Okay, people, I just wanna say: SERENITY DOES LOVE ENDYMION!
Now dat I've covered dat, I can go on wit da story...
One other thing. It was brief, but I basically told u guys wat happened wit Victor and it kinda explains why Serenity married Victor:
"The goons you hired to keep me are far less loyal to you than they are to a complete stranger, especially when money is involved," Quote, unquote.
I appreciate da reviews AND da flames cuz it makes me want to write more to justify all my writings. If da last chappy turned u off, den I hope my previous chapters have satisfied ur palate cuz u either like it or u don't.
I don't make it a mission of mine to satisfy everybody, only those willing to listen. But, again, I hope u enjoyed all dat I offered.
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Her face was awash with tears but when she went out in public, she hid them very good. They saw a happy Queen, with her new King. They saw her kiss him at events and hold his hand when going through crowds. They saw her smile when he'd whisper something in her ear when he thought no one was looking.
They all saw someone destined to rule her people the way they deserved to be ruled.
What they didn't see was the tears, the nightmares that plagued her resting hours when the world was asleep. They didn't see the longing in her heart every time she looked out the window. They didn't see resistance every time Victor leaned in to kiss her. They didn't even see that they slept in separate beds and had not yet lain with each other.
She knew she had been cruel to Endymion when he came to the palace. But she had no choice. After receiving the letter from Victor telling her of his ordeal, she knew she couldn't stay at the castle.
What made Serenity madder was the fact that he actually thought he could get away with it.
Her mind kept going back the words in the letter, smashing her new life with Endymion to pieces. (A/N Explanation below for all those who sent da flamers, hehe)
My Dear Serenity,
I hope this letter does not reach you in lateness. I can no way pardon my disappearance except to say that the fault lies on your husband's conscience. This rowing accident, as my riding companion tells me, was the cause of my death.
That, obviously, is not the truth. The reality of it is that while hunting in the backwoods of Malcromby, I came upon a band of thieves. Only, I thought they were thieves. Though dressed in rags, I knew it to be some sort of plot by your King.
After a fruitless fight, my hunting pals were killed and I was taken, blindfolded. I was kept in captivity in a darken room, all the while leaving a world believing me to be dead.
With my friends dead, I planned for my escape. After many failed attempts, I was finally able to bargain with my captors with gold. Though they weren't soliders nor real thieves, they failed to search my pockets. I was able to give up my medallion for my freedom.I am now on my way to my manor in Malcromby. I thought it best to send a messenger while I regained my strength.
Your guard Gabriel happened to ride by and is accompanying me back, where we will plan on how to deal with your king. When you can, it would do us good if you were to meet us here when time permits.
Make no mistake; I plan to take immediate action against him after what he has done to me, and to you.
I hope your love for him, something Gabriel confirmed with a heavy heart, will not bind you to stand with him and spite all those who love you.
We await your arrival.
Yours Always,
Victor
When she did get there, Serenity had made up her mind to get back at Endymion. He led her not only to believe Victor to be dead, but that she was the cause of it. Her insides were bouncing at the thought marrying Victor, but after Gabriel showed her the laws, Serenity knew it had to be done.
Gabriel consoled her when they were alone in the sitting room. He knew of her love, for it was the main subject in all her letters to him. Now, she was doing the one thing that would keep her away from her true love.
Gabriel also knew that there was other ways to get justice but marrying Victor was the only effective one.
Now, on the eighth day of her marriage, she heard naught a word from Endymion, from Madiri.
Her heart was dying inside but they failed to see it past the fake smiles and forced giggles. Only Gabriel and Maya knew who really resided in Serenity's heart. Only they knew she cried at night when she realized that Endymion was not by her side, his voice was not there to sooth her, to whisper to her.
She was dying and she hid it so well from the world.
She was dying but the entire world thought her happy, happy and content.
She was dying and she didn't know how to make it better again.
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Dusk had fallen on the lands, bathing the skies in pinks and purples. The trees danced with the wind, like a ritual, and fanned the air with leaves. Darkness was a breath away, daring the sun to awake again.
