Strength of Serenity-chapter 4
AN: Hey! I wanted to say that in my other chapters the thoughts were
SUPPOSED to be in italics, but they didn't show up when I posted it. Sorry.
So from now on thoughts will be set of by these things .... Everybody got
that? Alrighty then. Well, on with the story!
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Serenity and Queen Helena chatted on happily about things on the Moon Kingdom as they entered the palace. Serenity was paying close attention to their conversation, though her mind was elsewhere. Prince Enydymion...he's so handsome! I hope things go back to normal soon, it would be wonderful for him to visit us. And those eyes...oh, I must stop thinking about him or I shall miss something important. Helena led the young princess to the dining room, where King Gaea and Princess Lita sat, eagerly awaiting their lunch.
"Ah, just in time!" King Gaea said cheerfully. "Lunch will be served shortly. And Endymion has agreed to dine with us today. How could this day get any better?" Queen Helena smiled, knowing the reason for her son's unusual decision to eat with his parents. Secretly, it thrilled her.
"So what's on the menu for lunch today, dear?" Helena asked as she and Serenity seated themselves. Helena purposely left a seat open beside the Moon Princess. "I'm simply famished."
"We're having a special treat today, in honor of our lovely guests," the king said. "We're having honey roasted ham with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was a favorite of the Moon King's." The table was silent for a moment, as if to pay respect to the deceased friend.
"So how was your ride earlier?" Lita asked, breaking the silence.
"It was wonderful," Serenity gushed, her blue eyes sparkling. "I never knew it could be so much fun! And Queen Helena showed me the ocean. I swear, it took my breath away." Gaea smiled and glanced over to the door way.
"Ah, Endymion! There you are!" he said, motioning for his son to take a seat. "Come, sit down. Its not every day we get to have lunch with three lovely women." Endymion entered the room, taking the seat beside Serenity. The women all blushed at the king's comment.
"Did you have a good time on your ride today, Endymion?" Helena asked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "When I came into the stables, you looked simply thrilled. What caused such excitement?" The prince blushed slightly, unnoticed by all except for his mother.
"It was just a lovely day today," Endymion said, trying to shake his mother from the topic. She smiled and shook her head. The food was brought in and served to each of them. Serenity took a bite and sighed.
"This food, oh, its so good!" she said, taking another bite. Gaea let out a small chuckle as he too began to eat. Serenity lifted her gaze to look at Endymion, only to find him watching her as well. They blushed and looked away, embarrassed to have been caught. The meal was finished up, and everyone stood up from the table. Gaea took his wife's hand and they excused themselves for a small afternoon stroll on the beach. Princess Lita glanced over at Serenity and Endymion and smiled.
"If you don't mind princess, I promised an old friend of mine I would go visit him...I mean, go visit her," Lita stammered nervously. This brought a small smile to Serenity's face.
"Of course, go ahead," she said warmly. "I'll catch up with you later." Lita smiled and left them alone. Serenity turned to face Endymion and twisted the ring on her finger.
"So what is there to around here?" she asked, her voice soft.
"Would you like to see the rose gardens?" Endymion asked, slightly nervously. "They are quite beautiful." Serenity nodded and they walked slowly down the marble hall. "You know, its a shame things happened the way they did, with the fight and all. I've missed visiting the Moon Kingdom, I find its Silver Forest simply fascinating."
"Oh, it is!" Serenity said. "I was there yesterday, actually. Its where I got this." She slipped the silver ring off her finger and handed it to the prince.
"This is beautiful," he said, turning it over in his hand. "Its quite fitting that you have this." Serenity blushed as she slipped the ring back on.
"It was a gift from...well, I doubt you would believe me," she said, turning her face down. Endymion stopped and gently lifted her face so she was looking into his eyes.
"It was a gift from a Moon Liyght," Serenity conceded. She half expected to see disbelief written on his face, but there was none.
"I believe you," he said firmly. "I've heard that all great rulers of the Moon Kingdom are given a Moon Stone. It was right that you were given one." Serenity blushed.
"Thank you, that is very sweet of you to say," she said.
"No, I mean it," Endymion said sternly. "You're already becoming a great ruler! You are the only reason my father agreed to go to the celebration, which was also your idea if I'm not mistaken. If all goes well, you shall be the reason for a renewed friendship between our people." Serenity blushed deeper and sighed.
"I suppose you're right," she said softly. "But just yesterday I found myself unsure of whether or not I could do it...you know, rule a kingdom. It seems like it would be so stressful and challenging. And judging by the suitors that come to court me, I shall have to do it alone." Serenity's face took on a sad look, and it nearly broke the prince's heart.
