Yea………I got, like, no comments right now but don't worry, you'll get a taste of my daily wit at da end :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wedding had been quick, with few attending. Madiri rejoiced at the thought of a Queen for their King. Of course, they ignored the fact that the only reason it was happening was because Endymion had ordered it.
Two days now. Two days since it happened. Endymion laid naught a finger on her. He was scarcely there, new responsibilities taking his time away from the castle. Serenity didn't know how she felt about that.
"Your Highness, you have a visitor," her new maid said, scurrying away, as if frightened by her presence.
Serenity looked up from her sewing and her face broke out in a smile.
"I hope this place hasn't sucked all the happiness from our little Sere," proclaimed Maya, Sebastian tottering behind her.
"Maya!" Serenity jumped up and flew into her friend's arms.
"Miss me that much? Perhaps I should build a cottage around here so you can visit me whenever," Maya said, sitting down and pulling Sebastian onto her lap.
"Oh, that would be heavenly," she responded dreamily.
"So, how is your new King treating you?"
"I wouldn't know. He's never here."
The second they arrived at his castle, she was swept away to her room, a different one; it had a connecting door that led to Endymion's. After the marriage, he left for business. The door was never used.
"Well, when are you due for home?" Maya asked, her arms trying to still a fussing Sebastian.
"I leave tomorrow, in the morn," she replied, putting away her sewing in a wicker basket.
"That's good. We'll leave together."
Since Serenity was the Queen of Vaneri, it was decided that she'd divide her time between the two countries. Though it was better to change locations every month, her abrupt departure from Vaneri left her kingdom in disarray. One week there and then she'd leave again for Madiri.
"Come, let us dine," Serenity stood and led the way, playing hostess to a house she never wanted.
------------------------------
Endymion grew frustrated as the days passed. Days were filled with emissaries and the like while the nights kept him up with thoughts of Serenity.
He still couldn't believe he blurted everything to her, his love, their engagement; everything. So when they finally reached their destination, he couldn't bear to face her. What was she feeling? Did she feel the same way about him? Could she accept their union, something that was already preordained since their youth?
These questions were left unanswered when he was called for duties outside his kingdom. He wanted to start his marriage with Serenity but being King of Madiri and High King of the Four Kingdoms demanded his presence and time.
Would he ever have a moment alone with his wife?
"Your Highness, Her Highness Queen Serenity has left for Vaneri early in the morn," informed one of his advisors.
To top it all of, Serenity's time was also being stretched with her duty to her mother country. He didn't fault her that; he'd be the same way if it were him. But with the way things were going, how long would it be before they'd have children? His kingdom was in need of an heir, and so was hers.
"Thank you, you may go," he waved them all away.
All he wanted to do was drink ale until late in the night and fall asleep with Serenity's face in his mind. But troubles in Wodlend kept his mind leashed on anything but his wife.
"Your Highness, I don't mean to disturb you, but we've just gotten a correspondence from Her Highness, Queen Serenity," the same man said, laying the letter by Endymion's elbow. He bowed and left, closing the door behind him.
He stared at it. Should he read it? His heart gave out and ripped the wax seal away. Unfolding the parchment, he read fervently her drawlingly elegant writing.
Dear My High King Endymion,
I've just arrived at Vaneri. Things are well here but an outbreak of rioting has been awoken from the kingdom. It seems the Iimunati, the religious order said to have found the ring, has heard the news of our union and the ring's new owner. I will be delayed for but a few more weeks.
Sincerely,
Her Highness, Queen Serenity
Endymion's blood boiled at the thought of his new bride enduring difficulty from her own lands.
"Horace! Saddle my horse, I leave for Vaneri!" he ordered, dressing in his royal garb, a mesh of blue and gold; colors he now fought for in fervor.
--------------------------------
Yelling filled her ears when she entered the room. She kept a veil over her mouth and scanned the room for any familiar faces. Even with Liam by her side, and Gabriel with the guards all around her, Serenity felt very alone.
"Silence!" commanded Gabriel once he spotted Serenity and pulled out a chair for her.
Serenity thanked him for the interference and waited as everyone settled their eyes on her.
The big lacquered table seated dozens from the Iimunati, all dressed in black robes with a blood red crescent by their breast. They had pushed back their hoods the minute they saw her out of respect; she felt more comfortable now that she could see their faces.
