Love Among Slavery
Chapter Twelve: Family Reunited
* * *
Hotaru glided her fingers across the surface of the castle's walls, wondering where Heero or Duo had been. It has been two days since Legolas took over the kingdom and he let her move freely through the castle. Since then she had tried to avoid him as much as possible, confused by this growing emotion for him. Key word: tried.
She drew her hand in a fist when Death said, 'Forget about him.'
'I'm trying,' Hotaru said with a frown, 'But... I can't.'
'It is forbidden to have this feeling towards him,' Death scolded.
"What feeling?" Hotaru asked out loud, already forgetting about Heero and Duo.
"Hotaru? What's wrong?" Legolas asked when he walked pass her and heard her.
"Huh? Oh, nothing," Hotaru quickly covered her tracks as her heart suddenly felt lighter than air.
Legolas frowned and didn't believe in a single word that just came from her mouth. The worry that was etched on his face made Hotaru wonder if he cared for her. Legolas made to put his hand on her arm and she backed away, giving his heart a painful strangle.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
That was the question that Hotaru dreaded. She had hoped that he wouldn't realize that she was avoiding him, but elves were quite smart. So she quickly changed the subject, "I was just worried of my family."
Legolas frowned, quietly scolding himself for not realizing that Hotaru might miss her own parents. He then promised, "I'll make sure they'll come and live in the castle."
Hotaru gave him a small smile, feeling a new rush of relief go through her. She was starting to fear that her family will never see her again and that they might not have survived the invasion. Before even thinking she went up to him, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
Such a small action sent wave after wave of emotion through Legolas' body. His muscles felt numb, not the painful numb, but the ecstasy numb. He slowly turned his head to look at Hotaru, who was currently staring at the marble floor.
"Thank you..." she whispered and quickly dashed away before the elf could say a single word.
'Why did you do that?!' Death demanded with anger.
'I...' Hotaru's voice trailed, not understanding why she had kissed her king.
'I told you not to fall for him!' Death screamed.
Hotaru frowned, fed up with what the voice was doing, 'I can take care of myself!'
And then there was silence. Hotaru then became afraid, afraid that her only friend had just abandoned her. She frowned, 'Death...?'
'Death?' she tried again, 'Are you there? DEATH!'
'I'm here...' came the hollow reply.
'I'm sorry I yelled,' Hotaru apologized as relief poured into her.
'It's okay. I just didn't want you to make-'
Death's voice was cut off when suddenly Milliardo appeared out of thin air. Hotaru gasped in shock. She stood still, not knowing what to do.
"Why did you leave?" he asked calmly, though anger was clearly written in his eyes.
"I- I," stammered Hotaru.
"What?" Milliardo asked.
'Don't answer him,' Death advised.
'Why?' Hotaru asked.
'He'll hurt you just like he hurt me,' Death replied.
"Well..." Milliardo said, waiting for an answer.
"I wanted to be awake," Hotaru replied dumbly.
"You're training isn't done. Come back with me," he said, reaching a hand out towards her, welcoming her.
'Don't!' Death yelled.
'I won't...' Hotaru reassured her, 'I promise.'
"I don't want to go back with you," was Hotaru's simple answer.
Those familiar words from that familiar sweet voice shook Milliardo's soul. He felt tense, hurt and knew that he could never go back in time to fix what he'd done. He looked at the present form of the girl he once knew inside out and wished dearly to draw her in an embrace. To kiss those lips that he had abandoned before, to have her smile that special smile for him and to be loved again.
"I see," he whispered. Feeling oddly cold, "I'll leave then... but I'll come back."
Hotaru could only nod as Milliardo disappeared. She shook from the pain in Milliardo's voice. It was then that she needed answers, fast. And only one person... or thing, could tell her.
'Why is he bad?' Hotaru asked Death.
'Who?' Death asked, pretending to be stupid.
'Milliardo! That's who!' exclaimed Hotaru.
'He betrayed me... and he shall betray you...' was the only reply she got.
Hotaru shuddered for no reason at all. Milliardo... betray her? How could he betray her if there was nothing to betray at all? It didn't make sense, but before she could think much further into it an elf came up to her.
"Lady Hotaru, your family is here to meet you," the elf said.
"Thank you," breathed Hotaru in excitement.
"They are at the throne room, my lady," he told her.
"Thank you very much," she thanked him again.
With a smile she walked towards the throne room, where her parents are. She could sense that her parents, including her grandfather, were indeed in this very palace. The same safe and warm feeling seeped into her heart.
'Be careful,' Death warned, 'Everyone in the universe is against you.'
Hotaru ignored the little voice inside her head. Besides, how could her beloved family ever harm her? She just placed another smile on her face and walked through the doorway.
Setsuna looked up and saw her darling daughter smiling at her. Relief weaved through her heart as she held her arms out for a hug. Without being asked, Hotaru ran into the comforting arms of her dear mother.
