A.N. Hello again! Before you begin there is a warning. This chapter might be confusing, so it might help to go back to Chapter 4. If it's still confusing... ummmm... just leave a review saying so. This chapter at first contained a lot of violence and gore that I'm not used to writing. It took me a while, but I finally took most of the blood shed out, just to keep this story at the right rating.
Good readings... See you at the end.
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Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 21
"Awww… Mamaaa." Diana's high whine sounded like a whistle.
Luna rolled her eyes at her daughter, but Artemis answered the kitten himself. "It's dangerous and besides, I need you to take care of your mother for me while I'm gone. Will you do that?"
Diana nodded grimly. "But it's unfair."
"I'll get you a present," Serena suggested, a brilliant smile lighting up her face. "Isn't that a delight, Little One?"
"I'll trade the present," Diana said, hopefully.
"Oh, but Diana, the present will be much better."
Diana's eyes suddenly lit up. "Really!"
Meanwhile, as Serena was trying to persuade the kitten to stay, Luna sauntered off with the prince and Artemis. She glanced over at Naru, who was way off, tending to their horses. "You take care of them."
"Of course," Artemis said.
"If the girl is in any harm whatsoever, make sure she's alright or else you will be in trouble when you get back," Luna threatened, eyes glued to the tall prince.
Darien gulped and gave her a nod. "I understand my responsibility, Luna."
"And do be careful," she pleaded.
"Will do," Darien sighed, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Artemis, you useless creature, stop smiling!"
"I'm sorry, Dear. It's just that you're too overprotective. First it's take care of Serena, now it's take care of our selves. Make up your mind already."
Luna looked at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Is it so wrong to worry?"
Artemis hushed up at the sight of her. He tried comforting her for the next few minutes before they were to set off. Darien thought it would be best to give them some private time, so he walked off to see if Naru needed help with packing.
"Darien…" Ikuko stopped him in his tracks. He turned to the woman and her family standing behind her. "Be safe and bring Serena home in one piece. I have no idea why you have to go off like this so suddenly. Serena normally takes care of her self, so I do not understand why she needs you this time around. Where exactly are you people off to anyway?"
"We told you— to a town quite far off to tend to the sick there."
Kenji who stood beside his wife looked at him suspiciously. "Nothing tricky, okay?"
"Kenji!" Ikuko scolded. "Didn't we just talk about this? Didn't we just agree to not bring it up? We're going to have to trust the children"
"Prince or whatever, I don't want my daughter to be traveling alone with a man."
"I assure you," Naru spoke up, approaching the group, "your daughter will not be traveling alone with just the prince."
"Oh Naru!" Ikuko threw her arms around the girl. "You rarely speak and now that I've heard your lovely voice I wish you would stay. No point in this whole party leaving! It's only Serena doing charity work."
"Yes, but I would like company, Mama. Naru, Darien, and Artemis will do," Serena spoke up.
"Couldn't you just bring the cat?" Ikuko pleaded, wanting Darien and Naru to stay behind.
"It won't be long, Mama. I've heard it's dangerous out there, so traveling with a party is better." Serena ambled to her horse and mounted. "Let's go. If we want to get there in time, we best hurry."
Artemis hopped onto Serena's mare and got comfortable atop the mare's head. Molly and Darien mounted their horses and started off on a gallop, leaving dust behind them. Serena looked back at her family and waved. "Don't forget to feed the cats! Be good Diana!" She shouted one final time before she took off as well.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The vast landscape of Terra blew them away. Grasslands went and went until a new biome bordered them just right. Sniffing the air the group could smell the fragrant flowers that were around them. The slight breeze in the air wafted over the grass, making the layer gleam under the sunlight.
"It's a shame that such a beautiful country has such a bad reputation," Serena murmured.
Her comment did not go unheard. Darien, feeling a sense of pride for his kingdom, demanded Serena what she meant by that.
"Where I am from, we do not force slavery on poor, defenseless human beings. People are treated with respect and equality."
"Your country is the only place where it's condemned. If I'm not mistaken, you have never heard of slavery until Naru came along."
Serena pressed her lips together until they were just a thin white line. She glanced ahead at Naru, who was only a horse length away. "I thought orphans had it tough."
"If it were possible, I would have never let in on the dark side of things."
"Like Luna?" She was angry at him now.
Darien nodded.