He found everything ugly to him. The flowers that he had planted for Serenity seemed tolaugh at him, at his folly. The bright draperies that hung about the castle, they mocked his loss mercilessly. He wanted to break down and cry. He wanted to thrash about and destroy any reminder of her. Any thing that held her scent.
"Sire?" someone said behind him. He didn't turn around.
"What is it now?" he thundered, gripping his hair, trying to rip away the image of her from his lovelorn mind.
"The Governor requests your presence at the meeting tomorrow in town."
"Tell him if my schedule permits. That is all," Endymion wanted nothing of business right now. All he could think of was how he would get the love of his life back. That is, if she would take him back willingly.
He knew he blew it when he ordered the capture of the Duke. But his love for a certain golden-haired goddess clouded his reason. He had to have her, had to keep her away from the men trying to catch her attention.
So he made plans to imprison the young Duke somewhere secluded in Nuwell. He heavily paid the men to keep him until Endymion was able to figure out how to deal with him. But his newfound bliss with Serenity kept his mind from thinking about him.
When he saw Victor with Serenity in Vaneri, he knew the fault was his. He should have dealt with him after he had finally married Serenity. But no, love blinded him from his duties. Love from his goddess shaded him from forces that threatened his life with his wife. How stupid could he be?
Nothing was certain, especially when love was concerned. Fate gave them he tools but it was up to him to see it through. And now, Fate was laughing at him at his blunder. Fate left his side.
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She held herself from sending a letter to Madiri, just to see how things were there. She couldn't ask Gabriel, even though he knew of her ever-present love for the king of Madiri. Life could let her be with Endymion but common sense told her he did a betrayal that could never mend.
Social concerns reached her ears of her needed pregnancy, something Serenity didn't think would be happening any time soon. Victor still did not share her bed and Serenity didn't mind. Her body was accustomed to Endymion's. She didn't want to change that, at least not for a while. But she also knew that her kingdom needed an heir. Life was unpredictable and if she were to leave her kingdom without an heir, her country would be in turmoil.
Her father's side of the family argued that the throne belonged to them. This pressured the couple even more. An heir was asked and asked for. When will they give them one?
At the moment, she had other things to worry about. Like the fact that she was carrying Endymion's baby.
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The church was dark but he found his way toward the aisle, kneeling before Father Flannigan. The man dropped his palms atop Endymion's head and recited a prayer. He saw the anguish the king was going through and decided to leave him to his own prayers.
Endymion whispered a few verses then drifted to the first pew, sitting down slowly, as if his past transgressions would result in the pew bursting into flames at his touch.
Bowing his head, thoughts ran in his mind. Faces were blurred and voices, voices prodded him to ask for forgiveness. Who would grant such a thing to a man of his nature?
"I deserve no absolution," he said hoarsely. His breathing slowed, his heart barely there; sometimes he wondered if it really was there. Time had treated him with cruelty, but for the first time in his life, he understood why things happened the way they did.
But one thing he could never be guilty of was forging love. His love for Serenity was real, as real as the sun above them and the grass below them. He might've lost her for good, but the thought of her forever in his heart soothed him, enough to forget his lonely castle.
His decision to make Serenity pay was gone from his mind now. He could never hurt the one woman who held his heart.
Now, it was time to disregard the past and concentrate on the present, concentrate on his people.
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His hand swept her hair away from her face, kissing her dainty throat, sliding his tongue down her smooth skin. His chest was pressed against hers and she could feel his heartbeat. It was as strong as his breath on her mouth.
Her lower body was turning with pleasure, waiting for the needed intrusion. Her body was been aching for it, for him. She grasped his head and roughly kissed him, licking his lips with anticipation.
Serenity broke away from her dream, but not before she glimpsed dark blues eyes boring into her with lust…and love.
"Are you alright, Sere?" Victor asked beside her. It was the middle of the night, the moon winking at them through the heavy drapes.
"Yeas, I'm fine. Just nightmares," she smiled at him and closed her eyes again, thinking about her baby.
