Title: Chronicles of the Moon: Life of the Late Queen Serenity
By: semper_fi
Rated: TVPG
Email: Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon isn't mine anymore; I lied to you all!! I sold her and all the senshi on eBay last weekend! Mwahahaha! *counts her $5 and 52 cents*
Okay! This is the BIG ONE! Things really start to get going in this chapter. I'm very proud of it.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this fic, and to those of you who wrote me. Remember, I will always write back (I have nothing better to do, lol).
~~
Don't make no difference
Escapin' one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness
All this glory of sadness
That brings me to my knees
~~
Serenity stood straight, stomach in, shoulders back, chin up. The ceremony was about to begin. She wanted to take a deep breath, but willed herself instead to draw one in slowly. Servants were watching, and it would not do for them to think of their Crown-Princess as one to get the jitters, to think of her as human; as human as they themselves were. Oh no—that would never do.
The soft, sorrowing notes of a flute wafted to her, and Annie gave Serenity her best smile. Serenity took a step forward, through the double doors, and then she was in the throne room, and hundreds of nobles and royalty were staring at her as she walked in.
"If I asked you, would you tell me
Because my eyes won't see.
Angels and demons give chase
Your eyes ensnare
They cry beware—
I'll risk it to see your face."
The song was choppy, as it had been translated several different times in the history of the Moon, but Serenity sang it well. It was called "Building of a Kingdom: Ballad of Hope and Lance", the first couple to establish themselves as King and Queen. It was said that Hope's parents had forbidden her marriage to Lance, and they had eloped and made their fortune on crabbing, only to return to their homeland seventeen years later and claim dominion. They ruled for twenty-three years, until Hope died in childbirth and Lance, grief-stricken, jumped from a window. By then, however, they had a son, age thirty-two, named Daniel, and he took over the throne.
Hope and Lance were looked upon as the ideal couple; they were young, presumably beautiful, and in love. They also were rich, and ruled over all. It was the wish of everyone that every royal marriage would be blessed as theirs was, and it was for this reason that royalty sang their ballad at weddings.
By now Serenity had reached the dais, and stood in the dim light, facing the thrones where the king and queen of Constance, as well as her own royal parents, sat.
The flute played a long note, and then the doors to the throne room flew open. A white stallion galloped in, his mane and tail streaming and his rider leaning forward in the saddle. The flute made a sudden warbling sound, and Crown-Prince Raphael reined in his horse a yard away from Serenity. His oiled and perfumed hair was falling out of his ponytail, and his garb was impeccable.
A violin began playing as he made his way up to her, and then he knelt at her feet. His eyes met hers as he sang.
"If you asked me, I would tell you
And I swear my words are true
The skies are all but clear.
If only it were taunt
I don't' mean to daunt—
With me you've nothing to fear."
The violin and flute played wildly, and other musical instruments joined in. Then they stopped, and torches flared to life. Raphael stood up, and the Moon's Prime Minister rushed up to Serenity, passing her a scroll.
"The following are gifts presented to Constance on behalf of the Moon," Serenity read. "Three hundred ewes, fifty rams. One hundred sixty bull oxen. Eighty turkeys, forty hens, ten roosters, sixty-five geese. One hundred mares, twenty stallions, three geldings. Twenty stablehands. Eighty rolls of mist-satin. And apprentice-scribe Rosemary. As well as the sharing of knowledge and arms. Does this please Constance?"
"Constance is well pleased," Raphael replied. It wouldn't have mattered anyway; her asking was but ceremony. "Constance wishes to honor the Moon Kingdom as well." He reached around his neck, and pulled a necklace out from beneath his tunic. This was unorthodox, and there was whispering.
It was a large, diamond-like gem, and was in a circle shape, about an inch in diameter. And oh, how it sparkled! The thin, white gold chain it hung by reflected the jewel, and Serenity found herself drawn to it; so drawn to it, in fact, that she did not notice the looks of horror on the faces of Raphael's royal parents.
"The Empyrean Silver Crystal," Raphael said, holding it out, "Has graced my family for years. It is said to posses magical abilities when in the hands of one of the High Moon Kingdom bloodline, although that has never been proven. Regardless, Constance wishes Serenity of the Moon to take this gift as a sealing of vows."
