Title: Moon Light Nights
Chapter 12
Notes: I hope you like this. I took a college creative writing course. It was very fun but we had to read our work out loud to everyone. The limit was 10 pages, but my first story I did 12 pages. My second story I said, "You know how I had 12 pages on my last one? This one is just 9," and a girl beside me said, "Good, I thought you were going to say 14," Haha I guess I'm long winded in writing. Enjoy everyone and please please please review!
It was early the following day that they caught sight of the city. Along with the City came greenery as far as the eye could see. Sharai and Gavin stared at the City with wide eyed amazement. At her side hung her new sword, an ever lasting testament to Orion. Their mounts nipped at the tender grass before being urged on by their riders.
"Welcome home," Endymion said as he rode beside his wife. Sharai pulled down the scarf covering her mouth and smiled at her husband.
"It's beautiful, Endy," she sighed. And it was.. The City was enclosed by huge walls that looked about six stories high and twenty feet thick. The weary caravan entered the main gate, that had flung its massive wooden gates open to let them pass. There were beautiful buildings everywhere and on top the very highest hill rested a palace. It was different from other palaces she had seen, being a princess she had visited many. It gracefully loomed above the city looking majestic with its curved doorways and windows. Its majestic towers loomed in the air as if they were reaching for heaven itself. They were top of by rounded domes that reflected the sunlight and flashed like copper mirrors. People poured out of the city welcoming their king and his band of nomads. Each was dressed in their finest clothes and women tossed handfuls of flower petals in the air.
"Tonight, I'm going to shower you with white roses," Endymion leaned on his saddle as he spoke to Sharai, who was riding beside him. Sharai smiled and blushed.
"You two really make me sick," Adrian snorted. Endymion smiled as Nadia whacked her brother on the back of the head. Many of the people waved to Sharai and called out to the Champion of the Trials. Some watched her with outright curiosity, for she was an Outlander and a blonde one at that.
"Now, you will get to meet my mother, she'll love you," said Endymion as he kissed her hand.
Sharai's booted footsteps echoed on the blue tiled floors as a female servant led her to her room. Tapestries covered the wall in rich tones of green, burgundy, purple and blue. Exotic flowers sent out an intoxicating smell that nearly made her giddy. She peered out the delicately carved windows into cool courtyards filled with greenery and fountains. Sharai sighed and suddenly felt very aware of her appearance. She was covered with desert grime and in desperate need for a bath. Caged colorful birds called out to her in different whistles. A pet monkey chattered and played with a small ball in the corner of her room.
"Hello," she said. The monkey stopped its playing and looked up at her. Then leapt from its golden perch onto her shoulder.
"Now who are you?" she asked. The monkey chattered to her like she could understand it before tiring of her presence and hopped back onto its perch.
"YOU MARRIED AN OUTLANDER?" screeched the dowager queen. Endymion raised an eyebrow from where he had been seated on many plump cushions. Meanwhile, his mother paced back and forth looking quite frazzled. She hadn't changed a bit since he had seen her last. She was still regal and noble looking. Her hair did seem to have more gray in it though. She was dressed in a deep plum gown embodied with gold. Gold earrings dangled from her earlobes. From what Endymion had been told, Nerfera was almost an exact copy of their mother, just younger
"Mother, calm down. I haven't seen you this agitated since I refused the vizier's daughter in marriage," Endymion said with a sigh as he took a sip of wine from a goblet. "But Endy, she's an Outlander. A kidnapped one at that!" his mother yelled.
"Mother, that was the only way," Endymion said through clinched teeth. His patience was starting to wear thin. Fortunately, Sharai as well as the rest of the guards had been shown to their chambers and got to miss this little performance by the dowager queen.
"We've always been on the brink of war with the Outlanders but this might just push them over the edge. For goodness sake, there are thousands of Bedouin girls out there and you had to fall for an Outlander? Where did I go wrong?" the Queen asked the heavens. Endymion rolled his eyes.
"Sit down, Beadi before you give yourself a fever," a male voice said.
"Go back to your roses, Kalin," the Queen snapped as an older man hobbled into the room. His hair and beard had long since turned white making him look older then he was. Thoughtful blue eyes stared beneath shaggy eyebrows. An old war wound had caused Endymion's father to rely on a cane. He had long since given up the art of war to his son to tend his gardens.