"Well, was the reason for calling this meeting?" Serenity asked, lowering her veil.
"Your Highness, we do not understand why you surrendered the ring to that damned King of Madiri. There was a reason why we entrusted it to your kingdom," their leader, Finnegan Moreberry, finished.
He was a burly man, with piercing blue eyes and a pocked face. His beard was glistening with drink and his cheeks were ruddy from the whipping cold outside.
"A life was on the line. I had no choice but to give it up. What difference does it make now? I'm married to that man, so the ring is just as his as it is mine. There is no need to fret about it," she made to stand but he spoke up again.
"Not is not what we mean, Your Highness. The ring was given to your kingdom, to you, so that it would not be used until the Goddess herself came down and retrieved it. It was not given in the faith as a bartering tool. We demand that it come back to your possession. The Iimunati feels that this new High King will abuse his power."
She didn't know what to say. The rioting had her worried, for many followed the Iimunati, and if they were displeased, so were the people.
First it started as protestors outside the palace screaming demands of its return to Vaneri. Then came the smashing of government offices and landmarks. Serenity was at her wit's end and had no solution to the problem afflicting her country.
"Do you really think my husband will give it back willingly?" it felt weird to regard him as such.
The word rolled off her tongue bitter sweetly. The thought brought many emotions to her mind. How long would it take before she got used to the term?
"We know of His Highness's temper. We also know the temper ordinary people have when they don't get what they want," Finnegan stated before leaving, the others filing out with him.
Serenity and Gabriel held stunned faces.
"Do you want me to-?" Liam started to say, taking out his sword, before Serenity cut him off.
"No, he's the High Priest. Killing him would put us under a bad light. We'll deal with this amicably. It'll deal itself out in the end," reasoned Serenity, patting Liam's hand.
If only she could believe her own words.
------------------------------
When he arrived to the nearest village to the palace, all he could see was broken glass and flames licking the sky rapidly.
"What's going on here?" he asked a passerby who was gripping his belongings closely to his body.
"The rioters. They've been growing dangerous until today. Her Highness Queen Serenity had adamantly refused to bring back the ring to Vaneri," the man said quickly before running away when a scream broke out in front of them.
Endymion reined in his horse watched in horror as men in royal garb were dragged out but then saved by soldiers with swords waving about.
"Your Highness!" yelled one of them. Looking closely, he saw it to be the man who guarded Serenity, Liam.
"What is it?" he asked when he got close enough.
"The palace is heavily protected, but Serenity and the others are boarded up in the west wing," he said before breaking away to deal with an overzealous peasant who recognized Endymion.
Before the man could say a word to the others, Endymion rode away toward the palace, his heart gripped in fear.
Within minutes, he jumped down his horse went straight inside, the soldiers letting him in.
"Serenity!" he yelled.
"She's this way, Your Highness," said a maid.
He followed her up the stairs and passed many doors until they stopped at one.
"Malcromby," she whispered. Endymion cringed at the password.
The door opened and revealed many of the maids with worried faces pacing the large bedroom. Maya was in a chair, her baby sleeping, while Serenity, his Serenity, was seated by the window. From where he stood, he could see smoke arising from the village.
"They won't stop fighting for it," she said in monotone.
He didn't know how she knew he was there. Maybe she saw him riding up with his horse, heard one the maids say it, or just knew.
He walked up right behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. All this because of a ring.
"It'll die down," he soothed.
She swiftly turned to him with an angry face.
"No, it won't!" she spat. Sensing a fight, Maya ushered everyone out to the drawing room that connected to the bedroom.
"They all fight for one thing and one thing only! Do not deny the fact that you'll never give it up," she screamed at him, standing away from him.
"You dare blame-"
"Yes, I DO dare!" Serenity tugged at her hair and slid to the floor.
"My country, it's falling apart because of some stupid ring," she lamented, crying.
Endymion went to her and picked her up, laying her on the bed. He sat beside her and hugged her.
"I'll deal with it," he said, a plan forming in his head.
"How? They do not listen to no one but me. I am their Queen," she found her words contradictory since the recent events were still happening regardless of her orders.
"I'll deal with it," he said again, kissing her forehead and waited until she was asleep to stand up.
"Maya, I'll be right back," he said when he opened the door.
------------------------------------
Seamus Crooke was the best in his profession. He perfected his art that even the Goddess herself would be proud of it. The light made his creations seemed not of this world; objects that many saw in dreams and visions.