Serenity bowed her head, and Raphael slipped it on her, being careful not to touch her neck. It lay atop her hair, and was heavier than Serenity had thought it would be.
At that moment the King stood. "May Hope and Lance bless you, as husband and wife."
The lights dimmed, and the flute began to play, with the violin joining in. Raphael took Serenity's arm and lead her to the stallion then helped her on. After he was sure that she would not fall off, Raphael took the reins and began to lead it down the aisle. Serenity shivered.
She was married.
Serenity sipped her third glass of wine, and chanced a glance at Raphael. He was looking at her, and jerked his gaze away. On any other day the thought of her husband acting as nervous as any other man when she chanced upon him staring at her would have been humorous.
Not today, Serenity thought, and drained her cup.
The ceremony was over, but the ball was in full tilt. She would be expected to dance with her father, her husband, her father-in-law, and the Prime Ministers of both kingdoms, as well as any other royalty or nobility who asked her to dance. Serenity sank deeper into her seat at the royal table, motioned a servant over, who poured the princess another glass of wine.
"Excuse me, Princess."
Serenity looked up, and saw another servant standing at her left-hand side. "Yes?"
"There is a problem in the stables, Highness. Your horse has wounded many. They request your guidance, as their future High Queen."
Serenity was not so drunk that she was not flattered. It felt good to be requested for guidance, instead of being guided.
Serenity got to her feet. "Bring me to the stables," she ordered, and tried not to wobble on her feet.
The servant nodded and began walking away, Serenity following. If her royal parents or husband noticed her leave, they assumed it was to relieve herself, and did not make the connection between her and the servant, who wore the livery of another kingdom.
"Wait," Serenity said, as they hurried down an empty hallway, "Stop right now. Your livery is not of the Moon Kingdoms; how is it that you know of my horse? Why was not a stablehand of our own breeding sent to fetch me?"
The servant turned, and Serenity's eyes grew large. "You do not smell of stables, either, but of the kitchen!"
"That, my dear princess," he took a step toward her, "Is because I have not been in the stables today." He moved quickly, and spun her, catching her in a headlock. "You have played with fire, princess. I dare you: scream."
Serenity gagged, then hissed out, "Le."
"Yes, Le. I am not as easy as my moon-eyed sister, excuse the pun. She feels that should we all try to get along together, everyone might live in harmony. I am wiser than all that, however. I know not how you ferreted her out, nor how you've managed to win her trust, but I know that she has been brainwashed." He tightened his grip on Serenity throat. "You will never go near her again." Then he was gone, and the hallways were dark enough that Serenity could not see him leave.
Getting to her feet, their "conversation" played through Serenity's head a thousand times a second. Then she caught it, and knew.
He will take Marie away tonight, Serenity realized. His last words to me were not a warning, but a taunt.
Serenity stood still a moment, then made her decision. Taking a breath, she slunk through the hallway, into the stables, and out into the royal gardens. Guards were posted at the gates, and Serenity knew that she would never make it out; not in her white bride's garb.
A third guard strolled up, followed by a forth, and she realized that they were about to switch shifts. The first two guards called out and trotted to their replacements, laughing and begging bits of pastries. Serenity slunk out into the night, leaving none of the guards any the wiser for it.
She waited outside the palace wall for ten minutes before something caught her eyes. It was a silhouette, the silhouette of two people, one dragging the other. They had exited from the side gates, but were obviously heading for the city, and the barren terrain did nothing to hide then as the sun set.
Serenity stood stock-still. Now was her chance. She could hurry back into the palace and eat and drink and be married, or she could follow them and begin her life.
I choose to live, Serenity thought fiercely, and hurried after them, being careful to crouch low to the ground and make as little noise as possible. Should they whirl and chance upon her, there was nothing she could do to conceal herself, and she would be at Marie's mercy, for Serenity believed that Le had none.
A ride into the city usually took thirty minutes on horseback, if the weather was fair and one did not dawdle, but hurried along at a good pace. However, at night and on foot it seemed to last an eternity. When they were finally there, Serenity was blistered and scuffed up, and fighting the urge to hurry closer to them.