"Why?" She asked, a scowl appearing.
"Because, I hate for you to feel this way."
"My emotions are my business! I will express my feelings as I feel them." She took a deep breath. "I hate this land because it's evil. I hate it because the royal family just sits around and does nothing about it."
"Hold your tongue, Serena," Darien barked. "You know nothing about my family. It is not that easy to fix things around here, so don't judge anybody unless you know them and what they do."
"If I can go out of my way just to save a girl from becoming an orphan, how come your father can't go out of his way to give all his people just a simple life?" Serena argued.
"Emotions don't get in the way of politics. It's as simple as that."
"Compassion, Prince Darien. People are always first where I come from."
"Sounds more like a healer's voice than a leader's."
She made a noise of disgust and refused to look at him. "I wouldn't want to try to fit in your boots, anyhow!"
Darien pulled his horse to a stop, just as Serena did. They glared at each other through so much anger it almost killed the people they truly were.
A scream brought the two back to reality. Naru, ahead of them, reared her horse up on its hind legs just before an arrow struck it. The arrow landed inches from its hooves, causing it to sway in panic. Molly was thrown off her horse and fell on her back with a cry.
"Naru!" Serena cried.
Molly made a quick recovery. "Serena! Darien! Look out!"
An arrow landed between Darien and Serena's rearing horses. Serena forced her horse forward to where Naru was. She could hear Darien close behind her.
"We're under attack!" Darien exclaimed.
As Serena helped Naru onto her own mare with one hand, she turned to Darien with a sardonic remark. "Oh, really? Now that you've pointed that out, let's regroup. Oh wait; there are only three of us!"
Darien glowered at her coldly. "I don't want to put up with you right now."
Naru, who was sitting behind Serena whimpered. "You guys, here they come." Serena looked behind her and saw a band of men chasing them on foot.
"There! Under the cover of those trees in the woods. Let's hurry!" Serena shouted over the cries of the men coming at them.
Darien looked at the dark forest five miles away from them. He could only see the tops of the trees against the bumpy valley. He measured the distance with his eyes. "We'll never make it! We need to hide some place closer. Maybe behind boulders."
"Where! I'll have you know, Smart One, where surrounded by grass and boulders the size of my thumb!"
"If you two don't stop fighting we are going to get caught. Whoever these people are—they are certainly no welcoming party!" Molly screamed, face red.
"Right, let's go! Yah!" Serena gave her mare a smart kick in the side.
They took off so fast, the chase was almost thrilling. Only the blood thirsty men behind them ruined the moment, reminding them of their displacement.
Darien fell behind to shield Serena and Naru from the raining arrows. In the process one grazed the side of his horse. The cry the horse made turned Serena and Naru's heads. They watched as the prince's horse fell. Trained in the art of fighting, Darien agilely did a back flip as he freed his sword from the scabbard wrapped around the horse's back. Just as the horse landed, Darien jumped and landed lightly on his hands and knees. Some of the dust from the landing got in his eye, so he had to rub them with the hand that was free of the sword. With his vision finally clearing, he looked at Serena and Naru. Serena was dismounting.
"Serena, get back on that horse and go as fast as you can!" He yelled, in his commanding tone.
"I'm staying," she confirmed.
Serena turned to Naru with a worried look. "Keep going."
"No," Naru said, quivering. She dismounted. "We are doing this together. This is my decision. If we can't go together, then we're not going at all."
Serena trembled, clenching her fists and eyes shut. She raised her fist and Naru winced, thinking that the girl was about to strike her. However, the intended blow never came, so Naru opened her tearing eyes at Serena. Serena let out a relenting sigh, bringing her fist down to seize her wooden staff in the pouch tied around her horse's neck. "Go girl!" she smacked the mare's behind and it raced into the woods that were only half a mile away. "Very well, Naru—Artemis!"
The white feline appeared at her side. "Where have you been?"
The cat meowed and looked over at Darien, who was still crouching on the ground.
Serena ran to him and took a hold of his arm. He pulled it roughly out of her helping grasp and shouted at her. "This isn't a game, Serena! You can be killed."
"We have a better chance fighting together." Serena stood in front of him, shielding him from the fifteen men now slowly advancing towards them. Serena sized up the opposition. It was not too impossible to win.
Darien gripped her shoulder. "Be careful."
