Welcome, welcome! If you are reading this, then I assume that you are
enjoying the story. I'm having a good time writing it, so I hope you like
reading it. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but please, please
review. My last chapter received just one review, which, as a writer, is
disappointing and frustrating. (but it was a fabulous review, thank you so
much, Kuni-chan! ) You don't have to write a novel-sized review; I'd
just like to know that people are reading and to get a sense of what you
think so far. A sentence or two would suffice.
Okay, I'll get stop grovelling and get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Like I need to even say it. I guess that I should anyway. I don't own Sailor Moon. Okie dokey?
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....when we last left our heroes, they were "shacking up" for the night at an inn in the town of Alendoor. Endymion woke in the middle of the night to a man's voice and discovered that Serenity was gone. When the prince went to get her, he encountered Orleana, who was dressed as Sailor Sun. Endymion used his whoop-ass cane (well, it was borrowed, but anyway...) to fend off Orleana's attacks. The Solarian princess and her side-kick Beryl retreated into the woods. Endymion carried Serenity back to their room and attempted to get a bit more shut-eye.
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Light of Love: Red Moon Chapter 14: Mamo, the Defender
The next morning came too quickly, in Endymion's opinion.
He hadn't moved from his seated position on the bed all night. Consequently, his neck was stiff, his shoulders were sore, and his back ached. The prince groaned with annoyance as wakefulness took hold of his senses. He shifted his head away from the headboard and stretched his arms. He reluctantly opened his tired twilight blue eyes.
The grey, sick hue of the winter morning cast a dull square of light across Endymion's lap. The prince gazed down and yawned.
He remembered falling asleep the night before with Serenity in his arms. A strange, ill panic settled into Endymion's stomach as he realized that he was alone on the bed. His eyes widened as he sat up. He was now completely awake.
"Usa?" he said. His voice cracked.
The girl in question appeared at the foot fo the bed. She held her half- braided hair between her hands. A light blue ribbon was pinched between her lips.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," Endymion muttered. "Sorry, just making sure you hadn't wandered off."
Again, he thought to himself. Images of last night's encounter with the Solarian flashed in Endymion's mind. The prince twisted to look out of the window located beside him. He peered at the cluster of bare trees on the other side of the road. He expected to spot an ill-dressed woman standing somewhere on the edge of the forest. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the thicket rustle. A large dog emerged from the woods. The prince frowned.
Had the events of last night merely been a dream?
Endymion rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shifted so that his legs hung down off the side of the bed. He glanced back to where he had slept in the corner. If it had been a dream, the prince silently reasoned, then he would have awoken on the floor in front of the hearth. Instead, he was on the bed.
Endymion sighed heavily. He stood. He turned his attention to Serenity. She finished braiding and tied her ribbon at the end of her hair. The princess then sat on the floor in front of the extinguished fire and reached for her boots. Endymion watched her fumble with the laces. He smiled.
Before he fell asleep last night—the first time he fell asleep—the prince had decided to leave Serenity behind. Endymion, recalling the encounter with the Solarian woman, now reconsidered. If the Solarians knew of Serenity—and, more importantly, the prince's feelings for her—the princess was in just as much danger as he was.
Feelings? Endymion winced as his thoughts betrayed him. Surely, he couldn't have already formed feelings for her. He just felt attached to her because of their present situation.
The Terran prince silently observed Serenity. The princess, having finished lacing her boots, stood, attempted to walk, and sat down again. The girl frowned. She stared at her feet for several moments. Her face lit up as she realized something. She leaned forward, unlaced the boot on her right foot and pulled it off. Once she was finished repeating these actions on her remaining foot, Serenity took the boot that had previously been on her right foot and pulled it onto her left. She then stood up, shifted her booted foot from side to side, and sat down. A satisfied smile spread over her face as she completed the process of pulling on her footwear and tying the laces.
Endymion smothered an amused smile and shook his head. He couldn't define what he felt for her. In any case, he couldn't leave her behind.
"We'll have to leave town soon," he told Serenity.
"Can't we eat first?" the princess asked. "I'm starving!"
Her stomach rumbled, as if to justify her request.
Endymion shook his head. "We can't eat here." Noting the pained look on Serenity's face, the prince sighed. "Look, we can stop in the next village. We just need to leave Alendoor right now."
"Why?" demanded the princess.
"I just don't think it's safe here," the prince declared. He reached for the dirty towel he had used the night before. Endymion poured water over it and swiped it over his face. His skin tingled from the damp.
"But it was safe last night," Serenity argued. "Safe enough for us to stay here. Please Mamo, I'm hungry!"
Endymion pressed his lips firmly together. His patience was wearing thin. After the strain of walking through the territory the day before and his battle with that strange Solarian woman last night, the prince was in no mood to argue with Serenity. Endymion turned around to rebuke her request.
His twilight gaze locked with her pleading, wide blue eyes. Her desperate look melted Endymion's resolve. The prince's ill-temper dissipated. He let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine," he said calmly. "Fine! But you have to eat fast."
Serenity's face lit up. The Moon Princess rushed Endymion. The prince let out a gasp as Serenity wrapped her arms around his midsection.
"Thank you!" she whispered. She nuzzled her right cheek into his chest.
The Terran prince was taken aback by the young girl's hug. His face became hot. He silently attributed the blush to the direct contact he shared with the princess' energy. He stood stiff and awkwardly patted Serenity's back.
The princess, completely unaware of Endymion's discomfort, broke away and turned to pick up her red cloak
"Don't worry Mamo," she gushed. "I'm a really fast eater. Makoto and Rei..." Serenity paused and corrected herself. "I mean, all of my friends tease me about it."
After Endymion had finished dressing, the pair checked out of their room. The prince, observing a large dining area on the main floor of the inn, was tempted to order food here. The innkeeper's odd looks—coupled with the strange grunts from his wife behind him—made Endymion think the better of it.
"Quite a racket last night," the elderly man noted. He stared past Endymion to Serenity, who was standing a few feet away from them.
The prince turned and looked over his shoulder. The Moon princess stood near the front entrance. She stared out of the window. Endymion was relieved she wasn't within earshot. He turned to face the innkeeper. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, well," muttered the Terran prince. He shrugged as he attempted to think of anything else to say. What could he say? He hardly comprehended the previous night's events himself. "Um, sorry about that."
The innkeeper's wife snorted. Every bit of her sagging form shook as she wagged a crooked, accusing finger at Serenity.
"It's her fault!" she hissed. "She ain't one of us. She ain't from this world!"
