Title: Moon Light Nights
Chapter: 6
By: Moondreams
"Get up Sahari," yelled Brat as she jumped on Serenity's bed.
Serenity unfortunately was still in it. Serenity leaped out of bed, it took
her sleep-clouded mind awhile to focus on what just had happened.
"What?" asked Serenity rubbing her eyes.
"One of the knights are coming! Come on! If we're late we're going
to be in major trouble," Brat hollered as she threw the older girl her
clothes. Serenity caught them and quickly pulled the tunic over her head
and jumped into the over sized leggings.
"Your slippers!" yelled Brat as she threw them across the room.
Serenity caught the first shoe but missed the second one. She hurried to
get it while hopping and trying to get the other shoe on. Brat had to
bite her lip to keep from laughing. sahari made a comical picture. The
morning sun beat down merciless on the students as they stood in line.
Orion paced up and down the lines glaring at the students. He could almost
grin at the fear on their faces remembering he'd gone through much of the
same fear of the knights when he had been a student of Jeriah's. He scowled
at the two missing places in the line of students. One of them was Serenity,
he knew by looking over the line and not seeing a single blonde hair
among the students. Just then a young woman came out of the female dorms
like the devil was after her dragging a little black haired girl. They
quickly filled in the missing places in the line. He was about to give
them a lecture on being tardy when Serenity stepped out of line and threw
her arms around the surprised knight. "Orion!" she squealed. Orion grabbed
the girl's arms and flung them off him.
"Get back into line!" he hollered at the blonde. Serenity held a
look of shock as she numbly obeyed. Further down the line another girl
snickered. Orion glared at the girl and she quickly quieted. Orion paced
up and down the line making sure not to meet Serenity's eyes. The girl was
about to cry he could tell it without looking.
"Now I am here to train you pathetic students in the art of
weapons. So that in battle you'll have of chance of coming out alive," he
growled. He was rewarded to see some of the students' fear clearly etched
in their faces.
That day Serenity worked harder then she ever thought was possible.
Orion had ignored her most of the day when he wasn't yelling at her to work
harder and stop dropping the sword. Her arms and shoulders burned with pain
from the exhausting workout. Orion pushed harder then Jeriah had before.
She hadn't gotten any better and had made a fool of herself. Not doubt
Orion would go straight to Endymion after he had finished training the
students and tell him how bad his Outlander was doing. That night she had
climbed into bed early that night. Even earlier then Brat would have thought
to gone to bed. She curled the pillow around her face and wept. She was a
failure here. Pangs of homesickness hit her hard which added more tears to
the batch.
Orion leaned against the stable and stared at the stars and the
moon. The whole sky always seemed to remind him how small he was compared
to it all.
"Sir," came a small voice disturbing him from his thoughts. He
looked down to see a very small green-eyed girl looking up at him. He
remembered her, she had been late with Serenity. She reminded him of
Lanaa who had looked similar to the girl in front of him.
"What is it?" he asked not bothering to use his gruff voice as he
had on the training field. "It's about sahari," the little girl said as if
that was to explain everything.
"Who?" asked Orion frowning.
"Oh I forgot, Serenity. Gavin renamed her sahari," said the little
girl. 'sahari? Umm it fits her,' thought Orion.
"What about sahari?" he asked gently.
"Sir, she needs help. She's not good at fighting right now but I
think she could be," the little girl told him. Orion smiled wryly.
"You do, do you?" he asked. The little girl wrinkled her nose.
"Stop doing that! I hate it when grown ups threat me like I don't
know anything because I am so little!" she said angrily. Orion was a moment
taken aback by the girl's anger.
"Smooth your anger, little one. What would you suggest I do?" asked
Orion.
"We could train her at night," said a male voice from the shadows.
Gavin emerged from the shadows.
"She's got the determination," explained the little girl.
"What's your name?" he asked the little girl.
