Hearts' Remedy

Chapter 17

Through the window of Kenji's home on a rainy night, three months after the birth of Diana, a girl sat, face upturned to the moon. The moon beams gleamed on her porcelain face playing at the sparkling trails of tears from her eyes. It was dismal weather and a matching damsel in distress through the window.

She cried for that evening someone took away the boy she loved and cared for.

… Flashback…

A young couple unable to have children of their own, looked excitedly at the youngsters of the village orphanage. "That one, he looks just like me when I was young," the young lord cheered fondly. Sammy looked up, eyes glistening with tears.

"Serena, I don't want to go."

"Don't say that, Sammy. Lord and Lady Hamel will take good care of you."

"No, I don't want to leave everybody. I don't want to leave you, either," Sammy cried.

"Stop it, Sammy. It is a privilege to have a family. Now is your chance to make something of yourself. Go to school, have fun, and love those closest to you."

"I have a family right here!"

"Just go! Remember it is not goodbye forever. You can always come back and find me, you know that."

Sammy shook his head defiantly. "I'm not leaving."

"Stop this now," she ordered in her hard voice. "Don't you go being selfish. The lord and his lady only want the best for you and you should accept that and stop being a baby about it."

"I'm ten! Don't talk to me like I'm three!"

"Sammy, I can't always be babysitting you."

"I'm ten! I don't need you!"

"Fine, then go. Nobody needs you here, either."

The boy stomped over to Nora, who took his hand. The expression on Nora's face was of worry and melancholy. She bent to give the boy a kiss on the cheek. Sammy never once looked back at Serena when his foster mother made the transition with the lord and lady. Therefore Sammy accepted his new parents' proffered hands, with angry tears resting in the corner of his eyes.

Serena murmured to herself, "I'm sorry," as silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Someone behind her in comfort, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Serena turned in his arms and gazed distraughtly into his soft sapphire eyes. With one hand he pulled her head down to rest on his chest and rested his cheek on top of her head. This was a tender moment of solace.

"Thank you, Seiya," she sniffled.

…End Flashback…

"He's gone," Serena mumbled dejectedly. She woke from her bed, rising to begin work.

"I got it, Serena," Mika interjected, taking the pail out for water just as Serena was reaching for the pail.

"Don't worry about it, Serena," Mika took the broom from the younger girl's hands.

"But—"

"Go rest," Mika said.

Serena sighed in exasperation. She took her time, trudging to Gor's cabin in the lowest of moods.

"Serena!"

Serena looked up, her face scared and confused like an innocent child's when the prince chided her. Darien rushed over to her and took her hands out of the water. They were scrubbed raw. "What are you doing to yourself?"

She blinked at her hands and bit her quivering lip. I don't know, she said to her self. Darien shook his head disapprovingly, while he took the time to dry her hands and apply salve onto the red skin. As he worked, warm, moist drops of water fell onto the back of his hands. He looked up and noticed her crying again.

"Serena…"

The only candle in the dark of the room that was lit was set between them. Darien could see her in the orange glow, shadows covering parts of her face. She reached out for him, trying to find comfort from his warmth and touch. In her attempt, she accidentally knocked over the candle. It went out.

"Clumsy girl," she heard him mumble in the dark. Her tears froze and her hands stopped in midair. Darien surprisingly pulled her to him before she could pull away. Her head was on his chest and she could hear him breathing quietly.

After a minute she raised her head and looked Darien in the face, or where she thought his face was.

"What will make you happy?" Darien sensed her dropping her head at the question.

He reached out to tilt her head back up. His fingers trailed over her hair, which he regarded as unique in color. He hadn't noticed the silver in her golden locks, until all the lights were out.

"You're hair is silver," he murmured.

"It is?" She said in wonder, her warm breath fanning over his face. That was when he acknowledged how close they were.

"I have never seen anything like it."

"My mother's hair is silver. I got my father's" Something warm and soft was on her mouth, interrupting her.

Serena gasped and gripped the prince's shoulders tightly. He was kissing her again, but this time she, for some reason, needed it. She was not going to pull back. It made her feel light headed and warm. It was so different from the first one. There was no passion in it, being tender and gentle only. It was a friendly kiss to comfort and melt all guilt and sorrow away. He held her like a glass doll, wary as he was. Serena was tilting her head back to make it easier for him, but the prince pulled away. He buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply.

"No matter what happens, I will be here for you," he mumbled.

