Chapter six: getting to know you

She rose in the morning when the sun came to such an angle that it beamed on her eyelids though the falls of white canopy curtains. It took a minute for her mind to readjust to her surroundings and remember where she was. She left her bed to bathe and dressed in a simple white dress with a large pink ribbon sash around her mid section that tied in the back with a bow. She wore flat white sandals that tied her feet to them with thin glossy pink ribbons. She hurried to breakfast hall and then realized she didn't know where she was going or where she was in the castle for that matter. She started to walk briskly when she saw some familiar staircases. Endymion who was nearly sprinting to breakfast (he slept into do to difficulties getting to sleep as well) from a different hall than Serenity was unable to stop in time as they ran into each other. Endymion having more mass and speed and thus more momentum made Serenity tumble to the ground he fell forward almost onto her but was saved by putting his arms out. She groaned and opened her eyes Endymions face was about six inches from hers and one of his arms on either side of her she blushed. Nephrite walked past to the stairs with Litaña on his arm. Litaña glanced over eyes widening only momentarily she then sniffed disapprovingly. Then turned her attention back to the stairs.

"Not in the hall guys." she called over her shoulder and Nephrite looked over and chuckled then continued to breakfast with Lita. Endymion blushed and immediately struggled to get up and offered Serenity a hand to get up mumbling apologies as she accepted. Serenity straightened her skirts.

"Would you like me to escort you to breakfast my princess?" he asked with hopeful anticipation. She nodded and took his arm smiling and they went down to breakfast together. They entered the dining hall the King beamed at them.

"Come sit here my children." He said gesturing towards to spaces deliberately left vacant on either side of him. They approached him. "Sit here dear girl" he addressed Serenity kindly as if she were his own daughter and gestured to the seat on his right. " You're here boy." He said more roughly and gestured to left they sat down obediently across from each other. "Now tell me how you two are doing." He enquired and patted Serenity on the hand.

"We are doing well king." Serenity smiled toward Endymion, who could not help but smile back with an equally ridiculous wide grin. The king chuckled quietly at this turn off events. He knew this would work, his son he was very picky about women. Some had begun to believe that Endy didn't like women, and some believed he didn't like any gender or species of humanoid form what so ever. But the king knew his son better than that. He had immediately noticed his sons tendency to notice smaller women more often. He had been taking notes as he bombarded his son with women for the past eight years, hoping Endy would dyne to take particular interest in any woman. But Endy hadn't. He had also noticed Endy's like of more cheerful girl though he feigned disdain for many of them because their lack of over all common sense. He came to the conclusion that his son deliberately tried to isolate himself. Endy's Mother's death had shaken their family hard. The king remember his late wife Queen Gaia those distinctive deep ocean blue eyes Endy had inherited from her. Her wonderful laugh that sounded like delicate wind chimes. She had never fallen back from her duties as queen. So strong so great but she died so young, he had had no love for another wife after that his heart was shattered into shards that escaped him. He had hung all hopes on their son. He loved her still so much. She had been a small woman also not more than 5'2' with long hair. It was rumored that her father had gone into the forest for a ride and disappeared for several years. A few years later, the he had returned with a child. Her father died soon after leaving her in her grandfather's care. Her grandfather despite his early dismay and objections was entranced by the child and became very attached. He sensed her fascination to the forest would not allow her to play in the forest for fear she would return to it permanently. She soon became ill and he took her back into the woods where she recovered. At age fourteen her grandfather died in a fire at the manor also started by lightning. Gaia had been visiting the royal court at her grandfather's insistence at the time of his. During this period he'd met her under an oak tree sitting amongst the flowers that had overrun the courtyard. He had married her three years later and Endymion had been born soon after her 18th birthday. He sighed in memory. Endy had loved his mother very much and she had been the world to him. He became solemn and silent after her death. Perhaps if he had been more receptive to Endy as a child Endy wouldn't have taken his mothers death so hard. He needed someone to break the darkness Endy wore like an exoskeleton, otherwise he knew Endy would become the end of the line for the throne and for his self. He needed light, Serenity being the daughter of a sun god and the Queen of the moon qualified as downright luminous. It was her nature to be happy and sunny, she glowed, and could light a room with a smile. Plus she was small and had a good figure and face. She also had a lot to offer for the earth diplomatically. And with her and his son's looks and brains he was quite sure his grandchildren would be gorgeous and brilliant. He smiled.

" Please call me father." He requested.

" Certainly, father." Serenity said smiling toward him he smiled back.

"Thank you dear." He turned to look at Rei "Now Princess Rei do you have any important news from the Queen, I was told she summoned you yesterday."

"It was just some last minute inquiries she request I make, about alliances and such I shall complete it quite soon I sent some people out to check up on the situation for me." Rei answered blandly not really mentioning anything of any consequence. The king frowned, but held his peace he wouldn't question any further he would just ask the Queen directly when she came. He spoke again.

