Author's Notes:
I don't know what to say about this chapter, except it took too long to write it! Definitely not the best, so I hope you guys bear with me! This is where my story diverges from the fairy tale, and we'll see where it takes us.
I had to separate our hero and heroine for the entire chapter and focus on Rei. I hope you won't be too disappointed. I really didn't like it either, but I hope to make it up next chapter.
As for the dwarf question asked by Aly, all I can say is, you will find out in this chapter. ;)
Usagi also makes an appearance, and while it's a short one, I want it to be important. Because like the manga and anime, she is the thread that binds everything together in these stories. She'll show up in each one. :)
If you haven't already, check out my webpage for more about the other stories in this series. Also, you can check out a separate fanfic I started, an AU fic based on the live action series, Pretty Guardian Sailormoon.
A Faerie's Tale: Fairest of Them All
written by Erienne C. Lee
Chapter Two
"She ran for as long as her feet would carry her; and when the evening drew near she came to a little house, and she went inside to rest…"
- Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Two nights and two days had passed since that evening when Rei was spared her life. The only company she'd had were her guides, the ravens. By day, she trekked through barely worn paths in the woods. By night, she warmed herself in front of a small fire, silently thanking the stars that as a child she had pestered Endymion and Jadeite until they relented in giving her survival lessons in the woods. Rei would speak to Phobos and Deimos, as if they were capable of replies, before falling into an uneasy slumber.
Rei continued to walk through the woods, even though the ravens repeatedly flew to perches in the trees as a sign to stop for the night. Phobos gave out a caw when Rei didn't seem to notice the pair of birds hadn't flown any further. Rei looked over her shoulder, startled out of her reverie.
"Oh, Phobos, I hadn't realized it was so dark already," she said, retracing her steps to stop under the branches of the tree where Phobos had perched.
She sighed, leaning her tired body against the thick trunk, and stared off into the darkness of the forest. The two days of traveling combined with the heavy feeling in her heart had taken their toll on Rei. The state of her dirty dress, worn out slippers, and empty stomach were the least of her worries. The state of her kingdom had occupied her mind the most, urging her onward to safety. Her mind grasped at any loose straws, any plan that would see her return to Fieryn and throw Beryl into the dungeons where she belonged.
She knew well enough to believe the Huntsman's words; if she returned to the kingdom, there would only be another assassination attempt on her life, and the next marksman might not have the conscience that had saved her this time. Her best recourse was to seek aid, but the closest kingdom she could call upon was Terra. Terra, whose rulers were this very night dining and living on the hospitality that Beryl had no right to offer.
"What am I to do?" Rei asked her ravens.
Deimos tilted her head towards Rei. That was the closest gesture resembling an answer that Rei would get. She had asked the same question many times already, with no suitable answer in sight. She could risk sneaking her way back into the kingdom, but the idea was as dangerous as it was preposterous if she were caught by one of Beryl's henchmen. She did not know if she could wait for the Terran convoy to return home. By then, it could be too late. Rei considered the worst plot that Beryl could possibly concoct, and the notion of the witch on the throne of Fieryn steeled her resolve. If Rei had to appeal to the puckish faeries or swim to the depths of the ocean and ask for the mer-people's aid, she would do it.
But first, she thought, with a hand lightly rubbing her stomach, I need to rest and find food.
Picked berries and water from a chance river did nothing for her hunger pangs over the course of two days. Despite her hunger and the available hunting weapon, Rei could not bring herself to shoot the various small and furry creatures darting about the woods. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble its opinion of her soft-hearted mind.
As if in answer to Rei's thoughts, Deimos suddenly flew off into the woods in a flurry of black feathers. Phobos was quick to follow flight. They had veered off of the faint forest path that Rei had followed all day. Rei puckered her brow in confusion at the ravens' actions. It was strange they should want her to venture further into the darkness, but she ran after them nonetheless.
The lack of food and physical exertion she had recently undergone began to affect Rei's sprint, and soon she was gasping for breath, coming to a stop and propping herself upon another tree. Phobos and Deimos didn't seem to mind her break and sat in the tree preening their feathers.
By the time Rei glanced around her, she realized that the two birds were in no hurry to move. The trees had thinned in this part of the forest, and the rising crescent moon produced wide patches of moonbeams where the trees were absent. Rei could discern a walkway in front of her, winding through a clearing that lead to a gated fence. Beyond the gate, she could see a huge fire set in the center of a courtyard that lay before a good-sized bungalow. Her eyes widened when she noticed a small figure dancing around the flames.