Endymion first heard of him when Nikil planned to bring a gift to Serenity for their wedding. On and on, he talked of how this man could fool a king with a diamond when it really was a stone. He could make many believe a piece of metal was actually a piece from Midas' collection. (A/N If you know your history, you'll know what that means)
"How can I help The High King of the Four Kingdoms?" Seamus said when Endymion entered his cottage.
The man stood barely four feet tall, with long black hair and a clean, white face. Black, kohl eyes stared at him as he shined his knife.
"I need a ring made, just like this one," Endymion brought out the ring, which was resting on his middle finger.
"Hmm," Seamus said, taking the ring from Endymion and studied it under a large pane of glass that was supported by iron bars and a stand.
"Yes, I think I can. Do you wish for me to use real materials or no?" he asked, still peering at it with interest.
"Yes, I want the Iimunati to believe it is the real thing," he said intently.
Seamus knew of the situation that was going on in Vaneri. Thankfully, he had decided to reside in Nuwell years ago. Religious fanatics really pissed him off and Vaneri was filled with it.
"And do you really think you can pass off a false one as the real one?" Seamus asked curiously.
"The answer can only be answered by you, a man of superior talents of this sort," Endymion praised, knowing it would seal the deal.
"I'll have it ready by the morn," Seamus said, putting the ring in a snake hide pouch and into his pocket.
"Alright then. Here are the things," Endymion gave him two small bags. One filled with his payment and the other with gold and diamonds and such for the making of the ring.
---------------------------------
"We shall rescind the riots, Your Highness," spoke Finnegan as he watched the ring be brought inside the palace.
"Thank you. And you remember my terms?" Serenity said, bringing the shawl tightly around her. The cold was bearing down on them and she couldn't wait to go back inside. Endymion had opted out of seeing it carted back to Vaneri.
"Yes, your husband still retains his title of High King but you will become High Queen and only you will be able to wield the powers King Endymion cannot have," he said triumphantly.
Serenity felt bad about lying to the Iimunati about the ring. Though it was a good idea, it was still wrong. Serenity had no idea why Endymion did not want to give the real one back if he was still High King. Though he now had some of the power taken away and given to Serenity, the whole 'ring' plan was useless. To give it back was just easier, and would let Serenity sleep easily at night.
"Why do you want to keep the ring?" she asked him when the Order left and it was just the two of them in the main room.
"It's the principle of it," he replied quietly, staring out at nothing.
"Are you mad about the new conditions?"
"No, takes some of the burden off my shoulders," he said to his wife.
She sat down and said no more. The room was as quiet as the night. The sun was just disappearing andstill visible were remnants of smoke in the air. Her soldiers were in town now fixing the damage done by her people. This was one event she wanted to forget.
"Ready to go home?" he asked out of the blue. She smiled at him.
"Yes…I think I am," she took his hand which he held for her and together, they walked out to their waiting carriage.
She fell asleep in his arms during the whole ride.
-------------------------------
It was dark and her nightmares were bringing her eyes to open. The moon glowed outside brightly but couldn't still her fears. Serenity tossed and turned until her body was coated with sweat.
"Damn you," she said to no one.
She heard a creak outside her door and she stood up, clutching the sheets to her chest.
The door opened and to her surprise, it was the door leading to Endymion's room.
"Serenity?" he asked hesitantly, not sure if she was awake.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" she relaxed a bit and turned on one of her oil lamps.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"I could hear you," he smirked and walked closer, closing the door. She felt the bed give way under him when he sat on the edge.
There was silence and she didn't know what to say to break it.
Her heart started to beat wildly as his scent wafted to her nose; roses.
And she felt her world collide when he leaned in and kissed her.
And she knew she wasn't dreaming because he whispered to her.
"I love you, Serenity, I love," he whispered it over and over.
And she knew it wasn't a dream, because she said it too.
"I love you too, Endymion," her lips grazing his.
And she knew it wasn't a dream, because she meant it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to write the last part like a poem, cuz I'm like, soooo into poems.
Also, I wanted this chappy to be basically about their daily lives and how something like a ring could make kingdoms break out and fight. But seeing as how dis IS a romance ficcy, I added the last part for the fanatics and I hope its enough for you guys.
Da next chappy will kinda show their lives now dat they KNOW they love each other……