" I trust you all enjoyed the ball." There was an overall yes. So the king abandoned conversation to eat his food. After breakfast Endymion had to go take care of some duties leaving Serenity time to wander the castle. Admiring the unique and exquisite architecture. It was all very different from the moon where building was done almost entirely in some kind of rock or another and glass. The moons soil was not suitable to grow the many trees, that earth had, the soil didn't have the right kinds of minerals and nutrients. Furthermore all life was confined to the domes of the moon. So the Lunarians focused on hydroponics mostly developed by the bright Mercurians for agriculture. And relied mostly on fish and chickens for their sources of protein, as they didn't require extensive grazing in nonexistent moon fields. In any case their lack of ability to readily produce certain kinds of vegetation put limits what they could do in building as well as a variety of other fields. This had also inspired a large amount of creativity, a variety of new discoveries using the limited amount of material. It had also inspired science to come up with new discoveries for making the availability of previously unavailable item such as the modified mulberry tree to be conformed to vines which leaves where fed to silk worms. But in any case there was quite a bit of wood usage making it more possible for different types of structure than on the moon, it was fabulous. Eventually she ended up in the kitchens and came with an idea to go kidnap Endy from his meetings to go on a picnic after all she was avoiding her friends because of their inevitable question about the ball. After all she had often wished for someone to come kidnap her from her numerous drawn out meetings on the moon. So maybe Endy would repay the favor one day. Maybe by then they'd be married and he'd kidnap her for immoral reasons. She blushed violently just thinking of such thing and quickly chided her self for thinking such silly thought that sounded far too much like a line from one of Mina's silly romantic novels. So she began talking with Nicholas a kitchen hand that was a duty that day they got along well in no time at all she was offered anything in the kitchen. Endymion who had finished his pressing duties was in search of Serenity when he heard her beautiful voice float out of the kitchen curious he stuck his head inside and spied the princess talking with the cook Nicholas who was so focused on her that did not see Endymion come up till he came close. She was making wide gestures it looked like she was telling a story or something she was very animated in her movements. She looked like a child standing in front of the big burly chef.

"What are you up to here in the kitchens princess? Endymion said in a deep playful voice.

"Endymion!" She cried happily and turned to him and hugged him he smiled. And hugged her back.

"Your Princess here was trying to beg food off me. Saying something about kidnapping you from meetings to go on a picnic. She was explaining how she was going to kidnap you. I believe there was a large sack involved and maybe a candlestick

"Was not! I was just explaining the necessity of picnics and proving my case with an amusing anecdote from my youth that involved kidnapping Princess Amilia for picnicing purposes whom was on the brink of exhaustion from her studies." Endymion snorted softly and replied

"Princess you are still in your youth." And ruffled her hair she swatted his hand away and attempted to straighten her hair.

"Hmm that's what you think, I may be short but I probably won't grow any taller and if I do probably only a couple inches, I'm not a child." she said in a high childish tone her lips pouting " We Lunarian's are always wise beyond our years and looks, Endymion." She said in a deeper more seductive voice gazing up at him through her long gorgeous lashes her full pink lips still pouting. "I like my mothers before me have been taught to run the kingdom by my age of course it would take centuries for me to be as skilled a leader as my mother." She stood tall and regal without making a mockery of such. Her face was beautiful and her lips formed a slight smile but her air was solemn her voice soothing and her eyes sharp. Endymion looked stunned at her seemingly change in stature to suit her roles. "So how about that picnic." She said in her childish tone.

"I usually wouldn't give anyone anything but she is mighty convincing."

" Yes I know." He smiled at Nicholas shaking his head at her conniving good nature. She pulled away and he looked down. "A picnic eh." She looked up at him smiling brightly and nodding yes. "Well then Nicholas, do we have permissible food."

"O' course."

" Well then let me go grab a blanket to sit on and we'll be off."

A few hours later

The meadow of tall grasses and flowers ruffed gently at breezes demand. Two individuals sat lay on a blanket feeding each other grapes.

"Favorite color?"

" Black. Yours?"

"Pink. Your turn for a question."

"I just asked you one."

" You just reflected mine. Your turn to come up with an original question."

" Fine," he smiled at her and stroked her golden hair "favorite food."

"Dumplings or chocolate. Basically anything sweet. Yours?"

" Pasta."

" Favorite thing to do?"

"Read or Walk. Yours"

" Sleep or be with my friends."

"Least favorite food."

"Carrots."

"Now that's interesting I never would guessed"

"Yours?"