"Well I heard the girl beat you," he chuckled. Endymion nodded and gave his father a smile.
"See, if that's not a good enough to marry her I don't know what is. Bet she's got more brains then those twits that are always hanging around the court," the old Sol said with a grin as he lowered himself to a chair.
"Well don't stand there with your mouth open, Beadi, call a servant to get the little hellion that stole our son's heart," laughed the Sol. Beadi frowned at her husband but did as he said.
Sharai fidgeted nervously as she waited outside the golden doors leading to the throne room. The knights, Nadia, and Elidi surrounded her looked rather amused by her nervousness.
"You better hope they approve of you," Adrian commented.
"Not like that's going to happen," Rankin jibbed. "Shut up, both of you," Nadia hissed as she straightened out her gown. A servant poked his head out of the door and touched his hand to his forehead after bowing to them.
"Solana, you have been requested to appear before the court," he said. Sharai nodded.
"Sharai-Sola, champion of the trials," an herald announced her. Sharai took a deep breath and touched the sword by her side. "Relax, Outlander. We haven't done human sacrifice in thousands of years," Adrian snickered.
"Although it wouldn't be bad to start it again, I would gladly volunteer you," Nadia answered with a syrupy sweet voice.
"I second that," Rankin said letting his usual somberness slip. Adrian made a face before walking towards the throne. The others followed. They all knelt, bowing their heads and making the gesture of respect. They stayed in the position for a few minutes. Sharai resisted the urge to take a peek instead of staring at the same blue tile under her knee.
"Rise," ordered a female voice. A woman in purple glared down at her. Sharai met her eyes with defiance. The woman's face flickered with an expression of annoyance.
"Enough. Welcome, daughter," said a thickset man who wrapped his arms around Sharai in a bear like hug. Sharai couldn't help but let out a little yelp of shock. Adrian snickered only to be elbowed in the side by his sister.
"Tiny little thing isn't she?" asked the man as he looked at Endymion.
"Sharai, this is my father," Endymion introduced. Sharai bowed causing the old king to chuckle. "There's no need for the formality, you're around family," he admonished her. Sharai couldn't help but smile in amusement. The old king circled around her, looking her over.
"Well, sit down girl," the king said as he motioned for her to join her husband.
"We have a wedding to plan and a knighting ceremony, yes?" he asked his son. Endy nodded. Sharai looked him strangely then at Endymion before taking a seat beside him. "But I'm already married," she protested.
"You need a formal wedding," the queen told her with a tone one might use on a stupid child.
"Mother, we really don't need one, the old way is still recognized here," Endymion protested.
"Personally, I would've like to have done it that way too," the old sol told Sharai in a stage whisper. Beadi glared at her husband.
"This will be the first royal wedding under the united tribes," the former Sola remarked. Sharai's face showed no annoyance to the news even though she thought another wedding was too much. It was one of the tricks she had learned as a princess especially during long councilmen's speeches, most of them were extremely long winded. "During one time, there were a lot of wars between our people's tribes, my father joined them together," Endymion bragged with a grin. Sharai looked with disbelief at the old sol. He nodded.
"I did. But that was a long time ago when I was more aggressive then. That's one reason's your mother wouldn't marry me," the old sol told her. Sharai's jaw dropped. The old man chuckled at the astonished looks on the faces around him, even from serious Rankin. It was Beadi who spoke first. "You almost married an Outlander?" she asked horrified. As those around her watched, Beadi's face turned an interesting shade of purple. Endymion had to fight from laughing out loud, he didn't know if it was because Sharai's mother was an Outlander or because his mother wasn't the first to be asked.
"Her mother isn't an Outlander, she's Queen Serenity of the Moon. Her daughter looks like her too," he told them. Sharai smiled with pride then with humor at the flabbergasted look on her husband's face.
"Of the Moon? I kidnapped a princess? You're a princess?" he asked her.
"Nope, I'm a Sola," she said with a smile. Endymion rolled his eyes as his wife giggled beside him.
"We have a lot of things to discuss, sola," he told her. He couldn't keep from grinning himself as his wife nodded in between perils of laughter.