"Everyone calls me Brat," explained Brat with a quick grin. Orion
threw back his head and laughed.
"Oh I see, go get sahari," he told her. Brat happily obeyed leaving
the two young men together. "It's been a long time Gavin. Why do you remain
up here?" asked Orion as he leaned against the fence. Gavin said nothing
for a moment just stared up at the stars as he pondered the question.
"I don't know really. I haven't found a good reason to leave," said
Gavin with a shrug.
"So what's Serenity to you?" Orion asked watching his friend.
"If you asking if she's my lover or something the answer is no. Just
a friend, another outcast in a sense in this crazy world," said Gavin. Orion
stared at his friend in amazement. Gavin could be at times uncanny for Orion
had feared that Gavin and Serenity was lovers. Orion sighed and thought of
Lanaa.
"Very good sahari. Keep you chin up and never lose your
concentration," Orion said with a smile as the two fought even harder with
their swords. The swords flashed by the light of the torches, which
surrounded their secret spot where they practiced. She had gotten much
better. With a hard swing, Orion knocked the sword out of Serenity's hand.
Serenity stared numbly at the fallen sword, which lay in the grass.
"I can't do this," she cried throwing her hands up in the air. She
felt like crying. It wasn't any fair. "Serenity get back here!" growled
Orion. Serenity stopped but didn't turn around. She rubbed her arms, which
were cool with the night air.
"Why? What's the point?" she almost screamed at him as she spun
around to face the very angry knight. Heat rose up into cheeks, as anger
seemed to course through her whole body.
"I am not supposed to be a knight. I am not supposed to be here.
I am klutzy with fighting, I always lose. I want to go home," she yelled
at him. Still Orion said nothing. He sat down and opened the water jug
taking a sip seeming to ignore the angry female in front of him.
"ORION!" she yelled at him failing to get his attention. He slowly
took out a piece of flat bread, tore it in half and started eating one half.
"Why did he take me? Why did he ruin my life," she said sobbing and
slowly sat down by a trunk of one of huge trees that surrounded their
practice ring. Only then did Orion seem to notice her.
"Are you so unhappy?" he asked.
"I miss my family and my friends. I'll never see one of my friends
get married now. I was also supposed to get married, don't you understand?
They all probably think I am dead now. They'll live their lives without me.
I'll never know if Rei actually marries Chad, she swears that he's annoying
but Chad loves her. And Mina and Robin, they just got married awhile ago.
Mina's hoping to become a mother and I'll never know," Serena sobbed with
tears running down her cheeks.
"You don't understand!" she wept. But Orion did for he had been
torn away from his only love Lanaa simply because he wasn't richer.
"What about Brat, Nadia, and Gavin? You're friends here seem to
care for you deeply. Serenity you must understand something, Endymion
didn't take you because he wanted to. You see all the royal family has
this sort of gift that allows him to see in the future at times. I can't
really explain to you how it works really since I have only a tiny bit of
it. Did you know that when his gift is strong that Endymion could do things
such as walk through walls although it tires him out? Serenity without you,
we'll all die. It was a horrible realization once Endymion had told the
other knights and me. His gift showed him that a terrible enemy would
rise up and destroy us. You are the only one that can defeat him," explained
Orion and handed Serenity the other half of the flat bread. Serenity took
it and took a bite.
"Why me? I am no one important," she said and felt all the anger
drain from her making her feel weak inside. Orion grinned. "Neither was I
before I became a knight. Sometimes fate has a dry sense of humor," he said
as he stood up and pulled his sword quickly out of the sheave by his side.
Serenity sighed and picked up her own sword. It was going to be another
very long night.
Endymion looked over the map frowning. Nerfera lounged in a corner
of the tent eating some grapes and watched him.
"Stop being so serious, Endy. Come eat," she said laughing watching
him with brilliant green eyes.
"Nerfera, I am not hungry," said Endymion waving her off with his
hand.