Le stopped before entering to city, and jerked Marie's forearm—which he had been holding throughout their journey—so that she was looking at him. He said something to her, compounding it by jabbing his finger at her. Marie seemed defensive, and tried to jerk her arm away. He would not let go, and she tried again. This time he released her, and Marie stumbled backward, but caught her footing. She then shouted at him loud enough that Serenity could hear, but not make out any words. Le jumped at her, making silencing motions, and she skipped backward, then stood still, hands across her chest. He lowered his head, snakelike, and jabbed a finger, first at the city, which was awash in light, as the people celebrated Serenity's wedding, and then at Marie. Then seemed to discuss something, and then Marie slouched forward, obviously upset but relenting.
They then entered the city, not through the main street, which was filled with people, but by slipping quietly through the throngs of cottages. Serenity hastened after them, and trailed them through the edges of the city, until she was ducking behind shrubbery and they were slinking into the wooded area, which spanned into a forest. It was to the rightmost corner of the city, and Serenity had never before visited it, although she had been well-schooled in which herbs were dangerous and which were not.
Serenity paused as she reached the first trees. She had not so much as stopped to think of what she would do, once they came to their destination, and now her unease warred with her will to know. She put her hand onto the rough bark of a tree, then sighed. This is a fool's quest. I know not what I shall do in the event that I trail them to their den, and I know not even where they are at this moment!
This way.
Serenity nearly swooned. She swallowed, then asked softly, "Who goes there? Show yourself at once, by order of the Crown-Princess."
Is that who you are? Well. You had best gather up your skirts, princess—'tis rough terrain ahead…that is, should you decide to continue your hunt. Otherwise, discount what I say and hasten back to the palace; they search for you near and far, while your prince waits in your honeymooning chamber, to enforce the image that you are not at all lost, but up with him. Pah; such traditions and morals only further tangle your human minds. Were it up to one such as I…
"Who are you?" Serenity gasped, cutting off the voice, which spoke in her mind and used feeling instead of words. "Where are you!"
I am with you, and that is all you need to know. Wish you to continue your hunt, princess?
"I…"
Then walk straight, and heed my instructions well.
Le glanced at Marie, and saw that she was trudging along behind him at a snail's pace. Would that she take this seriously, he grumbled to himself, but kept the thought private, loathing to speak, lest it draw unwanted attention their way.
The woods were dark, and smelled heavily of wood-rot, plant-life, and animals. Fallen trees and gopher holes abounded at every turn, and as Le walked on, he was certain that he heard twigs snapping and rocks scraping behind him. It sounded not like the noises his sister usually made when in this area—for, although she could move through trees with relative ease, she was nowhere near the hunted silence her brother had taken on—no…this sounded as though someone was following them.
This puzzled Le. It was not impossible that someone would have seen them enter the woods, but highly unlikely, what with the feasting and merry-making that controlled the city this night. It was far more likely that an animal stalked them.
No, Le contradicted himself, An animal would not make such noise. He glanced behind him, and caught Marie, stooping over a night-flower.
"Marie!" Le hissed.
Marie jumped, then glared. "What?"
Le made a quick motion with his hand, intending to hurry her up, and Marie walked on in a huff.
They then reached an area that looked every bit like every other, almost on the edge of the woods about a third mile from the city. Le glanced about suspiciously, then, satisfied, bent low to the ground. When Marie started to speak he silenced her with a look and then set to rummaging. He soon uncovered a badger den, although it looked a bit large. He stood.
"Your silence is demanded. Grandmother is to be spirited here later on in the week. You shall never have the semblance of normalcy I had attempted to give you. Do you now understand why I wished you not to speak with royals?"
Marie did not wish to cry, and her hurt became anger. "I understand, brother—as well as one can understand when kept in the dark, removed from their life and expected to be grateful."
"Then you understand enough."
Le bent back to the earth. He got on his stomach, and began to scoot into the badger hole.
Serenity watched as Marie's feet disappeared into the den. She was astounded at their precautions, but understood them, to a degree. The voice had returned frequently to guide Serenity, and had not deemed to answer any of her carefully directed questions. And so she remained in the bushes and shrubbery, waiting for a hint as to what she should do next. When the answer came there none, Serenity became rather agitated, and whispered,
"And now?"
There was no reply.
Serenity was bewildered. It was possible, she supposed, that she had conjured the voice of her own accord, and that it was nothing more than a teenage girl's overactive imagination, but she thought not. It had seemed too real, too tangible. Like the Moon herself had deemed to spill forth the planet's secrets, and she had happened to be listening.