Chapter 12
Notes: I hope you like this. I took a college creative writing course. It was very fun but we had to read our work out loud to everyone. The limit was 10 pages, but my first story I did 12 pages. My second story I said, "You know how I had 12 pages on my last one? This one is just 9," and a girl beside me said, "Good, I thought you were going to say 14," Haha I guess I'm long winded in writing. Enjoy everyone and please please please review!
It was early the following day that they caught sight of the city. Along with the City came greenery as far as the eye could see. Sharai and Gavin stared at the City with wide eyed amazement. At her side hung her new sword, an ever lasting testament to Orion. Their mounts nipped at the tender grass before being urged on by their riders.
"Welcome home," Endymion said as he rode beside his wife. Sharai pulled down the scarf covering her mouth and smiled at her husband.
"It's beautiful, Endy," she sighed. And it was.. The City was enclosed by huge walls that looked about six stories high and twenty feet thick. The weary caravan entered the main gate, that had flung its massive wooden gates open to let them pass. There were beautiful buildings everywhere and on top the very highest hill rested a palace. It was different from other palaces she had seen, being a princess she had visited many. It gracefully loomed above the city looking majestic with its curved doorways and windows. Its majestic towers loomed in the air as if they were reaching for heaven itself. They were top of by rounded domes that reflected the sunlight and flashed like copper mirrors. People poured out of the city welcoming their king and his band of nomads. Each was dressed in their finest clothes and women tossed handfuls of flower petals in the air.
"Tonight, I'm going to shower you with white roses," Endymion leaned on his saddle as he spoke to Sharai, who was riding beside him. Sharai smiled and blushed.
"You two really make me sick," Adrian snorted. Endymion smiled as Nadia whacked her brother on the back of the head. Many of the people waved to Sharai and called out to the Champion of the Trials. Some watched her with outright curiosity, for she was an Outlander and a blonde one at that.
"Now, you will get to meet my mother, she'll love you," said Endymion as he kissed her hand.
Sharai's booted footsteps echoed on the blue tiled floors as a female servant led her to her room. Tapestries covered the wall in rich tones of green, burgundy, purple and blue. Exotic flowers sent out an intoxicating smell that nearly made her giddy. She peered out the delicately carved windows into cool courtyards filled with greenery and fountains. Sharai sighed and suddenly felt very aware of her appearance. She was covered with desert grime and in desperate need for a bath. Caged colorful birds called out to her in different whistles. A pet monkey chattered and played with a small ball in the corner of her room.
"Hello," she said. The monkey stopped its playing and looked up at her. Then leapt from its golden perch onto her shoulder.
"Now who are you?" she asked. The monkey chattered to her like she could understand it before tiring of her presence and hopped back onto its perch.
"YOU MARRIED AN OUTLANDER?" screeched the dowager queen. Endymion raised an eyebrow from where he had been seated on many plump cushions. Meanwhile, his mother paced back and forth looking quite frazzled. She hadn't changed a bit since he had seen her last. She was still regal and noble looking. Her hair did seem to have more gray in it though. She was dressed in a deep plum gown embodied with gold. Gold earrings dangled from her earlobes. From what Endymion had been told, Nerfera was almost an exact copy of their mother, just younger
"Mother, calm down. I haven't seen you this agitated since I refused the vizier's daughter in marriage," Endymion said with a sigh as he took a sip of wine from a goblet. "But Endy, she's an Outlander. A kidnapped one at that!" his mother yelled.
"Mother, that was the only way," Endymion said through clinched teeth. His patience was starting to wear thin. Fortunately, Sharai as well as the rest of the guards had been shown to their chambers and got to miss this little performance by the dowager queen.
"We've always been on the brink of war with the Outlanders but this might just push them over the edge. For goodness sake, there are thousands of Bedouin girls out there and you had to fall for an Outlander? Where did I go wrong?" the Queen asked the heavens. Endymion rolled his eyes.
"Sit down, Beadi before you give yourself a fever," a male voice said.
"Go back to your roses, Kalin," the Queen snapped as an older man hobbled into the room. His hair and beard had long since turned white making him look older then he was. Thoughtful blue eyes stared beneath shaggy eyebrows. An old war wound had caused Endymion's father to rely on a cane. He had long since given up the art of war to his son to tend his gardens.