Endymion's face twisted into an amused frown as he considered her words. He wanted to laugh. If anyone knew who was a Terran and who was not, it was him, not some bedraggled old woman.
"Uh, yeah," he finally stated. "Thanks, for the room."
The prince couldn't help but feel relieved as he and Serenity walked out the front door of the inn. Endymion paused and eyed the area beyond the road, where the Solarian had attacked them the night before. Aside from a few singed trees, there was hardly any evidence of the previous evening's battle.
Endymion shifted to glance at Serenity. The small blonde was already walking down the street. Frowning, the prince quickened his pace to catch up with her.
"How did you sleep last night?" he quizzed her.
Serenity shrugged.
"Fine," she responded. The Moon Princess turned to look up at her companion. She raised an eyebrow as she added, "Although, when I woke up this morning, you were in my bed, Mamo."
Her words, though a statement, sounded more like an accusation. The tone in her voice made the prince blush.
"Don't you remember last night?" he asked.
The princess shook her head. Endymion frowned. He broke eye contact and stared at the trodden snow of the road.
"Did something happen?" questioned Serenity. Her eyes grew wide. In truth, she wasn't upset when she awoke this morning and found herself in Endymion's arms. She had certainly been surprised, but she felt safe and protected in his strong embrace.
"No!" the prince quickly responded. "No, nothing like that! I mean, well, something did happen, but it didn't have to do with..." he flapped his arms around as he said, "That."
Serenity frowned. She had no idea of what he was talking about.
The prince combed his hands nervously through his hair. He cleared his throat.
"What I meant to say," he prefaced, "Was that you were, um, ah, sleepwalking last night."
The prince paused, wondering how he would explain the voice or the crescent symbol that had appeared on Serenity's forehead.
"You don't remember any of it?" he asked incredulously.
"No," Serenity told him. "I do remember that I had a strange dream. Innie was calling to me..."
"Innie?"
"Uh, my father," Serenity quickly explained.
"Does he sometimes call you 'Serenity'?" the prince inquired. His midnight eyes widened as he remembered where he had heard the name before.
Serenity's eyes also widened. Her cheeks turned pink as she blushed. Had she been talking in her sleep? The princess bit her bottom lip. She nodded her head slowly.
"Sometimes," she quietly murmured. Her blue gaze wandered to a building they now approached. The distinct smell of food seemed to be coming from this establishment.
"Can we get food here, Mamo?" Serenity pleaded.
It was a tavern. Endymion frowned as he gazed up at the wooden sign; a carving of a fat swine with the words "Stuffed Pig" hung above the front door. The prince didn't want to take Serenity into a bar. He turned away from the business and shook his head.
"Usa, I really don't think..." the prince trailed off. He spun his head around in time to see Moon Princess open the front door and disappear inside the building. He rushed in behind her.
The Stuffed Pig was a typical country tavern. Thanks to Jedite and Zoicite's influence, Endymion had spent many evenings in drinking establishments very similar to this one. Located on the right side of the room was a large, long oak bar. Behind the bar were five large casks of beer. A huge, stone fireplace was located on the opposite wall. Long and short tables with mis-matched stools and benches furnished the open area between the bar and the giant hearth.
The smell in the tavern was a combination of ale mixed with human sweat, and even though the winter air was frigidly cold outside, the warmth from the wall torches, the roaring fire and the massive candlelit chandelier made the interior of the tavern feel sticky and humid.
Serenity glanced around at the dark wooden panelling. Dozens of animal heads were mounted on the walls; the beasts seemed to stare at the Moon princess through their glass eyes. The blonde girl turned away from the walls and focused her attention to the floor.
Save for one large group of men located near the bar, the tavern was releatively empty. The prince didn't like the look of the crowd; it was early morning, and they were already visibly drunk.
"This way, Usa," Endymion urged the princess. He took hold of her elbow and led her past the bar. The group of men stopped conversing and stared at the prince and princess cross the room. Serenity seemed not to notice their stares, but Endymion looked back at them. His twilight eyes turned cold when he realized that the men were all watching Serenity.
One red-headed drunkard in particular caught the prince's eye. It was obvious that the man had already consumed too many pints of ale. His speech was slurred and his cheeks were shiny and rosy from drink. Endymion noticed the man stand up and oogle Serenity as she walked past him. A line of drool from his last slurp of ale dangled precariously from his lower lip as he gawked at her. Thankfully, Serenity was oblivious to the man's blatant stare. Endymion felt the anger swell within him; the prince stepped closer behind the princess. He gripped the hilt of his sword with his hand. Endymion glared at the man, silently warning the drunk to stay away from them. The prince noticed a spark of anger flare in the man's drooped, beedy eyes.
The tension was broken when the man belched loudly and laughed. He slammed his wooden cup on the top of the bar and turned his back on the prince and princess.
Endymion sighed. The last thing he needed was a run-in with a drunk villager.
The prince led Serenity to a corner table. Their seat was next to a small window. Before he sat down, Endymion returned to the bar to order their food. Both he and Serenity were quiet when Endymion came back.
The prince's mind raced. He wanted to ask Serenity if she knew anything about the voice or why the crescent had formed on her forehead, but he hesitated. He just didn't know how to broach the subject.
A bar maid delivered their breakfasts to the table. She threw down two wooden plates piled high with hot food, two brimming cups of water, and a basket of bread. Before the princess could utter "thank you," the maid stalked off. The woman's wide hips swayed beneath the gathers of her skirt as she retreated to the bar.
"What is this?" Serenity demanded, staring dubiously at the plate of food before her. It was covered with steaming chunks of...something. Serenity took hold of her dented spoon and idly pushed the orange, brown, and white pieces of food around her plate. She frowned as she observed the steam drift up from the shifting nuggets. Noting the dark wooden plate, the princess sighed. She missed the Moon Castle's delicate white china plates and silverware.
"It's beef stew," Endymion told her. "I know it's not really breakfast food, but it's all they serve here." His stomach rumbled. The prince viciously stabbed a large brownish-grey colored chunk of meat with the tip of his knife and brought it to his lips. Grinning, Endymion pulled the beef off of blade with his teeth. He chewed, savoring the taste, before glancing at Serenity.
The prince swallowed and smiled at her inquisitive stare.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Serenity frowned and looked down at her plate.
"What is 'stew'?" she questioned.
Endymion stared blankly at the princess. He sighed. He took a gulp of water before leaning forward. The prince pointed to the different ingredients on Serenity's plate with his knife as he said, "Meat, carrots, celery, and rice in gravy." His midnight eyes locked with her skeptical gaze. Impatiently, Endymion declared, "It's good. Try it."