"You worry to much. Or isn't Orion whom you are worrying about, is
it?" asked Nerfera with a smile and traced a flower on the richly colored
carpet with a finger.
"You know I worry about my knights," he said simply with a shrug.
"Is it that little thing you picked up from the Outlanders? Oh yes
I know all about her. Nadia told me everything," commented Nerfera still
tracing the designs with her finger.
"Remind me to behead that woman one day," commented Endymion dryly
making Nerfera laugh. "How else shall I get news? You are to busy to even
pay any attention to me," said Nerfera sticking out her bottom lip
pretending to pout.
"I am sure you have no problem getting men to pay attention to you,
dear sister," he said and kissed his sister's forehead.
"Deva has been so intolerable lately. All she does is speak of you
dear brother. She clearly worships the ground you walk on," said Nerfera
watching him. He grimaced.
"Deva is spoiled and would be unaccustomed to life outside of the
city," he said simply.
"True," was all Nerfera said and ate another grape.
"COME ON sahari!" yelled Brat as she and Gavin stood by watching the
fight between Orion and Serenity.
"Hey don't I get some cheering?" panted Orion as he lunged at
Serenity who in turn deflected the blow.
"Come on Orion, stop being so easy on her," laughed Gavin knowing
full well that Serenity could now stand on her own when it came to
swordplay. Serenity blocked another blow and gave an attack. Maybe if she
had been paying more attention to her surrounding she would have seen the
root sticking up from the ground. She tumbled backwards. Orion was about to
give her a playful strike signaling the battle was over but was almost
blinded by a white light.
"What in the heavens was that?" asked Orion blinking trying to get
the swirling colors in front of his eyes. Brat and Gavin stood staring at
the two in shock. Orion helped Serenity get up.
"What was that?" asked Orion.
"Nothing," mummered Serenity as she sheaved her sword and went
started walking toward the dorms. It had been her crescent. But what had
set it off? Danger perhaps? No she knew Orion would not hurt her. It was a
mystery.
To be continued....
Chapter: 6
By: Moondreams
"Get up Sahari," yelled Brat as she jumped on Serenity's bed.
Serenity unfortunately was still in it. Serenity leaped out of bed, it took
her sleep-clouded mind awhile to focus on what just had happened.
"What?" asked Serenity rubbing her eyes.
"One of the knights are coming! Come on! If we're late we're going
to be in major trouble," Brat hollered as she threw the older girl her
clothes. Serenity caught them and quickly pulled the tunic over her head
and jumped into the over sized leggings.
"Your slippers!" yelled Brat as she threw them across the room.
Serenity caught the first shoe but missed the second one. She hurried to
get it while hopping and trying to get the other shoe on. Brat had to
bite her lip to keep from laughing. sahari made a comical picture. The
morning sun beat down merciless on the students as they stood in line.
Orion paced up and down the lines glaring at the students. He could almost
grin at the fear on their faces remembering he'd gone through much of the
same fear of the knights when he had been a student of Jeriah's. He scowled
at the two missing places in the line of students. One of them was Serenity,
he knew by looking over the line and not seeing a single blonde hair
among the students. Just then a young woman came out of the female dorms
like the devil was after her dragging a little black haired girl. They
quickly filled in the missing places in the line. He was about to give
them a lecture on being tardy when Serenity stepped out of line and threw
her arms around the surprised knight. "Orion!" she squealed. Orion grabbed
the girl's arms and flung them off him.
"Get back into line!" he hollered at the blonde. Serenity held a
look of shock as she numbly obeyed. Further down the line another girl
snickered. Orion glared at the girl and she quickly quieted. Orion paced
up and down the line making sure not to meet Serenity's eyes. The girl was
about to cry he could tell it without looking.
"Now I am here to train you pathetic students in the art of
weapons. So that in battle you'll have of chance of coming out alive," he
growled. He was rewarded to see some of the students' fear clearly etched
in their faces.