In seven months, her belly had swelled up beautifully. Many commented on this supposed glow about her but Serenity grudgingly failed to see that. All she saw was a fat cow in her reflection. Two more months to go, two more before her body went back to normal.
She scratched her belly, feeling the baby kick softly. Serenity laughed and began to think of how the baby would like. She wanted her blonde hair on him or her. She didn't know how she'd feel if it came out looking like Endymion. No one would be surprised though.
Victor knew it wasn't his, obviously because they never made love. He understood her love for Endymion. And also knew why she left him because of his betrayal. Serenity found no qualms in letting Victor obtain mistresses. It was a matter of time anyway, since many kings did so regardless of having a wife or not.
Victor also had no problems letting the baby to be heir of Vaneri. Serenity loved him for it. Love; an emotion that she only shared with Endymion. This kinda of love was that of a friend. Victor comprehended that too.
Now, what kind of name should the future sovereign of Vaneri have?
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Endymion had heard of the pregnancy when he was passing through the village, after visiting a sick friend.
He had ceased his people at the castle to never mention anything about Vaneri to him ever again. But this kind of news surprised him.
"Seven months, she is. And to think, it could've been Madiri's heir," a merchant said mournfully.
"Aye, and His Highness doesn't seem to be finding new bride anytime soon," his friend responded.
Endymion walked away, not wanting to hear another word.
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" one of his guards said as he noticed Endymion to be walking faster.
"Nothing. I just have work to attend to at the castle," he lied, not really wanting anyone to know that he heard the news.
It broke his heart.
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She was beautiful. The sun honeyed her features in an ethereal glow, as if she were the Goddess herself. Her long blonde hair, which had reached the backs of her knees, was splayed around her, like a net of spun gold. Behind her closed eyes rested baby blue eyes that tried to ignore the memories of her long ago lover.
Victor turned away, knowing she'd awake any moment now and catch him watching her.
He knew of her dreams. Knew it when she'd cry out his name in her sleep; when tears would fall from her eyes and he'd brush them away, hoping she felt it as assurance.
But no matter how much she cried in her sleep and no matter how much he came to care and try to protect the young Queen, he couldn't bring himself to truly love his wife.
Duty tied them together but did not stop them from loving each other. Except it was hard to do when her heart belonged to another and his yearned for the countryside, a source of inspiration for his writings.
Right now, there was no time or room for romance. He was King now, something bigger than dukedom. He had responsibilities to his new people and to an unborn child he'd raise as his own. Victor had no problem with that. He knew she was with child one day when they woke to have breakfast together.
Her face was different. It was softer, lighter. Her eyes were deeper and the lilt of her voice gave him his answer.
At least the child would be royal. And Serenity, his wife, would have something of her true love.
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She was due anytime now.
The kingdom was in frenzy, preparing for the new arrival. New linens were brought in, dresses were made and a new room was fixed. All they needed was the new heir, someone who would rule Vaneri next, someone Serenity would love dearly for the secret the baby would hold.
The doctors were finally able to persuade the Queen to have best rest until it was time. Serenity couldn't bring herself to do it. She needed the fresh air around her, to see the flowers bloom right before her eyes. She wanted to hear the village children's laughter as she watched them splash around in the lake.
"No, Sere. You know what the doctors said. You want this to be easy, don't you," Victor said pointedly, tugging the blankets on Serenity's erratic body.
"But, I want to go outside and have a walk," whimpered Serenity, pouting her lips.
Victor bent down to kiss those very lips and waved his finger at her. He exited the room, leaving Serenity by herself.
"Damn!" cursed Serenity loudly. The pregnancy did only one thing: have people more protective of her than they were before. It was really pissing her off.
"And how's our expecting mother?" Maya poked in her head.
"Bored and about to go crazy," she answered but brightened up when she saw Sebastian run into the room.
"Hello, little Seby!" she squealed, the young boy curling next to her on the bed.
"He just can't wait for the baby. He's mad mummy and daddy haven't "brought" another one for him," Maya said, sitting next to Serenity and patting her protruding stomach.