"Don't say that Serenity," he whispered, his finger gently tracing her jaw line. "You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and you have such a good heart. One day you'll see, you'll find the one man that will truly apreciate all that you are." Serenity's stomach began doing flip flops and her heart sped up.
"Do you mean what you say, Endymion?" she asked breathlessly, their faces inching closer.
"Every word," he uttered, his face a mere inch from hers. Their lips met in a soft kiss, a soothing warmth filling both their hearts. Serenity wrapped her arms around his neck, and Endymion slipped his strong, muscular arms around her small waist. He placed small butterfly kisses on her lips, emotion beginning to become aparent. He ran his tongue softly over her lips, silently asking for her to open her mouth. Serenity did, and his tongue carressed her own. Endymion savored the sweet taste of the princess before placing one last kiss upon her lips and pulling away. The young princess's face was flushed, but a small sparkle filled her eyes. Endymion took her small hand in his own and smiled.
"Still want to see the garden?" he asked, happiness lining his deep voice. It sent shivers down Serenity's back.
"Of course," she replied, her voice ringing like silver bells in his ears. They finished their short trip to the gardens and Serenity gasped.
"Oh Endy, its so beautiful here!" she cried. Perfect red roses filled the area, their sweet scent filling the air. White stone benches accentuated the small bushed that held the pink roses. A white fountain was placed in the very center of the garden, with a sculpture of a young man and woman locked in an embrace in the middle.
"You have a pet name for me now?" Endymion asked playfully. Serenity smiled and laughed.
"It wasn't intentional, but I like it anyway," she said. She stared at the fountain for a moment then turned to Endymion. "What is the story with the fountain?"
"I don't really know," he said honestly. "All I do know is that it is based off of a prophecy. My mother said it was very exciting, but no one will share with me what it is." Serenity put finger to her mouth and thought.
"I remember something about a prophecy my parents were talking about one night, too. They never did tell me it either," she said, as if thinking out loud. She walked over to the fountain and looked closely at it. The young woman had long, flowing hair and a crescent moon on her forehead and the man wore the armor of Earth royalty. "It has something to do with an Earth prince and a Moon princess. That's very strange..."
"That is rather odd," Endymion agreed. "I wonder why we can't know what it is."
"Don't worry yourselves over it," Queen Helena said as she entered the garden with her husband. "Its nothing you would want to hear about." Serenity and Endymion glanced at each other and sighed. "Let's go back inside, Serenity must return home soon." A sad look glinted in the young pair's eyes for a moment before they turned and followed the king and queen back inside.
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Serenity and Queen Helena chatted on happily about things on the Moon Kingdom as they entered the palace. Serenity was paying close attention to their conversation, though her mind was elsewhere. Prince Enydymion...he's so handsome! I hope things go back to normal soon, it would be wonderful for him to visit us. And those eyes...oh, I must stop thinking about him or I shall miss something important. Helena led the young princess to the dining room, where King Gaea and Princess Lita sat, eagerly awaiting their lunch.
"Ah, just in time!" King Gaea said cheerfully. "Lunch will be served shortly. And Endymion has agreed to dine with us today. How could this day get any better?" Queen Helena smiled, knowing the reason for her son's unusual decision to eat with his parents. Secretly, it thrilled her.
"So what's on the menu for lunch today, dear?" Helena asked as she and Serenity seated themselves. Helena purposely left a seat open beside the Moon Princess. "I'm simply famished."
"We're having a special treat today, in honor of our lovely guests," the king said. "We're having honey roasted ham with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was a favorite of the Moon King's." The table was silent for a moment, as if to pay respect to the deceased friend.
"So how was your ride earlier?" Lita asked, breaking the silence.
"It was wonderful," Serenity gushed, her blue eyes sparkling. "I never knew it could be so much fun! And Queen Helena showed me the ocean. I swear, it took my breath away." Gaea smiled and glanced over to the door way.
"Ah, Endymion! There you are!" he said, motioning for his son to take a seat. "Come, sit down. Its not every day we get to have lunch with three lovely women." Endymion entered the room, taking the seat beside Serenity. The women all blushed at the king's comment.
"Did you have a good time on your ride today, Endymion?" Helena asked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "When I came into the stables, you looked simply thrilled. What caused such excitement?" The prince blushed slightly, unnoticed by all except for his mother.
"It was just a lovely day today," Endymion said, trying to shake his mother from the topic. She smiled and shook her head. The food was brought in and served to each of them. Serenity took a bite and sighed.
"This food, oh, its so good!" she said, taking another bite. Gaea let out a small chuckle as he too began to eat. Serenity lifted her gaze to look at Endymion, only to find him watching her as well. They blushed and looked away, embarrassed to have been caught. The meal was finished up, and everyone stood up from the table. Gaea took his wife's hand and they excused themselves for a small afternoon stroll on the beach. Princess Lita glanced over at Serenity and Endymion and smiled.