She thought immediately of the old folktales she had heard as a child. The prominent story that came to mind was one concerning a naughty child who had wandered too far into the woods and met his fate with an evil dwarf. The southern woods were supposedly the playground for the dwarves, magical beings who were short of stature but full of wickedness.
Just as Rei had decided to turn around and find her way back to the foot path, the light evening wind brought a whiff of seasoned roasted meat to her nostrils. She halted in mid-step, her indecision mounting rapidly.
Be reasonable, Rei, she thought to herself. Dwarves don't really exist. If they did, I would have long ago been abducted by one. If you can survive Beryl, you can handle a little runt. Your stomach is counting on you.
Exhaling, Rei whipped around and stalked resolutely towards the gate. She would beg for accommodations for the night if need be. Her steps slowed as she neared the gate, and she tightened her grip on the bow she carried. She stopped outright when she realized the small figure was singing in a gruff voice while prancing in front of the bonfire. His words were unintelligible, but they were periodically punctuated with a hacking cough. He wore no hat and had no beard as the dwarves were so described. His head was free of any hair whatsoever, facial or otherwise, but Rei was increasingly confident that the man had to be a dwarf.
"Halt!" the voice of the diminutive man rang out across the clearing. He turned towards the gate and pointed a stubby finger at Rei.
"You've come to the right place, my child," he cackled. "I've been expecting you."
"Y-you have?" Rei stuttered in surprise. She was posed to flee, but the little man stopped her, reaching the gate and lifting the latch.
"That's right. Come in, come in," he replied, pulling her into the courtyard. "You're just in time for supper."
At his delighted crow of laughter, Rei wrenched her hands free from his grasp and stared at him in horror. Images of herself trussed like a goose and roasting over the fire flitted through her mind.
"Supper?" she managed to squeak out.
When he didn't answer but began circling the fire, Rei asked again, "Why are you expecting me? I could smell the food roasting out there. W-what are you serving for supper?"
At her tone of voice, the man paused before the fire facing Rei.
"Why, you, of course. Haven't you wandered far from home?" he chortled. "We must rectify that."
Rei was quick as lightning and almost at the gate before a flash of white and gray appeared to block the entrance.
"Don't come any closer to me, dwarf. I know how to use this bow," Rei warned him.
The man held out an upturned hand and started to laugh. He was doubled over in laughter before Rei began to relax her guard in light of his strange behavior.
"I'm not a dwarf," he managed to say in between guffaws.
Rei cocked an eyebrow in disbelief and didn't move her hand from the bow. She thought she also heard the words, "good joke" and "fell for it" peppering his hearty chuckles.
"Princess, you can call me 'Grandpa,'" the little man said at last, his laughter under control.
"I WILL GO in search of Rei." Endymion was standing at his place to the left of Beryl's empty seat. He was not dressed for a regular dinner at court but in traveling clothes and cloak.
The rest of the diners looked at him in surprise, and the four generals of the prince's private guard stood up, their chairs scraping against the stone of the castle floor. The four of them made an impressive sight, tall, brooding, and uniformed in dark, somber colors. All had long hair, left loose past their broad shoulders except for Jadeite with his close-cropped hair and Zoisite's queue. Endymion completed the group of heartbreakingly handsome men. It was no hard feat to imagine the legion of ladies and maids at court that relentlessly pursued the royal guard and prince regent of Terra.
"I'll go with you," Jadeite announced, slapping his napkin onto the table. He was relieved that Endymion wanted to find Rei, for he had been deeply worried the past two days. He could not take action himself without ignoring his duty to Endymion.
"We will all go," Kunzite put in soberly. "Something is amiss here."
Nephrite nodded in agreement. He sensed that Beryl had lied when she told them that Rei would not be seen for a few days due to illness, but he knew better than to voice such suspicions aloud.
Before any of them had a chance to move beyond the dining hall, Beryl herself swept into the room with a pleased expression on her face. "Gentlemen, were you waiting for me to commence supper?"
Endymion bowed at Beryl's entrance. "Queen Beryl, we were discussing Princess Rei's absence. Pray, tell me, is it at all possible to see her in her chambers?"
