Chapter 6 - Where did SHE come from?
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"I know him." A young girls voice floated up from the back of the room. The entire room grew silent and turned to see who had spoken. It was a young Noble girl, no older than 15 or 16. She wore a bluish-green dress that was tight around the middle and flared out just a little at the bottom. Her hair, black with maybe a hint of brown, was pulled back into an elegant French Twist. Her skin was darkened by a golden-brown tan which made her blue eyes stand out two ice crystals.
She had a Nobalistic-almost Royal air that seemed to flow around her like a breeze. You could see it in the way she moved, the way she held herself, and the way she would look you directly in the eyes demanding your attention.
Suddenly, the young girl found herself the center of attention. Every eye was turned in her direction. Mamoru looked up, the floor no longer presenting itself as more amusing than his surrondings. It was that strange familiar voice - that mocking voice - that voice that had brought him here.
From a silent shadow near the set of throne chairs, Prince Terrance glared at the girl. The other voice from the garden. He thought silently sharing the piece of information with his brother.' What is she doing here?'
Focusing on the back of the large room, King Endymion studied the girl mutely, but intensely. She blushed looking away as if embarrased at so quickly having become the center of the courts attention.
After a moment of complete silence, Queen Terra decided it was time to step in. Standing up, she went over to stand beside her husband. "Calm down." She whispered. "We'll get to the bottom of this." King Endymion took a deep breath. Terra was right. Getting upset would only make matters worse. "Don't be shy dear." Queen Terra replied in a gentle but regal voice. "Come up here and talk to us." Taking hold of her husband's arm she nudged him in the direction of the Throne Chairs.
After giving Mamoru a warning glare - dareing him to try anything suspicious - King Endymion followed his wife retruning to sit down. "COme on." He replied frustrated, but trying not to let it show. "Tell us your relation to this prisoner.
Mamoru sighed looking down again. He didn't like being refered to as a prisoner. It felt degrading.
Taking a deep inward breath, the young girl slowly made her way up to the front of the room. People moved out of the way to let her pass. She walked with almost perfect posture. She showed Mamoru a nervous smile as she passed him. She had had
the King and Queen of Earth under her thumb for fifteen years now. After all, being the youngest and the only girl did have its good points. HOwever facing the fact that he no longer looked at her as his little princess, she began to doubt her cunning abilities.
Coming before the King and Queen, she made a low and perfect curtsey. The king smiled slightly at this. Her parents had obviously taught her well. "Your Majesties. My name is Chiba Elizabeth." Mamoru turned to stare at her. "This man is my Onii-sama - my older brother."
"Your brother?"
"Hai, King Endymion-sama." Elizabeth inwardly grinned though her face didn't show the emotion. It was time to put Ole Reliable to work. Shivering a bit as if intimidated, she let her eyes grow misty. "Please, Your Majesty. Please, don't hurt my Onii-sama. He's all I've got, now."
"No need to be frightened, dear." Queen Terra replied moved by her emotions. "What do you mean, he's all you've got?"
The girl sniffled pityingly. "Ma . . . Mama and Papa died in a . . . they, they died recently. Onii-sama was going to get us a place here in town. He said there were to many old memories in the old house. Please, please Majesty. Don't. . . please don't take my brother. He's all I have."
Prince Terrance snorted. That was the fakest sob-story he'd ever heard, but his sister-in-law had fallen for it like a regular sap. "Poor Child." She replied feeling sorry or her. "Endymion . . ." She spoke imploringly.
King Endymion sighed. This was just what he needed. He hated to see young girl cry - he always seemed to put his daughter into their shoes when he thought about them. Heck, this girl even shared the same name as his youngest child. He tried to keep his voice serious. "You do realize your brother has been charged with trespassing into the Royal Garden and putting the Royal Family in danger."
"Oh." Elizabeth gasped. Her eyes teared up again. "Oh, its all my fault. Please, please don't hurt Onii-sama. I . . ."
So, she's going to admit she was in the garden?
Terrance, are you sure? She seems . . .
I'm positive, Onii-san. I know what I heard. Are you going to trust me, or some . . .
Ok. OK. Don't get yourself all bent out of shape.