The prince turned his attention to his own plate of food.
"What to you mean 'meat'?" Serenity asked. She stared at a grey-colored bit. Her eyes suddenly widened. She glanced at Endymion with a look of horror on her face. "You don't mean this used to be living, do you?"
Endymion's eyebrows furrowed together. He frowned. "Of course it was living," he told her. "What did you think it would be made of?"
Serenity, having suddenly lost her appetite, pushed the plate to the center of the table. Timidly, and with as much reserve as a princess of the Moon could muster, she set the spoon down next to the plate. She reached for a large slice of bread from the basket and held it to her mouth. Before taking a bite, Serenity paused and looked at the prince. "This wasn't living, was it?"
The prince stifled a laugh as he shook his head.
"No, Usa, that was most definitely not living."
The princess smiled and bit into the soft slice of bread.
The pair ate in silence. Endymion, still not fully able to broach the subject of the previous night's events with the princess, averted his gaze and stared out of the small window instead.
Serenity nibbled on her bread and glanced across the room. With the exception of Endymion and a pair of men sitting in the corner table on the opposite side of the room, the majority of the people in the tavern were unclean, she silently observed. Her gaze settled on the loud group at the bar. Her ocean-colored eyes widened when she observed a barmaid tumble into a patron's lap. Her cheeks colored as she averted her gaze. The Moon princess had never been around such common people in her life. Their clothing was tattered and patched in places. The barmaids wore stained, dirty aprons and the fabric of their skirts was faded. Most of the men had full beards, mustaches, and greasy, unkept hair. Streams of ale trickled out of the corners of their mouths and down the wiry twists of their whiskers as they drank. They didn't seem to care.
Serenity's eyes clouded over as she turned her attention back to the table in front of her. A lump formed in her throat as she silently realized how far she was from home. Once again, the princess pondered why Linnaus wanted to live in such a dreary, horrible place and be so far from his family. Serenity clamped her eyes shut to keep herself from crying. She had a strange feeling that her cousin was somewhere nearby, perhaps even in this village. The princess opened her cerulean eyes and glanced over to the crowd at the bar. She wondered if any of those men knew her cousin.
The Princess of the Moon shuddered when she noticed that one of the men at the bar was gaping at her. She blushed. Serenity straightened in her seat and averted her eyes. She turned her attention to the woodgrain of the tabletop.
Serenity realized how much she stuck out in this tavern. Certainly, she was the youngest girl here—well, at least according to the Earth age Endymion had given her—but age was not the only thing that caused her to stand out. The other women in the tavern—all barmaids, the princess guessed—had brown or black hair, whereas Serenity's hair was blonde. Their eyes, which were hazy from drinking with their customers, were dark and small; Serenity's eyes were wide and bright crystal blue. The other women in the room all had worn, leathery skin; Serenity's skin was smooth alabaster. Most importantly, the barmaids were all lewd and forward, whereas Serenity sat silently in the corner, slowly nibbling on her crust of bread.
The Moon princess frowned. She reached for her cup and took a long drink of water. She set the cup down on the table and took another bite of her bread. Her eyes wandered over to the dark-haired woman standing behind the bar. The brunette tossed her head back, presumably laughing at what the red-headed man had just whispered in her ear. The man twisted his head and made eye contact with Serenity. The princess again dropped her eyes to stare at table in front of her.
No, Serenity thought miserably to herself, she was not a typical Terran girl. She had a dreadful feeling that everyone around her knew it.
Endymion, intuitively picking up on Serenity's unease, turned his attention away from the window. He eyed his companion. He frowned as he realized how uncomfortable she was. Endymion tightened his left hand into a fist in his lap. He hadn't wanted to take her to a tavern for this very reason, he thought to himself.
Within the interior of the Stuffed Pig, Serenity practically glowed. The prince tried to dismiss the effect as the interior lighting playing tricks on his eyes, but as Endymion watched Serenity, his thoughts turned to the energy he had exchanged with her. She was powerful. Even now, seated across the table from her, Endymion could feel it. Serenity's energy pressed on his chest; he was aware of her fear and discomfort.
The red-headed man across the room slammed his wooden pint on the bar. Serenity flinched. The prince felt the pang of fear sing through her body and slice into his skin. He gritted his teeth and looked over his shoulder to the drunk man staring at them. The prince reached under the table and squeezed Serenity's hand.
"It's okay, Usa," Endymion assured her. "It's just someone with a bad temper."
Serenity smiled weakly and nodded. The prince was relieved by her reaction to his words. Her eyes suddenly widened as she looked past Endymion's face to the bar. She squeezed his hand. The prince looked over his shoulder. He let go of Serenity's hand and shifted in his seat.
The red-headed man had stood and was now stumbling toward Serenity and Endymion. Dread twisted in Endymion's insides as he observed the huge man lumber forward; the man's wide from pushed past the vacant tables and chairs as he crossed the room. The Terran prince knew he may have to fight this inebriated giant.
The drunkard bumped into a stool and fell over. Serenity gasped. The man staggered to his feet. He eyed her and chuckled. The princess bristled.
The man's behavior sent Endymion into a rage. How dare this drunk oaf oogle a little girl! The young prince wanted to jump from his seat and pummel the man until he reached unconciousness. Adrenaline fueled his body, but the prince hesitated. After all, the man had not actually done or said anything wrong. Stifling a growl, Endymion grabbed a hold of his sword beneath the table.
Ovewhelming feelings of worry and disgust overtook the princess as she gazed at the large red-headed man. He stood several feet away, but she could smell the rancor of his breath. The stench, mingled with scent of sweat and urine, made Serenity want to gag. Instead, she swallowed her disgust. She straightened in her seat and feigned concern. She hoped that her years of being polite would not fail her now. Serenity may not completely understand the habits and customs of the Terran people, but that did not mean that she should treat them with contempt.
"Are you all right, my lord?" she asked.
Both Endymion and the red-haired man stared, dumbfounded, at the blonde. The drunkard laughed; his giggles sounded like gasps of breath held together with wheezes of noise. He clasped his hands over his chest. His lips parted as he smiled, revealing blackened, rotted teeth.
"Bless me, I am in love!" the man howled. He turned back to motion to his friends at the bar. The group all held their pints in the air and cheered him on. The pair of men in the corner seemed less impressed.
"I ain't ne'er had no wench call me a lord!" the man continued, turning again to face Serenity and Endymion. "Ye've 'ad some fine training, ye 'ave!"
