Sorry for da delay. Had problems wit my computer again.
But thankfully, I got a laptop for my 18th birthday so now not only will there be no more delays, but updates will be faster since I won't have to hog for time on the computer.
Recent reviews have led me to slow down the things in my story since I tend to do things in a rush.
Yeah, it's basically because I have dis thing where I don't wanna know da other things, I like seeing the main plot, which is why I write in a rushed way, cuz I stay wit da mentality dat u guys are like dat too.
Now, I'm not promising anything, but I'm gonna try to slow da events down and add other events too; simple ones
Also, I'm writing da sequel dis quick after I finished "Stolen Fate" becuz, well; I'm bored with no job and hobbies except writing. Hehe
Ok, on wit da story
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Her eyes wouldn't stay still, taking in everything from the silk cushioned chairs to the imported rugs. She brought the blanket closer as dark figures ventured close to her.
They whispered of things she didn't know and her body shivered in fear. Would they kill her?
"Do you know where you are?" a man with dark blue eyes asked her. Black bangs fell over his eyes, giving him a rugged look.
"No," she answered reluctantly. Would they use that against her?
"What about your name, do you know what that is?" a female voice spoke up. She looked up and stared into kind eyes. She felt more at ease with her.
"No, I do not," she averted her eyes again, eyeing a tiny boy whose head popped out from the half open door. His eyes seemed to be the exact replica of the man who had found her in the woods.
The woman smiled at her and brought the man far away from her.
She heard slivers of their conversations.
"…trauma can cause people to forget…or she might've been drugged...," she didn't want to listen anymore. She stood up, her legs not as wobbly, and walked around the room.
Everything in it was glamorous, with silk as table cloths and lamps designed in intricate pictures. She finally stopped when she came upon a portrait.
It was very huge, taller than her. A man stood by a magnificent palace and she realized it was the one she was in right now.
He had blonde hair and baby blue eyes. A hint of a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth, as if he was trying to hold down his laughter. Could this man be the owner of the palace? Had she mistakenly trespassed on a land owned by some sort of royal?
"Serenity?" her mind was somewhere else that she had not heard the name they branded her with.
"Serenity?" a breathy voice said near her neck. She spun quickly, almost knocking down the man with the blue eyes.
"Why do you insist on calling me that?" she shouted.
"Because, that is your name. Well, actually, your full name is Her Highness, Queen Serenity of Vaneri," he stopped talking, waiting for the effect to take.
"Queen of what? Look you have the wrong girl, I'm no Queen, much less this Serenity," she argued, making for the door but the man blocked her path.
"Let me pass!"
"Spoken just like a royal," he smirked, making her want to smack him.
"Endymion, be nice," hissed the woman.
"Not until she realizes who she is!" thundered the man, Endymion.
"Stop telling me who I am! I'm not your Serenity. I've never even heard of the name before!" she screamed, her hands gesturing wildly; her blanket fell to the floor.
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Endymion couldn't help himself. The second the cloak fell away from her, his eyes ravished her body.
The still-wet dress clung to her, outlining her curvy hips and thighs and her breasts, two pink spots poking out. The hem ended at her shins, showing the world her shapely legs, well-muscled from all the workouts they had together when they practiced sword play. She didn't want to ever be defenseless.
Too bad that didn't help her escape her captors.
"Avert your eyes, sir!" she grabbed his chin and turned it to be level with her face.
Her touch melted him, for it was the one thing he yearned for the last two months.
She saw the reaction he got from it and dropped her hand.
"Endymion, let me get her properly dressed, then we'll deal with this," the woman urged, pulling her along, away from the man. She was grateful.
"Fine, but be quick about it," he said grudgingly, his eyes looking longingly at her.
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She couldn't explain the feeling in her when she saw the look on Endymion's face when she was being pulled away. It touched a familiar chord in her, but that was all she could scrounge from it.
"My name's Maya by the way," the woman said to her as she led her down an empty hall. Twice would a maid pass them and smile with glee. She thought nothing of it.
Before she could say anything else, Maya opened a door and nudged her forward.
The room was very spacious, with a big bed at the far end of the room which could hold about six bodies.
A couch was near the center of the room, with red silk pillows embroidered in gold stitching. It was all overwhelming for her.
To her left was a small bookcase, holding books ranging in authors and genres. Obviously this Serenity was very intelligent and book smart.
Bay windows were to her right, next to the bed. Walking closer to it, she could tell it had been fixed. Had something happened?
"Do you like it?" Maya asked, going to her closet and producing a pink dress, under garments and a corset.
"It's very beautiful. This Queen Serenity of yours has great taste," she didn't see the cringe on Maya's face at her comment.