Still, she reasoned, Were it real, why should I be left to my own devices now?
Stymied, Serenity didn't move. Then, partly in an act of spite toward the voice, Serenity gathered her skirts and padded over to the badger den. The branches and leaves had fallen back into place, hiding it, but having seen it once, Serenity knew where the doorway was. Brushing aside the debris, Serenity stared into the gaping mouth of the badger den. Because of his size, Le had been forced to drag himself by his arms into the hole, but Serenity was tall and slender, and would be able to crawl in on her hands and knees, as unappealing as the notion was.
Taking a breath, Serenity prepared to plunge into the hole. After several half-starts, she gathered enough courage to inch in, little by little, until her entire upper body was inside the den. It was pitch black, and smelled of dirt and wood and leaves. It was a truly great feat of willpower that Serenity continued at all, and then she was entirely in, crawling through a badger's den.
A wave of claustrophobia closed in on her, and Serenity gasped for breath, but the movement caused her shoulders to come into contact with the roof, and stunted her gasp so that she could not fill her lungs. The air down there tasted of damp, and she began to sweat, but was unable to back her way out of the den.
"No," Serenity whispered, "No, no, no, no, no…"
Oh gods, she thought. It cannot end like this, it cannot!
You exaggerate. Came the voice. Crawl on your belly, child.
And so, sinking so that she was belly down in the rich, cool, soil, Serenity heeded the advice of one who had yet to fail her, and began to pull herself through the tunnel. After an intermediate amount of time that seemed to span eons for the poor princess, the tunnel expanded so that she could crawl, and crawl she did, faster and more recklessly than was necessary or wise.
Then she hit the dead end.
Her first thought was none at all, and she was immobile, paralyzed. The tunnel, she thought to herself clearly, Is too narrow for me to turn around. I'm trapped.
When there is no way out, came the voice, Simply go up.
The thought was preposterous, but yes…she could stand! Serenity stood hurriedly, scraping her back against the tunnel's end, but not minding. She could stand, and that was all that mattered. Serenity stretched, then jumped for joy.
Her hand struck wood.
Serenity's head snapped up, and she realized belatedly that the tunnel had been becoming strangely illuminated. There was a trap door, not three inches above her reaching fingertips. Serenity dug her feet into the walls of the tunnel, not thinking ahead, and reached for the door. She could feel it's metal clasp, and easily tripped it. Then she dropped to her feet, panting from exertion. Serenity had never done anything so physical before in her life, and it was costing her now.
Taking a deep breath, Serenity jumped, reaching for the door with her fingertips. They bumped it, and it bounced upward, then back down. Serenity jumped again, and again the door flew up, just to come back down. Serenity was incensed.
Oh no, she thought hotly, Not now. Not after all I've come through.
With those thoughts burning in her mind, Serenity flew up. The door jumped up, and Serenity batted it with her other hand as she descended. This time it wavered, straight in the air, then fell open. Elated, Serenity braced her feet and climbed until she could get a grip outside of the tunnel, then dragged herself out.
She was in a dark room, obviously the basement of some large dwelling place. Food surrounded her in crates, mostly traveling provisions; the stuff that would not stale or rot easily. There was not a cobweb in sight, a sure sign that this place was regularly used. The basement itself was very large, so much so that she could not see from one end to another, but it did not take a stretch of the imagination the figure that all was storage, and most was kept in wooden crates. There were stairs in the corner to her right, and no windows. Serenity headed toward the stairs.
She walked up them quickly, heedless of the noise that she made. When she reached the top, Serenity found herself in what seemed to be a shed, with only a few feet in either direction for her to move. She pushed at the worn, wooden door in front of her, and was rewarded by it swinging open on squealing hinges.
Now caution returned, and Serenity poked her head out from the doorway. It was already nighttime, and far too dark for her to see, but the gesture of precaution soothed Serenity's nerves, and she stepped haltingly from the shed. She was in a large area resembling a courtyard, with a well and stables to her right. A high, wooden fence made of tree trunks surrounded the area, which was several hundred square feet in all. The fence was thrice and again the height of any man, and dwarfed Serenity. In the distance in front of her loomed a huge building with spires, and very few windows. It was a least four or five stories, probably more, and Serenity recognized it at once. It was a church.
