The Awakening
***
"How about this nightgown?" asked the youngest voice, the one they called Pallas. "It's white and pretty – just like a bride should wear!"
"Before she's made a bride," the oldest voice scoffed, that of Vesta. "That nightgown is as long and thick as a spinster's!"
"Queen Serenity-sama must wear a pretty, lacy gown tonight," said the second-oldest, a sweet voice idenitified as Ceres. "Her husband is coming home to her..."
Serenity blushed and sank further in the water. After her dinner, Helios had taken her into the residence wing of the palace, where he explained her bedroom was, as well as her dressing rooms and powder rooms. He had led her to a powder room, where four voices gleefully took her in and plunked her in a rose-scented bath. They buzzed around her, chattering part in her own language and part in theirs, addressing her now and then and making decisions for her nightwear. She came to identify them by their chastising of each other.
"Not quite so long, either," she heard the voice of Juno, the second-youngest, say. "She'll trip over it while trying to be graceful."
"I doubt our queen is that ungraceful."
"Yes...but women change when they're with their
husbands at night..."
"And how would you know, Juno?"
"I've listened to the maids talk, Vesta!"
"Yes? And how would they? That's exactly what they are – old maids."
"Is anyone tending to our monarchs' bed?" Pallas' voice interjected. That was one thing about the four girls. When two of them began bickering, one of the remaining two would quell their fights. Their sisterhood made Serenity long for her own sisters. They should be here, helping me ready for my wedding night, she thought sadly.
"Yes, some of the other maidservants are," Ceres said. "Helios said he especially wanted us to help Queen Serenity with her bath and nightclothes."
"How about this? Pretty blue," Pallas said. A blue negilgee floated in the air, sprinkled with blue magic.
"Blue? Oh, but the queen would look so much prettier in yellow." This was Ceres' voice, and a yellow nightgown went floating through the air, glowing yellow. "It would match her golden hair!"
"Both would be overkill," Juno's voice said, and a short emerald nightie flew across the air, glowing bright green. The girls were using magic to send the negligees flying through the air. "Put this one on her; it contrasts with her hair and eyes."
"Or this one," Vesta said. "The red constrasts even better!"
They bickered for a while, while Serenity soaped herself up with the scented soap. She inhaled deeply, a blissful peace overtaking her. "Roses," she breathed.
The four stopped squabbling. "Rose!" they exclaimed together.
"Oh, her majesty would look so pretty in rose pink," Ceres said, clapping her hands. Serenity heard the smack-smack-smack as they touched.
"Lacy rose pink, with pretty flowers adorning her hair!"
"It would go with the rosewater..."
****
Serenity stood nervously in her bedroom. The last vestiges of sunlight had disappeared over the horizon just a few minutes ago. Only four candles – lit by the four giggling maidservants – illuminated the room.
She couldn't bring herself to lay down or even sit, afraid that drowsiness would overtake her before her new husband arrived. She blushed at her own excitement and forced herself to sit on the huge, plush canopy bed.
As soon as she sat, a light, warm breeze came whooshing through the room, glittering in gold. It ruffled the curtains on the windows and the canopy, and blew out the candles, shrouding the room in darkness. Serenity shivered a little, frightened.
"A little cold, my dear?" a voice asked – different from all the voices she heard earlier. There was light, loving amusement in the voice. "Or frightened? There's no need to be afraid of me."
Serenity turned her eyes towards the doorway of the room, but once again, the voice was just that – a voice. It was too dark to see even a silhouette; there was nothing visible to go with with the voice.
And yet there was hope – swelling hope. The voice of the man in the doorway was gentle and kind, and he didn't sound like he wanted to do anything to harm her. She heard the soft paddings of his feet in the plushy carpet as he moved towards her, and felt his hands take her shoulders, slide down, wrap around her waist.
"They left the rabbit ears," he said, one hand
running over the top of her silky head.
"Who – who are you?" Serenity asked in a small timid voice.
He chuckled lightly. "My name is Mamoru, my little usagi," he said. "I am the king of this land. And your new husband."
Serenity, blushing at the new nickname she had received, racked her brain for her history classes, trying to remember a kingdom with a king named Mamoru so she could properly devise where she was. But she couldn't remember any king named Mamoru.
"Don't worry about where you are," he said softly, taking her chin in his hand and directing her face back to where his should be. "You're with me, and that's all that matters."
As he lifted her lips to his, she couldn't help but agree.
***
Upon opening her sapphire blue eyes, Serenity couldn't help but be startled. The sheer golden canopy was not what she expected – she had expected to see the creamy pink of her bedroom at home.
Slowly, she began to realize where she was, and remembered the events of the previous day. With a cry of joy she sat up, turning her eyes to regard the figure of the husband that slept beside her—
But when she turned her attention to the place next to her, there was nothing but rumpled sheets.