"Yes, you do," Maya blurted out.
She turned to her but couldn't find the words. She was tired of arguing, since all her energy had been wasted on the blue eyed man.
"Are those for me?" she asked.
"Yes. I've had a bath drawn for you. So why don't you hop in and wash away all that grime," Maya offered, gesturing to a door right behind her.
She smiled at her and went inside.
It was too foggy inside to see so she just stripped down and slipped into the very warm water.
Taking the rose scented soap, she scrubbed her body until it felt raw.
Suddenly, maid came up to her worked perfumed suds into her dirty hair.
"Thank you," she said, emerging from the bath and taking the towel she held out for her.
Drying herself off, and rubbing her herself with the oils, she dressed, with the maid tying her corset for her.
When she finally came out, the pink dress accentuated her figure and her swollen breasts, something she did not know the cause of.
Maya brushed her hair until it was dry and silky soft. Then the maid came back and put it up, braiding tiny pieces intricately that she couldn't figure out where they stated and where they ended.
After that was done, the maid left and Maya set to explaining everything to her.
"And just two months ago, you gave birth to a baby girl, Princess Bella," she couldn't take everything in.
Endymion had stolen her for a ring her kingdom held? And somehow, after many obstacles in their path like two suitors, she had fallen in love with him.
They didn't not realize that Endymion himself had entered the room, hearing everything they talked about.
"A baby? That's impossible! I mean, I had a baby?" she couldn't believe that out of everything!
"How else can you explain for your sore chest?" Endymion crudely interrupted.
They whipped their heads around, watching as he drew closer, bringing a chair to them and sitting down.
She didn't know how to answer but she kept her gaze on him.
Yes, he was a very handsome man. She couldn't almost understand why she would fall in love with a man like him.
"Endymion!" Maya scolded, knowing the question was inappropriate with Serenity in her current condition.
He barely made a glance at her as his eyes stayed in Serenity's.
"I'll handle it here, Maya," he said, his eyes burning with need…and love.
"But-"
"Tend to Bella. I heard her pitching a fit with the wet nurse," He turned to Maya, his eyes saying what his mouth would not.
She understood. Bella knew her mother was nearby. She stood and left, hesitantly closing the door.
"Now that we're finally alone," he smirked again, leaning back in the chair.
She eyes him warily, her fingers fidgeting with her dress. Endymion saw this and felt a surge of pain go through him; it was a nervous habit of Serenity's.
"I feel no need to play your obedient wife," she stated before he could say anymore.
"Good, because that was the last thing Serenity was," he countered. This made her relieved.
They continued to stare at each other, and before long, she started to ask him question of her daily life at the palace.
"So, I'm also Queen of Madiri?"
"Yes. We split our time between the countries. Many times, you would be here in Vaneri while I'd be in my home country," he felt happy. She was beginning to accept who she really was.
"And our children?" she asked.
"Yes, well, we planned to have our son Tristan rule Madiri and our second child to rule Vaneri."
"And how is it that I was found with no memory of all this and what led to me to disappear two months ago?"
"Amnesia happens generally with trauma to the head. In your case, a horrific experience, being kidnapped, made your mind forget everything as a solution to the danger you were in," he hoped his words wouldn't frighten her.
She let everything soak in, her mind trying to retrieve some sort of memory but she found none.
"I'm sorry, but I can't remember any of it," she confessed.
Endymion tried not to show the hurt on his face. It meant everything to him to finally have a family and just when things were running smoothly, something like this pops up.
He couldn't blame her though, for the predicament she was in.
"Don't worry, it'll come to you in due time. Just relax and set your mind on healing, physically and emotionally."
He couldn't bear it anymore so when he stood up, he swooped down and kissed her, applying slight pressure on her surprised lips.
She move away but she didn't respond to the kiss either. This stabbed another knife in Endymion's heart.
She placed her hand on his chest until he broke away. Not even glancing at her, he left the room angrily.
"What am I going to do?" she asked the empty room.
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A week later, Serenity, as she finally accepted the name, surveyed her subjects in the throne room. She was dressed in blue, matching her scared eyes. Endymion was beside her, reassuring her with small glances whenever a questioned was posed to them.
While Serenity listened to Endymion talking to their people, she felt an aura permeating from him. It frightened her, for she didn't know how to respond to it.
She knew of his need for her, for what man would not when his wife went two missing for two months.
Sadly, that would have to wait since Serenity didn't feel right doing that until she regained all of her memories.
It helped that she spent time with her children. Tristan was an angel, asking her question of her relatives. She had been informed minutes before that he did not know what happened to her.
