Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 27

After the ball, Darien never showed up in town again. Princess Raye wrote letters to Serena, apologizing for whatever her brother did and beseeching her to go over to the castle to meet Their Majesties. Serena could not even bring herself over to a piece of parchment to write back; going to the castle to see the king and queen was out of the question. So many times she only wanted to sit by herself and cry, but always someone was by her side keeping her tears in check. Everyone told her that after returning from the castle the first time she was never the same again. Now the second time returning from the same place, she became a complete stranger to everyone.

Her smile was dimmer. Her chin was always down. Her eyes lost their vibrant color. And her hair, never looked so limp and colorless in all the years everyone knew her. Those who knew her wondered what at the castle changed her. Those who did not know her wondered if her healing powers were finally taking a toll on her fragile body. For Serena it was better to have been seen less, but that would have meant giving up her listless job of a healer.

At night Mama Ikuko would usually stand at the doorway of her adopted daughter's cold room as she slept. Ikuko always felt another invisible presence keeping vigil those nights she did, but it did not frighten the woman. She only kept watch because she worried at Serena whose sorrow gobbled her up. Serena was like her own child, but somehow the unspeakable presence possessed a closer connection to the girl. How else was the spirit always there with Serena when Ikuko was not around?

Mama Ikuko stayed by Serena's bed side all night. When Serena woke in the morning she caught her, sitting next to her, with shadows under her eyes.

"Mama? Mama? Mama Ikuko? What is wrong?"

"I cannot sleep," she said, her eyes focused on Serena's blank eyes.

"Why, Mama?"

"Because I can't bear to see you like this even in your sleep."

Serena sat up. "What should I do? I don't know what to do."

"Return to the castle."

Serena glanced at Ikuko. "I mean to."

Ikuko was startled by what she said. So many times she tried to convince the girl to go back and fix whatever needed fixing. Serena always said there was nothing there when what she really meant was that there was something there, but there was no going back to it.

"I received a letter from Princess Selene of Luneria, wishing to see me," Serena spoke in a cracked voice. She handed a letter to Ikuko silently, daring to watch the woman read it.

"You've had this for days and now you consider going?"

Serena nodded grimly.

"Young Lady!" Ikuko stood up abruptly and pulled Serena's covers down. "Get up and go already! She is asking for a healer! You will not neglect a duty that is yours."

Serena gripped the side of her bed firmly. "Do you think she is so sick she asks for me?"

"There is no thinking. I have not slept for a whole night because of you."

Serena covered her face. "I'm sorry. It is hard for me, but I will go."

It was in the late afternoon when a servant entered Selene's quarters. She had been sleeping soundlessly, but the little maid woke her anyway.

"Princess, the healer is here."

"I told you that I will have no one see to me, but her," she said coldly.

The maid twisted slightly to give Serena, who was standing by the bedroom doorway, an apologetic smile. Serena did not even glance at her as her eyes slanted towards the bed where the princess laid. All she saw was her pale sister not being herself. Selene was not the lazy one in the family; it was her, Serena, who slept into the afternoon on most occasions. To see Selene diminished to nothing was like a stab in the stomach.

Serena used one hand to grip the edge of the hood she wore. Her other hand adjusted the mask that covered the bottom half of her face.

"Your Highness, in your letter you asked to see me, The Bright One." Serena had practiced speaking under her mask before she came. She kept her voice low and toneless.

Selene seemed to suddenly sit upright on her bed. "Oh! Bright One!"

Serena felt uneasy as Selene studied her curiously.

"Forgive my appearance. I must look hideous!" Selene quickly gestured to the maid for a brush. The maid immediately tackled the tangles and Selene ordered Serena to sit down.

"You asked me to see you because of an ailment. I do wish to get this over with, so I can go home and be there for others who might be in worse condition than you, Your Highness." On the contrary, Selene was as beautiful as ever was what Serena truly wanted to tell her.

"Forgive me for taking up your time. I just needed someone to tell me what is wrong with me..."

"Then, let me tend to you in private," Serena suggested.

Selene dismissed her maid and turned to Serena with a bright smile. "What's with the mask?" She asked casually. "I'm not diseased I hope."

Serena reddened. "I—I'm just taking precautions… Are—are you feeling unwell?"

Selene nodded. "It gets really bad sometimes. When I wake up my stomach gets upset and I hurl everything I eat the night before."

