chapter 3: Duet of Unrest

Serenity sat on the cool stone floor of her balcony in the weak Lunarian sun, which she did not know as weak. At least she would be able to see earth, she reflected as she leaned against the rail. She hoped he would at least be kind to her perhaps if he wasn't they could have one of those long distance marriages where she stayed on the moon and ruled her kingdom and he stayed on the earth and ruled his. She realized that she would still have to bear an heir probably for his kingdom and hers. And that required making love to some one did not love. She supposed you really couldn't call it making love then, just sex. The sad thing was that she longed for love and coveted above everything else, although her well-educated mind faulted her for it she could not help it. Perhaps she should blame the Princess Minako for it after all she was the one whom had filled her mind with stories of such silly things as true love.

" Serenity" she heard the Venusian princess call through the door. 'Speak of the devil' she thought rolling her eyes but choosing to remain silent.

"Princess we know you're there." 'that was definitely Jupiter dear gods it was probably all of them.' She thought in terror and if she knew her friends they would likely not go away short of searching the room for her. She was tempted to change into her soldier form and make daring escape but vetoed it as she knew her friends would enjoy that challenge of the chase and undoubtedly punish her in some horribly embarrassing fashion once she was caught.

"Come in" she spoke

"Hello princess" four angelic voices of her friends cooed as they stormed the balcony. They hugged her and cuddled around her, they lay there silently for some time basking in the warmth of the gentle sun and happy companionship.

" How are you princess, you seem a bit down." Ami spoke after silence.

"I am engaged."

" Busy? With what?"

"With a man. To be married, my friend."

"To whom?"

"How? Why?"

"Since when?"

"Our princess! Only sixteen!" came the chorus of beautiful outraged voices and bewail from her shocked sworn protectors. She told them of that morning. A distressed expression marred their faces at the fact, but knew they could do little to change the facts. They pulled closer offering support by cuddling around their princess more tightly.

" Well he is quite handsome" Venus remarked

"Please tell me honestly he isn't barbaric and rude or gross and violent."

" No Serenity don't go judging him by those silly stereotypes, though admittedly there are many men on earth that do resemble such indolent grizzly beasts, Endymion isn't one of them. Though considering his father … he must have got it from his mother. Looks will not be an issue he is beautiful and graceful with out being a twit about it like so many of the Venusian men I know. Actually he looks as if he could be Rei's brother perhaps."

"Mina is quite right he is incredibly well mannered though a tad bit arrogant at times. For the most part I found him rather intelligent and kind" Mercury put in.

"As well as a strong warrior" Jupiter put in.

" Yes he also has some sort of psychokinetic powers and healing powers. I do admitted though I found his general jadeite much more companionable than he." Rei said and sighed " but is so hard to get a good excuse to go to Earth! Besides touring and stuff …it is quite beautiful. Don't worry it will all be ok. If you have any problems come to us we will always believe you and help you sort things, and of course protect you."

" Hey Sere want to practice today, it is important you know."

" Senshi?"

"Yeah."

"That sounds fine… lets go to the training grounds. They all turned into their senshi forms raced to the training grounds and spared and practicing accuracy with their powers. For a time Serenity appeared to lose her worries in the heat of battle practice and smiled and gaily laughed with her friends. After their practice they went to a secret waterfall and cold water springs and swam in the refreshing waters. After a period a gliding through pure waters relaxed air was pierced. Serenity perched on rock on the edge of the clear pool with her knees hugged to her chest a contemplative look on her pretty pale face.

"Serenity?" the others asked worriedly

"Its nothing I was… I was just thinking about how I may never be able to do this again and how I might be stuck on earth for the rest of my life."

"Nonsense Serenity"

"Well really, if the king is dying there shall be some pressure to bear an heir for the earthen throne. Even if he doesn't die soon it is still expected of me to bear an heir within two years of marriage as every royal is expected to do. If I get a girl first then she shall probably become the heir to the moon kingdom (provided I eventually get a boy) then even should my mother die I shall not be able to rule. My daughter will be sent not I, my husband shall very likely not allow me to be there after all earthling males tend to be very possessive and obsessed with dominance. Not only that she will not know and love the moon kingdom like I do as she will probably not be born on the moon and shall not live on it for at least these sixteen short years I have. If she is able to live here for that time I shall not and I shall not know my daughter." She paused trembling a bit on the verge of tears " I'm not ready to leave yet, I once thought I would like to travel some where far away but even in those dreams I would always return here. These are my people and this is my land and that of my mothers before I. I'm not ready to be a mother either. I've got so much to do here as the princess and director of diplomatic affairs, but I really don't think I'm mature enough to take a parental role. I always assumed that I would perhaps wait a few centuries as my mother did when I'm more established and wiser. But now times up, and although my life was never truly mine to control I shall be constrained even more so contorted into a shape a mold of what is wanted for this… by this Prince." She ended, put off by that word, and stood abruptly up with that and magicked some clothing on to herself. Then walked calling over her back. "See you guys later, I've go a lot of preparing to do after all tomorrow I visit earth and meet my husband to be and my formal engagement is announced in three days and our marriage is likely to be next month." She spoke in a lifeless voice. They stared after her as she returned to the palace then went to her room helped her maids' pack then fell into dreamless sleep on her bed forgetting dinner.

