Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 25

The next day around the same time that Sammy had visited Serena at her house prior, someone paid Gor's bell a handling. It rang urgently, each ring ending in a trill sound.

"I'm looking for Serena!" Someone called out in an agitated way. "Is there a Serena in here? My useless brother is being a pain right now. Will someone relieve me of him, please?"

Serena was in Gor's study when she looked up in surprise, drawing all attention away from her work. She recognized the deeper voice that vied with the first. "Excuse me? I'm not the one who decided to abandon her husband and tag along with her idiot brother!"

"Did you just call yourself an idiot, Dear Brother?" Serena heard as she stepped from behind the curtain.

"Oh, Dear… Welcome to Gor's place, Your Highnesses. I am his apprentice, Serena—"

The lady in her crimson dress, standing next to her brother rapped her knuckles impatiently against the wooden surface of the counter. "I know who you are! Don't use formalities with me!"

Serena backed up a bit in astonishment. That signaled Darien to step forward in reassurance. "Don't mind Raye at all. She's pregnant, so she is more unstable than usual these days."

Serena nodded blankly, looking back at Princess Raye. If looks could burn, Darien would be toast because Raye targeted him with one of her most fierce glowers.

"I'm here for a check up!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, eyes lingering on her brother.

"You didn't have to come all the way here, Princess. I could have come over if you called. There was no need to burden yourself especially when you are about to bear children. How many months already?"

"Six!" Raye declared proudly, rubbing her swollen belly. "And I only look for the best healers! And since, you saved my father unlike all those other useless worms that failed Father, but Father still uses for me—preposterous quacks!—I came here for a check up! And you're the only real healer, Serena. Please don't tell my husband I came all this way here. He won't ever let me go out again. I've already lost the privilege to go riding!" Her mood swings startled Serena. The princess was extraordinarily beautiful, even when she was so round in the tummy. Her raven hair flew about her head, but it always landed in a heap of perfect elegance. Her violet eyes wild, still had that mysterious prudent look behind them.

Serena brought her into the sick bed and told Darien to wait outside. For a minute, Serena considered strapping the princess into the bed with rope, seeing how she would not stay put while she examined her, but then thought better about it. Maybe distracting her with pointless talk could keep her still.

"So, I hope you had no trouble coming here. There are thieves obliged to harm you," Serena started.

"They're long gone. After the broiling on the other side of the country, every border of all four points grew quiet. It's like all of them, bandits and gypsies, banded together in a final battle against my father. Of course, it was expected that if they wanted to deliver, we would have to repay tenfold. Maybe the rest of them all ran away. Who knows? There are just less of them these days."

"You're father fought valiantly, judging by the beautiful scar that now adorns his side," Serena said, smiling as she pressed her fingers against Raye's belly.

Raye nodded. "Yes. Thank you for saving, Father. I rather he lived, then die of some dumb scar that was supposed to show valiance." Her nose wrinkled. "What is it with men and power?"

Serena beamed. "That's why The King, your father, has The Queen, your mother, by his side. It's a balance of love and strength."

Raye nodded in agreement. "Darien is going to be king someday. He's going to need a queen because he's even more pig-headed than my father," she said thoughtfully.

Serena fell off her chair as she was reaching for something when Raye said this. With a smirk on her face Raye asked Serena if she was alright. Serena nodded and rubbed her ear.

Raye continued. "My father has not met you, yet, but he likes you. Not only because you saved his life, but also because of Darien who wholeheartedly trusts you."

Serena turned pink and it wasn't because of the fall. "And I trust Darien with all my heart."

"You know," Raye propped herself on her elbow. "You'd make a great sister-in-law. You don't seem conceited like the other ladies, who want my brother."

Serena dropped her cup of water and started sputtering. "Your Highness!" Serena coughed.

"What? I need more girls like you at home. Why don't you just come live with us? Father would most definitely accept you as a guest of honor until you find love."

Serena coughed so hard, Raye started slamming her hand repeatedly into Serena's back to prevent her from choking. When Serena composed herself again, Raye spoke freely. "Don't tell me you're going to be a spinster? The horror! You're so lovely. Men must miss you. You must have broken many hearts!"

Serena swept the cup off the floor and wiped the floor clean. "Ha! That's a laugh. I can imagine my life as a spinster. I don't see anything wrong with that when I have all the love in the world given to me."