Souichi Tomoe could only smile when he saw that his daughter was not at all harmed. He then drew his wife and child in a warm embrace. Nothing could ever destroy the love they held for each other... except for their loyalty to the crown.
Gandalf sent a nod towards the young elfin prince that was standing aside. Legolas acknowledged the old wizard with a nod as well. It was then that Gandalf noticed a gleam in the elf's eyes... the gleam of love? Now that was something that he had forgotten. Indeed, this happened in the past... but would it happen in the present?
This disturbed him. Even if he wanted his granddaughter to live happily ever after with her prince charming... he knew that Hotaru couldn't. Not when the whole universe needed Hotaru's prince charming to complete the universe of pure light.
Serenity Tsukino sat on her throne, waiting. She loved him in the past and still does now. The question is, will he ever learn to love her back? She fidgeted under her seat, scared that he had loved another... just like before.
Just then her brother appeared, back from Earth. Serenity saw that her brother felt... depressed. Of course, he did. It was normal now a day for him to feel that way, ever since the incident in the past. He then lifted his head to stare at the now barren planet of Saturn.
"You're thinking of her..." Serenity said.
"I can't help it," he replied.
"You have to get over her Milliardo," she told him.
He looked up sharply at her and said hatefully, "If it wasn't for you then she would still be in my arms Serenity! So don't tell me what to do. Your stupid game cost me the love of my life."
Serenity was taken aback. It had been centuries since he forgave her for that little incident, but then... she is back, in flesh and blood. It was then that Serenity heard Legolas' voice. She remembered that he held a fragile girl in his arms, crying and in distress when he said...
"I love you, my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."
Too bad that Legolas did not speak those lovely words to Serenity; he spoke those undying words to...
Hotaru Tomoe stood at the outside of Legolas' chamber later that evening. She paced back in forth, afraid to knock. Her emotions were confusing her, and every confusing emotion always led back to HIM. She frowned, not knowing what to do.
Then the door opened suddenly! There stood the confused elfin prince, staring at the goddess... no... HIS goddess. His blood swayed in his veins just by the sight of her blushing form.
Hotaru looked up gingerly and said, "Thank you... for letting my family live here."
"Anything for you..." was all he could get out, afraid to chock on the other words he wanted to say.
Hotaru's blush deepened, "Well, good night your majesty."
"Good night," Legolas said as Hotaru walked away. His heart thumped loudly in his ears, making him shudder. Suddenly he heard a voice speak at the back of his mind...
"I love you, my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."
* * *
Silver Author
Chapter Twelve: Family Reunited
* * *
Hotaru glided her fingers across the surface of the castle's walls, wondering where Heero or Duo had been. It has been two days since Legolas took over the kingdom and he let her move freely through the castle. Since then she had tried to avoid him as much as possible, confused by this growing emotion for him. Key word: tried.
She drew her hand in a fist when Death said, 'Forget about him.'
'I'm trying,' Hotaru said with a frown, 'But... I can't.'
'It is forbidden to have this feeling towards him,' Death scolded.
"What feeling?" Hotaru asked out loud, already forgetting about Heero and Duo.
"Hotaru? What's wrong?" Legolas asked when he walked pass her and heard her.
"Huh? Oh, nothing," Hotaru quickly covered her tracks as her heart suddenly felt lighter than air.
Legolas frowned and didn't believe in a single word that just came from her mouth. The worry that was etched on his face made Hotaru wonder if he cared for her. Legolas made to put his hand on her arm and she backed away, giving his heart a painful strangle.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
That was the question that Hotaru dreaded. She had hoped that he wouldn't realize that she was avoiding him, but elves were quite smart. So she quickly changed the subject, "I was just worried of my family."
Legolas frowned, quietly scolding himself for not realizing that Hotaru might miss her own parents. He then promised, "I'll make sure they'll come and live in the castle."
Hotaru gave him a small smile, feeling a new rush of relief go through her. She was starting to fear that her family will never see her again and that they might not have survived the invasion. Before even thinking she went up to him, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
Such a small action sent wave after wave of emotion through Legolas' body. His muscles felt numb, not the painful numb, but the ecstasy numb. He slowly turned his head to look at Hotaru, who was currently staring at the marble floor.
"Thank you..." she whispered and quickly dashed away before the elf could say a single word.
'Why did you do that?!' Death demanded with anger.
'I...' Hotaru's voice trailed, not understanding why she had kissed her king.
'I told you not to fall for him!' Death screamed.
Hotaru frowned, fed up with what the voice was doing, 'I can take care of myself!'
And then there was silence. Hotaru then became afraid, afraid that her only friend had just abandoned her. She frowned, 'Death...?'
'Death?' she tried again, 'Are you there? DEATH!'
'I'm here...' came the hollow reply.
'I'm sorry I yelled,' Hotaru apologized as relief poured into her.
'It's okay. I just didn't want you to make-'
Death's voice was cut off when suddenly Milliardo appeared out of thin air. Hotaru gasped in shock. She stood still, not knowing what to do.