That day Serenity worked harder then she ever thought was possible.
Orion had ignored her most of the day when he wasn't yelling at her to work
harder and stop dropping the sword. Her arms and shoulders burned with pain
from the exhausting workout. Orion pushed harder then Jeriah had before.
She hadn't gotten any better and had made a fool of herself. Not doubt
Orion would go straight to Endymion after he had finished training the
students and tell him how bad his Outlander was doing. That night she had
climbed into bed early that night. Even earlier then Brat would have thought
to gone to bed. She curled the pillow around her face and wept. She was a
failure here. Pangs of homesickness hit her hard which added more tears to
the batch.
Orion leaned against the stable and stared at the stars and the
moon. The whole sky always seemed to remind him how small he was compared
to it all.
"Sir," came a small voice disturbing him from his thoughts. He
looked down to see a very small green-eyed girl looking up at him. He
remembered her, she had been late with Serenity. She reminded him of
Lanaa who had looked similar to the girl in front of him.
"What is it?" he asked not bothering to use his gruff voice as he
had on the training field. "It's about sahari," the little girl said as if
that was to explain everything.
"Who?" asked Orion frowning.
"Oh I forgot, Serenity. Gavin renamed her sahari," said the little
girl. 'sahari? Umm it fits her,' thought Orion.
"What about sahari?" he asked gently.
"Sir, she needs help. She's not good at fighting right now but I
think she could be," the little girl told him. Orion smiled wryly.
"You do, do you?" he asked. The little girl wrinkled her nose.
"Stop doing that! I hate it when grown ups threat me like I don't
know anything because I am so little!" she said angrily. Orion was a moment
taken aback by the girl's anger.
"Smooth your anger, little one. What would you suggest I do?" asked
Orion.
"We could train her at night," said a male voice from the shadows.
Gavin emerged from the shadows.
"She's got the determination," explained the little girl.
"What's your name?" he asked the little girl.
"Everyone calls me Brat," explained Brat with a quick grin. Orion
threw back his head and laughed.
"Oh I see, go get sahari," he told her. Brat happily obeyed leaving
the two young men together. "It's been a long time Gavin. Why do you remain
up here?" asked Orion as he leaned against the fence. Gavin said nothing
for a moment just stared up at the stars as he pondered the question.
"I don't know really. I haven't found a good reason to leave," said
Gavin with a shrug.
"So what's Serenity to you?" Orion asked watching his friend.
"If you asking if she's my lover or something the answer is no. Just
a friend, another outcast in a sense in this crazy world," said Gavin. Orion
stared at his friend in amazement. Gavin could be at times uncanny for Orion
had feared that Gavin and Serenity was lovers. Orion sighed and thought of
Lanaa.
"Very good sahari. Keep you chin up and never lose your
concentration," Orion said with a smile as the two fought even harder with
their swords. The swords flashed by the light of the torches, which
surrounded their secret spot where they practiced. She had gotten much
better. With a hard swing, Orion knocked the sword out of Serenity's hand.
Serenity stared numbly at the fallen sword, which lay in the grass.
"I can't do this," she cried throwing her hands up in the air. She
felt like crying. It wasn't any fair. "Serenity get back here!" growled
Orion. Serenity stopped but didn't turn around. She rubbed her arms, which
were cool with the night air.
"Why? What's the point?" she almost screamed at him as she spun
around to face the very angry knight. Heat rose up into cheeks, as anger
seemed to course through her whole body.
"I am not supposed to be a knight. I am not supposed to be here.
I am klutzy with fighting, I always lose. I want to go home," she yelled
at him. Still Orion said nothing. He sat down and opened the water jug
taking a sip seeming to ignore the angry female in front of him.
"ORION!" she yelled at him failing to get his attention. He slowly
took out a piece of flat bread, tore it in half and started eating one half.
"Why did he take me? Why did he ruin my life," she said sobbing and
slowly sat down by a trunk of one of huge trees that surrounded their
practice ring. Only then did Orion seem to notice her.