"What exactly do you mean, it was your fault?" King Endymion asked calmly and firmly. "Where you also in the garden?"
"I . . . I . . ." Elizabeth bowed her head looking at the floor blushing. "Gomen nasi, Your Majesty. I just wanted to see the gardens. Onii-sama had told me how beautiful the ones around the castle were." The King shot Mamoru another narrowed glance. He gulped. What exactly was she trying to do? Couldn't they tell how fake she sounded?
"So, your brother and you went looking for the Royal Garden."
"No, Majesty. We were exploring the garden when we came upon a strange maze. I wanted to see what was on the other side and I ran in. Mamoru-kun came in after me." She paused for a moment, seeming to catch her breath, but really she was thinking up the rest of her story. "We got lost in the maze. I swear it was like the walls were moving or something. We must have wandered around for hours."
King Endymion nodded. That was what was supposed to happen. "Go on."
"Well . . . I got to one side and heard voices - like children laughing. Mamoru said it was probably some of the Royal Guard's children playing in the gardens." Elizabeth shifted nervously back and forth on her feet. "I figured we were so close, the fastest way to get out would be to climb over the wall."
Climb over?! Prince Terrance thought with suprise. We never thought of that, Endymion. Sure, Endymion had used his crystal to enchant the walls so that some would move. Sometimes the vines would grow up so that new walls seemed to appear out of no where. The only exception was when the Royal Family came through, it would move to the side creating an entrance for them. If in the unlikely event they were able to find the entrance, the Golden Crystals power held so that only the Royal Family could pass through it. But, if someone were to try and climb over one of the walls . . . Hmmm. We'll have
to fix that.
Definately.
"I climbed up and jumped off into a nearby tree." Terrance eyes held a look of surprise and annoyance. So that's where she'd went. Why hadn't he thought to look up there? Elizabeth blushed. Mamoru climbed up after me, but he missed the tree, and . . ."
Terrance snorted trying not to laugh. He could just imagine this Mamoru guy falling off the garden wall and knocking himself out. Mamoru found himself blushing furiously.
Elizabeth pretended not to notice her Uncle's amusement or her brother's embarrassment though it did paint quite a funny picture. "Gomen nasi, Your Majesty. When you and your brother, Prince ah . . . Terrance showed up, I got scared. I was afraid to come down. Please, please don't hurt Onii-sama. We meant no harm, honest."
King Endymion remained silent for a moment. What to you think, Terrance?
It sounds plausable, but something still bothers me about them. It's a . . . feeling. I can't quite place it.
Hmmm. Terra mentioned getting a strange feeling from Mamoru in the garden.
I wouldn't advise letting them go right yet. Keep them in the castle where we can learn ore about them. Personally, I would tell the guards to keep especially close eye on them. Something about them . . . I just don't trust it.
Alright. That's what we'll do.
"Mamoru." Mamoru looked up. The King motioned for him to come up beside his 'sister.' "Your sister's story sounds reasonable. I will release you under one condition."
"Hai Majesty?" Mamoru looked relieved. Elizabeth grinned proud of herself for doing so well.
"You will not return to the dungeon, but my guards WILL be keeping an eye on the two of you. You will remain at the castle until we can be sure no other possible threat are present. Do either of you have a problem with this?"
"No Majesty."
"Good." King Endymion motioned for the two Guards that had brought Mamoru to return to their post. Bowing, they turned and exited the room. He motioned for a middle-age woman, a maid with a lot of experiance, to come up. She had taken a 'short break' to come see the young man that was rumored to have found the legendary "Royal Garden" that no one outside the
Royal Family had ever seen.
She scurried up giving a quick curtsey. "King Endymion-sama?"
"Ariel, I wan't you to take these two to a set of rooms in the North Wing."
"Of course, Majesty." She motioned to the two, Mamoru and Elizabeth. "Come this way." Ariel, Elizabeth, and Mamoru left the room. Elizabeth grinned. Ariel would be serving on the staff for many years to come. She knew this for a fact.
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Author's Notes: In Chapter 7, Mamoru meets his cousin and little brothers face-to-face. Does Terry-chan actually recognize his older brother?! What does his past-self think of him? Who is the angel that sings so beautifully in the night? And why does David have to ask so many questions?!!
