In Love and War
Chapter 3
1/27/03 – 2/25/03
Author's Notes: Once again, I thank all the reviewers for the reviews and also Blazing Comets for her help once again as well as Kapt. Nemo for her input. As you can see, I've upped the rating. This will be for future chapters.
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Endymion pushed himself as far back into the rose bush as he could when he heard the approaching footsteps. He didn't know what estate he landed in but he would bet that anyone this wealthy was not likely to be a rebel. He nearly jumped when he heard an angered yell of "How dare he!"
A woman's voice! Endymion realized. Still, it would be better to stay out of sight. He continued to listen carefully and after a moment, heard the woman - No. Not woman. Girl, he amended - recite a familiar quote, the voice sounding much closer.
~No, no, go the other way,~ he silently pleaded, peering between the bushes to see if his wish would be heeded. When he saw a flurry of indigo skirts through the white roses, he realized that the Gods did not deem to love him this day.
Then, as the rose blocking his vision was deftly pulled away, he abruptly reassessed that opinion. For now, he could clearly see the owner of the blue-violet dress and the feminine voice and she was most certainly a sight to behold.
Oh, yes. What a sight she was . . . with feet of- no, *yards* of silvery gold hair brushed back to form a loose but elegant braid. Several strands of hair fell loose into her wide azure eyes as she stared back into his own darker blue eyes. Endymion had to restrain his hand from reaching up to push it behind her ear.
He marveled at the contrast her fair hair and the pale colour of her skin made to the dark violet-blue gown she was wearing. By the gods, she was exquisite. Endymion's eyes flickered for a moment to the ring on her finger and started. The Avery seal! His cobalt eyes darkened to a navy. Was this beautiful creature the wife of his worst enemy? Of Damien Avery?
The unexpected sense of jealousy that suddenly rose in his gut confused him. Beautiful the girl may be, but he didn't know her.
All these thoughts came in a quick flash, which was all he had time for, since the girl had just released a strangled shriek at the sight of him.
"Bloody hell." He once again reassessed his opinion of the little wench. She was definitely no gift from the gods. She was going to get him killed!
He acted quickly, darting out of the bushes and grabbing a hold of her wrist with his left hand. He used that hand to pull her against his chest while his right hand came up to cover her mouth. His mind distantly registered that she fit well against him, as if she belonged there. And had he not been standing rigidly alert, his chin would have come to rest comfortably atop the silk that was her hair.
Glancing around darkly to make sure know one had heard, he began to mutter to her in a dangerously low voice, "I'm going to let go of you now but you must not scream or alert anyone to my presence. I promise I won't hurt you. Do you understand?"
He felt her nod against his hand and slowly lifted it away. He let out a breath of relief as it looked like she was going to comply.
"Molly! Melvin! Guards! Lord Avery! DAMIEN!!!" He could only stare in astonishment at her audacity (and volume!) as she started shouting for the various people who watched over her.
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How had this horrible man gotten in?, Serenity thought, frightened. ~He must be one of those rebels, come to kill Damien!~
She wondered why he didn't stop her from shouting the names of her guardians but wasn't about to ask him. The raven-haired, cobalt-eyed man was amazingly good-looking, but his intentions couldn't possibly be anything but dishonourable. As his shocked expression turned into an angry scowl, she realized that it might be a prudent idea to get as far away from him as she could.
She took a step back, intending to turn and run far from the alarmingly handsome man (no! she corrected herself inwardly. Just alarming!) but he caught her wrist again before she could get out of his range.
She shrieked again, as he pulled her flush up against him, his burning gaze scanning the area for unwanted company and an escape route. "Let me go, you miserable brute! Let go of me! HELP! Let-"
Her screams were abruptly cut off as his mouth came down harshly over her own, effectively silencing her. She struggled to pull away, her protests muffled under the forced kiss of his warm lips, which seemed to grow softer and kinder and more welcoming as the man sensed her distress.
She stiffened in awareness of her thoughts. How could she think such a thing about such a barbarian who was more than likely here to kill Damien! Or perhaps even her! A tear rolled down her eye; the results of her frustration and helplessness, both physically and emotionally.
She moved to pull back again, but his large hand simply came up to her face to hold her head in place. The cad! He was enjoying this! Well, she'd show him!
She drew back her free hand, intending to strike him with all her might but he caught her arm as if he knew it was coming all along. He slowly drew back and smirked. "I would appreciate it, milady, if you would kindly not mar the perfection of my face."
There was a sparkle of amusement in his cobalt eyes as he spoke and Serenity wanted to do nothing more than finish what her hand had started. She realized with some mystification that all her prior fear had vanished to be replaced with anger and annoyance with the insufferable man in front of her. Astonished at the barbarian's ego, she retorted smartly, "The only thing I'm kindly going to do is point out that for you to think that you are perfect, you must be quite dense in the head. Especially, if you are one of those ridiculous revolutionaries."
In a heartbeat, the breathtaking grin that had once graced his face vanished to be replaced by a daunting glower. He took a step closer to Serenity and she scurried back nervously. With a threatening glare, he bit out, "You know nothing of the cause of the Sons of Liberty! You live in your little mansion, sheltered from the real world, with money and jewels and gowns, never having to worry about anything. Well, let me enlighten you, *Princess!*" He spat the word out as if it were a curse and Serenity's eyes widened in shock.
"The people out there can't speak, can't write, can't *live* without fearing for their lives. Because every time they express their opinion, their individuality, a soldier representing a king 3000 miles away will have them jailed or hung!" The enraged man clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the fury that came to him every time he thought about his cause.
Serenity opened her mouth as if to speak and then shut it again, shocked speechless. How could it be as he said on the outside? Did His Majesty truly murder people for speaking their mind? She had to know if it was true. She unconsciously reached out a hand toward him, ready to ask him one of the many questions that flooded her mind. "But how-"
"D'mion!"
A new voice filtered into the garden and when Serenity looked toward the ivy-covered wall, she saw a blond head pop over the top. "D'mion? Are you in there?"
The tall, navy-eyed rebel swung around to look up at the blond, his prior mood almost completely vanishing at the sight of his friend.. "Drew!"
"C'mon D'mion! The coast is clear. Let's get out of here. We have to reconvene! Let's go!"
The man now known as 'D'mion' turned around to face Serenity and sent her a breathtaking grin. "'Til next time, milady. Enjoy your fineries while they last. For the next time we meet, we shall have our country, and you Brits shall have nothing but your vile king!"
Serenity watched, her mouth open in shock, as he grabbed a hold of the ivy and hefted himself over the wall.
The blond named 'Drew' lingered and she saw that he was staring at her intently, a deep frown on his lips. He mumbled something inaudible before he, too, disappeared onto the other side of the wall.
Serenity remained frozen in place, her blue gaze fixated where the two men had last been. Then, with a great shuddering breath, Serenity dropped the rose that had been forgotten in her hand and fled to the comfort of Molly in the mansion.
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Phew! Well that was a difficult chapter! Anyway, please read and review! Constructive criticism is welcome!
~*~Jaina Xiran~*~