Beryl's face abruptly clouded over with anger. "See her in her chambers! The very thought is outrageous. The impropriety of the very idea!" she exclaimed.
"In that case, there is nothing more I can do here," Endymion replied coolly. "I came to Fieryn with the express intention of officially courting the princess. I cannot do that if I could not meet with her. We will be leaving tomorrow morn."
Beryl was at a loss of words, not expecting her fabricated excuses for Rei's absence to backfire. She made her way to her seat at the head of the table and unhurriedly settled into it before she decided on a new plan.
"Well, I had hoped to hold off the truth a little while longer, but I see that I cannot," she began slowly, glancing at each of the men in turn. "You cannot see Rei because she is not here."
Endymion narrowed his eyes as the generals exchanged troubled glances. "What do you mean?" the prince asked.
Beryl took a bite of food from her plate before answering the question hanging in the air.
"She has run away," she said, ignoring the men's disbelieving gazes. "I found a note this morning from the ingrate herself. She has declared her intention to become a sacred priestess to Mars. She's taken her vows and nothing is to be done." She looked up to gage the reactions of the prince and his guard.
Endymion looked as if all the wind had been knocked out of him, while the rest of them wore identical miens of surprise. All except for Jadeite, who kept his steady gaze on Beryl, looking for any sign of deception.
"She claimed an aversion to the impending alliance with you, my dear prince," Beryl continued. "I had hoped to convince you in time that an alliance between Terra and Fieryn need not be in the form of a marriage between you and Rei."
"You know where she is," Jadeite said quietly. It came out as more of a statement than a question.
Beryl did not meet his eyes as she took a sip of wine. "Yes, I do," she replied. "Well, not exactly, but there are only so many shrines in Fieryn. She must be at one of them."
"We must bring her back," Endymion said, finally stirring himself from his shock.
At this, Beryl nearly choked on the wine. "Oh, no, Endymion, you must not. What would our people say, when it is known that you had to retrieve a reluctant bride? It will do your reputation no good." She darted a furtive glance at the now glowering Jadeite, her plans becoming clearer and more to her liking. "We must send someone else. No one but a trusted servant will do. I think General Jadeite is the best nominee."
She was rewarded with another stunned silence. "I do believe the general is one of the closest to Rei. And Jadeite, you yourself told me a few days ago that you trusted your prince in the hands of your fellow guards. I see no reason not to let you leave and find the princess."
Jadeite looked at Endymion, who gave him a slight nod of the head.
"Your Highness, your wisdom is unmistakable. It looks like I will be leaving, then."
Beryl gave a small, satisfied smile and waved a hand at Jadeite. "No, no, you must stay for supper. 'Tis too dark tonight to begin your journey. I will make the arrangements for you tomorrow. Come, let's dine."
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE meal, Endymion and the generals were gathered in the sitting area of his suite for an impromptu meeting.
"You three must keep up your guards while I'm gone. Beryl is up to no good." Jadeite paced the room.
"She obviously wants you gone so she can sink her claws into our poor prince," Zoisite snickered from his position sprawled out on the settee.
Kunzite sent him a glare of submission. "This is very serious, Zoisite. Rei is missing, and we don't know what Beryl has done or will do."
Zoisite cleared his throat and his laughter died down. Normally the most carefree member of the guard, he found it difficult to not treat every matter lightly. But he knew his duty, and there was good reason he held the title of commander-in-chief of the Terran Royal Navy. It also helped to calm him down when the order for sobriety came from the strict war general of the Terran army, Kunzite, himself.
Nephrite stood at the window, gazing into the night sky. "I don't trust more than one of us to be gone from Endymion's side while we are here in Beryl's domain. Jadeite will have to go alone, as she says."
Everyone looked at Nephrite in surprise. They knew that he had a special ability to read the positioning of the stars in the sky, from which a message or omen could be deciphered. Indeed, that ability had properly placed him as Endymion's court mystic. At that moment, he wore the contemplative look that usually accompanied one of the many visions he received from the stars.
"Do you know what she has planned?" Jadeite asked impatiently.
Nephrite shook his head of wavy chestnut hair. "I only sense that fate must play out this way. Rei will be safe with you, Jadeite." He peered more closely at Jadeite's tight expression and clenched hands. It was as he thought, then. Nephrite smiled to himself.