"She is no wench," Endymion snarled, standing. His abrupt motion caused Serenity to jump.
"Sit ye down, boy," the man laughed. He was a good head taller than the lanky prince. "I will pay ye well for som time 'ith yer sister."
The man pushed past Endymion and reached for Serenity. He grabbed a hold of the princess' right arm with his stubby, plump fingers. Endymion wedged himself between the drunkard and Serenity. He pushed the red-head away. The drunkard released his hold on the girl's arm and stumbled back. He fell into the table behind him. The table tipped back and slammed loudly against the floor. All other noise in the tavern ceased as man and bar maid alike turned their attention to the scene unfolding in the corner of the room.
"Apologize to this girl!" Endymion shouted at the man. He was so angry his eyes could barely focus on the fallen form in front of him. "She is a lady!"
The man snorted as he stood. He scowled at the boy standing before him. His tall frame towered over Endymion. The prince glared at the man. His midnight eyes were dark with rage. His cheeks were flushed.
The man laughed.
"I just wan' to 'ave some fun with 'er," he muttered. He looked past Endymion to Serenity. The small princess cowered behind the prince. The red-head puckered his lips together and kissed the air. He grinned lecherously as he said to her, "Eh, cutie?"
A knee-jerk reaction sent Endymion over the edge. Growling, the prince pulled back his right fist and delivered a bone-crushing blow to the larger man's face. The man stumbled back. Blood flowed from his nose. He covered his face with his hands. The drunkard wiped the blood away with his palms. He stared down at his stained fingers. He raised his eyes to look at the boy in front of him. The red-headed man's gaze was filled with anger and rage.
Serenity's heart beat wildly in her chast. She thought, after Endymion punched the man, that they would leave the tavern, but the prince didn't move. The red-headed man was much taller and wider than the Terran prince, but Endymion did not seem intimidated. Serenity noticed the prince's hand was positioned over the hilt of his sword. The princess wondered why Endymion didn't unsheath his weapon.
"Yer gonna pay fer that, boy!" the large man hollered. He spat blood. He kicked a stool; it sailed across the room and slammed into the wall. "I'll kill you fer that, an take yer whore as a prize!"
Endymion clenched his teeth together. His twilight eyes narrowed.
The man took two steps forward. Serenity's stomach tightened. She held her breath in. The tension in the air seemed to thicken with each step the man made.
The prince did not move a muscle. He kept his eye on the face of his foe. The man stared into Endymion's eyes and then broke away to look behind the prince, at Serenity. With each glance the man stole, Endymion felt his blood boil with rage. Still, he remained silent. He breathed calmly and attempted to remember what Kunzite had taught him about combat.
The red-headed man lunged forward. In one fluid movement, Endymion unsheathed his sword and held the tip to the front of the man's neck. The sharp steel poked into the folds of the drunkard's skin. The man stopped in mid-stride.
"If you value breathing," Endymion whispered through his clenched teeth, "Then you will apologize to this lady and take your leave!"
The prince only spoke loudly enough for himself, the man, and Serenity to hear. The man attempted to step forward; the point of Endymion's sword poked through is skin. A small drop of blood trickled down the drunkard's neck.
The blade caught in the firelight. The glare from the steel was blinding, but Endymion did not do so much as blink. The man swallowed hard, looking first at the long shaft of metal aimed at his throat and then up at the boy's unpenetrable eyes. There was no doubt in red-head's mind that the prince could, and would, for that matter, end his life with a quick flick of his wrist.
Stepping back, the drunk man swallowed his pride as he whispered an inaudible apology.
"Louder!" Endymion demanded, slamming his left hand into a nearby post. The man flinched, as did Serneity, at the prince's angry, commanding voice.
Practically blubbering, the man bowed his head. "I'm sorry, miss, I mean, my lady, for the insult," he whimpered. The light again caught the blade of the sword. The man squinted to block out the glare; however, his eyes widened as he noticed the writing on the blade. The script was written in ancient characters, but the drunkard recognized the encryption. His eyes filled with fear. He fell to his knees and wept.
"I am sorry, your highness!" he cried. "I didn't know it was you! I did not mean to harm you or your lady! Have mercy, I beg you!"
Endymion stepped back uncomfortably as he realized why this ogre had suddenly transformed into blubbering child. Glancing around the room, the prince realized that the others in the tavern also recognized his legendary sword. The boy cursed under his breath. He sheathed his weapon, fumbled in his pocket, and placed a small silver coin on the top of the table.
"Come on Usa," he said. He extended his right hand to her. His eyes softened as he looked into her fearful, questioning blue gaze. "It's time we take our leave."
Serenity silently nodded and placed her left hand in Endymion's palm. The prince squeezed her hand and led her to the door. The Moon princess glanced behind her as she and Endymion walked through he tavern. She took one final look at the red-headed man. He was still on his knees. Her eyes wandered to the bar; she caught a glimpse of the rowdy group of revellers. They all stared at her with a look of terror and awe. Serenity's gaze fell to the two better-dressed men in the corner, who stood as she and Endymion passed. Licking her dry lips, Serenity turned away from their faces. She rested her gaze on Endymion's back. He lead her through the maze of chairs and tables to the hazy grey light of the main entrance. The prince pushed the front door open. Serenity took in a deep breath of cold, fresh air.
"Where to now, Mamo?" Serenity asked.
Endymion shrugged. He he looked at each end of the road. His mind raced. He knew that he and the princess must to put as much space between them and Alendoor as quickly as possible. He knew that on foot, it wouldn't be long before the Solarians caught up with them.
"This way," he finally muttered. He motioned for Serenity to follow him. The princess rushed to his side and attempted to mirror his wide strides. The coins in Endymion's pocket jingled with each step he took. The prince stopped.
"Usa, do you still have that handkerchief?" he asked. He now understood why she had wrapped the coins in the fabric.
Serenity nodded. She reached in her pocket and extracted the handkerchief. Before she handed it to Endymion, she rubbed her thumb over the silver crescent moon embroidered in one of the corners. The square of fabric once belonged to Linnaus; the Lunarian gave Serenity the handkerchief after she fell in the garden, so that she could wipe away her tears as he bandaged her knee.
The princess squeezed the fabric tightly. She held out her hand. Endymion absently reached for the handkerchief. The prince dropped the coins in the center of the square and stuffed it in his pocket. He turned to resume their walk through Alendoor.
A horse neighed nearby. The noise pierced the otherwise silent village. Endymion's head perked up at the sound. His eyes scanned the various buildings and storefronts surrounding them. Another neigh grabbed prince's attention.