"Are you so unhappy?" he asked.
"I miss my family and my friends. I'll never see one of my friends
get married now. I was also supposed to get married, don't you understand?
They all probably think I am dead now. They'll live their lives without me.
I'll never know if Rei actually marries Chad, she swears that he's annoying
but Chad loves her. And Mina and Robin, they just got married awhile ago.
Mina's hoping to become a mother and I'll never know," Serena sobbed with
tears running down her cheeks.
"You don't understand!" she wept. But Orion did for he had been
torn away from his only love Lanaa simply because he wasn't richer.
"What about Brat, Nadia, and Gavin? You're friends here seem to
care for you deeply. Serenity you must understand something, Endymion
didn't take you because he wanted to. You see all the royal family has
this sort of gift that allows him to see in the future at times. I can't
really explain to you how it works really since I have only a tiny bit of
it. Did you know that when his gift is strong that Endymion could do things
such as walk through walls although it tires him out? Serenity without you,
we'll all die. It was a horrible realization once Endymion had told the
other knights and me. His gift showed him that a terrible enemy would
rise up and destroy us. You are the only one that can defeat him," explained
Orion and handed Serenity the other half of the flat bread. Serenity took
it and took a bite.
"Why me? I am no one important," she said and felt all the anger
drain from her making her feel weak inside. Orion grinned. "Neither was I
before I became a knight. Sometimes fate has a dry sense of humor," he said
as he stood up and pulled his sword quickly out of the sheave by his side.
Serenity sighed and picked up her own sword. It was going to be another
very long night.
Endymion looked over the map frowning. Nerfera lounged in a corner
of the tent eating some grapes and watched him.
"Stop being so serious, Endy. Come eat," she said laughing watching
him with brilliant green eyes.
"Nerfera, I am not hungry," said Endymion waving her off with his
hand.
"You worry to much. Or isn't Orion whom you are worrying about, is
it?" asked Nerfera with a smile and traced a flower on the richly colored
carpet with a finger.
"You know I worry about my knights," he said simply with a shrug.
"Is it that little thing you picked up from the Outlanders? Oh yes
I know all about her. Nadia told me everything," commented Nerfera still
tracing the designs with her finger.
"Remind me to behead that woman one day," commented Endymion dryly
making Nerfera laugh. "How else shall I get news? You are to busy to even
pay any attention to me," said Nerfera sticking out her bottom lip
pretending to pout.
"I am sure you have no problem getting men to pay attention to you,
dear sister," he said and kissed his sister's forehead.
"Deva has been so intolerable lately. All she does is speak of you
dear brother. She clearly worships the ground you walk on," said Nerfera
watching him. He grimaced.
"Deva is spoiled and would be unaccustomed to life outside of the
city," he said simply.
"True," was all Nerfera said and ate another grape.
"COME ON sahari!" yelled Brat as she and Gavin stood by watching the
fight between Orion and Serenity.
"Hey don't I get some cheering?" panted Orion as he lunged at
Serenity who in turn deflected the blow.
"Come on Orion, stop being so easy on her," laughed Gavin knowing
full well that Serenity could now stand on her own when it came to
swordplay. Serenity blocked another blow and gave an attack. Maybe if she
had been paying more attention to her surrounding she would have seen the
root sticking up from the ground. She tumbled backwards. Orion was about to
give her a playful strike signaling the battle was over but was almost
blinded by a white light.
"What in the heavens was that?" asked Orion blinking trying to get
the swirling colors in front of his eyes. Brat and Gavin stood staring at
the two in shock. Orion helped Serenity get up.
"What was that?" asked Orion.
"Nothing," mummered Serenity as she sheaved her sword and went
started walking toward the dorms. It had been her crescent. But what had
set it off? Danger perhaps? No she knew Orion would not hurt her. It was a
mystery.
To be continued....