"Thank you," Serena sighed between her tears. She missed him already, even though he was close.

They stood up, Darien continuing to wipe her tears with his thumbs. Serena had never seen him treat anyone or her self this way. It made her aware of how much she needed consolation from him. His touch and kiss reminded her of a butterfly, but his smell…

Serena scrunched up her nose. "You need a bath, Your Highness."

"I hug and kiss you and all you can say is 'thank you' and 'you need a bath, Your Highness?' Darien feigned hurt.

"You don't exactly smell pleasant at the moment."

"Well, I do sweat when I'm at work."

"But, you don't bathe."

Darien pouted, imitating Serena when she felt offended. "I haven't found the time."

"Then, you probably kiss women as often as you bathe."

Darien's face was set sober. "As a prince, personal hygiene is a top priority and I take care of it daily. As for kisses, I save those for my mother, sister, and you."

Serena blushed.

"Of course kissing you is much more different." Darien smiled a wicked smile at her that made Serena back out of the room.

Serena and Darien emerged from the backroom, staring back at two men, Gor and Seiya. Gor held an amused gaze on the both of them, while his younger brother, scowled deeply at the prince.

"Seiya!" Serena moved to hug the man. Darien and Gor smiled fondly, feeling the girl's joyful mood illuminate the room. The weather and world had turned grim when she had lost her light. Now, that she regained it, it drew hope into the heart of the man she clung to.

"Serena, I want to ask you something," Seiya spoke quietly. Serena's smile disappeared and she tried to focus her eyes on Seiya, who fidgeted restlessly. He only acted this way when he was nervous about something.

Meanwhile, Darien smiled back at Seiya when the other man stared back at him. Seiya frowned at the prince taking the smile as a mockery. Darien, thinking that maybe the man felt uncomfortable talking in front of the stranger prince, tried to occupy himself at a shelf, rearranging bottles in neat rows to look like he was not paying attention.

Seiya resumed his attention span on Serena, seeing that the prince was now ignoring them. "Serena, it's late, I think it's time I settled down and had a family. The farm is too big for me to handle. Not only that, I find it awful lonesome having just two handy men for company."

Serena stepped back and looked Seiya up and down. "I think I have a fine wife for you."

"No, Serena. I mean to ask you to be my wife."

There was a sound of shattering glass and a clang of heavy metal. Darien had dropped a glass jar, and Gor had dropped a basin he was carrying around. Serena abruptly turned to occupy herself with helping them clean up.

"No, no, no," Gor urged. "Go to my brother, Darien and I can handle this."

Darien's face was emotionless as he stared back at Serena. Serena only glanced at him once, but Gor noticed their looks even though his younger brother didn't or did, but still pursued the girl.

"Seiya, you are a good man and I can see how much you need a wife, but you must be joking," Serena said.

"Serena, I'm in love with you. I loved you ever since I met you. I just didn't realize it."

Serena was short of breath. "Seiya, I'm flattered."

The man's smile dropped. "But?"

"You deserve someone who can love you back and I think I might have the right match for you. There is this girl I tended to in the bordering village south of ours. She was ill, but all better now because of my magic. She is radiant and has a magnificent personality. She would make a good wife for you. Her name is Lily"

"Okay." Seiya's head drooped. Serena reached out to him, but the man swiftly moved away and strode up to Darien, who was stunned.

Seiya extended his hand to him. Darien shook it. "Take care of her," he mumbled. Darien stared wide eyed at him and nodded dumbly.

"Seiya wait." Seiya dismissed Serena's plea and took off. Serena was about to go after him, but Gor stopped her.

"Let him be."

"But I hurt him, Gor… And I didn't mean to."

"You can't marry someone you don't love. Isn't that the reason you ran away in the first place?"

Serena nodded.

"Darien, come here," Gor waved him over.

Darien moved closer to them. At the same time, Serena suddenly burst into tears. Darien wanted to hold her, but Gor was there.

"So, Man? What are you waiting for?" Gor pulled Serena forward, so she could stand face to face with the prince.

"The lady needs a shoulder to cry on," Gor whispered in Darien's ear. "Don't worry about it. I won't say a word. Just comfort her the way you did before Seiya ruined the moment."

Darien took Serena into his arms and stared back at Gor's retrieving back. The man disappeared into the dark room, where Darien and Serena had been in. How did he know, Darien wondered? What did he know? Wait… There was nothing to know… Right?