"This way," he muttered. He grabbed Serenity by the hand and led her down a side street. He hoped that they had enough money to purchase a horse.
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End of Chapter 14
Please review. Thanks!
Okay, I'll get stop grovelling and get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Like I need to even say it. I guess that I should anyway. I don't own Sailor Moon. Okie dokey?
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....when we last left our heroes, they were "shacking up" for the night at an inn in the town of Alendoor. Endymion woke in the middle of the night to a man's voice and discovered that Serenity was gone. When the prince went to get her, he encountered Orleana, who was dressed as Sailor Sun. Endymion used his whoop-ass cane (well, it was borrowed, but anyway...) to fend off Orleana's attacks. The Solarian princess and her side-kick Beryl retreated into the woods. Endymion carried Serenity back to their room and attempted to get a bit more shut-eye.
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Light of Love: Red Moon Chapter 14: Mamo, the Defender
The next morning came too quickly, in Endymion's opinion.
He hadn't moved from his seated position on the bed all night. Consequently, his neck was stiff, his shoulders were sore, and his back ached. The prince groaned with annoyance as wakefulness took hold of his senses. He shifted his head away from the headboard and stretched his arms. He reluctantly opened his tired twilight blue eyes.
The grey, sick hue of the winter morning cast a dull square of light across Endymion's lap. The prince gazed down and yawned.
He remembered falling asleep the night before with Serenity in his arms. A strange, ill panic settled into Endymion's stomach as he realized that he was alone on the bed. His eyes widened as he sat up. He was now completely awake.
"Usa?" he said. His voice cracked.
The girl in question appeared at the foot fo the bed. She held her half- braided hair between her hands. A light blue ribbon was pinched between her lips.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," Endymion muttered. "Sorry, just making sure you hadn't wandered off."
Again, he thought to himself. Images of last night's encounter with the Solarian flashed in Endymion's mind. The prince twisted to look out of the window located beside him. He peered at the cluster of bare trees on the other side of the road. He expected to spot an ill-dressed woman standing somewhere on the edge of the forest. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the thicket rustle. A large dog emerged from the woods. The prince frowned.
Had the events of last night merely been a dream?
Endymion rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shifted so that his legs hung down off the side of the bed. He glanced back to where he had slept in the corner. If it had been a dream, the prince silently reasoned, then he would have awoken on the floor in front of the hearth. Instead, he was on the bed.
Endymion sighed heavily. He stood. He turned his attention to Serenity. She finished braiding and tied her ribbon at the end of her hair. The princess then sat on the floor in front of the extinguished fire and reached for her boots. Endymion watched her fumble with the laces. He smiled.
Before he fell asleep last night—the first time he fell asleep—the prince had decided to leave Serenity behind. Endymion, recalling the encounter with the Solarian woman, now reconsidered. If the Solarians knew of Serenity—and, more importantly, the prince's feelings for her—the princess was in just as much danger as he was.
Feelings? Endymion winced as his thoughts betrayed him. Surely, he couldn't have already formed feelings for her. He just felt attached to her because of their present situation.
The Terran prince silently observed Serenity. The princess, having finished lacing her boots, stood, attempted to walk, and sat down again. The girl frowned. She stared at her feet for several moments. Her face lit up as she realized something. She leaned forward, unlaced the boot on her right foot and pulled it off. Once she was finished repeating these actions on her remaining foot, Serenity took the boot that had previously been on her right foot and pulled it onto her left. She then stood up, shifted her booted foot from side to side, and sat down. A satisfied smile spread over her face as she completed the process of pulling on her footwear and tying the laces.
Endymion smothered an amused smile and shook his head. He couldn't define what he felt for her. In any case, he couldn't leave her behind.
"We'll have to leave town soon," he told Serenity.
"Can't we eat first?" the princess asked. "I'm starving!"
Her stomach rumbled, as if to justify her request.
Endymion shook his head. "We can't eat here." Noting the pained look on Serenity's face, the prince sighed. "Look, we can stop in the next village. We just need to leave Alendoor right now."
"Why?" demanded the princess.
"I just don't think it's safe here," the prince declared. He reached for the dirty towel he had used the night before. Endymion poured water over it and swiped it over his face. His skin tingled from the damp.
"But it was safe last night," Serenity argued. "Safe enough for us to stay here. Please Mamo, I'm hungry!"
Endymion pressed his lips firmly together. His patience was wearing thin. After the strain of walking through the territory the day before and his battle with that strange Solarian woman last night, the prince was in no mood to argue with Serenity. Endymion turned around to rebuke her request.
His twilight gaze locked with her pleading, wide blue eyes. Her desperate look melted Endymion's resolve. The prince's ill-temper dissipated. He let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine," he said calmly. "Fine! But you have to eat fast."
Serenity's face lit up. The Moon Princess rushed Endymion. The prince let out a gasp as Serenity wrapped her arms around his midsection.
"Thank you!" she whispered. She nuzzled her right cheek into his chest.
The Terran prince was taken aback by the young girl's hug. His face became hot. He silently attributed the blush to the direct contact he shared with the princess' energy. He stood stiff and awkwardly patted Serenity's back.
The princess, completely unaware of Endymion's discomfort, broke away and turned to pick up her red cloak
"Don't worry Mamo," she gushed. "I'm a really fast eater. Makoto and Rei..." Serenity paused and corrected herself. "I mean, all of my friends tease me about it."
After Endymion had finished dressing, the pair checked out of their room. The prince, observing a large dining area on the main floor of the inn, was tempted to order food here. The innkeeper's odd looks—coupled with the strange grunts from his wife behind him—made Endymion think the better of it.
"Quite a racket last night," the elderly man noted. He stared past Endymion to Serenity, who was standing a few feet away from them.
The prince turned and looked over his shoulder. The Moon princess stood near the front entrance. She stared out of the window. Endymion was relieved she wasn't within earshot. He turned to face the innkeeper. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, well," muttered the Terran prince. He shrugged as he attempted to think of anything else to say. What could he say? He hardly comprehended the previous night's events himself. "Um, sorry about that."
The innkeeper's wife snorted. Every bit of her sagging form shook as she wagged a crooked, accusing finger at Serenity.
"It's her fault!" she hissed. "She ain't one of us. She ain't from this world!"
Endymion's face twisted into an amused frown as he considered her words. He wanted to laugh. If anyone knew who was a Terran and who was not, it was him, not some bedraggled old woman.
"Uh, yeah," he finally stated. "Thanks, for the room."