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"I know him." A young girls voice floated up from the back of the room. The entire room grew silent and turned to see who had spoken. It was a young Noble girl, no older than 15 or 16. She wore a bluish-green dress that was tight around the middle and flared out just a little at the bottom. Her hair, black with maybe a hint of brown, was pulled back into an elegant French Twist. Her skin was darkened by a golden-brown tan which made her blue eyes stand out two ice crystals.
She had a Nobalistic-almost Royal air that seemed to flow around her like a breeze. You could see it in the way she moved, the way she held herself, and the way she would look you directly in the eyes demanding your attention.
Suddenly, the young girl found herself the center of attention. Every eye was turned in her direction. Mamoru looked up, the floor no longer presenting itself as more amusing than his surrondings. It was that strange familiar voice - that mocking voice - that voice that had brought him here.
From a silent shadow near the set of throne chairs, Prince Terrance glared at the girl. The other voice from the garden. He thought silently sharing the piece of information with his brother.' What is she doing here?'
Focusing on the back of the large room, King Endymion studied the girl mutely, but intensely. She blushed looking away as if embarrased at so quickly having become the center of the courts attention.
After a moment of complete silence, Queen Terra decided it was time to step in. Standing up, she went over to stand beside her husband. "Calm down." She whispered. "We'll get to the bottom of this." King Endymion took a deep breath. Terra was right. Getting upset would only make matters worse. "Don't be shy dear." Queen Terra replied in a gentle but regal voice. "Come up here and talk to us." Taking hold of her husband's arm she nudged him in the direction of the Throne Chairs.
After giving Mamoru a warning glare - dareing him to try anything suspicious - King Endymion followed his wife retruning to sit down. "COme on." He replied frustrated, but trying not to let it show. "Tell us your relation to this prisoner.
Mamoru sighed looking down again. He didn't like being refered to as a prisoner. It felt degrading.
Taking a deep inward breath, the young girl slowly made her way up to the front of the room. People moved out of the way to let her pass. She walked with almost perfect posture. She showed Mamoru a nervous smile as she passed him. She had had
the King and Queen of Earth under her thumb for fifteen years now. After all, being the youngest and the only girl did have its good points. HOwever facing the fact that he no longer looked at her as his little princess, she began to doubt her cunning abilities.
Coming before the King and Queen, she made a low and perfect curtsey. The king smiled slightly at this. Her parents had obviously taught her well. "Your Majesties. My name is Chiba Elizabeth." Mamoru turned to stare at her. "This man is my Onii-sama - my older brother."
"Your brother?"
"Hai, King Endymion-sama." Elizabeth inwardly grinned though her face didn't show the emotion. It was time to put Ole Reliable to work. Shivering a bit as if intimidated, she let her eyes grow misty. "Please, Your Majesty. Please, don't hurt my Onii-sama. He's all I've got, now."
"No need to be frightened, dear." Queen Terra replied moved by her emotions. "What do you mean, he's all you've got?"
The girl sniffled pityingly. "Ma . . . Mama and Papa died in a . . . they, they died recently. Onii-sama was going to get us a place here in town. He said there were to many old memories in the old house. Please, please Majesty. Don't. . . please don't take my brother. He's all I have."
Prince Terrance snorted. That was the fakest sob-story he'd ever heard, but his sister-in-law had fallen for it like a regular sap. "Poor Child." She replied feeling sorry or her. "Endymion . . ." She spoke imploringly.
King Endymion sighed. This was just what he needed. He hated to see young girl cry - he always seemed to put his daughter into their shoes when he thought about them. Heck, this girl even shared the same name as his youngest child. He tried to keep his voice serious. "You do realize your brother has been charged with trespassing into the Royal Garden and putting the Royal Family in danger."
"Oh." Elizabeth gasped. Her eyes teared up again. "Oh, its all my fault. Please, please don't hurt Onii-sama. I . . ."
So, she's going to admit she was in the garden?
Terrance, are you sure? She seems . . .
I'm positive, Onii-san. I know what I heard. Are you going to trust me, or some . . .
Ok. OK. Don't get yourself all bent out of shape.
"What exactly do you mean, it was your fault?" King Endymion asked calmly and firmly. "Where you also in the garden?"
