Love Among Slavery

Chapter Fifteen: He Broke His Promise

Legolas took the steps slowly as the heavenly glowing carriage stopped in front of the palace doors. The welcoming fanfare he had ordered before hand was sounding off the anthem of the Moon Kingdom. As he took the last step down, he straightened up and breathed in deep. He watched intently as the carriage door, engraved in gold, opened and reavealed unto him the greatest sight his eyes have every lain on. She was absolutely stunning.

Her long hair in two buns streamed around her like the tails of shooting stars in the night sky. Her blue eyes- almost silver- held his pale blue eyes in their splendid wonder. She wore a silken dress of white, of innocence, that trailed slightly behind her- giving the effect of her floating. She was smiling too, she was smiling at him and it drove his heart wild with thoughts of spending time with her.

She was trapped in his gaze also. Of all this time of waiting, she had forgotten just how perfect he really was. His tall, lean and muscular body. His sharp, pale blue eyes. His beautiful glazed lips and his smooth blonde hair was killing her all over again. She knew that Hotaru wasn't in the palace, she knew that Hotaru was starting her endless and painful training elsewhere, and she knew that Hotaru loved Legolas, only to be stolen by her. And she loved it. As much as she considered Hotaru as her friend, she secretly hoped that she'd suffer as much as she had over the many ages.

"Welcome to my kingdom," Legolas greeted with a soft smile.

Oh Goddesses! His voice!

"It is my pleasure," Serenity replied, revealing a sweet smile.

Oh Gods! Her voice!

Milliardo, as much as he was glad that Legolas was smitten with his sister, was a bit worried. He could not locate Hotaru's wonderous aura anywhere in the palace. His heart stopped in mid-beating as Legolas extended an arm towards Serenity to take. She was gone, he realized. He knew that it was good news for his sister because then she and the Knight can fall in love again- uninterrupted this time. But his own heart can not bear the pain.

Trowa's steps were even and sure. He knew where he was going and he knew who he was to kill. His two "minions" followed closely like faithful lost dogs. It always amused Trowa how humans could break so easily. They were so weak and defenseless... and yet they worked incredibly in a group. Building cities, erecting towers and such. They could also grasp magic quickly, but still, they were weak when they wanted revenge.

They were making towards the Human Kingdom that were over taken by elves. He was making his way towards the Ebony Goddess, he was so close that he could almost hear her moans when he finally decides to take her.

Then, suddenly, but not quick enough to catch him off guard, her aura disappeared from the face of the Earth.

He smirked, "So, you are to awaken soon. No doubt that you've sensed me. Ahh, but no use. You and her will be one soon, and then I'll have the complete you instead of trying to go both ways now. Heero, Duo."

"Yes, m'lord," the two humans answered in monotone.

"I need you to prepare two armies for me in week," he commanded confidently. "I do not expect failure."

"Yes, m'lord," they replied again.

"Go," Trowa ordered and they left him staring at the sky, staring towards Saturn. "I'm coming, Hotaru. Just wait a moment longer and we'll share lives together once more... Just you and I, together. I promise."

She watched as her future Queen take her beloved King's arm from a mirror. The sparkle in their eyes, the intimate smiles they had just shared and the way he reacted to the Moon Princess' beauty, carved a hole into her heart. She knew this was to be, she knew this was going to happen, she knew that... he'll never love her. It was all a joke! The seemingly deep understanding between them, the rich laughter they shared, and the times they were alone... were all lies! It was all a sickening ruse!

"Hotaru."

She turned around, her hair flowing alongside her, her face stricken with hurt and, for some unknown reason, betrayal. What she saw behind her, made her gasp in disbelief. She looked exactly like her! Her eyes, face, body, everything. The only difference between them were their outfits, and that the other woman was ghost-like. Hotaru was wearing a deep purple dress that hugged her figure and swept to the floor gracefully. The stranger was wearing something of wickedness. Her violet skirt was above her kness and she was showing more cleverage than humanly possible! How dare someone in her image and likeness wear something so... indecent?

"The fuku, am I correct?" the strange look-a-like woman asked upon seeing Hotaru's face. "Yes, I did not like it at first either, but I've learned to love it."

Her voice... it sounded so familiar to Hotaru. "Who... are you...?"

The woman smiled, "Don't tell me you don't recognize my voice... or should I say, our voice?"

Hotaru swallowed slowly as she was hit with realization, and whispered with caution, "Death?"

The woman smiled, "Yes."

"Y-you look exactly like me," she shuddered.