"Well, you can have this one. I don't think I'll like it very much after I try to squeeze it out of my body," Serenity grimaced, dreaded the moment when her water would break.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine," assured Maya, lying next to her.
They laid there for awhile, neither saying anything. When Sebastian started to snore, Maya spoke up.
"Do you worry who the baby will favor?"
"Yes. If there is one strand of black hair on its head, they'll be uprising in the kingdom. I dare to hope that the Goddess will pardon me and grant my wish."
"She will, Sere, she will."
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The crowds clamored about, their eyes waiting for their Queen to appear.
"There they are!" They turned and saw Serenity step out on her balcony, in her arms a bundle wrapped in silks.
"What is it?" many shouted, their hearts soaring with pride.
"I, Queen Serenity, present to the people the new prince of Vaneri!" she held the baby up, his face flushed.
They cheered and waited again as she disappeared and coming out the front door for her countrymen to get a closer look.
"He's beautiful, Your Highness," they showered her baby with compliments and smiles.
Of all the faces she saw that day, there was only one she really wanted to see.
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He watched with sorrow as Serenity greeted her people with her baby in her arms. Making sure the cloak covered his face, he moved closer, wanting to see her, smell her, anything just to make sure she was real; that was really in front of him and not in some dream.
"Thank you all," she replied happily, as some offered her gifts, which her maid took from Serenity's tired hands.
Victor came out and the cheering went on again. They loved their new king. This angered Endymion.
"Feasting will go on for the whole week in honor of my new son!" he proclaimed, which resulted in the crowd bursting with clapping and hurrahs.
"Your Highness, we must depart, lest we are found out," his guard said cautiously.
"Fine," Endymion said dejectedly. He wanted one more look at her.
"Isn't it grand?" cried a peasant woman next to him.
"Oh, yes! How lovely they look, the new family!" her friend said gleefully.
"To think, she could've had King Endymion's baby. Goddess bless her for that clemency," they giggled once more then left, leaving a reddened Endymion.
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She was crying again. She couldn't help it. Her dreams were more vivid now, almost to the point of tears. His face would smile at her and she could almost smell his scent. It was so strong under her nose; she thought maybe everything else had been the dream.
But no. When she'd hear the wailing of her baby, Serenity would wake and face a new day without her Endymion.
Everyday, she tried to keep herself from running to him. She told herself the reasons for why she left him. He betrayed her, lied to her; keeping an innocent man imprisoned.
That last reason always reminded her of her own imprisonment. To know that someone else went though the same Hell as her, because of her, made her cringe with guilt. When she had read that letter in her room, her heart punched her rib cage. How could anyone do this to a human being?
But she should have asked herself that when she began to fall in love with him.
Too late now. She was head over heels in love with him. And no hundreds of miles could erase what she felt for Endymion.
Her marriage to another man couldn't wipe away her love from the only man who saw into her soul.
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"She cries again, especially during the nights," he whispered, his voice cracking with sadness.
"She'll be alright."
"I can no longer hope that the baby will heal her wounds. He will only remind her more of the man who should be her husband."
"What has happened, happened," Maya hugged him close, his body racking with sobs.
"Will she ever begin to let go or forever live in misery?" Victor asked, hating what was happening to his dear wife and friend.
"Love can never disappear. Serenity knows it and doesn't know what to do about that."
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She didn't know why she did it. Her hands just found the pen and parchment and started to write the letter.
Her heart was poured out on it, tears drops dotting the sides. She explained her unwavering love for him but the reasoning for her leaving. She hoped he understood and might forgive her for her actions, as she would for his.
It would be hard, she wrote, but in time, she might see what it really was: as an act of love, to keep the woman you love close to you.
Forgiveness was a long ways away but she was willing to try.
Notthinking with her head, but with her heart, she ended the letter with words she knew would change her life forever.
Your son looks beautiful. He has your eyes.
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Okay, dis is obviously da longest chapter dat I've ever written.
If u wanna send more flames………….go ahead. Criticism makes the heart and mind grow ever more stronger.
Again, if u were turned off by recent events, den okay. Me okay wit it. But just remember, no one ever said love was easy