"If you don't mind princess, I promised an old friend of mine I would go visit him...I mean, go visit her," Lita stammered nervously. This brought a small smile to Serenity's face.
"Of course, go ahead," she said warmly. "I'll catch up with you later." Lita smiled and left them alone. Serenity turned to face Endymion and twisted the ring on her finger.
"So what is there to around here?" she asked, her voice soft.
"Would you like to see the rose gardens?" Endymion asked, slightly nervously. "They are quite beautiful." Serenity nodded and they walked slowly down the marble hall. "You know, its a shame things happened the way they did, with the fight and all. I've missed visiting the Moon Kingdom, I find its Silver Forest simply fascinating."
"Oh, it is!" Serenity said. "I was there yesterday, actually. Its where I got this." She slipped the silver ring off her finger and handed it to the prince.
"This is beautiful," he said, turning it over in his hand. "Its quite fitting that you have this." Serenity blushed as she slipped the ring back on.
"It was a gift from...well, I doubt you would believe me," she said, turning her face down. Endymion stopped and gently lifted her face so she was looking into his eyes.
"It was a gift from a Moon Liyght," Serenity conceded. She half expected to see disbelief written on his face, but there was none.
"I believe you," he said firmly. "I've heard that all great rulers of the Moon Kingdom are given a Moon Stone. It was right that you were given one." Serenity blushed.
"Thank you, that is very sweet of you to say," she said.
"No, I mean it," Endymion said sternly. "You're already becoming a great ruler! You are the only reason my father agreed to go to the celebration, which was also your idea if I'm not mistaken. If all goes well, you shall be the reason for a renewed friendship between our people." Serenity blushed deeper and sighed.
"I suppose you're right," she said softly. "But just yesterday I found myself unsure of whether or not I could do it...you know, rule a kingdom. It seems like it would be so stressful and challenging. And judging by the suitors that come to court me, I shall have to do it alone." Serenity's face took on a sad look, and it nearly broke the prince's heart.
"Don't say that Serenity," he whispered, his finger gently tracing her jaw line. "You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and you have such a good heart. One day you'll see, you'll find the one man that will truly apreciate all that you are." Serenity's stomach began doing flip flops and her heart sped up.
"Do you mean what you say, Endymion?" she asked breathlessly, their faces inching closer.
"Every word," he uttered, his face a mere inch from hers. Their lips met in a soft kiss, a soothing warmth filling both their hearts. Serenity wrapped her arms around his neck, and Endymion slipped his strong, muscular arms around her small waist. He placed small butterfly kisses on her lips, emotion beginning to become aparent. He ran his tongue softly over her lips, silently asking for her to open her mouth. Serenity did, and his tongue carressed her own. Endymion savored the sweet taste of the princess before placing one last kiss upon her lips and pulling away. The young princess's face was flushed, but a small sparkle filled her eyes. Endymion took her small hand in his own and smiled.
"Still want to see the garden?" he asked, happiness lining his deep voice. It sent shivers down Serenity's back.
"Of course," she replied, her voice ringing like silver bells in his ears. They finished their short trip to the gardens and Serenity gasped.
"Oh Endy, its so beautiful here!" she cried. Perfect red roses filled the area, their sweet scent filling the air. White stone benches accentuated the small bushed that held the pink roses. A white fountain was placed in the very center of the garden, with a sculpture of a young man and woman locked in an embrace in the middle.
"You have a pet name for me now?" Endymion asked playfully. Serenity smiled and laughed.
"It wasn't intentional, but I like it anyway," she said. She stared at the fountain for a moment then turned to Endymion. "What is the story with the fountain?"
"I don't really know," he said honestly. "All I do know is that it is based off of a prophecy. My mother said it was very exciting, but no one will share with me what it is." Serenity put finger to her mouth and thought.
"I remember something about a prophecy my parents were talking about one night, too. They never did tell me it either," she said, as if thinking out loud. She walked over to the fountain and looked closely at it. The young woman had long, flowing hair and a crescent moon on her forehead and the man wore the armor of Earth royalty. "It has something to do with an Earth prince and a Moon princess. That's very strange..."
"That is rather odd," Endymion agreed. "I wonder why we can't know what it is."
"Don't worry yourselves over it," Queen Helena said as she entered the garden with her husband. "Its nothing you would want to hear about." Serenity and Endymion glanced at each other and sighed. "Let's go back inside, Serenity must return home soon." A sad look glinted in the young pair's eyes for a moment before they turned and followed the king and queen back inside.