"That's because, child, I am you," the woman said.

"How can that be? I am me," Hotaru shouted in distress.

"Calm down, Hotaru," Death drew out her authority voice. "I will now explain everything."

Hotaru sat down on the feathered bed to try to calm her raging heart and uneven breath.

"I am you, Hotaru" Death began. "I am you in the past. I am your deepest locked memory, never to be released until the time was right. And the the time for me to be released has now ripened.

"You may not remember, but I am your past life, before you've become reincarnated. I-You-We are the Goddess of Death, Revolution, Ruin and Rebirth, the Queen of Saturn, the Sailor Senshi of Death, Revolution and Rebirth. In the past, we served the Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, and her lover, King Legolas."

Her head snapped up upon hearing his name. No wonder Death kept insisting that Legolas and her could never be, he was already in love with the Princess a long time ago. Then why? Why did her heart tell her otherwise?

"I will not lie to you, Hotaru, since we are to merge soon, our King... our Legolas, was in love with us. He was our everything, even though both of us- Legolas and I- knew it would not last long. We were lovers for a breif period of time. And Milliardo, do you remember him"

Hotaru nodded mechanically, this was illogical, yet she believed in every word coming from Death's mouth.

"He was our past lover as well, before we met Legolas. He loved us very much, but because of a childish bet he had with the Goddess of Love, and because of Princess Serenity's pleading, he sworn to not love us for a month."

"And it was during that month we met Legolas," Hotaru finished off for Death, suddenly everything was coming back to her. "The Princess sent us to protect him against a great Evil. We fell in love with him, and he with us in a mere month. It was to be a fairy tale ending. However, when we went back to the Moon Kingdom, his eyes met the now-matured princess', and they fell in love. He push us away! He drove us off! He said that..."

"We are two diffent people, Hotaru," Legolas had said, looking at the ground, afraid to meet her tear gathering eyes. "We can never be, we knew that in the very beginning. I love Serenity now... you can go back to Prince Milliardo... he loves you. And I... I can never remember the love I once held for you."

"I don't want Milliardo," Hotaru had cried. "I want you, and I always will. Goddesses Legolas, I love thee with all mine heart."

"But I do not love thee," he was suddenly shouting. "You can dote on me all thee want, Princess of Saturn, but my love for Serentiy will not wither under your persistence."

"You can dote on me all thee want, Princess of Saturn, but my love for Serentiy will not wither under your persistence..."

Legolas shook his head, clearing the voices he was hearing. He was currently in the royal gardens strolling happily beside the beautiful Princess Serenity. Every now and then, he stole glances her way, not being able to help himself. Unbeknowest to him, Serenity was stealing glances at him too. Ah, love was in the air. But still, something knawed on his mind and did not want to let go.

Legolas looked up ahead and something jolted him awake, it was there by those flowers when he told Hotaru yesterday about Serenity's arrival. He suddenly pictured Hotaru there turning around to see him, bathed in the afternoon sun, as butterflies scattered around her. It was divine and lovely. She had looked at him with serene violet eyes, and her pale skin sent off a glow.

"Are you alright, Legolas."

Ah, he loved it when she said his name.

"Yes, Serenity, I'm fine," he answered.

Ah, she loved it when he said her name.

His little memory of Hotaru slipped away as the two new-found lovers continued their walk with a few maids and gentlemen accompanied them.

"Milliardo!"

Immediately his right arm got attached by the blonde blue-eyed Goddess of Love. Why the hell did his sister bring the Inner Goddesses with her anyway?

"Hell-o, Minako," he replied in a deadly tone.

She pouted adorably,"Why are you always so grumpy"

He stopped himself from flinging her across the hall when she saw the Goddess of Time coming from the doorway, looking confused and worried. Milliado unattached himself from Minako's death-like grip on his arm and walked towards Setsuna, the present mother of his love.

"Lady Setsuna," he bowed in respect.

Setsuna looked up and swallowed her irratation when she saw him and her.

"My Prince, Lady Minako," she curtsied.

"Hey Setsuna!" exclaimed Minako and then curtsied as well.

"I was wondering," Milliardo began. "Have you seen Hotaru around?

Both Minako and Setsuna narrowed their eyes at him. How dare Milliardo seek the company of Hotaru when he had Minako? How dare he seek the company of her daughter after his betrayal to her? They were both furious but did not show it outright. He was, after all, their Prince.

"No," Setsuna said simply before exiting the hall.

