Morning made its grand entrance by shining directly into the tent on the outskirts of the camp. A sliver of sun rested upon Selenity's face, emitting groans and muttered complaints from the not-so courteous princess.
"I'd enjoy mornings much more if they came later in the day," she mumbled to herself, sliding out of the cot and stretching. If only she could sleep just a little bit longer... last night had been so crazy...
Last night...
Selenity blushed.
If they had truly been husband and wife... would Endymion have done more? His hands around her waist... his kisses searing through her body like an electric current... what would he have truly done?
She blushed again, trying to wave away the thoughts from her already clouded mind. There was no time to be thinking of such things... not when they were still trying to get back to Avaria...
But still... she could almost feel his warm hands resting upon her shoulders... his husky voice whispering into her ear...
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
Selenity jumped.
"Endymion...g-good m-morning," she stammered. The warmth from his hands still lingered though her body. His eyes lowered onto her rosy face with a smile, his fingers gently brushed her cheek.
"You look refreshed."
His hand dropped from her cheek then, and then pointed to a section of the forest that they were camped within. "There's a stream over there for you to tidy up Selenity... you may even bathe there." His voice was soft, like a gentle breeze, as he looked so handsome standing there, his lazy smirk lying carelessly on his lips. No wonder why she thought she was in love with him the first time she saw him... but... he was so... and she was so...
What a silly prospect, love at first sight? She was a princess; she couldn't just have her head stuck in the skies forever. She blinked for a second, attempting to shake off the strange thoughts as she tried to recall what he just said. Something about a stream for her to bathe in? Her face turned even redder at the remembrance of the previous time she bathed.
She looked down at her feet. "Thanks, that sounds nice."
He nodded and continued, "and when you finish, you can tell me exactly what this crystal is... You got that princess?"
She stuck her tongue out at him and stormed off, her face still flushed and her heart still lost.
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Call It Destiny
by Sailor Elysia and Eternal Angel
ely_chan@yahoo.com, stargazing12@hotmail.com
Chapter 7
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She re-entered the tent, her hair dripping with water as the cold slashed against her sides. The gown stuck to her like another layer of skin. She shivered as Endymion raised his eyebrow at her. "You know you usually take off your clothing first when you take a bath, don't you?"
She rolled her eyes. "I fell in."
He snickered slightly, his eyes admiring the shape of her body as her teeth clattered from the cold. "I thought princesses were suppose to be graceful?"
She glared.
He snickered.
He enjoyed this game they played.
Selenity reached for a thick blanket to wrap around her shivering form. "Turn around, Endymion. It isn't proper for a knight to look upon a princess while she dresses." She started to rummage through the knapsack on the floor.
Endymion let out a laugh. "It wouldn't be the first time I've seen you without clothing, princess." He stepped towards her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Besides, I thought we were husband and wife now," he stated, leaning in close to her face.
Selenity's heart pounded in her chest. She desperately hoped he couldn't hear the fierce thumping even though it felt as if her whole body was throbbing. She took a deep breath. "I thought it was all a game to you, Endymion. To truly be husband and wife, you have to... you have to..." She couldn't bring herself to say the words without knowing his feelings.
'You have to be in love.'
His grasp on her shoulders tightened. "Have to what, Selenity? What were you going to say?" She bit her lip. "I know you don't like Syphis. You act differently when he's around," she said, trying desperately to change the subject.
Endymion's gaze hardened. "I have every right to dislike him. The man is like a snake, slithering around and showing up when he's least expected. I cannot predict his actions. I do not trust him when you are alone with him."
Selenity stood up fully. He could be so infuriating! "I can watch out for myself, thank you very much! I am very capable of protecting myself from the likes of him. Besides, Syphis is harmless. He has asked for help, and with you here, he won't try anything."
"If you say so, princess. But let me ask you one thing. How long can you protect yourself from this?"
A puzzled look crossed her face. "What do you mean, Endymi--" For the third time on this journey, Selenity found herself in a fierce embrace, warm lips tantalizing hers. The feeling in her legs melted away, forcing her to cling to Endymion's arms. The blanket previously wrapped around her body fell out of her grasp and onto the floor.