"How much of the truth do you think Beryl told us?" Kunzite asked, addressing his question to Nephrite.
"I didn't sense much sincerity in her words, but the stars say that Rei is indeed in a holy place. I can discern no more than that about her whereabouts."
Endymion cursed under his breath. "Don't tell me Rei truly took vows to serve Mars. If she didn't want to marry me, she had only to speak of it." He ran a hand through his hair in agitation. It was his fault, he thought. If only he had determined Rei's true feelings on the subject, none of this would be happening.
Jadeite watched the emotions crossing Endymion's face and felt his stomach drop at the conclusion that Rei's disappearance deeply affected the prince. His anxiety could only mean that Endymion held much more than a simple fondness for Rei. That crushing thought reinforced Jadeite's determination to unite the prince and princess despite the protest in his heart.
"Endymion, I will bring her back. Don't worry." Jadeite said the words more for his own sake than the prince's. Even if he hadn't considered himself to be the closest in mindset to Rei, he knew he'd been the last to speak with her before her disappearance. There had been nothing out of the ordinary in Rei's behavior, and such a drastic act as escaping to a holy shrine wasn't conceivable. "After I make preparations and obtain a list of local shrines and their directions, I will leave immediately, no matter what Beryl's wishes may be," Jadeite decided aloud.
REI SAT DEMURELY in front of the fire, this time inside the cottage. The strange little man named Grandpa had fed her well, and Rei was proud of the way she had not downed the food like a ravenous wolf, despite her empty stomach and the savory aroma of the beef. "Well, my dear, you are a sight for sore eyes," Grandpa declared, smiling at Rei.
In the soft fire light, the man didn't seem so terrifying anymore. His twinkling brown eyes were warm with content at so pretty a visitor, and the woven robes he wore were standard cleric attire. Now that Rei had a full stomach, warm and rested feet, and a roof over her head for the night, her outlook was much brighter. She unconsciously blushed at her runaway imagination earlier that night, and murmured thanks for her supper.
She watched Grandpa as he banked the fire. "I didn't recognize the cleric robes you wore in the dark of night. Actually, I haven't ever personally met a true priest of Mars."
Grandpa nodded. "Not your fault. And I'm always in the mood for a good laugh, though I suppose I should apologize for having it at your expense, my girl."
He looked sheepish at his apology, but the next minute he grumbled, "I suppose your father is to blame for your lack of familiarity with the Houses of Mars."
Rei's eyebrows shot up at the mention of her father. "How…? Did you know my father?"
"I knew him. I knew him for the hypocritical tyrant he was, and never regretted severing the ties," Grandpa responded quietly. "Except for one reason."
His eyes were downcast at the last few words, and Rei didn't know whether to pry into private matters or stay silent. He answered for her.
"But I have a chance to rectify that now, and I vow to do it," he said determinedly. "You should know that you're safe here, princess. You must stay until the danger has passed."
Rei blinked. "I must admit, I'm at a loss for words. How do you know all of this? What is the danger?"
Grandpa released a gusty sigh before speaking. "We old priests have our ways and meditations. But it is imperative that you heed my words. If you care at all for your birthright, you will keep yourself from Fieryn until aid arrives here for you."
At that, Rei leaned forward eagerly. "Someone is coming to help? Someone knows where I am?"
Grandpa held up a wrinkled hand. "Don't get overexcited. I sense an unease growing at the heart of Fieryn, and it is known that you are missing. Someone will be bound to come by in a search. Until then, you are under my care."
"If you know all that, then you must know what Beryl has planned!" Rei exclaimed.
"That is not in my power," he said, shaking his head. "I fear you're becoming too agitated to think clearly on this tonight. You must rest. We will discuss this at length tomorrow."
Rei had already opened her mouth to protest, but the expression on Grandpa's face said he would brook no opposition to his decision. On second thought, she was fatigued, and nothing sounded better than a soft, warm bed at the moment.
"Can you at least tell me if all is still peaceful in Fieryn? At the castle?" she couldn't help but get in one last query. "I fear for my friends from Terra."
Grandpa patted Rei's hands in a gesture of comfort. "You need not worry about Endymion and his guards. Beryl is content with things as they are presently."
At the mention of Beryl's name, Rei's blood boiled, but there was naught else to do at the moment. Rei nodded in understanding and stood up to leave for her guest quarters. As Rei crossed the room, she paused in her steps and turned to face him again.