She smiled and explained everything, even though they were all lies.
And Bella? Serenity had fallen in love with the baby when she stopped crying the second Serenity took her from Maya. The little girl smiled at her and suckled at her breasts, drinking with fervor.
"I hope you're ready for that," Maya had aid to her when Serenity began to nurse Bella.
"I'm actually okay with it," Serenity told her, enjoying the rush in her blood. Love for her daughter flowed through her naturally as the rain falling on the earth.
And now, somehow, she had found herself participating in the duties of a queen, her duties. Endymion was actually the one who broached the subject this morning when Maya bought it up.
They stared at her with such curiosity that it made Serenity want to run from the room; their eyes bore into her like fire.
"Are you alright?" he asked her nonchalantly, turning his face to hers when he noticed her hands trembling on the armrests.
"Yes, I'm fine," she didn't even want to look at him as she answered, her eyes watching the faces of those before her.
The time passed by quick, and before she knew it, Serenity was whisked away to a meeting between board members of an organization.
"But, I don't even know what's it for," she argued as the tall, robust man named Liam held her arm in his.
"We know, Your Highness. But we must let the public know you're in perfect health. Plus, you'll only be observing, since they know you are still a bit ill from your ordeal," he reasoned with her, slowly pushing her through a door that was opened for her.
"Oh Goddess, what have I gotten myself into?" Serenity grimaced as old, white-haired men bowed at her presence.
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Tristan hid under the table, with the chair in front of him. From any angle, it was impossible to tell he was there. On top of that, he had blown out all the lamps in the room and closed the drapes, obscuring his form in the darkness.
Heavy footsteps came closer and closer, the door creaked open and closed. His eyes were filled with black spots that he couldn't tell if he was alone or not. Then, like lightening, a face appeared before him and he squealed with fright.
Suddenly, the room was flooded with light and he was scooped up and was held up high.
"I've got you, my little monster!" his mother cried with laughter.
Tristan squirmed in Serenity's arms as she tickled him, bringing him to tears.
"Give up?" she asked, peering at him closely.
"Hmm…fine," he murmured grumpily but then smiled as he reached down and snatched her ruby broach. Before she could even respond, he slipped down and ran from the room, leaving a dazed Serenity.
"Why, that little..," she said to herself as she followed suit and walked down to the stables. There was a particular brown mare that she had gotten attached to ever since she came here.
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He couldn't bear the sight of her any longer. His mind reeled back to happier times when the thought of their unborn baby brought joy into their lives, even those of the kingdom.
And now? Now he was reduced to playing the dutiful husband and king, watching from afar as the love of his life struggled with her past. Yes, he saw moments when she might remember something, but if she did, she let no one know.
Not even to her best friend Gabriel.
Endymion saw the grief in the man's eyes whenever she refused to confide in him. Maya understood what Serenity was going through, for she had firsthand experience when the same happened to a close aunt of hers. But Gabriel felt the pain of abandonment when she would rarely look his way or spare one friendly word with him.
She no longer went to her daily rides with him like she used to.
Now, he had begun to realize, she did them alone.
"See to my children, will you?" he said to a guard as he made his way outside. It soon became a habit of his whenever he planned on leaving the grounds, even for a few minutes.
"Yes, Your Highness."
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The sky was still blue, with clouds floating about, without a care in the world.
If only her life was like that.
Serenity had no trouble leaving the eyes of her guard Liam, as she sneaked out of a window in her room, but could not find her mare.
"Lena!" she called but found her stable to be empty.
She headed back to the palace, defeated when a whine reached her ears.
By the back of the stables was Lena, with someone holding her reins.
"Lena!" She shouted as she ran toward her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked the figure, perplexed.
He didn't answer her, instead waited.
She came closer and was surprised when he leaned down, his hands a boost for her to get on Lena.
She smiled in thanks and jumped on up. Before she could grab the reins and gallop away, she felt him follow her, sitting behind her on the mare.
"Endymion, what are you doing?" she asked fearfully.
"Taking a ride with my wife," she wanted to respond back but his hands beat her to the reins and they galloped away, her back bumping against his hard chest.
His arms around her kept her from falling, but it still didn't quell the beating of her heart. His scent was intoxication and made her dizzy with remembrance. She would've had a flash of memory if he hadn't spoken in her ear, the wind pushing back her braided hair.
"Scared?" he asked concerned. She slightly looked at him and shook her head. He didn't smile, didn't smirk, just adjusted his eyes to the path in front of them.
They finally stopped, and she couldn't believe her eyes. Was she dreaming?
He hiked down and waited his arms open for her. Hooking his hands under her arms, he lifted her down, his face coming to her throat.
