Chapter 20: Ponderings ... A Brief Interlude
A part of herself had transcended in the healing process of Lady Eowan. She had been physically drained after the teleportation but Pegasus had been faithful to her in the end. Somehow, Cosmos had entered the psyche of Aragorn into the spirit world to retrieve the lost soul of the Lady of Rohan. It was Cosmos who had taken the duty from the future King of Men. As they left the purgatory, it was Cosmos who teleported them back before returning to the body of Lady Serenity.
Now came the task of healing but healing took time and time was the inevitable adversary. One simply could not stop time without grave consequences, even the great Scout of Time and Dimensions, Sailor Pluto would die after committing the forbidden act.
She had left the rest of the company of Men and set up provisions for the restless night ahead. Pegasus wanted to follow but with the raise of her hand, he knew that she desired a night of solitude. The others were in a brief reunion of sorts but with grave matters in their hearts. Tonight was one of the rare occasions where she could reminisce about the past.
It seemed so long ago that she journeyed with the Fellowship. She often wondered why the Crystal brought her to Middle Earth. Certainly, she learned of the ancestral connections with the Elves, the imminent evils, the friendships, the banes of Men and the immortal love from a certain Elf. At times, she felt liked a stranger, lost and alone with only memories to sustain herself. Other times, she would catch herself smiling inwardly at the thoughts of innocent love.
At these moments of hesitations, she felt that she was betraying Darien, her love of two millennia. Their love was strong, surpassing the trials that the world had unleashed upon them. He knew her strength and weaknesses and saw her blossomed from the naive Princess of the Moon to one of the world's greatest warriors of love and justice. What they shared was sacred to her and their devotions for each other spoke volumes. Rini, the future daughter of Crystal Tokyo was certainly a tangible proof of their love. Even now, she wondered what would have happened if she stayed in the 21st century.
Then, there were her friends: the scouts, Ami, Raye, Mina, Lita, Amara, Michelle, Trista and Hotaru. Not to mention, those she met as simply Serena Tsukino liked Andrew, Molly and good ol' Melvin. What happened to them now? What would they say if they saw her now? Before she became a sailor scout, her life was carefree, normal though there was a tinge or irony. Of course, the inners and outers would do anything to protect her, and she in turn, would gladly sacrifice herself the happiness and well being of her friends. The gesture may seem irrational, ill-thought but it was her philanthropic nature. Friends are the stability of her character and now she wondered how and why they put so much faith in her and in her judgements.
She sighed at the bittersweet remembrances and felt tears brimming at the corner of her eyes. She missed everyone so much. Her friends and her love were dead now, their essence lost in a caused that seemed unjust. Evil would almost always exist. Her friends died to save her and to an universe that she had left behind. She just wish that she did not have to carry such a burden upon her shoulders
One could argue that she was not alone now. She thought of Legolas, the immortal Elven Prince of Mirkwood. He had only seen her after many years of battles, power regenerations, deaths, and reincarnations. Would he still feel the same way if he had seen her when she was just the simple teenager Serena Tsukino of Juuban. What would he say if she did not have magic or beautiful transformations? There were two lost souls encumbered by duties and destinies who found solace in each other. Is that the basis of their relationship, a comfort factor? She kept so much from him and she could scarcely find out everything about him. Did he not have obligations to his people and to this world?
"You love him, do you not?"
Serena starred up in shock and even with the greatest royal training that she possessed, she could not fully hid her surprise at facing Cosmos.
"How did you ..."
"I am simply a spiritual part of you, only fully manifested when you wield it so. I am a part of you as you are a part of me. I have the duty to protect the world and fulfill destiny."
"Yes, but why?"
"You are berating about your past, present and future. One thing is constant is the act of duty that you have been entrusted as Princess, as Carrier, as Protector and as the Sovereign."
"Do you not believe in love then?"
"The better question is whether you yourself believe in love."
"I do but I question my existence in life. I am simply here to defend, to lose all those I love and only to be reborn with my past lives integrated into my new form."
"Then why love? Though Legolas is an immortal such as yourself, he may be slain in battle, while you yourself may be reborn."
"If I live then ..."
"Then you have fulfilled your duties to uphold peace and justice and perhaps live as an immortal with the one which you claim to love. Is it living then, to live forever and not die? Is there no end to one's life?"
Serena never thought of the aspect of living though her battles. She accepted the fact that she was going to be sacrificed and be reborn again. She starred at the embodiment of herself only to find that Cosmos had vanished, but the philosophical rational reminded her of Sailor Mercury.
She found herself pulled from the reaches of sleep. She could be certain whether she had physically slept, for she found herself in the arms of none other than Legolas.
"You were crying in your sleep."
"How come you are here, I thought ..."
"I saw you wandering off by yourself and when you did not return, I naturally worried."
"Why do you worry so? Is it only for comfort, for duty ..."
"It is for love. The first moment upon that waterfall in Rivendell, there was completion even before I knew your name. I experienced a part of life that had never been privy to me. I admire your courage, your determination, your curiosity, your grace. The occasional moment when you let down the secluded barrier, I saw the vulnerability, the innocence, the friendship and the love that you held for Hobbits, Dwarves, Men and Elves alike. Often, I want to stow you away to the depths of Mirkwood Forest and for you to experience only tranquillity and banished all sadness away from you."
"What if one of us dies, what about destiny then?"
"Though I am an Elf, there is a certain prospect that I shall be slain in battle. Destiny sets forth a duty for us to defend the world in which we live in. It is liked the river, always flowing but to where, only time could tell. We only know that it will continue to flow. If one of us dies, we must accept destiny's plan and relish in the brilliance of the memories of the other. Death strengthens us even though it initially weakens. I want you to be happy and to keep fighting."
"As do I. A part of me will always be with you. We share an incredible bond."
No more words were needed as Legolas kissed each tear that rolled down her cheeks. His hands found their way into her hair and ran through the soft velvet in his hands. They slowly traced a path down to her shoulders and her back until they encircled her waist. He brought her closer to him. He kissed her eyes then her nose and left imprints of burning desires from her cheeks to her neck and then up to the corners of her mouth but never touching her lips. He felt her groaned in protest. In retaliation, she straddled him beneath her and began to remove all the unnecessary clothing from him. Her hands felt the insatiable feeling of heat as she clung to his neck. All the while, he was still kissing her, and still managed to rid her of her clothing. When their lips finally touched. All sanity and rational were gone and was left with bliss, passion, and nothing but heat. The moon hid behind the clouds, only shedding minimal rays through the trees.
The quietness of the night was accompanied by the sounds from a Prince and Princess. Neither of them knew the outcome of the battle ahead, it was left to speculations and hope, but that thought was faraway at least in this brief interlude before the reckoning of Middle Earth.
End of Chapter 20