The prince couldn't help but feel relieved as he and Serenity walked out the front door of the inn. Endymion paused and eyed the area beyond the road, where the Solarian had attacked them the night before. Aside from a few singed trees, there was hardly any evidence of the previous evening's battle.
Endymion shifted to glance at Serenity. The small blonde was already walking down the street. Frowning, the prince quickened his pace to catch up with her.
"How did you sleep last night?" he quizzed her.
Serenity shrugged.
"Fine," she responded. The Moon Princess turned to look up at her companion. She raised an eyebrow as she added, "Although, when I woke up this morning, you were in my bed, Mamo."
Her words, though a statement, sounded more like an accusation. The tone in her voice made the prince blush.
"Don't you remember last night?" he asked.
The princess shook her head. Endymion frowned. He broke eye contact and stared at the trodden snow of the road.
"Did something happen?" questioned Serenity. Her eyes grew wide. In truth, she wasn't upset when she awoke this morning and found herself in Endymion's arms. She had certainly been surprised, but she felt safe and protected in his strong embrace.
"No!" the prince quickly responded. "No, nothing like that! I mean, well, something did happen, but it didn't have to do with..." he flapped his arms around as he said, "That."
Serenity frowned. She had no idea of what he was talking about.
The prince combed his hands nervously through his hair. He cleared his throat.
"What I meant to say," he prefaced, "Was that you were, um, ah, sleepwalking last night."
The prince paused, wondering how he would explain the voice or the crescent symbol that had appeared on Serenity's forehead.
"You don't remember any of it?" he asked incredulously.
"No," Serenity told him. "I do remember that I had a strange dream. Innie was calling to me..."
"Innie?"
"Uh, my father," Serenity quickly explained.
"Does he sometimes call you 'Serenity'?" the prince inquired. His midnight eyes widened as he remembered where he had heard the name before.
Serenity's eyes also widened. Her cheeks turned pink as she blushed. Had she been talking in her sleep? The princess bit her bottom lip. She nodded her head slowly.
"Sometimes," she quietly murmured. Her blue gaze wandered to a building they now approached. The distinct smell of food seemed to be coming from this establishment.
"Can we get food here, Mamo?" Serenity pleaded.
It was a tavern. Endymion frowned as he gazed up at the wooden sign; a carving of a fat swine with the words "Stuffed Pig" hung above the front door. The prince didn't want to take Serenity into a bar. He turned away from the business and shook his head.
"Usa, I really don't think..." the prince trailed off. He spun his head around in time to see Moon Princess open the front door and disappear inside the building. He rushed in behind her.
The Stuffed Pig was a typical country tavern. Thanks to Jedite and Zoicite's influence, Endymion had spent many evenings in drinking establishments very similar to this one. Located on the right side of the room was a large, long oak bar. Behind the bar were five large casks of beer. A huge, stone fireplace was located on the opposite wall. Long and short tables with mis-matched stools and benches furnished the open area between the bar and the giant hearth.
The smell in the tavern was a combination of ale mixed with human sweat, and even though the winter air was frigidly cold outside, the warmth from the wall torches, the roaring fire and the massive candlelit chandelier made the interior of the tavern feel sticky and humid.
Serenity glanced around at the dark wooden panelling. Dozens of animal heads were mounted on the walls; the beasts seemed to stare at the Moon princess through their glass eyes. The blonde girl turned away from the walls and focused her attention to the floor.
Save for one large group of men located near the bar, the tavern was releatively empty. The prince didn't like the look of the crowd; it was early morning, and they were already visibly drunk.
"This way, Usa," Endymion urged the princess. He took hold of her elbow and led her past the bar. The group of men stopped conversing and stared at the prince and princess cross the room. Serenity seemed not to notice their stares, but Endymion looked back at them. His twilight eyes turned cold when he realized that the men were all watching Serenity.
One red-headed drunkard in particular caught the prince's eye. It was obvious that the man had already consumed too many pints of ale. His speech was slurred and his cheeks were shiny and rosy from drink. Endymion noticed the man stand up and oogle Serenity as she walked past him. A line of drool from his last slurp of ale dangled precariously from his lower lip as he gawked at her. Thankfully, Serenity was oblivious to the man's blatant stare. Endymion felt the anger swell within him; the prince stepped closer behind the princess. He gripped the hilt of his sword with his hand. Endymion glared at the man, silently warning the drunk to stay away from them. The prince noticed a spark of anger flare in the man's drooped, beedy eyes.
The tension was broken when the man belched loudly and laughed. He slammed his wooden cup on the top of the bar and turned his back on the prince and princess.
Endymion sighed. The last thing he needed was a run-in with a drunk villager.
The prince led Serenity to a corner table. Their seat was next to a small window. Before he sat down, Endymion returned to the bar to order their food. Both he and Serenity were quiet when Endymion came back.
The prince's mind raced. He wanted to ask Serenity if she knew anything about the voice or why the crescent had formed on her forehead, but he hesitated. He just didn't know how to broach the subject.
A bar maid delivered their breakfasts to the table. She threw down two wooden plates piled high with hot food, two brimming cups of water, and a basket of bread. Before the princess could utter "thank you," the maid stalked off. The woman's wide hips swayed beneath the gathers of her skirt as she retreated to the bar.
"What is this?" Serenity demanded, staring dubiously at the plate of food before her. It was covered with steaming chunks of...something. Serenity took hold of her dented spoon and idly pushed the orange, brown, and white pieces of food around her plate. She frowned as she observed the steam drift up from the shifting nuggets. Noting the dark wooden plate, the princess sighed. She missed the Moon Castle's delicate white china plates and silverware.
"It's beef stew," Endymion told her. "I know it's not really breakfast food, but it's all they serve here." His stomach rumbled. The prince viciously stabbed a large brownish-grey colored chunk of meat with the tip of his knife and brought it to his lips. Grinning, Endymion pulled the beef off of blade with his teeth. He chewed, savoring the taste, before glancing at Serenity.
The prince swallowed and smiled at her inquisitive stare.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Serenity frowned and looked down at her plate.
"What is 'stew'?" she questioned.
Endymion stared blankly at the princess. He sighed. He took a gulp of water before leaning forward. The prince pointed to the different ingredients on Serenity's plate with his knife as he said, "Meat, carrots, celery, and rice in gravy." His midnight eyes locked with her skeptical gaze. Impatiently, Endymion declared, "It's good. Try it."
The prince turned his attention to his own plate of food.