"Well I heard the girl beat you," he chuckled. Endymion nodded and gave his father a smile.
"See, if that's not a good enough to marry her I don't know what is. Bet she's got more brains then those twits that are always hanging around the court," the old Sol said with a grin as he lowered himself to a chair.
"Well don't stand there with your mouth open, Beadi, call a servant to get the little hellion that stole our son's heart," laughed the Sol. Beadi frowned at her husband but did as he said.
Sharai fidgeted nervously as she waited outside the golden doors leading to the throne room. The knights, Nadia, and Elidi surrounded her looked rather amused by her nervousness.
"You better hope they approve of you," Adrian commented.
"Not like that's going to happen," Rankin jibbed. "Shut up, both of you," Nadia hissed as she straightened out her gown. A servant poked his head out of the door and touched his hand to his forehead after bowing to them.
"Solana, you have been requested to appear before the court," he said. Sharai nodded.
"Sharai-Sola, champion of the trials," an herald announced her. Sharai took a deep breath and touched the sword by her side. "Relax, Outlander. We haven't done human sacrifice in thousands of years," Adrian snickered.
"Although it wouldn't be bad to start it again, I would gladly volunteer you," Nadia answered with a syrupy sweet voice.
"I second that," Rankin said letting his usual somberness slip. Adrian made a face before walking towards the throne. The others followed. They all knelt, bowing their heads and making the gesture of respect. They stayed in the position for a few minutes. Sharai resisted the urge to take a peek instead of staring at the same blue tile under her knee.
"Rise," ordered a female voice. A woman in purple glared down at her. Sharai met her eyes with defiance. The woman's face flickered with an expression of annoyance.
"Enough. Welcome, daughter," said a thickset man who wrapped his arms around Sharai in a bear like hug. Sharai couldn't help but let out a little yelp of shock. Adrian snickered only to be elbowed in the side by his sister.
"Tiny little thing isn't she?" asked the man as he looked at Endymion.
"Sharai, this is my father," Endymion introduced. Sharai bowed causing the old king to chuckle. "There's no need for the formality, you're around family," he admonished her. Sharai couldn't help but smile in amusement. The old king circled around her, looking her over.
"Well, sit down girl," the king said as he motioned for her to join her husband.
"We have a wedding to plan and a knighting ceremony, yes?" he asked his son. Endy nodded. Sharai looked him strangely then at Endymion before taking a seat beside him. "But I'm already married," she protested.
"You need a formal wedding," the queen told her with a tone one might use on a stupid child.
"Mother, we really don't need one, the old way is still recognized here," Endymion protested.
"Personally, I would've like to have done it that way too," the old sol told Sharai in a stage whisper. Beadi glared at her husband.
"This will be the first royal wedding under the united tribes," the former Sola remarked. Sharai's face showed no annoyance to the news even though she thought another wedding was too much. It was one of the tricks she had learned as a princess especially during long councilmen's speeches, most of them were extremely long winded. "During one time, there were a lot of wars between our people's tribes, my father joined them together," Endymion bragged with a grin. Sharai looked with disbelief at the old sol. He nodded.
"I did. But that was a long time ago when I was more aggressive then. That's one reason's your mother wouldn't marry me," the old sol told her. Sharai's jaw dropped. The old man chuckled at the astonished looks on the faces around him, even from serious Rankin. It was Beadi who spoke first. "You almost married an Outlander?" she asked horrified. As those around her watched, Beadi's face turned an interesting shade of purple. Endymion had to fight from laughing out loud, he didn't know if it was because Sharai's mother was an Outlander or because his mother wasn't the first to be asked.
"Her mother isn't an Outlander, she's Queen Serenity of the Moon. Her daughter looks like her too," he told them. Sharai smiled with pride then with humor at the flabbergasted look on her husband's face.
"Of the Moon? I kidnapped a princess? You're a princess?" he asked her.
"Nope, I'm a Sola," she said with a smile. Endymion rolled his eyes as his wife giggled beside him.
"We have a lot of things to discuss, sola," he told her. He couldn't keep from grinning himself as his wife nodded in between perils of laughter.