"I . . . I . . ." Elizabeth bowed her head looking at the floor blushing. "Gomen nasi, Your Majesty. I just wanted to see the gardens. Onii-sama had told me how beautiful the ones around the castle were." The King shot Mamoru another narrowed glance. He gulped. What exactly was she trying to do? Couldn't they tell how fake she sounded?
"So, your brother and you went looking for the Royal Garden."
"No, Majesty. We were exploring the garden when we came upon a strange maze. I wanted to see what was on the other side and I ran in. Mamoru-kun came in after me." She paused for a moment, seeming to catch her breath, but really she was thinking up the rest of her story. "We got lost in the maze. I swear it was like the walls were moving or something. We must have wandered around for hours."
King Endymion nodded. That was what was supposed to happen. "Go on."
"Well . . . I got to one side and heard voices - like children laughing. Mamoru said it was probably some of the Royal Guard's children playing in the gardens." Elizabeth shifted nervously back and forth on her feet. "I figured we were so close, the fastest way to get out would be to climb over the wall."
Climb over?! Prince Terrance thought with suprise. We never thought of that, Endymion. Sure, Endymion had used his crystal to enchant the walls so that some would move. Sometimes the vines would grow up so that new walls seemed to appear out of no where. The only exception was when the Royal Family came through, it would move to the side creating an entrance for them. If in the unlikely event they were able to find the entrance, the Golden Crystals power held so that only the Royal Family could pass through it. But, if someone were to try and climb over one of the walls . . . Hmmm. We'll have
to fix that.
Definately.
"I climbed up and jumped off into a nearby tree." Terrance eyes held a look of surprise and annoyance. So that's where she'd went. Why hadn't he thought to look up there? Elizabeth blushed. Mamoru climbed up after me, but he missed the tree, and . . ."
Terrance snorted trying not to laugh. He could just imagine this Mamoru guy falling off the garden wall and knocking himself out. Mamoru found himself blushing furiously.
Elizabeth pretended not to notice her Uncle's amusement or her brother's embarrassment though it did paint quite a funny picture. "Gomen nasi, Your Majesty. When you and your brother, Prince ah . . . Terrance showed up, I got scared. I was afraid to come down. Please, please don't hurt Onii-sama. We meant no harm, honest."
King Endymion remained silent for a moment. What to you think, Terrance?
It sounds plausable, but something still bothers me about them. It's a . . . feeling. I can't quite place it.
Hmmm. Terra mentioned getting a strange feeling from Mamoru in the garden.
I wouldn't advise letting them go right yet. Keep them in the castle where we can learn ore about them. Personally, I would tell the guards to keep especially close eye on them. Something about them . . . I just don't trust it.
Alright. That's what we'll do.
"Mamoru." Mamoru looked up. The King motioned for him to come up beside his 'sister.' "Your sister's story sounds reasonable. I will release you under one condition."
"Hai Majesty?" Mamoru looked relieved. Elizabeth grinned proud of herself for doing so well.
"You will not return to the dungeon, but my guards WILL be keeping an eye on the two of you. You will remain at the castle until we can be sure no other possible threat are present. Do either of you have a problem with this?"
"No Majesty."
"Good." King Endymion motioned for the two Guards that had brought Mamoru to return to their post. Bowing, they turned and exited the room. He motioned for a middle-age woman, a maid with a lot of experiance, to come up. She had taken a 'short break' to come see the young man that was rumored to have found the legendary "Royal Garden" that no one outside the
Royal Family had ever seen.
She scurried up giving a quick curtsey. "King Endymion-sama?"
"Ariel, I wan't you to take these two to a set of rooms in the North Wing."
"Of course, Majesty." She motioned to the two, Mamoru and Elizabeth. "Come this way." Ariel, Elizabeth, and Mamoru left the room. Elizabeth grinned. Ariel would be serving on the staff for many years to come. She knew this for a fact.
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Author's Notes: In Chapter 7, Mamoru meets his cousin and little brothers face-to-face. Does Terry-chan actually recognize his older brother?! What does his past-self think of him? Who is the angel that sings so beautifully in the night? And why does David have to ask so many questions?!!