Raye burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh! Oh!" She was holding her side and turning red, which concerned Serena.

"Your Highness, please, calm down!" Serena whispered afraid that Raye might hurt herself from laughing too hard.

"Don't give me that look!" Raye screamed, cutting her laughter short.

Serena jumped, flabbergasted by the outburst that sliced through the funny air. Then, to her dismay Raye's violet eyes turned bright and tears surfaced. Raye covered them with her hands, and she mumbled into her palms. "No one lets me do anything. But you, Serena let me do things. Don't you? They try to suppress my laughter and now you. No, Serena you let me do things."

"Who are they? Who does not let you do things?"

"Jared!" Raye screeched.

Serena scratched her head and looked around her. She could guess that Jared was her husband. "Well, you shouldn't work yourself too much."

"No! That's what the quacks say!"

Serena gave the princess a reassuring smile, though it was shaky. "Then, I'll be a quack myself since I do believe they have a point. You shouldn't be running away from them, Princess. I bet you, they only mean you well."

"Oh, no! Serena! Not you, too!" Raye jumped out of bed and pounded out the room.

"What's going on?" Darien asked, surprised at his angry sister pushing him aside. Serena was immediately in step with her.

"You're supposed to understand!" Raye screamed to no one in particular. "You are supposed to understand!" She stomped her foot.

"Princess, it's not healthy for the baby," Serena tried to persuade. Darien gave Serena a horrified look to warn her. The look read, 'you turned on the Furious Raye, which is worse than the Angry Raye. What are you doing talking to her like that? Shut up and stand clear.'

"And you!" Raye turned on her brother. "Stop looking like a moron! What are you looking at? Why are you giving Serena that stupid look!"

Darien reddened. "Excuse me! You are talking to the Crown Prince of Terra!"

Serena jabbed Darien in the waist and Darien winced. "What was that for!" Darien hollered.

"Stop shouting! It's not helping matters!"

"And now I'm just matters!" Raye wailed in frustration.

"No, no, no, Highness. That's not what I mean." Serena was waving her hands in front of her helplessly.

Raye froze in her spot. "Alright. I'll believe you if you don't call me that. I hate it when people call me that. I have a name, you know. And we're not in court, so drop formalities."

"But, I'm trying to be respectful," Serena murmured.

Raye's temper seemed to pacify a bit. "Well, at least you didn't quake like a chicken when I made that command. And you didn't follow the order. Yes, Serena, that is it. I see why everyone loves you. You're so spirited and kind. But don't you think you're being unfair to Darien and his—"

Darien cleared his throat audibly and Raye stopped. She blinked at her brother like she just noticed him for the first time. Serena rubbed the back of her aching head, hardly hearing Raye's ranting. She twitched and spoke in a gentle voce. "I would never shake like a coward. You might be a princess, but you are still human. Aren't we all equal if we're all human? No one is better than anyone, so why are there people who make commands and those who take them? Simple; for order and peace. Not for the sublimation of a master and the servitude of a slave."

"Spoken like a true queen," Raye sighed, gazing at Serena with a hidden fondness.

"Queen!" Serena shook her head. "What an absurd thing to say!"

Raye shuffled her feet and looked at Darien. She smiled at her timid brother and turned on Serena. "I'm going for a walk. Would you like to join me, Serena?"

Darien's head snapped up in alert. "You can do your walks back home in the company of your husband or your maid servants within your own quarters."

Rayed waved him away and beckoned to Serena. "What do you think, Serena? You're an expert? What do you think of taking me on a tour?"

"Exercise is very good for you, Highness. However under this healer's orders, you're to take it easy."

Darien muttered something about death and the end of the world under his breath, but Raye ignored him and talked right over him. "Then, that's settled. If Serena says it's okay, then it's okay! No more objections." Raye made a slash sign in the air with her hand and took off.

Serena hurried out after her.

They made quite a display around town for the rest of the day. Two women were heading the line of a trailing prince, ten bodyguards, and three maids. People watched them like they were the circus just arriving in town. They visited every shop, house, and place they could step foot in without being smothered by enthusiastic people.

Their last stop was Serena's house. The two girls disappeared behind Serena's door the instant they arrived before Iuka could properly greet the royal guest. She was busy enough on her toes trying to tend to the thirteen workers and their exhausted prince.