Her scent drove him mad.
"I've never seen this place before," the sight marveled her.
"I'm having it constructed," he simply said, watching the amazement dance on her face.
"But why?"
"For you."
There was a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, making her heart stop a beat. She looked away and saw the gift her husband was bestowing upon her.
A large, square shaped pool was filled with clear water, water spewing from the mouths of three marble cherubs, tiptoed with their wings outstretched.
Surrounding the pool were tall willow trees, making the pool secluded and away from prying eyes. Looking closer, she could see the building of more marble statues being arranged near the trees, some of them cherubs, others adult figures with flowing robes and angelic faces.
"I don't understand?"
"It's what you wanted when you were still pregnant with Bella. All I did was exaggerate the plans to a larger extent, but it's still exactly what you had an idea of," this brought tears to her eyes.
She didn't know what to do. Hug him? Kiss him?
"I'll meet you back at the palace," he sighed, knowing it was all too much for her to take in.
"But, how will you get there?"
"Walking."
"But that's too far," oddly, she didn't want him to leave.
He stayed silent, waiting for her to talk,
"Maybe… you should stay and we'll go back together," she looked away again, tracing the curved lines on the cherubs face with her eyes.
She didn't wait long enough to see the relieved smile break across her husband's face.
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The sky was darkening when they rode back, Serenity asleep with her head on Endymion's chest. Her blonde hair sometimes slipped from her back and flew in the wind, making him reminisce o times when all he would do was run his fingers through the strands, not believing it to be regular hair.
"I think the Goddess favored you at your birth," he would say to her, gazing at her as it cascading down her shoulders and over her ample breasts.
"Stop teasing me, Endy," and she would try to braid it but he would always stop her. It liked it pressing against him with he made love to her.
'When will you remember, Sere?" he asked the wind, receiving no answer.
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Gabriel watched with sadness as Endymion came back with a sleeping Serenity in his arms. The Queen was obviously tired from the ride and it pleased the maids to see their regent going back to her usual habits.
And though Gabriel felt the same way, it hurt him still. Serenity loved going horse riding with him, for she felt no need to restrict her words and feelings. He listened as she moaned about the mounting pressures on her shoulders. And when the news of her upcoming pregnancy was known, and the number of guards doubled, he listened.
He felt useless, not being able to help her when she really needed it the most. It didn't matter to him if she was with her husband, for that was his job. But Gabriel had been her friend since infancy that the thought of his sister in emotional turmoil tore him apart.
She knew he was there for her, for she had been informed by Maya of their history. He knew there were times she'd open her mouth to say something but close it when the moment was gone.
He understood her pain and let it go. Hopefully, time would ease it and help her finally become comfortable with the people around her.
Yeah, hopefully.
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A full month passed before Serenity could remember what she had been told about the day she disappeared.
"Whatever happened to the ball that was planned for Bella?" she was alone with Maya in her sitting room, the outside world blanketed with an ebony sheen.
"Oh, that! Well, Endymion canceled it. Oh, it was very hard for him to do that. With your disappearance, he knew you'd want it to happen, whether it be that day or sometime later. But he couldn't find the heart or strength to do it." Serenity turned away, not wanting to see the pain on her face.
Unbeknownst to the women, they had left the door open, allowing a certain king the chance to listen in.
"Are you alright Serenity?" Maya inquired, stilling her hands over her almost-finished sweater.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache, is all," she just wanted to brush it over; Serenity still wasn't comfortable sharing her feelings with any one just yet.
Maya just nodded and went back to knitting, her eyes once in a while glancing at her friend.
Endymion continued to listen from the hallway, hoping that at any moment, a sliver of memory would come to her.
"Maya, I would very much like to have the ball. It isn't fair to create such an uproar of it and not have it," Serenity stated, her eyes faraway from the world she was in, yet her words kept her grounded.
"Are you sure, Sere? I mean you need time to heal and your mind still hasn't rested yet," Maya knew her worries wouldn't sway the stubborn Queen. That was the one quality Serenity unfortunately remembered.
"Yes, I'm sure. And this will be a perfect opportunity for me to become acclimated with my people, experience familiar territories. This will help jog my memory, even a little," Serenity had already made up her mind and began planning things in her head.
The flowers, the draperies, the silks she would import for her daughter should be dressed in the finest.
Maya laughed to herself, and so did Endymion.
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Serenity was nervous.
Everything had gone according to plan, with the right amount of everything designing the ballroom. The guests arrived without fail, due to the beautiful weather and their new outfits were tailored in time
But in spite of it all, Serenity was nervous.
