Wow, lots of reviews with the words "Update" I guess dats wat u get when u lost three chappies so close together.
I'm writing dis the next day, but I didn't plan too cuz I got freakin writers block wen I ended chapter 14. But after reading all those reviews, I got a boost of faith and inspiration.
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The sky was overcast with gray clouds that neither stayed but wanted to leave; in a limbo, they were.
The moon soon came around and by midnight, it was swollen and apricot tinged. Stars were scattered across the night, twinkling and smiling, as if taking pity on the man who stood with pain on his back.
Endymion let no one know how he was feeling, not even the seer who visited his lands could see what pain he was going through. He had become a man able to cloak all his emotion, good and bad.
It had been one year since that beatific night in the woods when Serenity finally gave herself wholly to him.
But that was over. Even know she hadn't married him, he had heard from his spies, they planned to wed a month from now. Endymion's "visit" seemed like a bad omen to the superstitious Duke and after seeking the advice of his own seer, it was decided to execute the wedding in the fall, just when the leave turned their bright colors.
Serenity's last words haunted him every night since that night, and he was never far from her scent. He always visited her room which he later had boarded up when it started to distract him from his new duties of High Kings of the four Kingdoms.
Sometimes, when the night was dark and the wind caressed his face, Endymion would stand outside and look at the moon, hoping maybe she was doing the same.
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Serenity turned away from her balcony, closing the doors and slipping into bed. The sheets were folded over her by the maids but she barely noticed them
Every night, every night, her dreams were consumed of nothing but him. She confessed this to no one, not even Maya. No one would understand it; no one would understand the weird and complicated love she had for that man.
The same man who used Maya as a means to get what he wanted. The same man who intruded on her wedding and tried to drag her away from it. The same man who had stolen her heart when he wouldn't let go of the chemistry that had been long brewing between them.
Her body ached for him as memories of it came back to her. Memories of his hands over her, kissing her lips and grabbing at her like she was the only thing that could save him from his damnation. It was the most thrilling thin in her life. It saddened her to know it would never happen again. In one month's time, she was due to become another man's wife, a man she left nothing but admiration for; anything but love.
"Serenity?" someone said above her. Her eyes were closed but she could tell who it was.
"Yes, Maya?"
"I need you to wake up," she said slowly.
Serenity sat up, her eyes searching Maya's. She had a candle in her candle; in the other was a bit of parchment, with writings. Victor's cost of arms was stamped at the top.
"What? Does the Duke send me letter regarding the wedding. I told him war doesn't wait for weddings. We should have had it when we had the chance," she was rambling on and on until a look from Maya silenced her.
"Serenity, Sere, Netherfield sends depressing news. It seems the Duke has died," putting the candle on the nightstand, Maya hugged her friend, waiting for the tears to come.
She was stunned, she was speechless. Why did this have to happen? Not only did this leave the wedding no more, it also meant something else. Endymion, the day before he stopped her wedding, had changed the Laws of Peace. So it stated that a marriage between two heirs could be permitted, with Endymion as the groom, if it meant the end of wars and brought about peace.
The moment this reached Endymion's ears, her future would unfurl as his wife, his Queen.
"How did this happen?" she managed to croak out.
"Rowing accident. Excellent rower, he is. But, the Duke tipped over. No foul play, it seems," Maya murmured.
"Did they find…his body?"
"No, just his coat and a boot. Looks as if the currents took him out to sea," Maya brought her shaky friend closer to her.
"You know what this means, right Maya?" Serenity asked; her eyes a mile away.
"Yes, Your Highness, I do."
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Endymion couldn't believe his eyes. The letter in his hands fell to the floor as his heart did somersaults. Serenity would finally be his!
Now was the matter of setting it about. She had the right to say no, but if the problem was given to the Tribunal, they then can decide if Serenity is sanctioned to marry him.
He went to his study and wrote to them, knowing that his Serenity would not marry him without a fight. The Tribunal would be the only ones to make her do so.
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Her countless chests were filled to the brim; her silks, dresses, jewels packed away for her journey. Dressed in a simple white gown and swathed in a black cloak, Serenity put on her slippers and continued down the stairs to the back of her palace. Maids that passed her offered smiles and wishes of well being. They were going to miss her.
"Come, Serenity, the carriage waits," Gabriel said in a monotone, offering his hand to lift her into the carriage.
"Yes, Gabriel," hoisting her up, Serenity settled in, Maya and her baby beside her. Another carriage behind then carried Serenity's things, instead of piling them atop the one they were in. They had to look inconspicuous lest spies were afoot.
Afraid?" Maya asked, wrapping her son in a shawl from the cold.
"Would I seem less of a Queen if I said yes?"
"No, you would seem human."
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He was going to kill her! After arriving at the palace the day of receiving of the letter, Endymion planned to be humble with his future wife and let her take control of their upcoming nuptials only to find it occupied with maids. Not even Gabriel or that Liam around.
The one in control was her cousin. The idiot tried to play dumb but he could see it in the man's eyes that Serenity had fled.
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The manor had been built to hide away from the village, since the first owner hated interruptions. Yes, they would have been great friends.
It took a day's trip to get to Netherfield to rest then off to another country, a country that many did not know about for it was still new.
Feylium lay on the western coast, near the waters. Serenity knew no one there but Maya did. It had been her idea to bring her there.
The streets were clean and tiny stores dotted the sidewalk. Oil lamps hung from posts that seemed plenty for the land was constantly plagued with mists. Slim trees grew everywhere, as if it were preferred over bright flowers.
"They believe trees to be the first flowers," Maya had told her when they first got to Feylium soil.
Soon they got to the manor where Serenity would be staying, though for how long, they did not know.
