I do not own - oh to hell with this! It's obvious that I do
not own Sailor Moon! No more disclaimers, 12 is more than
enough! *sigh*
Maid for you - Chapter 12
It was dusk when Endymion at last returned to his room.
"Serena?" He frowned. The room was dark and silent - she
wasn't here. "That's strange. She should have been back by
now." Lighting the lamp he glanced around the room. On the
bed, something caught his eye. There on his pillow was her
Star Locket. He picked it up, knowing in his heart what it
meant. A wave of fear rushed through him. "Serena!" He
rushed into her room and saw the open draws and cupboards.
His worst fears were confirmed - she was gone. "No!" He
cried out. He didn't understand. Why would she just leave?
She'd been so happy. What could possibly have gone wrong?
Panicking, he rushed out of the room and down the hall,
almost crashing into Jessica as Serena had earlier.
Oh!" She gasped as she stepped away. "Forgive me your
highness, I did not see you there." Endymion wasted no time
with pleasantries.
"Jessica, have you seen Serena today?" Confused, Jessica
nodded.
"Yes sire, this afternoon at about two o clock. She said
she felt ill and was going to rest. Is something wrong your
highness?" Endymion did not reply. Fear gripped him. It was
now six o clock, she had been gone for four hours. He spoke.
"Go to the stables. Have them ready my horse. And speak of
this to no one." Jessica nodded.
"Yes sire." Without another word, she hurried away.
Endymion turned and went in the opposite direction.
Finding her gone had made him realise, He cared about her
more than anything else. What his parents are anyone else
thought no longer mattered. He would find her, bring her
back and if his parents sent her away - to hell with the
throne - he would go with her. With a grim look on his face
he strode determinedly towards the kitchens.
He soon come to the great halls that were the palace
kitchens. He knew of Maggie, Serena had often spoken of her
friend. He desperately hoped that she might have some idea
as to why Serena had left so suddenly. He stepped into the
main hall and was immediately seen by one of the scullery
maids.
"Your highness!" she gasped in shock. For it was rare, if
not unheard of, that royalty should venture into the
kitchens.
Cookie had heard the maids cry and came over as quickly as
her plump frame would allow. As she reached the prince, she
bobbed don in a clumsy curtsey. "To what do we owe this
honour your highness?" She asked.
"I am looking for one of your staff." He replied. "A girl
by the name of Maggie."
At the table where she had been preparing vegetables, Maggie
froze. She did not know what the prince could possibly want
with her. She saw Cookie turn to her and beckon her forward.
With her heart pounding, she walked up to Endymion.
Even though Serena had never said a bed word about him, she
was still scared. When she spoke, her voice was barely
above a whisper.
"Sire?" Endymion caught the fear in the girls voice and
smiled at her kindly.
"Do not fear." He told her. "I simply need to speak with
you. Please, follow me." He lead her out of the kitchens
and into a quiet corridor. He stopped and turned to face the
young woman who stood in front of him. He looked directly
into her eyes as he spoke. "You and Serena are friends are
you not?" He asked, though he knew the answer already.
Maggie frowned, confused.
"Yes sire." she replied. What was going on? She had no
time to ask as Endymion continued.
"Has she said anything to you lately? Anything that might
have lead you to believe she was unhappy here?" Now more
confused than ever, Maggie shook her head.
"No sire. Not since the incident with Clara Stickton.
Although I do know that she hasn't been feeling very well
this past week or so." Endymion sighed. He had hoped that
Serena might have said something to Maggie, but true to her
word, she had said nothing that might have given away their
secret.
A thought suddenly entered Maggie's mind. She remembered
that day in town when Serena had admitted to her that she
loved the prince. Was it possible that he actually returned
her feelings? She knew she could get into a lot of trouble
for asking, but she had to know. "Sire?" He looked at her.
"Yes?" Maggie took a deep breath.
"Forgive me your highness, I mean no offence, but I can
not help wondering if you are in love with Serena." Sadness
filled the prince's ocean blue eyes. He smiled sadly.
"Yes Maggie, I am in love with her. And I had thought that
she loved me too, but now she has run away and left me and
I do not know why." Maggie was stunned. The Prince of Earth
and a servant, who would have thought! So caught up in the
revelation was she, that it was a few moments before she
realised what else had been said. "She has run away…" She
gasped.
"Run away?" She cried out, forgetting her manners. He
nodded. "Why?" She said to herself. "Why would she do that
when…" She looked back at Endymion. "I do not know why."
She said. "But I do know that she loves you. She told me
that a long time ago and I do not believe those feeling
have changed." Her words at that moment eased a little of
the pain in Endymion's heart. It seemed a little ironic and
yet right, that the first person to find out about their
relationship should be a kitchen maid.
"Do you have any idea as to where she might have gone?" He
asked hopefully.