This would be the first time she faced everyone from not only her country, but many others as well. It frightened her. Would they like the new her? Would they be able to understand that their headstrong Queen was no longer around, at least not for a while?
"Sere, let's go! They're waiting for you!" Maya called, holding her blue dress so she wouldn't trip over the hem.
She gave her a small smile and hoped Maya could see the fear etched in her features.
"Oh Sere, you look gorgeous!"
Serenity had taken four days until she decided on a color, lavender, and the design; the sleeves reached just a little past her shoulders, and dress in whole made with watered silk, falling gracefully to her ankles and swishing every time she walked.
The bodice, sewn with tiny beads, wound tight on her breasts; it made Serenity blush whenever she caught herself in the mirror.
"Come on, dearie, don't keep your admirers waiting," and before she could say anything, Maya her arm with hers and dragged her to the main entrance where Endymion was waiting.
Maya left soon after.
"Ready?" he asked Serenity rubbing his sweaty palms together.
"I think," she smiled at him and it melted his heart.
"Shall we?" offering his arm.
She looked at it, not because it was unfamiliar to her, but because it was his arm she could have to touch. It scared her to know that a strange man evoked such feelings in her.
"We shall."
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She had just passed the eye of the party, reintroducing herself to many of her friends and relatives, when she finally found the time to actually sit down. Her legs were killing her.
Barely a drop of red wine spilled onto her tongue did a voice from behind address her.
"Has the lovely queen also forgotten her dear family?"
She swirled in her chair was face-to-face with a set of twins. Grown twins.
Both men, they seemed to be the same age as her, with a bit of stubble on their chins; shaped artistically.
They had brown eyes, matching their light brown hair which fell over them casually. Tanned skin, probably from hunting or something of the sort, on bodies which were visibly well-muscled under their dressy clothes.
"I think that is the case, for I cannot place your faces," they laughed, a very nice laugh and sat on either side of her.
"Well, well, well, I was right chap. Our little cousin has forgotten us," the taller of the two said.
"That she has." quipped the other.
"Perhaps on purpose."
"Perhaps, indeed." It was all confusing for her and made her head reel.
"I'm sorry, but who are you again?"
"Tsk, tsk. We are none other than your cousins Laurel and Loren of Sahrini," they paused for a second but she cut them off before they could get another word in.
"Nice to meet you," she shook their hands but they stared at her dumbfounded.
"'Nice to meet you?' That is not the Serenity we know. If memory serves me right, you'd greet with a lusty kiss," the tall one said.
"What?" she screeched but before she could stomp away, the quiet twin stilled with his hand on hers.
"Have you really forgotten the tête-à-têtes you had with Loren?" he asked her his eyes not showing anything plausible.
"But you're my cousin!" she whispered harshly.
They stood up, and headed for another room, bringing Serenity with them. When they closed the door to one of the vacant rooms located near the ballroom, they turned to her.
"By marriage, my sweet, little kitty," Loren said, tickling her chin with a lone finger.
"Rebellious, you two were, in your naïve days," Laurel said to her, lifting her hand and starting to examine it aimlessly. H let it drop and went to run his fingers past the bindings of the books on the shelves near them.
"Well, I'm married now, so you can't talk about such things," she tried not to laugh but their doe-eyed faces lured it out.
"Dear Sere, would you like a little reminder of those days, maybe to help you freshen up that frail mind of yours?" Loren said but he didn't wait for Serenity to respond.
He leaned over and kissed her, roving his tongue over her lips. Her back was met with the desk and his hands softly held her waist. She laid hers on his face, deciding not to fight it. It was sweet but short, when they pulled away for breath.
"Oy! Don't forget me!" called Laurel, dropping a book and rushing up to Serenity.
He kissed her, but it was a tap on the lips.
"A curious bunch, you both are," she breathed, touching her mouth with amazement.
"Yes, well, that was what attracted you to us. Well, me anyway," Loren kissed her on both cheeks before stepping away.
"Now, I think it's time to return to the ball before they worry that we might've taken you away," Loren uttered, fixing his tie.
"Can't have a repeat of that," Laurel jibed, his eyes telling a story.
"What does that mean?" Serenity asked.
"Oh, that's a story for another day. But it does explain that little scar above your knee," Loren winked at her and they both exited the room, leaving Serenity to her thoughts.
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okay, dat is officially da longest chapter i've ever written...ever!
well, on Microsoft, it's 11 pages.
i guess its my way of making it up 2 u guys.
next chappy will have our lovers meeting up during the ball, leading Serenity to have a flashback... ohhhhhhh exciting! hehe
enjoy, my little creatures of the world