"And then he turned and left, leaving a weaked me at his wake," Hotaru felt tears spilling out of the corners of her eyes. "It was then that the Evil came for me. He wanted me to help him become victorious to the Princess' heart. I did not know that then, and I thought he was being nice so I followed him. He helped me feel happier, feel wanted and feel..."

"Loved," Death said, her face expression becoming grim. "He loved us, even though he didn't know it."

"He fed me lies," Hotaru spat out bitterly. "He said that he loved me and said that together we would show Legolas that I no longer needed him. Together we would show Serenity that her 'mighty' Moon Kingdom was quite pathetic. Together, we would show the Universe that Saturn was the strongest and even Time would bow before me."

"He lied..." Death whispered, feeling empty.

"Just when we were to show all of them our combined alliance's strength, he took Princess Serenity into his arms and claimed to her that he'll never let me destroy her kingdom nor anything that belonged to her. He told the Princess that he would rid of me as long as she married him," Hotaru began to choke on tears and sobs. "And then I awoke, as if from a dream, and saw the truth. He wasn't in love with me... he was in love with my power."

"Oh, Legolas, look," Serenity exclaimed calmly.

Legolas turned to see what she was looking at. It was a water lily in the pond. He smiled. She was so innocent and took simple pleasures. She was calm, innocent and delicate. Yes, he and her would make a fine couple.

"I'm going to get it," she suddenly announced and made for the pond's edge, Legolas following her closely, including the entourage.

"Careful, Serenity!" cried a short blue-haired woman, the Goddess of Water, Lady Ami.

As she reached for the water lily, she slipped, but Legolas caught her by the waist. Before anyone knew what was happening, they became off balance and they both fell into the water. He manuvered himslef underneath her so to break her fall. So there they were. Serenity stared at him with a michevious smile on her lips and he stared back in return, their lips mere centimeters away from each other, both dripping wet.

It was then that something flashed in front of him. Last night's dreams of Hotaru's hot lips on his fiery ones, locked in passion and heat. Her body against his, her hands in his hair and his arms around her waist, hugging her to him. It was mind-numbing, pain-filled bliss.

He snapped out of his reverie when Serenity landed a peck on his cheek. His eyes went wide and he blushed. She giggled and blushed as well.

"My, what a lovely couple," the raven-haired Goddess of Fire, Lady Rei, said, smiling.

"Legolas came to his senses and held us, and said that he loved us," Death swallowed, remembering clearly what had happened.

"And he did, I know he did," Hotaru whispered desperately.

"Then the Evil, Trowa Barton, was suddenly hit with realization," Death continued.

"He loved me..." Hotaru's voice trailed as she toppled over onto her bed and cried into her blanket. "He was about to kill Legolas, but me, being the ever foolish lover, used my body to deflect the attack from him and unto me... I died."

"I love you... Legolas..." her voice ended in a deathly whisper, a thin vien of blood coming from the corner of her mouth, and then she went limp in his hold.

He cried out in agony, as he flung a seal towards the numb-ridden Evil. He then held her cooling corpse to his body, somehow hoping that his warmth would bring her back. He felt tears coming from his eyes, but ignored them, it did not matter if he showed how weak he was when it came to his beloved. The moments they had shared flashed vividly in front of him. Her laughter, her smile, even her tears. He was already missing them... he was already missing her. How foolish of him to let her go!

"I love you my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."

With that he-

"I love you... Legolas..."

Her voice, so desperate and loving, whispered into his ears.

Legolas stopped his fork midway to his mouth. It was time for luncheon, everyone was there. Even Hotaru's family who, surprisingly, knew Serenity and the other Goddesses.

He put the fork back onto his plate. What was with these voices in his head? And to make it worse, this one made is heart throb. It made no sense as to why he was suddenly trying to catch his breath or pull back tears, so why? He put his left hand to his heart. His heart was breaking.

"Legolas?"

His heart was mending now. He looked at Serenity and was suddenly filled with such love that he wanted to tell everyone. The Council members were right, Serenity would make a perfect Queen for him.

"I'm alright," he told her worried face. "You should try the cake, it's delicious."

A few tables away, Gandalf saw the whole transaction. The pain-filled expression on Legolas' face and the way he had his hand on his chest, as if to hold something in.

"You try to replace, but you can not help but remember," Gandalf whispered mournfully as he drew a breath on his pipe. "She is a part of you now, but the princess is the one you see. Where is your Goddess, my Prince? Where is your Goddess?"