Selenity took no notice of her damp clothes, nor did she even care that her dress was somewhat transparent because of it. Her mind and heart was only filled with one thing at the moment.
'How does he do this to me? Why do I feel this way? He can't possibly... but if he did, wouldn't he say something? Or is he the type of man who doesn't express his feelings? What if this is the only way he knows how to show how he feels?'
'I love him so... could he ever feel that way towards me?'
"Princess!" A loud voice called from outside the tent. The front flap opened as Syphis stepped in uninvited. "I hope we can discuss your plans to help me obtain the--" The bandit stopped short. "Forgive me, I did not mean to interrupt such an intimate moment." Syphis averted his eyes from Endymion, whose gaze pierced through him like sharp daggers.
Selenity's face flushed bright red and she reached down for the blanket to cover herself. "Syphis, I said we would discuss the matter when the time was right. I will come find you at that time." She smiled slightly, trying to hide within the blanket.
Endymion grit his teeth. "You heard the princess. We will come find you if she agrees to help you. But for now, I think you should leave."
Syphis attempted to stand his ground. "I think that is for the princess to decide, knight. Not you."
"I speak for the princess at this moment. We wish for you to leave." The bandit was obviously not pleased and begrudgingly left the tent, muttering something about Avarian laws under his breath.
Endymion turned back to face the still blushing princess, and couldn't refuse a slight smile. "Now then... where were we?"
The man was a rogue, was all she could think in her mind. Her eyes gazed within his deeply passionate ones and wondered how she could not submit into this desire, these emotions that dolefully numbed all true sensibility and revealed something strong. Love...
No, lust. It was all lust. To love was to... and to... was...
Her eyes closed.
She wondered what it would feel to give into him, to accept what he was offering right now. Pure unrestrained affection between the bodies and senses.
But what of the dull ache deep within her, the one that longed for more, that longed for more than a perfect union. But that string of emotion that she wished to deny still sat there, pulsing, aching... If only he... if only she...
If only if onlys existed. And then...
His lips met hers again. The rising emotions danced within her, the forgotten emotions lay numb in the corner but would not leave. This wasn't right. As wonderful as she felt within his embrace she could not disregard her emotions, the same ones that she had let rule her choices for the past many years of her life.
She stilled beneath his kiss.
His eyes opened casually to stare at her curiously as his hand slowly stroked her long smooth hair. His eyes were filled with a strange questioning look.
"I need to change," she whispered softly, sliding out from his strong arms. "Do you think you can leave the tent for a few moments while I do so?"
He stood there, still remembering how warm she felt within his arms. How soft her kiss was, how wonderful it felt to have her body against his in one of the most intimate positions possible. The other one being...
He pushed the thoughts from his mind and bowed to her. "As you wish princess..."
He left the tent while she collapsed onto the bed with a mixed up heart, a coldness seeping throughout her from the absence of his arms, and the stark realization that she was so very much in love with him that it hurt.
She emerged from the tent not long after fully dressed. Her eyes gazed at the man who was leaning against the tent with an amused look. "Your husband stormed off just a few minutes ago to take a cold shower, so I was told."
She stared at him blankly as he stood up straight. "So tell me princess, the truth. You aren't truly married to him are you?"
"Does it matter?" She scoffed softly. "In Avarian law we are now..."
"Avarian law does not determine the heart," Syphis refuted. "He can never please you princess, he is but a knight. What you need is a man that appreciates you... He may be able to pleasure your body, but can he pleasure your heart?"
She looked away, not wanting to admit she had been thinking about that just moments before. "What is your business with the crystal, Syphis? From what I understand, Sylathia already has a king."
"A cruel ruthless king that does not care for his people," Syphis said with a hateful look in his face. "That man who calls himself king does not have the right. The right is given to those who have the crystal. The crystal can give anyone the right to fully govern. Currently people question his right. His father did not give him the crystal for a reason. His father believed that anyone who wanted to become his successor should earn the right and find the crystal, which his close friend hid. But he died before he could tell anyone where it was."
"And why are you worthy of this right, what makes you not the bastard as the king already in play?" She asked, eyes brimmed with curiosity. He let out a sly smile. "He was not the bastard," Syphis announced. "I was."