"After I've figured this all out, 'til then, I must stay here," she kissed Maya and her baby goodbye.
As Maya showed her baby to her aunt and uncle who'd be taking care of Serenity, the crying Queen kissed her best friend good bye also.
"It won't be forever, Serenity," soothed Gabriel.
"But it feels like I won't see you for a while. Promise me you'll protect Maya and the little one. And promise me if there's any sign of trouble from Endymion, you'll send for me, okay?"
"Don't worry, Sere, it'll all be taken care of. You just think of this as a vacation. Liam and I will meet with the three other kingdoms and try to figure this out, okay?"
"Okay," Serenity hugged them once more and watched sadly as they departed.
It was beginning to rain, cloaking the two carriages. All her things had been taken up to her new room, so Serenity had nothing to do but sleep. Sleep was her only companion now. Endymion no longer troubled her in her dreams; Maya gave her a vial of something that would give her dreamless sleeps. Dreamless, if only it were that simple when she was awake.
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Endymion spent his waking hours searching for clues, anything that lead to Serenity's hideout. She had no family outside her own country so that was a bust. A queen would need a secluded place to stay, somewhere many expect one of her status to stay at. But then again, Serenity was not like other Queens.
So maybe she'd opt to stay in a place of glamour, or would she.
"Urgh!" Endymion yelled in frustration. He angrily shoved the papers from his desk; their floated to the ground like butterflies dying in the wind.
"Where are you, Serenity?" he broke down, shuddering at the thought she might finally be lost to him forever.
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She should've never gone outside. Maya's aunt and Uncle, Petunia and Edward had gone out for a stroll. This left her with the many servants serving to her every whim. But boredom kept her jumpy. She needed to get out and experience Feylium.
Wrapping a slim shawl around her, she stepped outside and headed for the local village. Twigs cracked under her feet, sending her back to her country, when as a little girl, she'd journey out with her father. Days like those, she could never get back.
Arriving at the village, she saw many interests she had planned on seeing. Dark skinned men sold jewelry on wooden posts and boasted of their history
"Worn by the Queen of Nuwell, a gift from her King!" they looked lovely but she pressed on.
Young girls with slanted eyes and peach-colored skin smiled at her, offered pastries filled with fruit and juices. Little children around them were licking off the sap running down their tiny fingers.
To her left, she saw limber boys and girls performing tricks with their bodies, twisting this way and that all the while not falling on their rears. A hat was on the ground, filled with coins that glinted under the blazing sun.
That's when it happened. Turning away from them, she saw a man dressed in soldier garb. She thought nothing of it until she recognized blue and gold colors and the coat of arms stamped on his left lapel.
They were looking for her! She made to run but it was too late; he noticed her finery and saw her face. Everyone from Madiri knew of her beauty. To have a soldier not know her looks would make him ignorant and the butt of jokes.
She threw off her shawl and ran like Hell, stumbling past people who had perplexed looks on their faces. A lady of her physical attributes shouldn't be running like a maniac.
"Hey you, stop right there!" the man yelled but she didn't care. She had to get back. All this work would've been for naught.
Kicking her slippers off, she picked up her dress and hid behind a tree. When she no longer heard foot steps, she crept out and ran toward the manor. It took her minutes to get back but she bolted the door and went to hide in her room.
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By night fall, nothing seemed to happen. Petunia, Edward and Serenity were sitting by the fire. While the women knitted, Edward read his correspondence, smoking a pipe.
"Edward, face the fire, you know I hate that dreadful smell," Petunia said, scrunching up her nose, making Serenity laugh.
"Infuriating woman," he grunted in jest.
That was the last thing she remembered them doing before a maid came in with a grave face.
"Your Highness, The High King Endymion is here to see you," she said gloomily. They all knew she was in hiding. And they all knew what he came for.
"What? How did he find her?" gasped Petunia.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I went for a walk in the village and one of his men saw me," Serenity admitted, sliding to the floor and crying.
"Oh, my dear," Edward said, hugging her as men sauntered in.
"It seems my search has come to an end," stated Endymion, his voice full of pride.
"Yes, it seems it has," Petunia said in melancholy.
She lifted Serenity to her feet and wiped away her tears.
"Be strong, dear. Let not the bonds of marriage stop you," her hidden words were only heard by Serenity's ears only.
"I won't," assured Serenity, facing Endymion.
Neither a smile nor a smirk was on his face. He almost looked as if this all pained him.
"Why can't you let me go?" she pleaded to him.
"Because I always collect what was owed to me."
What do you mean?" she asked earnestly.
"You were betrothed to me before Nikil. Your parents' death gave Nikil the chance to change it to his favor and name. He was never supposed to marry you, I was," he finished, walking closer to the cowering Queen.
He placed a hand on her cheek, his thumb caressing away a spare tear.
They took her to his carriage, her things already packed and loaded onto another carriage. They sat opposite each other.
"So that's what this was all about?"
"Yes," he answered her, staring into her eyes with love in his.
"I thought it was all about the ring?"
"It was at first, but that changed when I fell in love with you."
"You love me?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, I love you. I've always loved you."
A tear fell from her eye, but not in pain, not in fear. It was because of something else.
At the corner of her mouth, there was a hint of a smile. He saw it and surprisingly, there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
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Luv it, hate it? I didn't know how to end it, but this definitely doesn't count as a cliffhanger like the others were. I mean, this one ended in a good way, u know?
With all da reviews, the general consensus wants some mutual love to be shown; well this is just a TASTE of what they will have.
And seeing as how I've been sending new chapters nonstop, I think you guys can handle dis one. Don't worry, I plan to start da next chappy after dis one is posted. Can probably expect it tomorrow, MAYBE……….