"What to you mean 'meat'?" Serenity asked. She stared at a grey-colored bit. Her eyes suddenly widened. She glanced at Endymion with a look of horror on her face. "You don't mean this used to be living, do you?"
Endymion's eyebrows furrowed together. He frowned. "Of course it was living," he told her. "What did you think it would be made of?"
Serenity, having suddenly lost her appetite, pushed the plate to the center of the table. Timidly, and with as much reserve as a princess of the Moon could muster, she set the spoon down next to the plate. She reached for a large slice of bread from the basket and held it to her mouth. Before taking a bite, Serenity paused and looked at the prince. "This wasn't living, was it?"
The prince stifled a laugh as he shook his head.
"No, Usa, that was most definitely not living."
The princess smiled and bit into the soft slice of bread.
The pair ate in silence. Endymion, still not fully able to broach the subject of the previous night's events with the princess, averted his gaze and stared out of the small window instead.
Serenity nibbled on her bread and glanced across the room. With the exception of Endymion and a pair of men sitting in the corner table on the opposite side of the room, the majority of the people in the tavern were unclean, she silently observed. Her gaze settled on the loud group at the bar. Her ocean-colored eyes widened when she observed a barmaid tumble into a patron's lap. Her cheeks colored as she averted her gaze. The Moon princess had never been around such common people in her life. Their clothing was tattered and patched in places. The barmaids wore stained, dirty aprons and the fabric of their skirts was faded. Most of the men had full beards, mustaches, and greasy, unkept hair. Streams of ale trickled out of the corners of their mouths and down the wiry twists of their whiskers as they drank. They didn't seem to care.
Serenity's eyes clouded over as she turned her attention back to the table in front of her. A lump formed in her throat as she silently realized how far she was from home. Once again, the princess pondered why Linnaus wanted to live in such a dreary, horrible place and be so far from his family. Serenity clamped her eyes shut to keep herself from crying. She had a strange feeling that her cousin was somewhere nearby, perhaps even in this village. The princess opened her cerulean eyes and glanced over to the crowd at the bar. She wondered if any of those men knew her cousin.
The Princess of the Moon shuddered when she noticed that one of the men at the bar was gaping at her. She blushed. Serenity straightened in her seat and averted her eyes. She turned her attention to the woodgrain of the tabletop.
Serenity realized how much she stuck out in this tavern. Certainly, she was the youngest girl here—well, at least according to the Earth age Endymion had given her—but age was not the only thing that caused her to stand out. The other women in the tavern—all barmaids, the princess guessed—had brown or black hair, whereas Serenity's hair was blonde. Their eyes, which were hazy from drinking with their customers, were dark and small; Serenity's eyes were wide and bright crystal blue. The other women in the room all had worn, leathery skin; Serenity's skin was smooth alabaster. Most importantly, the barmaids were all lewd and forward, whereas Serenity sat silently in the corner, slowly nibbling on her crust of bread.
The Moon princess frowned. She reached for her cup and took a long drink of water. She set the cup down on the table and took another bite of her bread. Her eyes wandered over to the dark-haired woman standing behind the bar. The brunette tossed her head back, presumably laughing at what the red-headed man had just whispered in her ear. The man twisted his head and made eye contact with Serenity. The princess again dropped her eyes to stare at table in front of her.
No, Serenity thought miserably to herself, she was not a typical Terran girl. She had a dreadful feeling that everyone around her knew it.
Endymion, intuitively picking up on Serenity's unease, turned his attention away from the window. He eyed his companion. He frowned as he realized how uncomfortable she was. Endymion tightened his left hand into a fist in his lap. He hadn't wanted to take her to a tavern for this very reason, he thought to himself.
Within the interior of the Stuffed Pig, Serenity practically glowed. The prince tried to dismiss the effect as the interior lighting playing tricks on his eyes, but as Endymion watched Serenity, his thoughts turned to the energy he had exchanged with her. She was powerful. Even now, seated across the table from her, Endymion could feel it. Serenity's energy pressed on his chest; he was aware of her fear and discomfort.
The red-headed man across the room slammed his wooden pint on the bar. Serenity flinched. The prince felt the pang of fear sing through her body and slice into his skin. He gritted his teeth and looked over his shoulder to the drunk man staring at them. The prince reached under the table and squeezed Serenity's hand.
"It's okay, Usa," Endymion assured her. "It's just someone with a bad temper."
Serenity smiled weakly and nodded. The prince was relieved by her reaction to his words. Her eyes suddenly widened as she looked past Endymion's face to the bar. She squeezed his hand. The prince looked over his shoulder. He let go of Serenity's hand and shifted in his seat.
The red-headed man had stood and was now stumbling toward Serenity and Endymion. Dread twisted in Endymion's insides as he observed the huge man lumber forward; the man's wide from pushed past the vacant tables and chairs as he crossed the room. The Terran prince knew he may have to fight this inebriated giant.
The drunkard bumped into a stool and fell over. Serenity gasped. The man staggered to his feet. He eyed her and chuckled. The princess bristled.
The man's behavior sent Endymion into a rage. How dare this drunk oaf oogle a little girl! The young prince wanted to jump from his seat and pummel the man until he reached unconciousness. Adrenaline fueled his body, but the prince hesitated. After all, the man had not actually done or said anything wrong. Stifling a growl, Endymion grabbed a hold of his sword beneath the table.
Ovewhelming feelings of worry and disgust overtook the princess as she gazed at the large red-headed man. He stood several feet away, but she could smell the rancor of his breath. The stench, mingled with scent of sweat and urine, made Serenity want to gag. Instead, she swallowed her disgust. She straightened in her seat and feigned concern. She hoped that her years of being polite would not fail her now. Serenity may not completely understand the habits and customs of the Terran people, but that did not mean that she should treat them with contempt.
"Are you all right, my lord?" she asked.
Both Endymion and the red-haired man stared, dumbfounded, at the blonde. The drunkard laughed; his giggles sounded like gasps of breath held together with wheezes of noise. He clasped his hands over his chest. His lips parted as he smiled, revealing blackened, rotted teeth.
"Bless me, I am in love!" the man howled. He turned back to motion to his friends at the bar. The group all held their pints in the air and cheered him on. The pair of men in the corner seemed less impressed.
"I ain't ne'er had no wench call me a lord!" the man continued, turning again to face Serenity and Endymion. "Ye've 'ad some fine training, ye 'ave!"
"She is no wench," Endymion snarled, standing. His abrupt motion caused Serenity to jump.
"Sit ye down, boy," the man laughed. He was a good head taller than the lanky prince. "I will pay ye well for som time 'ith yer sister."