"Why are you called Grandpa?" she asked.
He gave a small, sad smile. "It's been a long while since anyone has called me by that name. Call me Grandpa because I simply am that. Will you not make an old man happy with one single word?"
Rei could not help returning his kindly smile. "It suits you."
THE FOLLOWING MORNING had dawned brightly, although Rei missed the sunrise by a few hours as her body rested from her ordeal. She found breakfast in the form of a steaming porridge when she finally did awaken, and Phobos and Deimos appeared to keep her company while she ate outdoors in the peace of the courtyard.
In the sharp daylight, Rei found herself charmed by her surroundings. The cottage had turned out to be the main part of a shrine built along the ancient codes of architecture, with spacious but bare rooms, sliding paper doors, and beautifully carved columns and friezes in the style of the House of Mars. Adding to the appeal of the entire setting were the few graceful trees that dotted the courtyard and behind the shrine.
Rei wandered the perimeter of the wooden fence marking off the property and discovered a hot spring in the back. She deduced that was where the shrine received its heat source for the warmed floors. She had also discovered a small patch of a vegetable garden and a henhouse in one corner of the land. The shrine was certainly self-sufficient, and Rei wished she had happened along at some other point in time.
Regardless of the pervading tranquility, thoughts of her kingdom encroached Rei's mind, and she was staring off into space when Grandpa found her.
"Good morning, Rei," he greeted her.
His booming voice shook Rei out of her thoughts. "Good morning, Grandpa. The shrine is lovely. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of touring the place."
"Not at all," he replied, beaming. "I'm glad you did. I thought we would begin your priestess training today. We have not much time before help comes."
"Priestess training? I don't understand," Rei said, bewildered.
"Well, it is up to you, but I thought you would be amenable to the idea," Grandpa said. "It is almost blasphemous that your father kept you away from the shrines most of your life. Imagine a princess of Fieryn never stepping foot into the House of Mars."
His words spoke the truth. The people of Fieryn worshipped the god of fire and war, called Mars. There were numerous shrines in the kingdom dedicated to the patron, each maintained by an elite group of priests and priestesses linked spiritually to Mars. The ruling house of Fieryn was also historically bound to the House of Mars, and each generation had always been partly educated in the shrines as a sign of their near godly status.
Rei herself had always wondered why her father had never sent her away for the spiritual education, but as a young child who dearly wanted a parent's company, not being sent away had been a good sign. And so she had never questioned it aloud. The opportunity to do so now appealed to Rei. It was almost an act of rebellion towards her father, as if she was going against his wishes in undertaking the sacred lessons.
"I would like that very much, Grandpa," Rei decided. Another satisfying thought entered her mind. "Will I also be able to achieve powers like yours? Will I be able to see the events of the world as they happen?"
Grandpa shook his head sternly. "That is not the reason I am teaching you the way of Mars. Nor should it be the sole reason you want to learn. I aim for your personal development, and nothing more."
He paused, then conceded, "However, if in the course of your studies, you happen to sharpen your gift of the second sight or any other supernatural abilities, it will be useful against Beryl."
Rei smiled at the thought, then realized what he had said. "Do you refer to my ability to understand the ravens as a second sight?" she asked in surprise.
He nodded. "That's exactly what it is. You have great potential. Come, our first lesson is meditation."
A WEEK CAME and went with Rei falling easily into the daily routine of the shrine. The chores were divided between Rei and Grandpa, and after these were completed, the remainder of the day was reserved for either meditation or physical training. In such a manner, Rei was tutored in both mind and body.
Grandpa had been pleased to discover that Rei possessed a rudimentary knowledge of combat and the physical agility of a warrior. Her disciplined self-control was also a major advantage during meditation sessions, and it seemed as if she surpassed Grandpa in that capacity. In fact, many times when she came out of a lengthy session, it was to find Grandpa dozing off. There were other instances in which Rei felt more like caretaker than disciple to the elderly man, but that only strengthened her affection for him.
At dinner that night, just as the two of them sat down to sup, Phobos and Deimos took flight around the courtyard making a loud commotion. The gate swung wide open in the midst of the shrieks and fluttering feathers. Rei realized she had forgotten to latch the gate earlier that afternoon when she finished sweeping the walkway.