Back on earth despues de la conversacion de el rey y el principe

The prince stomped up the stairs opened the double doors to his room and slammed them shut then threw himself onto his bed.

" How could he do this to me, he acts like I'm a child still and can't make my own decisions. It may be odd for a prince to not take a wife before 24 but I don't need one!" He shouted and tried to calm the angry and irrational voices in his mind, but to no avail, so he decided to go for a ride to clear his mind and went to the stables. He rode swiftly through the fields and plains and into the tall shadows of the forest. He swung down from his horse as they entered deeper into the forest. The forest calmed his soul and he sat at the foot an old oak and thought and thought and finally came to a conclusion. 'this…this, I know not what to do. I think I shall wait to see what happens. There is really nothing that I can do about this.' He hated feeling helpless. He sat there for a while, falling a sleep against the oak. He awoke to the noise of footsteps on the forest floor, he kept his eyes shut they came closer. He soon heard a voice.

"Here he is, we were right. And he's asleep." That was Jadeites voice. He heard him turn and call the others he quickly crept behind Jadeite and grabbed him and put his dagger to his neck. And then whispered

" You should be more careful. All is not as it seems" then took the knife from his neck; Jadeite scrambled away rubbing his neck as the other came running up.

" Holy shit Endy, do you have to be such a bastard when your in bad mood" He said while Endy smirked and spun his dagger and sheathed it at his side " you nearly gave me a heart failure." he said bracing himself with one arm against the earth and rubbing his neck with the other.

"Endy dinner is being served, we were sent to find you." Zoisite said

"Did father give you any more messages." Endy said with an insolent look.

" Yes he did he said the moon princess Serenity shall be visiting next morrow your engagement is to be announced in three days time. Your wedding date is to be announced but is estimated to be next month." Nephrite said with little inflection.

" Well then we must get back to prepare" Endymion said with sarcasm swinging onto his midnight black horse. They nodded and mounted their horses. Malachite came up along side Endymion.

" Do you race my Prince?" He said with a straight face and a much too innocent voice knowing full well Endy's like of racing. Endy smiled sharply with accepted and took off. The others raced after him but were unable to catch him, as he raced his heart eased as it had on his journey to the forest and was able to forget his plight. He soon came upon his castle there were numerous servants cleaning and preparing the ground as well as insides. He ignored all this and handed his horse off to a stable boy and stepped into hall it smelled flowery. He sniffed again 'definitely flowery and fruity' he thought and wrinkled his nose. He considered ripping down some of the flowers chains draped along the walls but decided to ignore them instead and quickly took to his room to change. Black roses were arranged in vases about his room, if they had been anything else they would have been promptly thrown out the window with glee. But instead they where left in their place, happily dying slowly in their vases. He dressed for dinner quickly and made his way down. His father lifted his wine glass toward him as he entered the room.

"Come here boy, and join the festivities of your impending engagement."

"I though it was your impending death." He said. His father's brows creased. Endymion sighed and trotted over.

"Now my son do not be cross, it is all for the best you shall see."

"When shall that be father?"

" When you see the Princess, Prince!" shouted someone from the crowd of eating ladies and lords the crowd laughed loudly.

"Or lay with her." was yelled followed by another round of rancorous laughing.

" It is true." Malachite said as he entered. "She is quite a beauty to behold." He said as he snagged a roll and sat down next to the king. " 'Course I prefer princess of Venus more suited to my personality, the moon princess is bright and beautiful but rather too pure and innocent for my taste." This won many chortles from those seated at the table.

"Does everyone know this woman but me?" Endymion said with a false calm that marked his voice with anger.

" Ah no my prince, only a few of us have met her you know how the Lunarians don't even allow earthlings to visit. The rest of us have to make do on hearsay or rumors. And you know the rumors of her beauty and purity." Said a jovial heavy-set middle-aged lord who dined with them.

" Please forgive us for joking prince in truth you are a very lucky man. I was only allowed to see her because of my connections to the Lunarian Royal Family; my father served as a diplomat from the moon to earth until he settled here permanently. I have met her as I said before and she is very beautiful and not without wit. She is very loving and loves her planet and people immensely and tirelessly. I think that your hardest task may be to cure he of some of her homesickness that she is bound to have." Malachite paused to take a bite of his food then swallowed it with a thoughtful expression on his face he took a sip of wine from his goblet and continued. " It is rumored that her father was some sort of sun God or king. As for Venus and the other seven planets princess, they care for her terribly, beware of their wrath. They are like her sisters and are as protective older brothers. They are each great warriors in their own right." Malachite said and returned his attention toward to the food. A silence came over the table as people ate and digested. The prince ate slowly in a methodic manner he finished the room still silent but for sounds of eating and low toned gossiping the rubbed his mouth with his napkin. As he sat the napkin down next to his plate he spoke.

"Well, I may be unhappy about this but I will listen to reason. And by your tongue she is semi divine, but we shall see tomorrow." Then stood bowed to his father and bade him good night and left.