"No sire." Sighed Maggie. We only ever went to town and I
doubt that she has gone there." She cursed herself for her
unhelpfulness. Endymion growled in frustration.
"I shall have to search for her then." He turned to leave,
then stopped. "Please do not speak of this to anyone. If I
can bring her back, the truth will out soon enough." With
those words he stepped out of the corridor and was gone.
Dazed, Maggie wandered back into the kitchen and flopped
down into Cookie's big chair. She was instantly surrounded
by most of the kitchen staff. "Well?" said Cookie as she
pushed her way to the front. "What was that all about?"
Maggie smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to say. But I have a feeling
you won't have to wait too long to find out."
Endymion hurried to the stables. If he was going to find
her, he had had to move quickly. As he went, a loud
rumbling came from overhead. He cursed under his breath. A
storm was brewing.
Yoru was ready wand waiting for him when he arrived. He
took the reins from the stable-boy and swung himself into
the seat. As he went to move away, the head groom hurried
out. "I must advise against this your highness!" He cried.
"A storm is brewing and it looks to be a big one!"
"I know." Said Endymion. "But I do not have time to wait
it out. Do not worry, I will be careful." He turned Yoru
around and galloped away before the groom could say another
word.
He left the palace and surveyed the roads in front of him.
There was only two, one lead to town, the other to the
Twisted Woods, so called because of the vast number of
twisting paths that it held. He already knew that she had
not gone to town, what Maggie had said made sense, so he
took the path that lead to the woods. No sooner had he
entered the first grove of trees, the heavens opened and
rain poured down in a torrent. Grimacing, he sank lower in
the saddle and pressed on. Along the twisting paths he
rode, coming a few minutes later to a split in the road
that branched off in no less than seven different
directions. After growing up around these woods, he knew
which paths went where, but which way would Serena have
gone? He studied the paths critically. The second path to
the right looked slightly straighter than the others. It
did not stay that way for long, it quickly twisted and
turned before splitting into twelve other paths, but at
first glance it appeared to be the best choice. As he moved
on, a bolt of lightning flashed overhead, followed by a
huge rumble of thunder only five seconds later. The storm
was almost overhead. Endymion was no fool, he was acutely
aware of how dangerous it was to be in the forest during a
storm, but he had to find Serena. She was more important to
him than his personal safety.
As the rain continued to pour down, he went further and
further into the Twisted Woods, taking the paths that seem
the straightest. He prayed that he could catch up with her,
she already had a four and a half hour head start.
"Oh Serena. Please be safe."
End Chapter 12
not own Sailor Moon! No more disclaimers, 12 is more than
enough! *sigh*
Maid for you - Chapter 12
It was dusk when Endymion at last returned to his room.
"Serena?" He frowned. The room was dark and silent - she
wasn't here. "That's strange. She should have been back by
now." Lighting the lamp he glanced around the room. On the
bed, something caught his eye. There on his pillow was her
Star Locket. He picked it up, knowing in his heart what it
meant. A wave of fear rushed through him. "Serena!" He
rushed into her room and saw the open draws and cupboards.
His worst fears were confirmed - she was gone. "No!" He
cried out. He didn't understand. Why would she just leave?
She'd been so happy. What could possibly have gone wrong?
Panicking, he rushed out of the room and down the hall,
almost crashing into Jessica as Serena had earlier.
Oh!" She gasped as she stepped away. "Forgive me your
highness, I did not see you there." Endymion wasted no time
with pleasantries.
"Jessica, have you seen Serena today?" Confused, Jessica
nodded.
"Yes sire, this afternoon at about two o clock. She said
she felt ill and was going to rest. Is something wrong your
highness?" Endymion did not reply. Fear gripped him. It was
now six o clock, she had been gone for four hours. He spoke.
"Go to the stables. Have them ready my horse. And speak of
this to no one." Jessica nodded.
"Yes sire." Without another word, she hurried away.
Endymion turned and went in the opposite direction.
Finding her gone had made him realise, He cared about her
more than anything else. What his parents are anyone else
thought no longer mattered. He would find her, bring her
back and if his parents sent her away - to hell with the
throne - he would go with her. With a grim look on his face
he strode determinedly towards the kitchens.
He soon come to the great halls that were the palace
kitchens. He knew of Maggie, Serena had often spoken of her
friend. He desperately hoped that she might have some idea
as to why Serena had left so suddenly. He stepped into the
main hall and was immediately seen by one of the scullery
maids.
"Your highness!" she gasped in shock. For it was rare, if
not unheard of, that royalty should venture into the
kitchens.
Cookie had heard the maids cry and came over as quickly as
her plump frame would allow. As she reached the prince, she
bobbed don in a clumsy curtsey. "To what do we owe this
honour your highness?" She asked.
"I am looking for one of your staff." He replied. "A girl
by the name of Maggie."
At the table where she had been preparing vegetables, Maggie
froze. She did not know what the prince could possibly want
with her. She saw Cookie turn to her and beckon her forward.