She was nearly upon the open gate when a high-pitched wail coming from a dusty bundle of arms and legs launched itself at her. A young woman about Rei's age came barreling through the gate and clung to her arm. The woman's blonde hair was disheveled, as was her dress,
but more bizarre than that, it was held up in two ponytails on either side of her head wrapped around buns. Her blue eyes were clouded with tears, but even so, she was a striking beauty.
"Help me," she sobbed, loudly into Rei's ear. "The dwarves are coming!"
The girl dragged Rei further into the courtyard before shutting the gate herself. When she turned around to face Rei, the girl let out another shriek and seized hold of her again.
"There he is! Dwarf!"
Annoyed, Rei managed to disentangle herself from the stranger. She raised her voice to be heard over the sobs. "There's nothing to be afraid of, miss. There are no such things as---"
Rei stopped in mid-sentence as she looked over her shoulder to see Grandpa dancing around the nightly fire in the same manner he had that first night they met. Rei narrowed her eyes at him, then said sharply, "Grandpa! Stop scaring her."
Turning to the girl, she spoke in a calmer voice. "It's only Grandpa. He likes to scare people by pretending to be a dwarf."
As soon as Grandpa stopped hopping around the fire to stand still and guiltily wave to the girl, she stopped her hysterical shrieking. And immediately turned livid.
"Why, you mean, horrid, little man!" the girl began, pushing up the sleeves of her dress and advancing on Grandpa.
Alarmed, Rei pulled the girl by the back of her bodice. "He meant no harm; leave him be. Who are you to trespass on our land?"
At Rei's question, the girl seemed to almost wilt like a flower. "I've been lost in the woods for a few days. My name is Usagi. I live on the outskirts of Terra, by the sea."
Rei looked at Grandpa, who cleared his throat. "That is but a day's walk away from here, young lady. What were you doing out in the woods?"
The girl named Usagi narrowed her eyes at Grandpa before finally answering Rei. "I was only taking a break from work, and I must have taken a wrong turn on the way home."
"Hmm," Rei murmured in understanding. "Usagi, is it? What a strange name. It means rabbit, does it not?"
Usagi flushed and ducked her head. "My given name is Serenity, but everyone just calls me Usagi. Only my mother called me Serenity, but that was a long time ago, when she was still alive," Usagi said, her voice dying out on the last words.
Sensing Usagi's distress, Rei quickly changed the subject. "Come, Usagi, you must be tired and hungry. We are sitting down for dinner at this moment. You'll stay the night with us."
Usagi's head shot up and her eyes brightened. "Food?"
Rei did not know it, but that night had been the beginning of an auspicious relationship for her and Usagi. She had lingered at the shrine for three days before finally setting off for home with Phobos and Deimos as guides. More often than not, they had argued over something insignificant, and Rei would not even be able to recall the reason an hour later.
During those three short days, Usagi trailed Rei like the curious rabbit she was named for. While outwardly Rei would act exasperated with Usagi's shadowing, inwardly she was thrilled to be the favored companion of another girl her age. It was true she had Endymion and his generals when it came to dependable and devoted friends, but having a female friend of her age was an entirely different matter.
"Do you get many visitors here?" Usagi asked one day. She was sitting on the front steps of the shrine watching Rei sweep the courtyard.
"Not that I know of," Rei automatically replied, before she remembered that Usagi thought she was born and raised at the shrine. She wore the priestess robes daily and saw no reason to reveal her true identity to anyone. "I mean, no, we are so far out of the way."
"It must be lonely," Usagi said, sighing.
Rei did not stop her sweeping, but glanced out of the corner of her eye at Usagi. "Well, if you're feeling restless, you should return home. Grandpa and I get along just fine by ourselves."
Usagi looked upset at Rei's assumption. "No! I didn't mean that," she laughed. "I was just thinking about how it must have been to grow up here. I don't want to leave just yet. We're friends, aren't we?"
At Usagi's unexpected question, Rei paused and stared at the pile of leaves she had swept up. "Friends?" she smiled slowly. "Yes, we are."
"I don't have many friends, either," Usagi said, taking the broom from Rei's hands and beginning to sweep her side of the steps.
Rei cocked her head at Usagi's action. "You don't have to work for your food here, you know," she said teasingly.
"Oh!" Usagi stopped, startled at her own behavior. "It must be habit. I'm used to doing servants' work."
