Storms Upon the Heart
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Chapter One
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The storm outside the palace walls seemed to have no end. As Princess Serenity looked out upon the dark landscape, a sigh escaped from her lips. She turned away from the window and ran a hairbrush through her long blonde tresses of hair.

"Rain, rain, cease this way…do not return any day…" She murmured, falling down against her bed. Her long, white nightgown fluttered softly around her as she fell, and she sighed, burying her face in a pink, silken pillow. "I despise storms." She muttered against it.

The large oak door to her chambers opened and a tall, blonde haired man in a regal, dark red uniform entered. He grinned at her meek form lying huddled on the bed. "Serenity…"

She sprang up and turned to him. "Motoki, what on earth are you doing? Don't you know that it's immoral to go running into the bedroom of a lady?"

He laughed. "I don't prefer to call my sister a lady. Though, you have become such as one…" He sat down on the bed beside her, kissing her forehead tenderly. "Sweet little one, you'll never change, will you? Still terrified of the storms…"

"I hate them…" Serenity mumbled, hugging her brother close. "Big brothers are supposed to protect their baby sisters, and keep the storms from coming…"

Motoki's blue eyes twinkled with merriment. "Big brothers don't control the weather, little one. You'll have to take that up with the gods." He kissed her forehead once more. "I came up to tell you that you have to attend breakfast tomorrow morning. Mother requests your presence. She says it is an order." He grinned down boyishly at her. "No hiding in the gardens tomorrow, little one."

Serenity sighed deeply. "Motoki, is it about…?"

"Yes."

Tears sprang into her crystal eyes. The tears made her eyes shine, giving her face an ethereal look. "I don't…I do not wish…to…"

He ran a tender hand through her shimmering hair. "I'm sorry, Serenity. But the agreements were set…and you knew that it was coming."

The tears gently began to weave their way down her face, and she stood and made her way to look out the window once more. "The gods must sense my fear and they mock it…that is why the storms have come." She murmured, placing her small, delicate hand against the window.

Motoki stood, remaining beside the bed. "I will see you happy again, little sister. I'll find a way, I promise you…your life will not end because of this, my little one…it is just going to be a part of it…"

Serenity turned her large tear filled sapphire eyes upon her brother. "I despise the fates."

He sighed miserably. "Whether you despise yours or not, it is…it is, unfortunately, your fate. It must be done…if you don't, the entire kingdom could easily…" He closed his eyes in pain and covered them with the palm of his hand.

She ran up to him and embraced him tightly, burying her face against his shoulder, standing on her tiptoes. "I know…I've…begrudgingly…accepted it." She smiled very brightly up at him. "I'll save the kingdom for you, big brother. You're going to be a great king."

He smiled weakly down on her. "I wish there was another way…I don't want to send you…" His voice became choked.

She nodded numbly. "Mother has prayed to the gods many times for other answers…but they give none. This is our only way…this is…as you've said…my fate." Her voice became that of a whisper.

Motoki kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, little one. Don't think of tomorrow, don't think of the days to come…you need your rest." He squeezed her shoulders gently. "You're my only little sister…how I wish I could stop this pain upon you…" He shook his head. "Go to sleep." He kissed her once more and fled her room.

She stood staring at the large door for several long moments.

"Fate is upon me." She murmured. She turned to glance out the window once more. "I pray the gods give my heart rest for the night. My strength as of yet is little…I find myself amidst the terrors of destiny."

She shook her head and climbed in to her bed, resting her head against the pillow. Closing her eyes, she fell into a restful sleep.

Motoki, several hours later, opened her door and stared at her angelic face in the darkness. Tears filled his light blue eyes and he clung to the door, staring down upon his little sister. "I thank the gods of Fellotinhan, for the peaceful rest you've given her." He closed his eyes. "Give her strength. The days ahead seem bleak in her eyes, as in mine." He shook his head and gently closed the door, retiring to his own chambers to sleep.

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End Chapter One.