Serenity swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, struggling not to cry. Where was the husband who had been so kind, so tender, so loving to her the night before?
Upon closer inspection Serenity discovered a small square of white paper with lettering on it. The lettering was peculiar, as if the writer was not accustomed to writing in the language in which he wrote, but the message was neat and clear.
My love, our night was from the heavens. I will return at dusk to be with you again.
Serenity blushed and shook her head, placing the letter on the night-table besides her side of the great bed. Then she rose and quickly dressed in a simple blue gown. She had to find Helios.
Serenity left her bedroom and wandered through the large palace, calling for Helios. Many voices stopped to confront her – but she saw no one. They patted her, assured her, told her valuable things – directions through the palace, the time that breakfast would be served – but none of them could tell her where to find the quirky priest who had showed her to her new home.
Finally she came upon the grand entrance to the palace, and she called, "Helios?"
"Queen Serenity?"
She breathed deeply. "I've been trying to find you all morning!"
"I go to the shrine very early every morning to
pray. There are dreams to be protected
– although I suspect that my queen did not do much dreaming last night?"
Serenity turned red and ignored his question, countering with one of her own. "Dreams to be protected?"
"Yes, my queen," Helios said, walking across the foyer to stand closer to the queen. "This land is the land where beautiful dreams are formed, where whimsical creatures from your wildest fantasies dwell – the thoughts of the heart are formulated. As priest of the country, it is my duty to ensure that all who dream at night are protected from evil that might invade those dreams."
Serenity looked curiously at the place where Helios should have been. "There's evil? In this beautiful place?"
"Because of the efforts of our king's armies and my prayers, no. But evil threatens at the borders. An evil queen seeks to have the kingdom for her own. If she captures this land, all is lost."
"What is this land called?"
Once again, Serenity had the feeling that Helios was smiling at her. "If I told you, my lady, my king would be very angry."
"Why does my husband not want me to know where I am?"
"Because he wants you to be happy, my queen."
"I am happier than I have ever been in my life!"
"I'm very glad! Then, please do not ask me about your location again. I cannot tell you, but your pleas will get to me." His voice had taken on a tender quality, that of a gentle mentor. "Now, my queen, it is time for breakfast."
****
The day passed just as the previous one – in a state of utter bliss for the young queen. At breakfast, the choir sung again, a cheerful song about daybreak and morning. Helios translated the words for her, and she enjoyed their performance very much.
After breakfast she was taken to the stables by Helios, where spry unicorns were made available for her use. The stable manager had the voice of a hearty old man, but she could not see him, nor could she his sons, the stable boys. They rode with her, speaking of their family and their lives in the land.
After riding, she re-entered the palace and was barraged by endless questions from the maids and menservants – what color did she prefer? What would she like for breakfast? Did her pillow need fluffing? Did her dresses need cleaning? Did her linen need changing? As each one approached her, they chattered happily, sharing their experiences in the country, their lives and the lives of their families with Serenity. Everyone seemed so cheerful and joyful. Indeed, this was the land of dreams – and Serenity felt as if she were living in one. Yet she saw no one.
By late evening, Serenity had rested and eaten her fill of dinner, once again dining with Helios and entertained by the choir. The quartet of girls had helped her dress for bed once again, and she was now sitting on her bed.
Rather than be wooed into her lover's arms tonight, however, she intended to answer a few questions.
As the night before, the warm zephyr blew into her room, extinguishing the candles that had been lit and surrounding Serenity with sparkling golden glitter. She heard her husband's footsteps covering the floor, and she felt him take her hands in his.
"Usagi," he said. "I've missed you all day."
She tilted her head upwards, estimating his height, and smiled. "Why did you not return, then?" she asked softly.
He chuckled lightly. "I have many things to attend to during the day, my love."
Serenity looked down at the floor. Earlier she had been resolute in her
decision to question her husband. But
with his gentle answers and loving voice – how could she? It was clear his love was genuine; he was
simply a busy man with many responsibilities.
After all, he was the king!
She felt a tears form in her eyes. How
could she be so selfish?
Mamoru's hands encircled her face, and he brought her face up. Although she could not see him, he could see her quite clearly, and he noticed the tears brimming at her eyes.
"What's the matter?" he asked worriedly.
"I—I—I'm sorry," she said, her voice wobbling. "I didn't mean...to question you...only...I miss you, too, during the day."
Mamoru smiled and pulled his young wife closer to him, holding his close. "Yes...being separated is difficult," he admitted. He then looked down at Serenity. "But we are together now, aren't we?"
Serenity nodded, smiling.
"So, let us make up for time lost."
Serenity nodded again, her smile lighting her face.