Rei had deduced that earlier when she saw the tattered state of Usagi's dress. "Well, I don't blame you for not wanting to return home, then."
Usagi groaned. "Don't remind me. My stepmother will kill me when I do get back."
At the mention of a stepmother, Rei froze and gave Usagi a worried look. "You have a stepmother, as well?"
"Yes, and she is the bane of my existence," Usagi said, making a face. "You have a stepmother? Oh, you must have run off to become a priestess to avoid her!"
"Something like that," Rei mumbled.
Usagi sighed. "I only stay because it's my house, even if she has overrun it. I have no place else to go. And then I also wouldn't be able to see my prince everyday…" She trailed off in a daydream, a sweet smile on her face.
"Your prince?" Rei asked, peering at her curiously.
Usagi laughed. "Yes, my prince! It's silly, I know. Our estate borders Terra and the sea, as you know. I can see Prince Endymion coming down to the shore every morning to train. He's always punctual, and so handsome! He never sees me. I only watch from my window in the attic of our house." The expression on her face was one of pure delight.
Rei managed to mask her surprise at the mention of Endymion.
"Can you imagine what it would be like to be a princess? Oh, to be swept off my feet by Endymion!" Usagi laughed again.
Rei let out a weak laugh. "I can imagine," she said softly. She felt terrible and selfish for being a princess at that moment, when Usagi so desired what she herself didn't find tempting.
Usagi mistook Rei's tone for something else. "Oh, you must be thinking about your own man! Tell me!"
Rei's eyes widened and her mind turned immediately to a blonde haired, silvery-blue eyed figure. Usagi caught Rei's blush and wagged a finger at her. "Tell me!"
They were still sitting on the steps to shrine an hour later, giggling like two normal girls with not a care on their minds.
USAGI HAD LEFT only a day ago, promising to return for frequent visits, but Rei was already starting to miss her childish antics and bubbly laughter. She even missed the way Usagi stole food off of her plate when she thought she wasn't looking. Without the other girl there to keep her mind off of other matters, Rei began to mull over her situation. Her thoughts ran away with her, and suddenly she found herself in front of Grandpa, declaring her intention to leave on her own for aid.
"I have been here for two weeks, and there has been neither word nor visitor save Usagi," she spat out, ending with a brittle laugh. "And I highly doubt the help that you spoke of is her!"
Rei spun out of his grasp and threw the broom she had been holding to the ground. "Don't you see? I will go mad if I don't take some sort of action against Beryl!"
Grandpa pursed his lips and folded his arms into his robe sleeves. "We must really work on controlling your patience. But in this instance, you are fortunate that the help I spoke of arrives this very moment."
At the first mention of a guest, Rei's attention had already been riveted to the gate. When she saw a large figure approaching from the walkway, she all but ran for the gate. Her heart nearly stopped when she recognized the familiar form of Jadeite, travel-worn but handsome all the same.
"Jadeite!" she cried out, her hands clumsy with excitement as they fooled with the latch. She flung the gate wide open and launched herself at Jadeite with glee.
"Rei! I should have known it was in you to lead me on a merry chase all across the country and be here, at the farthest corner of the land." Jadeite was laughing as he held Rei tight, overwhelmed with relief. He was finally able to set her an arm's length away from him to better look at her. That was when he noticed the priestess robe she wore. Alarm coursed through him and his hands tightened their grasp on her arms.
"Princess, it's my fault," Jadeite groaned, pulling her close once again. Rei's head was pillowed against his chest, her hands spread across the tightly flexed muscles. "I'm sorry I ever lectured you on your duty to the kingdom. It wasn't necessary to run away and take holy vows to break off an outdated betrothal."
Lost in the feeling of being in Jadeite's strong arms once more, Rei did not assimilate his words immediately. Once she realized what he had said, however, she couldn't help but pull away in surprise. "I didn't run away because I wanted to call off the betrothal."
-----End Chapter 2------
PS. Mars, the Roman form of the Greek Olympian god Ares, was actually just the god of war in classical mythology. His lover was Venus/Aphrodite. Incidentally, her husband was Vulcan/Hephaestus, the god of the smiths, and he was the one usually associated with fire. In this story, I gave fire and war to Mars to keep it in line with SailorMars' powers.
(c) 2004 Erienne C. Lee