"Wait... your father was the previous king?"
He nodded. "My father had originally wanted me to be the king, and was to tell me the location of this crystal. But as I told you, his untimely death had stopped that from ever occurring."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" She asked.
He shrugged. "You don't. But you can go into the villages and ask any man or woman, and they will tell you how cruel my brother is as a king."
Selenity stared at the man before her. "And by you telling me this is supposed to convince me to help you locate this crystal? You seem to know more of its whereabouts than I do. I know of its power and the legends behind it, but I have never searched for it. Avaria has no reason to do so."
Syphis nearly lunged at the princess. "But you see, this is why I do need your help. Avaria has no need for it, so with the assistance of your country, I can find the crystal and rule Sylathia as it was meant to be. You have my word that Avaria will not be in any danger."
The princess sighed softly. "I promise you nothing, Syphis. I am not the one who makes decisions for Avaria. That duty falls to the hands of my brother. Besides, I find it very hard to believe that Sylathia will not attempt anything, since they are the ones who kidnapped me in the first place."
"But you have my word!" Syphis exclaimed, his voice growing high and thin.
"If you want my help at all, do not attempt to force me into something I know so little about!" Selenity raised her voice. She took in a slow, deep breath. "Once we return to Avaria, I think I will be able to aid you in your quest. But the longer we stay here, the longer it will take for you to reclaim your rightful title."
Syphis smiled. "Thank you, princess. Of all people, I knew you would be the one to understand my situation. You and your 'companion' may leave us at any time."
Selenity nodded briefly, then headed towards the tent.
"Princess?" Syphis called out. She turned to face him.
"A moment ago, you seemed against helping me. What made you change your mind?"
She smiled sadly. "No king should be forced to wander about his own land to survive." Then she slipped inside the tent.
"Impressive little speech you gave out there, Princess."
Selenity stifled a gasp as Endymion appeared in the middle of the tent. She hadn't seen him return. "How much did you hear?" she asked quietly. He didn't look up from the shirt he was repairing. "I approached after you yelled at him. Quite frankly, I never expected you to raise your voice at anyone, except for me."
She crossed her arms against her chest. "Then you ought to know better not to put me in such a position."
"Don't change the subject, Princess. Just what exactly are you planning to do when we return to Avaria?"
Selenity bit her lip to keep back her harsh words. He could be so frustrating! "Why are you being so formal all of a sudden? This isn't like you, Endymion."
He didn't answer. Instead, he continued his tirade. "Do you honestly think that your brother would agree to help the enemy? The ones responsible for kidnapping you in the first place?"
"Don't you think I already know that?" She retorted. "I mentioned those very words, but you already knew that because you were listening in the whole time. Besides, I never agreed to anything. I only said that it was a possibility that we could help him."
"Just like a typical woman," Endymion muttered. He threw the mended shirt aside. "You can't be an angel of mercy to everyone. Don't be so foolish, Selenity."
The princess clenched her fists. She took several deep breaths, then looked up to meet Endymion's gaze, fury raging in her eyes. "I am no typical woman. The only foolish thing I have done so far is to allow myself to fall in love with you!" Her eyes widened and her hand clapped over her mouth, but it was too late to retract her words.
The two faced each other for several ensuing moments... then with a soft cry, Selenity fled from the tent.
CP: (rolls eyes) Lyssa doesn't like Syphis while I find him utterly bemusing. You can totally tell what part Lyssa writes when everything about him starts going d-o-w-n... (giggles) oh well, can't win them all. Sorry for taking so long, it's been a stressful school year for me and so I lagged very so much with this story. (sobs) I apologize. Anyway, feedback would be nice and (tilts head) wow, it's been forever since I posted a sm ficcie... anyway, hopefully the next chapter won't take as long!
Ely: I do too like him! Well... sort of... okay, so maybe I don't like him all that much. He just gets in the way. *cough* anyway, my writing is starting to come back, it's been on a lonnnnnng hiatus because last semester nearly killed my love for it. I hope it's starting to come back now. *prods minna* tell us how we're doing and how we can improve!