"I got you," Serena said quietly, looking him straight in the eye. "We can do this."
"How goddam fast these are. Who bred you things?" What looked to be the leader of the pack spoke and he was looking directly at the small traveling group.
Darien tried to shield Serena from view with his arm, but Serena furiously pushed it away. She recognized the voice that had spoken. "Darien, don't."
"Serena, stay back. I will protect you," he whispered.
"I don't need protecting. I want to see the bastard," Serena whispered back.
"Stop your blubbering," the leader said, annoyed at being ignored. "What you got there, Boy? A doll?"
The voice was so familiar. Serena stepped to the side to get a good look at the man who had spoken. "Artemis, protect Naru!" Serena ordered. Artemis hurried over to the helpless brunette.
"I would worry about yourself, Sweet," the leader said, fingering the eye patch over his blind eye. He moved his hand to his cap and pulled it off, revealing his flaming red hair.
Serena frowned. "Serena, do you know him?" Darien asked.
Serena ignored the question and stepped around the prince to stand before the men's admiring gazes on her.
"I'm quite charming to look at, clean-shaven, right My Dear?" the red head remarked.
Serena's eyes widened… The red beard wasn't there…
"This," he said, fingering the patch over his eye again, "I owe it all to you and your cat." He stepped closer to her until he was only an arm's length away from her. His hand reached out to touch her, but then, out of the blue, Artemis leapt in between them. He let out a low hiss.
"What's this? The vermin that took my eye was black."
Someone from the crowd ran forward and grabbed Artemis by the coat before he let the leader speak anymore. "You ruined my face!" He spat in the cat's hissing face. What ever sense Serena had, she lost because in the next millisecond, she bent low and swung her fist into the guy's stomach. He immediately dropped Artemis and Serena caught him in her outstretched arms. Serena suppressed the urge to spit on the unconscious man at her heels. Rather she just looked at the side of his face, the side that was facing up. On his tanned cheek was a deep, black scar. Serena smiled. Luna had left her mark on him well and deep.
"I see Luna did not scare you away. No matter… I'll take you down for her," Serena said, lightly laughing afterwards.
She set Artemis down on the floor and watched as the leader backed away. "I really would like to see you try, Sweet," he coaxed her.
Serena grimaced. "Ew! You old goon. Don't talk to me that way or else." She rested her staff on her shoulder.
"Um, Serena," Darien poked her back.
"Hey, quit it."
"I will once you stop provoking the enemy. They have evil gleams in their eyes. Don't you know what they're up to?"
"What's a little fun and games?" Serena giggled. "They're much more fun provoked!"
"You make them sound loveable!" He said incredulously.
"Duck!" Serena squealed.
A man had started moving forward, knife drawn. He made a swipe at the prince's head, but Darien ducked too fast for him. Gripping her staff firmly in both hands, Serena swung it against the guy's skull. He was unprepared as it landed on the side of his head with a crack. Darien recovered from his startled situation and moved slightly higher from his crouched position, slamming the hilt of his sword into the man's belly.
When the man fell, Serena cheered. "Two down! Thirteen more to go!"
"Just like old times," Darien said, getting up and stretching his body to its full length.
"Now, that's the spirit!" Serena said, turning her back, so that she and Darien were now back to back. "Let's try not to draw blood unless we really have to," Serena suggested.
"As long as they don't make me kill, I won't try to," Darien replied.
The battle began. The first four that leapt forward, were brought down in minutes, but so exhausted were they, Darien and Serena had to split up and fight solo. As Serena was taking on a man twice her size with only a staff, she nearly lost her braid in one of his attacks with his crooked blade. In her attempt to disarm him, she lost the top half of her staff. With what was left of her staff, she hooked his blade around her almost useless weapon, and flung it out of his hand. Shocked at the bareness of his hand, he was ill-equipped when Serena gave him a kick in the chest that sent him flying backwards. She looked at the rod that was the size of her palm and sighed dejectedly. It was one sacrifice she had to meet. She looked at the oversized fighter on the ground, getting up shakily. Tossing the broken piece of wood behind her, Serena hastily tucked her braid into her shirt and braced her self. When the man finally was up and on his feet, he looked like an angry bull, ready to charge.
"Serena out of the way!"