Serena helped Raye sit down on her bed and afterwards helped herself to a chair. Raye cradled her face with her hands and studied Serena.

"What?" Serena asked. "Didn't have a good enough time, Raye? You did boss around your brother and your people a lot you know. You had everything you wanted."

"Our people adore you, Serena."

"And I adore them." Serena smiled.

"So this is what he talks about? This is what he means." Raye frowned. "You do so well on your own, but you put up a façade to hide your own past."

"Who talks about me that way?"

Raye shook her head. "I don't expect you to trust me with your secrets. Even though you have treated me like a sister for the past few hours I still was hoping… But who am I kidding? You wouldn't even tell your closest friends, whom you've known longer, with your past. Maybe you think it is for the better that things laid buried. You must have had a lonely, horrible life before this."

"What are you talking about? I have nothing to hide, Raye."

Raye suddenly smiled. She liked the girl more than she liked most people. She liked the way Serena warmed up to people. She was shocked silent for a moment when Serena called her Raye for the first time. 'You did want me to call you by your first name, so here you go,' was her response to Raye's shock. All the way through town, the people greeted her like she was the daughter of a queen and their very own child. Though Serena did do some foolish things, she somehow mended them with her helpful hands and loving care.

"Of course you don't. You would never hide anything unless you're afraid to hurt those you care about with a sad story," Raye said matter-of-factly.

Serena's eyes widened.

"You're sweet," Raye spoke, reaching out to pat Serena on the hand. "That's why the whole world would never be against you."

Guilt twined around her heart.

"The stories about you were wrong. You are very human. More human than most. I have never met a more compassionate woman in my whole life, though she may be flawed with clumsiness."

Her mind started spinning.

"Any good friend to life is a good friend of mine. Please accept my invitation to you. I want you to come to the ball tomorrow night."

Serena fell back to Earth violently. "But, I can't…"

"It's for the Royalty of Liberia. Why can't you?" Raye sounded confused and hurt.

"What would I wear?"

"That's not a problem. You can borrow a gown of mine."

Serena sighed. "That wouldn't be necessary, Raye. I think I might have something after all… But, Raye—"

Raye tugged on Serena's sleeve. "Please, Serena? For me? Father will be happy to meet you, his savior, his angel, his favorite…"

Serena shot up and threw her arms up in surrender. "Alright! Enough with the puppy dog eyes and sycophancy! I'll come."

A knock at the door interrupted them. "Raye," Darien's drawl reached their ears. "Our ride is waiting for us outside. We have to get home soon before Jared comes back from hunting."

Raye and Serena were the first to step out of the house and move towards the carriage. Raye was reluctant, but Darien's persistence and anxiety pushed her. By the carriage, Raye pulled Serena closer to her and whispered a secret to her.

"He's crazy about you."

"Who?" Serena was looking bewildered.

Raye rolled her eyes. "Who! Just look at the way he looks at you."

Serena looked in the direction of Darien, where Raye was pointing. He was not looking at her at the time, but he was talking to Mama Iuka with a grateful smile.

"I don't see…"

"He cares about you, Serena. He'd do anything for you, even buy all the slaves in this kingdom just to make you happy or journey far and wide battling barbarians and wolves," Raye hinted, slyly.

Serena didn't feel it or notice herself burning. Heat rose to her tinted cheeks. "Darien is a dear friend of mine."

Raye gawked, but her jaw snapped back in place when Serena turned to look at her. Raye glanced away and shrugged off the other's ignorance. "If that is all you feel, then I won't push it."

"What?"

Raye made the same gesture she made in Serena's room, pat her hand. "You can be so dense sometimes." Then, she hopped into the carriage.

Darien came up to Serena and tipped his head at her. "Thank you for putting up with her. She can be such a pest sometimes."

"I heard that!" –Raye's muffled cry.

"See you tomorrow. Good night, Serena," Darien nodded again as he spoke.

"Yes, Good night, Serena! And you better show up!"—Raye again.

"Good night," Serena replied timidly. She turned around and headed indoors.

Things were indeed changing like the seasons. Darien was polite and humble, while Serena was more edgy than perky. The sun was setting and the roads were undisturbed. An important day loomed ahead.