With her heart pounding, she walked up to Endymion.
Even though Serena had never said a bed word about him, she
was still scared. When she spoke, her voice was barely
above a whisper.
"Sire?" Endymion caught the fear in the girls voice and
smiled at her kindly.
"Do not fear." He told her. "I simply need to speak with
you. Please, follow me." He lead her out of the kitchens
and into a quiet corridor. He stopped and turned to face the
young woman who stood in front of him. He looked directly
into her eyes as he spoke. "You and Serena are friends are
you not?" He asked, though he knew the answer already.
Maggie frowned, confused.
"Yes sire." she replied. What was going on? She had no
time to ask as Endymion continued.
"Has she said anything to you lately? Anything that might
have lead you to believe she was unhappy here?" Now more
confused than ever, Maggie shook her head.
"No sire. Not since the incident with Clara Stickton.
Although I do know that she hasn't been feeling very well
this past week or so." Endymion sighed. He had hoped that
Serena might have said something to Maggie, but true to her
word, she had said nothing that might have given away their
secret.
A thought suddenly entered Maggie's mind. She remembered
that day in town when Serena had admitted to her that she
loved the prince. Was it possible that he actually returned
her feelings? She knew she could get into a lot of trouble
for asking, but she had to know. "Sire?" He looked at her.
"Yes?" Maggie took a deep breath.
"Forgive me your highness, I mean no offence, but I can
not help wondering if you are in love with Serena." Sadness
filled the prince's ocean blue eyes. He smiled sadly.
"Yes Maggie, I am in love with her. And I had thought that
she loved me too, but now she has run away and left me and
I do not know why." Maggie was stunned. The Prince of Earth
and a servant, who would have thought! So caught up in the
revelation was she, that it was a few moments before she
realised what else had been said. "She has run away…" She
gasped.
"Run away?" She cried out, forgetting her manners. He
nodded. "Why?" She said to herself. "Why would she do that
when…" She looked back at Endymion. "I do not know why."
She said. "But I do know that she loves you. She told me
that a long time ago and I do not believe those feeling
have changed." Her words at that moment eased a little of
the pain in Endymion's heart. It seemed a little ironic and
yet right, that the first person to find out about their
relationship should be a kitchen maid.
"Do you have any idea as to where she might have gone?" He
asked hopefully.
"No sire." Sighed Maggie. We only ever went to town and I
doubt that she has gone there." She cursed herself for her
unhelpfulness. Endymion growled in frustration.
"I shall have to search for her then." He turned to leave,
then stopped. "Please do not speak of this to anyone. If I
can bring her back, the truth will out soon enough." With
those words he stepped out of the corridor and was gone.
Dazed, Maggie wandered back into the kitchen and flopped
down into Cookie's big chair. She was instantly surrounded
by most of the kitchen staff. "Well?" said Cookie as she
pushed her way to the front. "What was that all about?"
Maggie smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to say. But I have a feeling
you won't have to wait too long to find out."
Endymion hurried to the stables. If he was going to find
her, he had had to move quickly. As he went, a loud
rumbling came from overhead. He cursed under his breath. A
storm was brewing.
Yoru was ready wand waiting for him when he arrived. He
took the reins from the stable-boy and swung himself into
the seat. As he went to move away, the head groom hurried
out. "I must advise against this your highness!" He cried.
"A storm is brewing and it looks to be a big one!"
"I know." Said Endymion. "But I do not have time to wait
it out. Do not worry, I will be careful." He turned Yoru
around and galloped away before the groom could say another
word.
He left the palace and surveyed the roads in front of him.
There was only two, one lead to town, the other to the
Twisted Woods, so called because of the vast number of
twisting paths that it held. He already knew that she had
not gone to town, what Maggie had said made sense, so he
took the path that lead to the woods. No sooner had he
entered the first grove of trees, the heavens opened and
rain poured down in a torrent. Grimacing, he sank lower in
the saddle and pressed on. Along the twisting paths he
rode, coming a few minutes later to a split in the road
that branched off in no less than seven different
directions. After growing up around these woods, he knew
which paths went where, but which way would Serena have
gone? He studied the paths critically. The second path to
the right looked slightly straighter than the others. It
did not stay that way for long, it quickly twisted and
turned before splitting into twelve other paths, but at
first glance it appeared to be the best choice. As he moved
on, a bolt of lightning flashed overhead, followed by a
huge rumble of thunder only five seconds later. The storm
was almost overhead. Endymion was no fool, he was acutely
aware of how dangerous it was to be in the forest during a
storm, but he had to find Serena. She was more important to
him than his personal safety.
As the rain continued to pour down, he went further and
further into the Twisted Woods, taking the paths that seem
the straightest. He prayed that he could catch up with her,
she already had a four and a half hour head start.
"Oh Serena. Please be safe."
End Chapter 12