Hotaru sat bolt upright, her fingers touching the right corner of her mouth, and shuddered. She could feel the blood coming down her skin, and she could feel Legolas' tears hitting her face. His sob-wracked body shuddering to hold back tears as he looked at her one last time before her body broke and died. He loved her. Legolas loved her.

"He loved me..." Hotaru whispered.

"And so did I."

Hotaru stood and turned around frantically. Death snapped back into reality and drew out her glaive, ready to strike, even though she was in her ghostly form. Leaning casually against one of the marble columns, arms crossed, cape swaying in the wind, armor gleaming from the light cast by Saturn's ring and eyes gleaming like emeralds was the great Evil: Trowa Barton.

Trowa bit back a gasp at the tears that dared to grace her wonderful cheeks. She looked so sad... and alone. But he would fix that. He would never leave her side again. He then chanced a glance at the furious transparent form of Eternal Sailor Saturn. Yes, lovely, absolutely wonderful that she was to merge and train Hotaru back into what was once her glorious self. One Hotaru he could handle, but now two? Not to mention one wasn't dressed in modesty.

"Gods, how you tempt me," he whispered.

Hotaru blushed, knowing exactly what he meant. But Death never wavered her glare upon him. She loathed him with all her might.

"Y-You're... the Evil?" Hotaru asked timidly, putting her hands over her heart and hardly believing what she was seeing. "Y-Your... not ugly..."

He smiled. Gods, how he loved her innocence. How he loved her beauty. How he loved her.

"You were expecting a monster?" Trowa asked evenly.

"Well... yes," she admitted, blushing. "From what I remember of you, I thought you were one. A monster, I mean."

Of what she remembered of him? Did she not remember the good times they had? Did she not remember the hugs, the laughs and the sweet kisses? Trowa frowned at this, but then quickly straightened his face. He did not want to scare this devine creature away.

"In time you will remember the better times," he said sadly. "But for now, you must bear with the memories of my greatest mistake."

Hotaru remained silent and worry etched on her face. She felt... sorry for him? No, not sorry nor pity. Great sadness she felt for him. He was so sincere to her now, there was no way he could be the awful one. Maybe he was... misguided.

"I apologize if I had startled you just a moment ago, but I could not bear to not look upon you anymore. I had to see you," he confessed truthfully. She was so close... so close. He could touch her right now, steal a kiss even. But he held himself back. It would scare her and it would be rude.

She was speechless and she was blushing. Oh, how prettily she blushed. She looked so unbearably kissable right there and then.

"Don't fall for his flattery, Hotaru," Death warned, bearing snarls at the Evil. "That was how we fell for him the first time."

He narrowed his eyes at Death, no matter how much cleverage she showed, he disliked being interrupted in mid-reunion with the woman he loved. But his rage was short lived. How could he embody hatred upon an image that looked like his beloved and, technically, was his beloved?

"I apoligize, Eternal Sailor Saturn, if you feel that way about me," he said. "I see that I had interrupted something very important, so I'll be going now. No doubt that we will meet again, devine nymph."

Hotaru blushed again as Trowa vanished into thin air.

"Avoid him," Death instructed.

"But he did me no harm," Hotaru said.

"He caused us emotional harm, remember?" Death asked.

She tried to remember, but honest to the Goddesses, she could not. All she remembered were the emerald eyes that caressed her violet ones so tenderly and lovingly. Surely, a man as handsome and noble as Trowa, meant no harm to her what so ever.

"We will have to finish your training," Death said.

"So that I'll be ready to protect my future Queen and..." Hotaru could not even bear to finish her sentence, but Death got her point.

Hotaru loved Legolas. Serenity loved Legolas. Legolas had loved Hotaru... but now...

Now it was different.

"I love it here," Serenity gasped, melting his heart.

They were watching the sunset that stained the sky with pink, orange, blue and... purple.

"You will soon live here," he said with a smile. "With me..."

Legolas reached out his hand and held hers gently and lovingly. They shuddered blissfully in each others' touch. They complimented each other. They were made for each other. They were perfect for each other. Then, why did his heart weigh a bit more heavily when his mind told him that he loved Serenity? And amazingly, not once did he dwell on the thought as to why he hasn't seen Hotaru all day.

"I love you, Legolas," Serentiy breathed, finally feeling all anguish and pain lift from her after all these senturies of waiting.

"I love you too, Serenity," Legolas confessed and bent down and kissed her.

"I love you my goddess, now and forever. And I promise to love you throughout the ages to come..."

He broke his promise.

Silver Author