Darien pulled another beaten guy into the line of charge. The large man slammed his head into the other man's head and they both fell to the ground. Serena turned to Darien and gave him a thankful grin. It fell immediately, when she saw something behind Darien move. "Darien, watch out!" He was ready, his quick reflexes always making up for the time he lost in gathering up his defenses. Darien easily blocked the surprise attack with his own blade.
"Ah! Serena!"
It was Naru! Serena spun around and caught a battle brewing between two men and Artemis, whose beautiful coat was wet with drops of blood. His claws were bloody, but so were his blue eyes. Fire raged in his blue eyes as he stared at his two opponents, closing in on him.
"Serena! Help!"
Serena sprinted forward, taking a bow staff from the ground. On her way there, somehow, Artemis dropped his defenses long enough for the brutes to lash out at him. One of them made a perfect stroke at him with a boot. Angry, Serena slammed the bow into the attacker's head with so much ferocity, it shattered. "Stay away from my cat!" She hollered. Shaking the pain out of his body, Artemis focused his eyes on the other.
"Serena! Serena! Help me!"
Serena looked over at Naru, caught by two men. They were trying to grab her while she struggled valiantly.
"No!" Another cry on the other side.
Serena frantically looked over at Darien, locked in the death grips of three men. As she just watched her friends losing their battles, she did not sense the presence of two others creeping up behind her. They grabbed her from behind and she fought back with teeth, nails, and fist. She would do everything in her power to save them all.
"Enough!" The leader's voice boomed. "You will stop or this cat gets it!"
All three stopped. Serena felt her eyes water as she looked over at Artemis's limp form in the hands of the man he lost his fight to. 'No, not again. This can't be happening,' Serena wondered.
"He's alive!" The leader promised. "Barely." He made a gesture and the man holding Artemis by his ruined coat, brought the knife nearer to the cat's throat.
"Surrender!" The leader demanded.
"We already have! Put him down!" Darien cried from his corner.
"Save your breath, Boy. Who are you people anyway? The last time I saw this one," he pointed at Serena as he spoke, "was when she was small and innocent."
The men laughed or more like growled.
"Now she's a goddess, offering us some fruits. You've probably gotten better in bed by now, Sweet, haven't you?"
Serena gave him a death glare, screaming murder once she was free.
"Come take her now, boss," said the man holding her left arm.
"Yeah, before I lose my cool and have my way with her first," snickered the man holding her right arm.
If only Artemis wasn't in danger, she would have broken free by now and pounded these villains to bloody pulps.
"What a prize," the leader exclaimed.
"You sick bastard. I will give you—" Darien pushed forward, ignoring the pain the men inflicted on his body. Something in his gut cut him off and Darien was choking on his own blood rising from his throat. The men surrounding him, howled with laughter. Darien doubled over, looking like a heap of robes. "Try anything and your cat gets it," they warned. Darien was gasping for breath, wiping at the trickle of blood falling from his lips. He looked up at Serena again. Her look was of pain and it hurt him more than any blow given by these men.
Serena watched Darien struggle in horror. "Stop it! If you hurt him…"
"You'll what?" The leader asked, turning around to face Serena.
When she did not answer, he moved to her, until his face was only inches away from hers.
"I'll kill you."
"How priceless," the leader murmured, stroking her cheek gently.
"You will not have your way with me," Serena muttered, turning her face away from him. He liked feisty ones. They were always much more fun.
He grabbed her chin and crushed his mouth against hers. Serena was repelled deep down inside. She could not even gag for breath because the man was uniformly vile.
Darien looked up at the scene. His emotions were so strong they could not be described. In a flurry, he brought two men to the floor and drove their own sword into the third man, who attempted to restrain him. So supernaturally fast he was, in a flash, he was behind the leader, and dragging him up off his feet, and slamming him to the ground. The other two, had their skulls mashed against one another, forcefully.
His kick landed in the groin of the man holding Artemis. He immediately dropped the cat, which just landed in a heap of mess. His knife flew into the air, which Darien caught with ease, thrusting it into his life. Darien rushed to the other two, who held Naru captive. He took them down, stealing one of their blades.
He was marching blindly to the prone body of the leader with bloody blade in hand, ready to kill, ready to murder, ready to cause pain. However something stopped him. Slim arms found their way around his waist, halting him completely. He slowly turned in Serena's arms.
She shook her head at him. "Don't," she mouthed.