"…"

"Sometimes I can't get out of bed at all. I don't even know why."

"The sickness in the stomach—might it happen during the day as well?"

"Yes, sometimes."

Serena gulped audibly. She sat on the edge of Selene's enormous bed. "May I?"

"You're a healer. Why must you ask?" Selene murmured.

Serena touched her forehead. Then, she listened to her pulse. "You are not running a fever or stomach flu."

"So what could it be?" Her beautiful violet eyes were bright and wide.

"You're with child."

Selene's pale face turned distraught. It was like watching someone crush a butterfly.

Serena touched her shoulder out of comfort. "How could you not tell the signs, Your Highness?" It sounded like a scold. Serena was upset that her sister would do something so reckless.

"It is a shame isn't it?" Selene's eyes were dark and wet. "But it's okay. I can marry him and tell him it's his child."

Serena studied her sister, emotionally breaking down. The flame of anger reached the younger woman's eyes. "You plan to marry another man when you are in love with another to have shared yourself with him? Selene would never betray anyone like that."

Selene looked at Serena, who didn't seem to notice that she had just changed her voice and addressed Selene as 'Selene.'

"Who is it that you are going to marry?" Serena demanded, letting her anger get the better of her.

"You do not know? He is the Prince Darien of this kingdom."

Serena was shocked frozen.

"Darien! But he isn't the father of your child. You cannot plan to live a lie for the rest of your life! It is an injustice to both you and Darien!" Serena cried.

"I have no choice…"

"Of course you do! You love someone else!"

"If only it were that simple." Selene smiled sadly.

"We can make it simple, Selene. Please… Don't ruin lives like this."

"You are so much like her," Selene sighed. "My sister… When she left a part of me disappeared. Not even the love of my life can replace the love for my sister."

"You can forget her!"

Selene looked confused at Serena's outburst. "You are too young to understand."

"You are not that much older than me," Serena spoke coldly, "Don't make it out like you know everything because you don't. Your sister is gone. She has nothing to do with the present situation."

Selene closed her eyes briefly. "She has everything to do with my present. I would not be in this mess if she had not run away and left me with her groom."

Serena took a huge step backward. "You have some nerve!—who is the reckless one, sharing a bed with a man before she is even married to him!"

"I was looking for comfort and I found it in him," Selene wept.

"I'd be damned if that is supposed to explain your unruliness!" Serena cried in rage.

Swiping at her violet eyes with the back of her hand, she spoke shakily. "Are you angry at me because of Prince Darien or because of me?"

Serena's eyes widened at this. "Both," she choked, bowing her head. Carelessly, a curly strand of blonde hair fell from the inside of her hood.

Selene slipped out of bed and touched Serena's hair with the tip of her fingers. "Is it because of love?"

Serena shattered to pieces in front of her sister. She knew from the look in her sister's eyes that her cover was blown. There was nothing to hide from her anymore.

"Is it so wrong to love and worry for a precious sister?"

"Only a sister, Serena? Isn't there also Darien?"

Serena blinked at her in surprise. Selene grinned. "You look ridiculous. Take off that mask." Serena held her mask firmly, not allowing Selene to take it off.

Serena decided that she would keep hiding anyway. It was safer to keep up the charade. "I do not know what you're talking about. As your healer, I came to make sure you were alright."

"What happened to 'love and worry for a precious sister?' It's now all about being a healer again," Selene accused.

"If you are alright. I am leaving. There is nothing more to talk about."

"Serena! Do not speak in that way! We are sisters, not strangers."

"I am the Bright One," Serena reminded her darkly. "Get it straight or I won't bother with you at all."

"Excuse me, Bright One." Selene emphasized the alias that her sister had adopted with scorn. "I, unlike you, care more about family than myself. I have one other to care for as long as I breathe in this world."

"Why have you brought me here! Tell me now!" Serena demanded, as another idea dawned upon her.

Selene rubbed her miserable face. "I brought you here for another reason, yes."

"Spit it out already!"

"Mother needs to see you."

Selene did not even have time to blink as she saw Serena go without another angry word in her direction.

"Serena!" The eerie echo stretched through the room. Horrible, anguished sobs reached the soul of the Bright One. The sisterly bond had never been so tight, yet so weak, than at that moment when Serena shared the heartache and sorrow of her sister.

Sorry for the delay. It took me a long time writing this and it turned out real crappy. Sorry about that...
2 more chapters and an epilogue coming soon?...