already looking for them. The rain has stopped, the ground wet and muddy even with puddles. The atmosphere was dewy and there was that faint smell of the aftermath of rain.
"Your highness! We've been looking all over for you." A lowly soldier spoke bowing with a bit of awe. His eyes settled onto the girl he recognized. "Slave! You should know better than to run away. You're going to be punished for this." The soldier made a mistake of grabbing her harshly at once.
Endymion reacted purely in spontaneity at having his woman hurt right before his eyes. The soldier didn't even know what him as he lay groaning on the muddy ground. Endymion turned towards the captain of the small group.
"She saved my life, therefore she is no longer a slave. You will treat her with respect and-" Darien sneered as he looked at the man on the ground. "You'd better think twice before any of you lay your hands on her again. Or you'll answer to me." He finished in a cold voice. He looked at each of the soldier present letting them feel the underlying threat. He was staking his claim, and nobody dared to question him or undermine his orders. "Spread the word at camp."
"Your highness! Prince Endymion!" A messenger-soldier ran panting to where they were. "There has been an accident, you're needed at the camp at once. It's about your brother!" The messenger fumbled with his message in haste, his face grave with the omen of the message.
A horse was brought to the him, he brought her with him not wanting to leave him with the other soldiers. She had been quiet ever since they started going back. As though, she had too much on her mind to think about.
"Serena, are you alright?"
They rode as fast as they could towards the camp and the wind hummed in their ears. She heard the question still however, yet chose not to answer it. Instead she tightened her hold on his waist in reassurance to his question. Neither of them spoke anything after that and soon they were at their destination.
Darien went down on his horse first and held out his hands to help her down. His hand squeezed hers and she nodded knowing that he needs to be away from her for a while. He kissed her palm for goodbye.
"Your highness, there has been an accident involving Prince Deamando. We can't find him." Nephrite, a high-ranking soldier and one of Darien's bodyguards spoke first amongst the group of other legion leaders.
"How long have you been looking?" Darien frowned as his mind worked at this sudden news. He had felt no respect for his brother as a person, but he was still family and so he felt some remorse at the loss. Yet, facts have to be faced. The whole kingdom knew how dangerous expanding their territory was, they would feel the same loss at having lost the heir and the future king they thought they're going to have, but it would still be accepted.
"Hours sir. The storm was sudden and there was this sudden gush of gale that swept the Prince's tent. We heard his scream and we ran looking but no traces of him were found. The rain kept falling, and there was thunder as well so we couldn't search that well and now we fear that it's too late." Another soldier spoke up.
"3 more days and then we're going home." Darien said finally.
"Yes sir." The soldier said relieved. They had been arguing for days and filled with worry. The heir to the throne was gone and most possibly dead, and the second Prince had been missing.
"Report to me after each day of your search. I will lead one party to the west while one of you will lead a party to the east. Nephrite you stay here and guard the prisoners."
***
The first day of searching was fruitless. They found no trace, no sign, nothing. When Darien got back, went to search for Serena. It was crazy for him and he can't understand it as well, that after a hard tiring day, the person he was looking to soothe it for him was her.
Darien frowned, he couldn't find her at the tent he had provided for her. "Had she gone back to wherever she came from?" Darien thought uneasily. He didn't want her to leave and yet, he couldn't find enough reason for her to want to stay, other than the gold, jewels and the rest of things he had promised her. She didn't even seem to be interested in that.
"Where are you?" Darien growled in his mind. Though he was tired, dirty and hungry, he ventured deeper out of the camp to look for her.
He found her near a small pond. Sitting and staring at the crystal clear water. He couldn't explain why to himself why he was looking for her but seeing her has freed away some of his tension. He just stood there and watched her opting the silence and the comfort he received in doing so.
She felt his presence long before he had even arrived. Slowly, she stood up and turned around. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"It's still only the first day, he might still be alive." Darien spoke wearily coming closer towards her. Without a word, she met him halfway with an embrace. Her eyes were clear but a drop or two of tear fell through her cheeks. "I'm sorry I caused you pain." She whispered to the wind.
"Don't cry. It's not as if its your fault he died. He died because he became greedy in pursuing new lands when we should've been heading home." Darien wiped the tear and kissed her forehead drawing her closer.
"Yes, his fault." She murmured to herself. After awhile she pushed him back, "Please stop cuddling me." She blushed.
"Cuddling?" His eyebrows rose.
"You've treated me different. Is it because in your eyes I'm no longer a slave?" She pointed out.
Darien shrugged.
"Well, I never was."
He looked amused. "No, you're a goddess."
She froze. "A princess, a feisty little tyrant--"
She scowled. "I'm not little."
"And a fortune teller who keeps telling me I'm destined for death and then taking it back." He finished.
He kissed her. Gently and sweetly, that robbed her of her breath. "Stay with me later tonight." He murmured into her ear.
Serena scowled at him after the kiss. "I thought I was no longer a slave." She hissed.
Darien shook his head and caressed her anger away. "No, stay with me. Not as me the Prince, but me as a man and you as a woman, my woman." He brought her hand to his lips and nibbled at her knuckles while looking at her with a serious expression.
They stayed like that for a while, staring at each other.
"SERE-" Lita walked into them and caught the scene. She blushed and knelt. "I'm sorry for disturbing, your Highness."
"It's alright Lita. Darien-uh, Prince Endymion was just leaving." Serena spoke softly.
Darien nodded at the two women and gave Serena a last lingering look.
When he was gone, Serena gave a sigh. "He's a Prince you know." Lita spoke quietly taking both of Serena's hands into hers. "And you're my friend, so I guess is should warn you. Servants or free men don't fall in love with royalty Sere, much more Princes and now heir to the throne." Lita said gently but firmly.
"I think I already am." Serena spoke weakly. "And I'm a goddess." She thought. Staring at her reflection in the pond with helplessness uncommon to her, she turned those helpless eyes at Lita who was looking at her with pity.
"What are you going to do?"
With a final sigh, "I don't know."
***
The second day, Serena was missing. They only noticed when it was dark when she didn't come back. Darien became wild with worry and would've searched all night till someone stopped him.
On the morning of the third day, she still hadn't come back. Darien doubled the search party, one looking for his brother, the other for Serena. It wasn't such a wise move, since that means the soldiers at camp were lessened, and if anybody with a moderate army would attack them they would lose. But Darien didn't care; he just wanted to find her.
Angry, weary, and terribly worried, Darien returned back to camp with a heavy heart. He grabbed a bottle of liquor and committed himself to drink so that he could at least get some sleep and go on looking for her tomorrow.
In the middle of the night, wind whispered around his tent. A figure dressed in sliver-white entered the tent and made way to him.
He opened his eyes slightly from the drugging sleep to be greeted by drugging kisses. She was insistent and demanding, her body soft and silky against his own, and that scent so familiar.
"Serena?" he asked groggily.
She continued kissing him, his lips, his eyes, his jaw, his neck all the while undressing him.
"You told me to stay with you, and here I am." She said with a heavy breath, her heart beating furiously in her chest with excitement and nervousness. She was straddling him, looking at his sleepy eyes awaken with passion. He reversed their position.
"Where have you been?" He asked hoarsely, kissing her back with a need and longing and desperation.
"Let's not talk." She panted as he began undressing her.
"I agree." He murmured.
They didn't talk for a long while.
A/n: Choices: Should I do a lime beginning or proceed on to the happenings? I'm not very good with limes though, but I'll do my best if you readers are interested when Serena becomes no longer a virgin.
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