The blade fell from his hand and he folded his arms around her. Serena closed her eyes and cried. Darien's heart went out to her as he felt her body shudder with every sob she choked on. His hand, freed her braid from under her shirt. He twisted it around his hand tenderly, trying to find someway to bring her closer.
There was a thud and an "oof" from behind Darien. Serena and Darien released each other and turned to look at Naru.
"I'm sorry," she cried. "He was about to hurt Darien." The stone dropped from her clammy hand.
Serena moved to embrace Naru. "It's okay. I'm not mad at you." She looked at the leader who Naru knocked out. She felt only abhorrence towards him. Abhorrence for hurting Luna, Artemis, Naru, and Darien… Darien… She had never seen him so pained in her life. She had never seen anyone so pained.
Serena was so deep in her thoughts and worries the plucking of the string of a bow and the hissing of a flying arrow went unheard until it struck the target. Darien let out a pained cry as it hit him squarely in the back. Serena tried to catch him, but fell under him, with his weight over her. She could do nothing to protect Naru even if she wanted to. However, she did catch a glimpse at the archer, who was on one knee. She could never forget the snarl on his face.
Just as the roused archer took aim on the only figure still standing, Naru took the nearest object, a knife, and threw it. Bull's eye. He died.
Naru was so surprised at her own capabilities, she couldn't' even hear Serena shouting at her. Hurriedly, she helped Darien up, freeing Serena in the process. Still holding on to him, Serena screamed, "Darien, hold on!" She snapped the shaft off, tossing the feather away. "Hold on!" She looked around and her eyes landed on Artemis.
"Naru go check if he's alright! Hurry!"
Naru picked Artemis up. "He-He's still breathing!"
Serena whistled and her mare came back to her instantly. "Help me get Darien on the horse. We've got to save him!"
The two managed to get the prince onto the horse. Then, Serena and Naru had to run with the trotting horse to keep up. Naru was carrying Artemis and Serena was holding onto Darien, making sure he did not fall off. They went deeper into the heart of the forest until Serena heard the sound of running water. She led them towards the pond with a waterfall. She thanked her mother and Selene for her luck.
Restlessly, she dragged Darien to the floor with her. She checked for his pulse, which was barely beating softly. She fumbled with his shirt, nearly tearing it off in frustration. She worked on his back, taking out the head of the arrow. The blood ran so fast, Serena bit her lip. Twisting Darien's shirt over the wound, she called over Naru. Naru set Artemis by Serena's side.
"We're camping out here tonight, Naru. Go get firewood. I don't want you to see this," Serena said as she worked.
Naru hurried away, her footsteps rustling the foliage under her feet.
Serena let out a trembling breath, bringing a glowing hand over Artemis's disheveled body. She heard him sigh as the warm glow touched him briefly.
She quickly turned to Darien dropping the makeshift bandage, and brought her warm, pulsing hand to his wound. It slowly closed and Serena knew she was almost done. Now, she only had to stay conscious to ensure the wound did not get infected and that he would sleep soundly tonight. She turned him over so that he laid face up again.
Gently she brought her hands up to his hair, tangling his ebony locks in her fingers. She gently brought her lips down to his blood stained ones and remained that way as her fingers continued to work in his hair. The energy started radiating more brightly, the glow from her fingers leaving sparkles of highlights in the prince's hair. Her fingers slowly trailed to his chest, where she transmitted her pulsing power to his weak heart. And then, with very little strength left in her, she flicked her wrist and the energy was cut off. She pulled her face away from his and stared at his peaceful visage. Drunk on sleepiness, she smiled, nuzzling her cheek against his cheek affectionately.
"You'll be alright," she whispered. She stayed on top of him to protect him from the cold, while Naru was still collecting the firewood. She really should not sleep at a time like this, but she could not help it. Slowly she drifted into a dreamlike world, the only place where she did not have to feel.
A.N. Okay, there, there. Summer's here and I'll be writing again. Happy Summer! ;) I would like to thank all the reviewers for leaving reviews... again...
To answer Becx question: I just thought Artemis looked better with Darien. I knew he eventually would end up with Luna, so that doesn't matter.
For everyone: Confusing? This chapter? I'm sorry! It's my fault it takes me so long to update, but I got tired of writing this story last year. But, don't worry, I'm not stopping, even if I am tired.
Promise.
Bye bye, until next chapter.