Lunarians practiced no formal religion, but several years back, when she was but a babe, missionaries from Earth had arrived to "spread the good news". Most considered them strange and few spoke to them, but three new buildings had been raised in the city, for which they were responsible. Serenity had heard that they preached a great deal, and it was said that they thought themselves better for being earthlings, though no one she knew could verify that.
Pebbles scraped, and that was all the warning Serenity got before a deep, male voice called out, "You there—halt!"
Serenity spun, and saw a tall character in mail armor hurry over to her. A red mustache and a startlingly pale face peered at her in the light his lantern provided, and the guard studied her unhurriedly.
"I do not believe that I recognize you," he said at last. "State your name and business here."
Serenity was frozen. She swallowed, swallowed again, and then opened her mouth. "I…"
"Leave her be, Nicolas," another guard was sauntering up. "You heard the news, dolt—Le's bringing his sister. This must be she, by the rich garments she be wearin'."
"Those what reside in a palace—for no matter how long—'r too soft," Nicolas grumbled to the second, and they started walking off, gesturing for Serenity to follow in toe. "Ye shoulda' seen 'er when I first arrives—she jumped like the hordes of Hell be on her heels!"
That comment would have made Serenity indignant, were she not too frightened to be so. She actually considered turning and fleeing, but what would that accomplish other than make her appear to be guilty? And the guards would catch her anyway…no, it was best that she pretend to be Marie, at least for a bit. If they believed her an ally they might treat her fairly and bring her to Le—that way, with the real Marie backing her up, Serenity could try to persuade him to let her join in on the cause.
Now they had reached the building and were leading her inside, by way of a back door that Serenity had, up until then, failed to notice. They led her through a series of hallways, up a score of stairs, and finally to a plain room, where they left her with orders to "stay put".
Serenity settled into a corner, too cold to cry.
Nicolas trotted up to a huge metal door and knocked on it. A minute passed, and then a slot opened at eye level, and two brown eyes peered out. "What business have you?"
"The agitating kind," Nicolas replied. "I wish to see Lordship, at once."
"He is at council right now. Relay to me your message, and I will see that he gets it."
Nicolas sighed. "Tell him that I found Le's sister wanderin' 'bout in the courtyard. She's being detained on the third floor spare room, south side. I'm going back to my post now, so any questions he's got will have to wait until it's over; compliments of you."
The brown eyes narrowed. "You know the rules as well as I, Nicolas. 'Tain't my fault that he's in a conference, so go piss; you might feel better."
Nicolas saluted him mockingly, and walked off.
David turned around and surveyed the stony, cold chamber, which was lit by four torches, each placed in separate corners of the room. Lordship sat at one end of a stone table, Le on the other. They spoke in hushed tones, but Lordship looked up a moment later, feeling David's eyes on him.
"Who was that?"
"Nicolas, sir. He says he found Le's sister runnin' around in the courtyard."
Le jumped to his feet. "What? I told her to stay in my room. Why was she not noticed by the guards stationed throughout the cathedral?"
"That I do not know, Le. She is being held in the spare room on the third floor to the south side of the building, though, should you wish to obtain her."
"I wish." Le was walking toward the door, when he belatedly turned 'round to face Lordship, who still sat. "May I, sir?"
Lordship nodded. "You may, and I shall accompany you." At Le's stricken look, Lordship continued. "We must find out how she evaded the guards, and why. She has no reason to fear us."
~~
WELL, what did you think? If you have comments, email me, AIM me (Ajluvs2Bannoying) or write a review. All comments are appreciated, as they help me to discern what people like and what I should just drop.
ALSO, I'm looking for an editor! I need one that can get my work back to me quickly, though, (within a day or two) so if this doesn't sound like something that you could do, please don't reply, all right? ^_~
One more thing…I'm putting on a Viewers Choice Awards for Sailor Moon fanfiction. If you would like to help out, nominate a fic or author, or would simply like to know more (such as rules and regulations) please email me. This will all go down in March or April, and the main discussion on it is in the *Favorites* section of the Sailor Moon Romance (moonromance.net) discussion board, under "The ASMR Fanfiction Awards 2003". My screen name there is jellybean.
I think that's all…
-semper_fi-