"Why did you leave?" he asked calmly, though anger was clearly written in his eyes.
"I- I," stammered Hotaru.
"What?" Milliardo asked.
'Don't answer him,' Death advised.
'Why?' Hotaru asked.
'He'll hurt you just like he hurt me,' Death replied.
"Well..." Milliardo said, waiting for an answer.
"I wanted to be awake," Hotaru replied dumbly.
"You're training isn't done. Come back with me," he said, reaching a hand out towards her, welcoming her.
'Don't!' Death yelled.
'I won't...' Hotaru reassured her, 'I promise.'
"I don't want to go back with you," was Hotaru's simple answer.
Those familiar words from that familiar sweet voice shook Milliardo's soul. He felt tense, hurt and knew that he could never go back in time to fix what he'd done. He looked at the present form of the girl he once knew inside out and wished dearly to draw her in an embrace. To kiss those lips that he had abandoned before, to have her smile that special smile for him and to be loved again.
"I see," he whispered. Feeling oddly cold, "I'll leave then... but I'll come back."
Hotaru could only nod as Milliardo disappeared. She shook from the pain in Milliardo's voice. It was then that she needed answers, fast. And only one person... or thing, could tell her.
'Why is he bad?' Hotaru asked Death.
'Who?' Death asked, pretending to be stupid.
'Milliardo! That's who!' exclaimed Hotaru.
'He betrayed me... and he shall betray you...' was the only reply she got.
Hotaru shuddered for no reason at all. Milliardo... betray her? How could he betray her if there was nothing to betray at all? It didn't make sense, but before she could think much further into it an elf came up to her.
"Lady Hotaru, your family is here to meet you," the elf said.
"Thank you," breathed Hotaru in excitement.
"They are at the throne room, my lady," he told her.
"Thank you very much," she thanked him again.
With a smile she walked towards the throne room, where her parents are. She could sense that her parents, including her grandfather, were indeed in this very palace. The same safe and warm feeling seeped into her heart.
'Be careful,' Death warned, 'Everyone in the universe is against you.'
Hotaru ignored the little voice inside her head. Besides, how could her beloved family ever harm her? She just placed another smile on her face and walked through the doorway.
Setsuna looked up and saw her darling daughter smiling at her. Relief weaved through her heart as she held her arms out for a hug. Without being asked, Hotaru ran into the comforting arms of her dear mother.
Souichi Tomoe could only smile when he saw that his daughter was not at all harmed. He then drew his wife and child in a warm embrace. Nothing could ever destroy the love they held for each other... except for their loyalty to the crown.
Gandalf sent a nod towards the young elfin prince that was standing aside. Legolas acknowledged the old wizard with a nod as well. It was then that Gandalf noticed a gleam in the elf's eyes... the gleam of love? Now that was something that he had forgotten. Indeed, this happened in the past... but would it happen in the present?
This disturbed him. Even if he wanted his granddaughter to live happily ever after with her prince charming... he knew that Hotaru couldn't. Not when the whole universe needed Hotaru's prince charming to complete the universe of pure light.
Serenity Tsukino sat on her throne, waiting. She loved him in the past and still does now. The question is, will he ever learn to love her back? She fidgeted under her seat, scared that he had loved another... just like before.
Just then her brother appeared, back from Earth. Serenity saw that her brother felt... depressed. Of course, he did. It was normal now a day for him to feel that way, ever since the incident in the past. He then lifted his head to stare at the now barren planet of Saturn.
"You're thinking of her..." Serenity said.
"I can't help it," he replied.
"You have to get over her Milliardo," she told him.
He looked up sharply at her and said hatefully, "If it wasn't for you then she would still be in my arms Serenity! So don't tell me what to do. Your stupid game cost me the love of my life."
Serenity was taken aback. It had been centuries since he forgave her for that little incident, but then... she is back, in flesh and blood. It was then that Serenity heard Legolas' voice. She remembered that he held a fragile girl in his arms, crying and in distress when he said...
"I love you, my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."
Too bad that Legolas did not speak those lovely words to Serenity; he spoke those undying words to...
Hotaru Tomoe stood at the outside of Legolas' chamber later that evening. She paced back in forth, afraid to knock. Her emotions were confusing her, and every confusing emotion always led back to HIM. She frowned, not knowing what to do.
Then the door opened suddenly! There stood the confused elfin prince, staring at the goddess... no... HIS goddess. His blood swayed in his veins just by the sight of her blushing form.
Hotaru looked up gingerly and said, "Thank you... for letting my family live here."
"Anything for you..." was all he could get out, afraid to chock on the other words he wanted to say.
Hotaru's blush deepened, "Well, good night your majesty."
"Good night," Legolas said as Hotaru walked away. His heart thumped loudly in his ears, making him shudder. Suddenly he heard a voice speak at the back of his mind...
"I love you, my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."
* * *
Silver Author