Chapter
5: to dance in the light
The room seemed to stop for a moment as she descended the staircase. Endymion's untasted drink slipped through his fingers Malachite standing next to him caught the drink and smirked. Mina smiled with glee catching Rei's eye, who had also been watching for Endymion's reaction, and gave her a mental high five. Then catching Serenity's eye she winked and smiled and mouthed "go for it girl" and gestured towards Endymion.
" Did I not tell you." Malachite whispered in his friend ear and nudged him to release him from his stunned state. Endymion immediately moved toward the stairs before another might try to claim her for a dance. Parting the crowd of advancing suitors.
" Serenity." He said in a deep voice as he bow before and then reached for her hand.
" Endymion!" she exclaimed happily and smiled at him. His heart skipped a beat then started pumping double time. 'Her smile cheers my very soul, in her gaze I feel so warm, so loved, and so accepted. I would do anything to keep her smiling.' He thought.
" Would you care to dance Serenity." She smiled again and nodded also mesmerized by the vision in front of her. He then happily took her hand smiling, and led her to the dance floor, glancing at her covertly. 'She looks like angel in that gauzy and white silk dress. It certainly emphasizes her chest and slim waist and although it covers the entirety of her leg properly. I dare imagine how long they are.' He thought. ' I must get her seamstress to accompany her to earth.' Serenity and Endymion were both quite talented at dancing it being somewhat of a social and diplomatic requirement of the time. Serenity had never felt so happy as he danced with her and gazed at her with such a expression of love and desire. The musicians took a break and people dispersed from the dance floor. Endymion took Serenity's hand and led her gently to a quiet balcony.
"Serenity I… um" He paused as he realized that he was on the verge of declaiming boundless love for this woman and he did even know if she had even an inkling of feeling for him.
"Endymion" she blurted out with equal force and paused to fearing to say what she felt for the same reasons. Then remembering his look gathered her courage. And tried to gather thoughts into some order as to speak to him coherently.
" I from the first time I … I was originally against this marriage. I was afraid having to leave my home, afraid of being a mother, afraid to change. I most of all and most secretly I was afraid you would not like me and you would not love me and nor would I you. I supposed we would share only an abhorrence of each other. I apologize and honestly say I imagined you to be pigheaded and cruel brute, who would ignore my mind. But as you engaged me in conversation I knew that you were different than Our awful stereotypes of earthlings. I now consent whole-heartedly with little trepidation to the marriage. I see in your eyes that you truly see me." She trembled slightly as she whispered this as she stared out into the night.
" Serenity… I love you. I am surprised myself that I feel so strongly so soon. I admit I was also upset about getting married but I am not anymore." He said and put his arms around her.
" Truly Endy"
"Truly Sere. Do you ah… feel the same."
" Yes, I love you so much. I've never felt these feeling before. I've never felt such a binding force to someone, I want to be with you and stay with you, I feel I could live forever just as long as you were with me. I shouldn't feel so strongly so quickly but I feel as though I've known you for an eternity although we've just met. Weird isn't it." She reached up and stroked his glossy black hair.
" Not really, I feel the same way." He smiled was about to kiss her when he heard the orchestra startup again he with drew and smiled.
"Care to dance milady." She smiled not catching that he had been about to kiss her and took his hand as they made their way back to the dancing area. They danced nearly all evening in each other's arms eventually stopping to get a drink because of exercise-induced dehydration. The bumped into Jadeite and Rei at the punch bowl.
" Hey, how is it going Endy, princess." Jadeite said.
"I am surprised you two have not dropped dead of exhaustion you've been dancing the entire evening." Rei said enjoying the blush that drew to their faces.
"Excuse me there is a message from the moon kingdom for you Princess Rei." A waiter said softly near her ear.
"Oh very well I must see you all later." She shot a meaningful look at Jadeite who drew her hand to his lips and kissed it looking straight into her eyes and quirked his eyebrows. She grinned widely.
" Tonight?" he asked in a innocent hopeful tone
"Tomorrow." she smirked at his comment and almost laughed as he pretended to look hurt and distraught."At breakfast." She confirmed and turned to follow the guiding messenger. Endymion had a smirk on his face and quirked his eyebrows toward his friend whom attempted to return the smirk but instead shrugged and drank some punch blushing lightly and quickly deserted the prince. Serenity had a worried look on her face; Endymion looked down and immediately enquired what was wrong.
"Well it not like mother to call right in the middle of things she usually likes to be much more discrete and handle things in an inconspicuous manner. She would not of called now unless it is of the utmost importance. Which implies some danger for my kingdom. Especially since she called upon Rei who has seer powers. The oracles must have seen something for she would not have called for Rei but to gainsay or find it to be correct." She blurted out.
" Well either way we shall probably find out soon, it was urgent after all." He said with uneasiness also edging his tone.
"Yes you're probably correct." She held onto his arm. "I think I would like to retire now." she said
"Alright, please allow me to escort you to your room" He asked
"With pleasure" she said and they departed the ballroom. They reached her room.
"Goodnight Serenity." He said softly
"Good night Endy." He kissed her hand and left. She stepped into her room, moonlight flooded the cold white marble floor. She paused she did not hear anyone near or approaching. She quickly transformed into her senshi form and left out her balcony to pursue mars. She quickly scanned the area for smoke indicating a sacred fire and followed that there she found mars praying and meditating before it. The she opened her eyes and the fire rose menacingly Rei gasped at her vision. Rei immediately bowed and rose and fire walked briskly to the communication room. Whispering a few words a vision of Queen Serenity sprung to life before her eyes. Rei immediately sunk to her knees and bowed.
"My queen, the oracles are correct it shall come."
"So it has finally come to pass that evil shall rise."
"Yes, but it can be stopped with her here."
"Yes, I know this also."
"is that why...?"
"One of the many."
"We shall fight with them." Queen Serenity looked at Rei fondly her hand mirrored a motion of stroking the girl hair but as she was only a hologram could do nothing.
"Thank you Rei, I must leave, good night."
"Good night my Queen." The vision of Selenity disappeared. Rei stayed silent for a time and Serenity began to sneak away.
"Serenity!" Rei said. 'foiled again' Serenity thought and shuffled toward Rei.
"Yes Rei." She said expecting a lecture.
" You followed me from the fire "
"Yes." Serenity said. Rei sighed and stood.
"Let's just get to bed, you know what I'm going to say." Rei sighed. Serenity shook her head yes and allowed mars to usher her out and to her room. Serenity detransformed in her room Rei helped her undo the strings tied in the back. Then Serenity dressed for bed and hopped in and demanded a hug. Rei smiled gave her hug and bid her good night warmly and left. Serenity tried to sleep but she kept worrying. 'What of the evil rising and who was it that would rise against it, she finally fell into uneasy sleep.