"I don't have one." Endymion said proudly smirking. She rolled over to look him in the eye. Coming within mere inches of his face, she however did not back away, she did steadied her nervous puffs of air escaping her. She tried not to focus on the scent of roses that hung about his graceful masculine body or his perfect lightly tan skin from sparing practice in the hot earth sun, even his hair glinted in invitation. Instead she focused her eyed on his stunning deep blue eyes they were the color of the sea that covered his planet, needless to say it was very easy to stare into his eyes.

" You don't dislike any food." She said trying to focus on the conversation.

" I'll eat just about anything, with in reason." He answered lightly smiling at her.

"So every thing tastes good?" She questioned again putting up a challenging eyebrow.

" I haven't disliked the taste of anything I've tasted." He said confidently.

"What about grapes." She said placing one in his mouth

"I like grapes." He said chewing and swallowing the grape smirking. She held another halfway between his lips and hers, exactly three centimeters from his.

"Is that so?" she asked raising one eyebrow again.

"That is so." He said and looked straight into her eyes as he leaned closer and devoured the grape from between her fingers, licking her fingers deliberately pinning her with an intense look, then he moved to her mouth kissing her eagerly and enthusiastically, which she returned ardently. It intensified every second until they had to stop for lack of oxygen. Endy realized that he was on top of her pushed himself up and got off of her still breathing hard. He felt a bit guilty but she had tempted him most deliberately and had been a willing participant. He felt her hand on his shoulder he turned to look at her, she put her other hand forward and he grasped it. Hers was cool and easily engulfed and warmed by his. She sat down gently on his lap and arranged her skirts with the hand not entwined in his. She then looked at him with smile that turned mischievous she quickly reaffixed her innocent small smile on her face and looked out unto the prairie in which they sat together then turned to him with a serious gaze.

"So do I taste good?" she asked not quite able to keep a serious look on her face.

"Way better than anything I've ever tasted." He said in a deep seductive voice, his lips twisted into a smile unable to stay serious, he leaned in to kiss her. "May I taste you again." She smiled wickedly and closed the gap between their mouths. Just as their lips met he pulled away and looked around as though he heard voices and rustling. She looked up at him in confusion but listened for noise. They both heard some noise and stood they heard voices to of their respective guards. They both stood and tried to fix themselves up, using each other as mirrors. The other princesses and generals burst though the wooded area on horseback. The girls dismounted and rushed upon their princess hugging her then questioning.

"Why didn't you tell us you were going to go on a picnic?" Rei said indignantly.

"We've been looking for you all over." Lita exclaimed.

" Yes there is a great many feats to arrange for tomorrow you know." Ami remarked in a disapproving tone.

"Remember you're getting engaged." Minako exclaimed.

"Yes I know but I felt it necessary that I discuss some important political points of discontinuity, with the prince before our engagement, dealing with the separation or union of or kingdoms." Everyone stared at the princess and she removed herself from her friends clutches and back to the prince. 'Astounding use of bullshitting vocabulary full ten points.' Endymion thought and smirked inwardly.

"Quite princess. Would you continue on your exposé on the difference galactic trade policies and possibilities of mutually inclusive trade pacts concerning both the moon and earths present trade deals?" continuing the charade with pleasure. Serenity was equally delighted by his quick and casual response to her erroneous comment regarding their discussions.

" My prince… that would truly be a great feat to arrange. I fear that we must discontinue our debate for the present and yield to the trivial yet more pressing matters of tomorrow."

"Very well." He said smiling slightly. The princesses and generals stared at them.

"Who are you two and what have you done with the prince and princess" Malachite and Minako demanded.

" Malachite I thought you knew me better."sigh Endymion helped the princess on to his horse then got on himself and called over his shoulder. "You wouldn't mind picking up the blanket and basket would you Mal, thanks."

"It is him." Jadeite said look at the retreating couple in astonishment.

"Baka! Get off your horse and help me clean up Endy's mess. Spoiled prince! I'm his god damn general not his nanny." Mal grumbled loudly. Mina giggled he looked up at her to give her a sharp reproving look but fell short when he saw the beautiful princess of love, and made eye contact. Then lowered his eyes and head giving an almost imperceptible nod of understanding, as a faint twitch seemed to have developed at the corner of his mouth. In seemingly a gesture of pity, she walked over and knelt down to help him clean up the picnic.

"I'll help clean up since our princess made the mess to." Mina said

"I would appreciate it but it is not your responsibility." Mal muttered and gave her a short look too fast for any one to interpret but her who saw deep into his eyes before he swung his head back towards the ground facing the blanket as he attempted to clean up the minor feast that had taken place hiding his face behind the long locks of white blond hair that had slipped forward from their ends rest on his broad shoulders and back. Mina blushed a bit and waved her hand as if to dismiss the comment.

"Nonsense it is surely my responsibility as much as it is yours. You guys can head back and catch up with the princess and help her prepare. I'll follow shortly." They nodded and all left. Leaving Malachite and Mina quite alone. Together.