Serenades of Desert Rose
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.... I still don't own it.... Is someone getting a bit behind on their birthday shopping, eh? *cough cough*
Chapter Three: The Desert Rogues
Mina was a good rider, or at least she had always thought. She'd been taught to ride since she was but a child. As she clenched to the horse's mane before her, she realized how tame those horses must have been.
Malachite even had one arm around her waist to support her, as the stallion galloped through the tall dunes of the desert.
"Are you alright, Princess?" Malachite asked, leaning close to her ear so she could hear over the roaring winds. She nodded, blinking the grit from around her eyes.
"When are we going to arrive?" she called back. A glint in his eye shined.
"Soon. Sooner than you think." he responded. She sighed. She hadn't gotten a straight answer from him yet.
All around her the desert stretched, barren from all. No signs of the Bashieds' camp reach her in any direction.
The stallion climbed the next dune with ease, Mina being flung around like normal. Her body ached with the effort, her head throbbed with each step. Atop the dune, Malachite reigned in the horse. He gracefully dismounted, turning to help her down.
"Come Princess... it is time." he spoke, a smile upon his face. Delicately he pulled his face scarf into place, lifting his hand into the air and making two circles, palm out. He began to speak, his tone deeper than even normal. A white light began to shine from his hand. Mina watched, entranced.
In the distance it was as if a veil had fallen away to reveal rows of tents, varying in size and shapes. From this distance she could vaguely make out forms of people and horses milling around the camp.
"Oh... my... It's... a whole city..." Mina gasped gently. Her slender hand lifted to her mouth to hide her dropped jaw.
"Come Princess... Lord Darien awaits." Malachite spoke, extending his hand to help her back onto the horse. She was in shock, too much to move for the next moment. His gentle touch snapped her to reality. "Let us go." he pressed. He helped her into the saddle, but only took the reins and began to lead the stallion down the dune.
"Aren't you going to ride, Lord Malachite?" she asked, her tone formal but a bit distant. He glanced up at her, eyes taking in her torn gown and disheveled hair.
"No, Lady. You're entrance is greatly welcomed and expected. It should be as memorable of an entrance as possible." he replied. He waved his hand slightly and her gown changed into a pale sherbert colored dress that fell to only half down her calves. She found her hair had been pulled back into the meatballs as well.
"Thanks." Mina said softly, cursing slightly. She'd almost forgotten he thought she was Serenity. She closed her eyes and felt a wash of worry and confusion overtake her. 'What am I going to do now?' she thought to herself. Someone was going to know she wasn't the real princess of the Moon.
"Malachite! Welcome back!" called a voice from the edge of the camp. The white haired desert man glanced up.
"Zoisite!" he called back in greeting. The man Malachite had called to, Zoisite, approached as Malachite helped her from the horse's back.
"Princess, welcome to our humble camp. May I accompany you to see Prince Darien now, lady?" the man offered. Mina gave him a long look. He was shorter than Malachite, but that wasn't saying much for the white haired man was very tall. Zoisite's eye had a glint of mischief, but his expression and movements were respectful.
"Yes, Lord Zoisite. I'd be honored." she spoke. Her eyes trailed sideways to Malachite. "Will you be joining us, Lord?"
He smiled respectively. She watched his eyes trace her face, closing before he could allow them to wander anywhere disrespective to her. He took a forced breath. "No, lady. I would love to, but I have matters of my own to deal with. I'll join you later perhaps." he explained. Mina felt a ping of disappointment, her stomach knotting.
"Perhaps." she agreed. "Let us go, Lord Zoisite." she stated, turning to the other man. Zoisite nodded slightly, a bit confused as to what had just transpired between Malachite and the princess. He quickly dismissed it as nothing and took her hand to help her towards a tent at the center of the camp.
Mina glanced over her should once as she was led away, disappointed that Malachite wasn't watching her go. She shook her head. 'Why do I care?' she wondered.
"Wait here, princess. I'll tell the prince you've arrived." Zoisite spoke, cutting her thoughts short. She snapped from her trance and nodded slightly. "He's been waiting to see you again for a long time... but he'll tell you that soon enough." Zoisite rambled as he ducked into the large white tent. Mina was left to look around, hugging her shoulders. She was cold, mostly because she'd become sunburnt over their journey and now that the sun was setting, the desert was becoming chill.
"Serena!" came a call from the tent flap. Mina closed her eyes.
'How dare he call the princess so informally!?' she thought, outraged. She turned. The man who stood there was tall and broad shouldered. Full black hair that shined under the retreating sun, eyes the color of the deepest ocean that Mina had ever seen. A sword hung at his side, curved like is the way of the desert folk. Clothed in white from head to toe. "Yes?" she asked.
Her ploy was failing, she could tell by the look in his eyes. He was confused. "You aren't the princess!" he finally exclaimed. Mina fought to swallow the hard ball that had formed in her throat.
'What now? How am I going to get out of this one alive? No matter... I died protecting my princess... may the goddess take me.' Mina thought as a look of triumph formed on her face. "No, I'm not. And you'll never have her!" Mina yelled.
Darien closed his eyes and turned back towards his tent. Mina swallowed any harsh words she may have. The look in his eyes had silenced her. The look of utter pain, his heart being torn out.
"Wait." she called. The prince turned. "Tell me... why did you try to kidnap her?" she pressed. The silence that stretched between them was deep and unnerving to say the least.
"Zoisite... make sure our guest has a tent for the night." he ordered. Zoisite nodded. Mina hung her head. His tone suggested she wasn't going to be free to leave it.
Malachite paced his tent. He'd failed. FAILED. 'How could I have been fooled? Things were going so well... no...' he thought harshly. He closed his eyes and decided idly to pay the fake princess a visit.
He stormed from his tent, heading to the one she'd been assigned. No one stood outside guarding it however. "Where is she?" he growled.
Following the mental link he had with his fellow warriors, he found Jedite near the oasis just outside of camp.
"What are you doing out here? Do you have the girl with you?" Malachite demanded. Jedite took a deep breath, but Malachite cut him off. "Where is she?" he demanded. Jedite pointed behind him towards the tree cover. "She's alone! She could be taking off!"
"I-" he began.
But Malachite had already stormed off towards where he'd pointed.
The white haired man shoved through the trees with little effort, coming to the pool of water there. He spotted her, eyes growing wide. Though tanned from her days in the sun, her essence shone golden. Her long blonde hair was now untamed and hung around her like a veil. Her form was flawless.
She was a goddess.
But she just happened to be bathing, and had noticed his entrance. Her eyes grew wide, her expression outraged.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded. He had no answer, but managed to look away.
"We need to talk." he stated after a long moment. She seemed skeptical but had managed to dress that quickly.
"About what?"
Author Notes: Who guessed that he isn't getting THAT image outta his head for awhile? Good, you get a cookie.