The man pushed past Endymion and reached for Serenity. He grabbed a hold of the princess' right arm with his stubby, plump fingers. Endymion wedged himself between the drunkard and Serenity. He pushed the red-head away. The drunkard released his hold on the girl's arm and stumbled back. He fell into the table behind him. The table tipped back and slammed loudly against the floor. All other noise in the tavern ceased as man and bar maid alike turned their attention to the scene unfolding in the corner of the room.
"Apologize to this girl!" Endymion shouted at the man. He was so angry his eyes could barely focus on the fallen form in front of him. "She is a lady!"
The man snorted as he stood. He scowled at the boy standing before him. His tall frame towered over Endymion. The prince glared at the man. His midnight eyes were dark with rage. His cheeks were flushed.
The man laughed.
"I just wan' to 'ave some fun with 'er," he muttered. He looked past Endymion to Serenity. The small princess cowered behind the prince. The red-head puckered his lips together and kissed the air. He grinned lecherously as he said to her, "Eh, cutie?"
A knee-jerk reaction sent Endymion over the edge. Growling, the prince pulled back his right fist and delivered a bone-crushing blow to the larger man's face. The man stumbled back. Blood flowed from his nose. He covered his face with his hands. The drunkard wiped the blood away with his palms. He stared down at his stained fingers. He raised his eyes to look at the boy in front of him. The red-headed man's gaze was filled with anger and rage.
Serenity's heart beat wildly in her chast. She thought, after Endymion punched the man, that they would leave the tavern, but the prince didn't move. The red-headed man was much taller and wider than the Terran prince, but Endymion did not seem intimidated. Serenity noticed the prince's hand was positioned over the hilt of his sword. The princess wondered why Endymion didn't unsheath his weapon.
"Yer gonna pay fer that, boy!" the large man hollered. He spat blood. He kicked a stool; it sailed across the room and slammed into the wall. "I'll kill you fer that, an take yer whore as a prize!"
Endymion clenched his teeth together. His twilight eyes narrowed.
The man took two steps forward. Serenity's stomach tightened. She held her breath in. The tension in the air seemed to thicken with each step the man made.
The prince did not move a muscle. He kept his eye on the face of his foe. The man stared into Endymion's eyes and then broke away to look behind the prince, at Serenity. With each glance the man stole, Endymion felt his blood boil with rage. Still, he remained silent. He breathed calmly and attempted to remember what Kunzite had taught him about combat.
The red-headed man lunged forward. In one fluid movement, Endymion unsheathed his sword and held the tip to the front of the man's neck. The sharp steel poked into the folds of the drunkard's skin. The man stopped in mid-stride.
"If you value breathing," Endymion whispered through his clenched teeth, "Then you will apologize to this lady and take your leave!"
The prince only spoke loudly enough for himself, the man, and Serenity to hear. The man attempted to step forward; the point of Endymion's sword poked through is skin. A small drop of blood trickled down the drunkard's neck.
The blade caught in the firelight. The glare from the steel was blinding, but Endymion did not do so much as blink. The man swallowed hard, looking first at the long shaft of metal aimed at his throat and then up at the boy's unpenetrable eyes. There was no doubt in red-head's mind that the prince could, and would, for that matter, end his life with a quick flick of his wrist.
Stepping back, the drunk man swallowed his pride as he whispered an inaudible apology.
"Louder!" Endymion demanded, slamming his left hand into a nearby post. The man flinched, as did Serneity, at the prince's angry, commanding voice.
Practically blubbering, the man bowed his head. "I'm sorry, miss, I mean, my lady, for the insult," he whimpered. The light again caught the blade of the sword. The man squinted to block out the glare; however, his eyes widened as he noticed the writing on the blade. The script was written in ancient characters, but the drunkard recognized the encryption. His eyes filled with fear. He fell to his knees and wept.
"I am sorry, your highness!" he cried. "I didn't know it was you! I did not mean to harm you or your lady! Have mercy, I beg you!"
Endymion stepped back uncomfortably as he realized why this ogre had suddenly transformed into blubbering child. Glancing around the room, the prince realized that the others in the tavern also recognized his legendary sword. The boy cursed under his breath. He sheathed his weapon, fumbled in his pocket, and placed a small silver coin on the top of the table.
"Come on Usa," he said. He extended his right hand to her. His eyes softened as he looked into her fearful, questioning blue gaze. "It's time we take our leave."
Serenity silently nodded and placed her left hand in Endymion's palm. The prince squeezed her hand and led her to the door. The Moon princess glanced behind her as she and Endymion walked through he tavern. She took one final look at the red-headed man. He was still on his knees. Her eyes wandered to the bar; she caught a glimpse of the rowdy group of revellers. They all stared at her with a look of terror and awe. Serenity's gaze fell to the two better-dressed men in the corner, who stood as she and Endymion passed. Licking her dry lips, Serenity turned away from their faces. She rested her gaze on Endymion's back. He lead her through the maze of chairs and tables to the hazy grey light of the main entrance. The prince pushed the front door open. Serenity took in a deep breath of cold, fresh air.
"Where to now, Mamo?" Serenity asked.
Endymion shrugged. He he looked at each end of the road. His mind raced. He knew that he and the princess must to put as much space between them and Alendoor as quickly as possible. He knew that on foot, it wouldn't be long before the Solarians caught up with them.
"This way," he finally muttered. He motioned for Serenity to follow him. The princess rushed to his side and attempted to mirror his wide strides. The coins in Endymion's pocket jingled with each step he took. The prince stopped.
"Usa, do you still have that handkerchief?" he asked. He now understood why she had wrapped the coins in the fabric.
Serenity nodded. She reached in her pocket and extracted the handkerchief. Before she handed it to Endymion, she rubbed her thumb over the silver crescent moon embroidered in one of the corners. The square of fabric once belonged to Linnaus; the Lunarian gave Serenity the handkerchief after she fell in the garden, so that she could wipe away her tears as he bandaged her knee.
The princess squeezed the fabric tightly. She held out her hand. Endymion absently reached for the handkerchief. The prince dropped the coins in the center of the square and stuffed it in his pocket. He turned to resume their walk through Alendoor.
A horse neighed nearby. The noise pierced the otherwise silent village. Endymion's head perked up at the sound. His eyes scanned the various buildings and storefronts surrounding them. Another neigh grabbed prince's attention.
"This way," he muttered. He grabbed Serenity by the hand and led her down a side street. He hoped that they had enough money to purchase a horse.
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End of Chapter 14
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