Memories

by Sere G

Chapter Two: Rhys

The little girl moaned slightly and stirred, opening her eyes. She was in a small shack, and there was a kindly-looking woman stirring something over the fireplace. Ladling a bit of whatever it was into a wooden bowl, she carried it over to Rini. "So you're awake, little one. We were worried that you were badly hurt, with that nasty bump on your head."

Rini tentatively took the broth that the woman handed her, taking a slight sip of the steaming liquid. "What do you mean by 'we'?" She asked, not noticing anyone else in the room.

The woman laughed and moved aside, revealing a little boy standing behind her, staring shyly at his feet. "My son, Rhys, was the one who found you out in the woods-" Rini interrupted the woman with a sneeze "-bless you. Poor little thing, you were soaked to the bone, and your pony was nearby. It was obvious what had happened, the storm must have spooked the creature. What were you doing out there alone, anyway?"

Rini shook her head. "I wasn't out there alone. My nanny… oh no, where is she?!"

The woman looked confused, and Rini suddenly caught sight of the boy staring at her. He dodged behind his mother again, and the woman spoke. "You were the only one out there, child. What is your name?"

Rini sat up straight and held herself nobly, or at least as nobly as can be expected of a little five-year-old child. "I am Princess Serenity the twelfth of the Moon. However, I am referred to as Rini."

The woman looked shocked, and a little afraid. "You're the daughter of the visiting queen?! I am so sorry, your Highness, if I had but known sooner! We'll get you back to the king's castle right away!" She bustled about, getting a few things, and Rini noticed that one of them was her torn outfit. She looked down to see herself in a pair of breeches along with a tunic. "What…?"

The woman paused. "I'm so sorry, your Highness, but your clothes were torn badly in your fall so I dressed you in some of Rhys's old clothes… I'm so sorry that I did not find something to attire you more properly!" The woman was obviously afraid that she would end up being punished, either by the King of Earth or by Rini's mother, for not getting the little girl back sooner.

The little boy stepped forward slightly. "You're a princess?" Rini nodded, and the boy blushed, not meeting her eyes. "Well, you're a cute princess!" Before she could answer, the seven-year-old boy ran outside to ready the pony. A blush spread across Rini's cheeks.

When he came back in, Rhys's mother told him that he would be the one to take Rini back to the castle, that she would be riding her pony, and that he would be walking along and leading it.

Having nothing else to do, the boy and the princess talked with each other on the way to the castle, a bit shy at first, and then chattering away. She told him of how she dreamed of being one of the greatest queens ever, and he in turn told her of his dream to become a great ranger. He was already knowledgeable of the woods, and picked Rini some berries when they passed by a spot where he knew they grew. When they had finally reached the grounds, Rhys turned to her and asked her if she could make it the rest of the way to the castle on her own, and she nodded in affirmation.

They said their goodbyes, both secretly sad to see the other go, and then the boy stopped her from leaving. "Wait a moment, Princess Rini," he called.

She turned back, stopping her pony. "Huh?"

"I have something for you." Looking unsure, he slipped something from his neck, and handed it up to her. It was some sort of tooth, secured to a leather cord.

"Thank you…" She put it over her head and tucked it into her shirt. Rhys blushed slightly, and said, "It's a real wolf's tooth. It'll keep you safe. From danger, I mean. Hey, Rini?"

"Yes?"

"D'ya think your mom will be coming back to this estate again sometime?"

She looked thoughtful. "Ummm… I dunno. I think she might."

He avoided looking at her. "Well, if she does, could you maybe come visit… my mother? I really think she likes you, and would want to see you again."

Rini saw the blush on his cheeks, and could guess it wasn't his mother who wanted her to visit. "Sure, I will, Rhys… I'd like that. Goodbye. For now, at least."

"Goodbye, pretty princess." Before she could reply, he was off in a rustle of leaves, and she made her way to the castle.

Once she was back, everyone freaked out. The king's guards had been out searching for her, and her mother had been frantic, and she could hardly believe that her little girl was okay (aside from the bump on her head). Rini found out, to her surprise and dismay, that Alea had been whipped for losing the child.

Alea herself cried when she saw Rini, and hugged the little child tightly, and Rini hugged her lightly back, mindful of her nanny's wounds. "I'm so sorry, Lea! I didn't mean to get you hurt!"

Alea shook her head, smiling through her tears. "No, it's my fault, little one. I shouldn't have let your pony get away… I'm just happy that you are here, safe and sound!"

Right there and then, however, Rini made a mental note that, when she was queen, no one would be whipped.

SG: Gee, Rini's mom sounds like she can be a real-

QS: interrupts This is a PG-13 fic, Sere. And besides, she was worried about her daughter, so that can be expected.

SG: Yeah, yeah. Hey, aren't you gonna tell them?

QS: nods Yeah, I guess. Hey, people, I dunno really what I'm gonna do in this fic, I just know it is glimpses into Queen Serenity's life. Any ideas? Please, feel free to contribute some. And song lyrics to go with me chappies. :P

Just for the heck of it, they strangle each other again