Storms Upon the Heart
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Chapter Two
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Queen Melodine of Fellotinhan sat idly on a veranda, watching at the sun rose high in the sky, signaling the beginning of a new day. She sighed, thinking of the tasks the day would bring.

The queen turned her head at the noise of approach. She saw out of the corner of her eye her son, coming up behind her. She smirked lightly, thinking of the many ways he had become a disappointment to her in the past several days.

"Are you ready to marry off your only sister today, my son?" She scoffed, turning her head again to stare off the terrace.

Motoki sighed, coming to stand beside his mother's seated form. "Mother, I know you don't agree with this. Really, neither do I. I respect Endymion greatly; he is a great friend to me. I don't like the idea of Serenity marrying him as much you, though. She doesn't know him, nor love him." His eyes became pained. "I wanted her to experience love…"

His mother scoffed, grabbing hold of the wheels on the side of her chair and turning to the table where breakfast had been laid out. She took out her silverware and placed a cloth napkin in her lap. With hands that shook frequently, she poured herself a cup of tea, spilling several drops of the liquid onto her dark blue velvet dress.

Motoki, with both hands on the stone rail, stared off into the gardens, his eyes stern.

Melodine ceased the continuities of breakfast and turned to glance at him. "You disobeyed me. You agreed with Dermius. I told you never to go into agreement with him, or ever befriend his bastard of a son. I should take away your throne."

He laughed. He laughed and turned to her with annoyance in his eyes. "Mother, you cannot, and do not have the power any longer to take the throne from me. I am king already, only without the title." He smiled softly, his eyes becoming dreamlike. "I'm fulfilling Father's dream, Mother. He wished Serenity to marry Endymion…did he not? That is why he made the agreement with Dermius. He loved Dermius, and wanted our families to be united! Why can't you understand that?"

His mother's voice became cruel and bitter. "Because Dermius is a pig. I wish nothing more for him but a swift death."

Motoki shook his head sadly. "I pity your cold heart, Mother."

"My heart is not any concern of yours. You showed how much of me is in your heart with your despicable agreement to marry that whore Makato!"

"I will not have you speak of Princess Makato in that manner. She is an honorable lady, and I consider myself privileged to have her as my fiancé." Motoki's eyes angered, and he swiftly left the terrace.

Melodine sunk into her chair and sighed deeply, her face weary. "My, how the days are bleak…"

Soft, clicking footfalls fell beside the table, and Melodine looked up. A soft smile crossed her face as she took in her daughter's presence. "My dear, as usual, you look so lovely."

Serenity stood, her hands clasped in front of her, in a rose colored dress that accentuated every curve in her body softly, the material lightly clinging to her.

Melodine stretched out her hand. Serenity took it gracefully and sat beside her mother at the table.

"I'm glad you decided to join me for breakfast this morning, my love." Melodine gently tucked a loose honey blonde strand of Serenity's hair behind her ear. "The days we have together are few."

Serenity turned to stare down at her breakfast: light juice and a soft, buttery croissant.

Melodine looked at Serenity for several moments before speaking once more. "My dear, why don't you speak to me?"

Serenity sighed softly. "Mother…" She bit her lip and turned to her mother with tears in her eyes. "Please do not be angry with Motoki. He did the right thing."

Melodine's eyes became cross. "Are you saying you want to marry this…this…Hershim prince!"

Serenity shook her head sadly. "No, I don't wish to marry him. But I will…it was Father's wish, and it is now Motoki's wish." She looked at her mother. "Motoki is not only my brother, but my king. I have to do this for the good of the kingdom. When Hershim is our ally again, we'll be so much more prosperous. I've heard Motoki, Mother…" She turned to fully face the queen. "He talks with the men of the army about no more fighting at all, with anyone. He says that Hershim, since it is so close to sea, will protect Fellotinhan! He speaks of free trading, and economic success! The people will have more food and will thrive!"

She looked at her mother's cold, glaring eyes and sighed. "I'm doing this for our kingdom."

Melodine turned away crossly. "I hate Dermius, my daughter. I hate him with every fiber of my being…I will not have my only daughter, my pride and my joy, to marry his…abomination of a son!" She suddenly stood and pounded her fists harshly on the table.

Serenity gasped and jumped up. "Mother!" She took her mother's arms gently and helped her to sit again. "Calm down, Mother, calm down…Endymion is a good man; Motoki speaks highly of him…"

Melodine scoffed. "A man of high honor, he says. With a father and a mother of idiocy like that…I doubt it."

Serenity pushed her chair away from the table and stood. "I don't know this Endymion…I don't know him at all, and I'm leaving in a few weeks time to marry him…" She bit her lip, and it began to bleed. "But I will marry him with pride and with honor towards my country."

Melodine looked at her daughter in agony. "You always put your brother and his wishes above mine…why, my child?"

Serenity smiled, shaking her head. "It's not that, Mother. I'm doing this because I have to. Because Motoki is king, and Motoki needs the marriage to Makato to make it complete and finalize his position as our king. So, I marry Endymion." She turned toward the stone rails, walking to them and staring over the side. "I would have to marry Endymion upon the death of the king Dermius, anyways. Now, because of this agreement…it is just much sooner."

Melodine bit into an apple scornfully, staring at it in hatred. "I despise Dermius."

"I despise the fates…" Serenity murmured. She turned to her mother. "Mother, did you love Father?"

Melodine blinked, amazed. "Serenity?"

"Why did you marry Father?"

"It was an arranged marriage, daughter…"

"Did you love him?"

"I came to love him, yes." Her eyes became fond. "I did love him."

"Then who says that I will not come to love this Endymion?" Serenity suddenly laughed. "I highly doubt that I will, though…" She chewed on her bruised lip. "Mother, did you not still love Dermius when you married Father?"

"I despised Dermius the moment he refused me. No…"

Serenity turned away to look out at the gardens again. "Then you wouldn't understand…"

Motoki reentered the veranda. "Serenity…there's been a change…" He walked to the stone rail and stood beside her. "Dermius sent a letter. Dated yesterday."

Serenity's lip was bleeding again. "What about?"

"He…he's sending Makato here. We will marry next week."

Serenity turned to her brother and smiled. "I'm happy for you, brother. It's good that you and Makato love each other. You'll have a happy marriage."

Motoki smiled, but his eyes did not reflect the smile. "There's something else, though…"

Melodine turned her chair. "The bastard wants Serenity to be sent to Hershim, I presume?"

Motoki shook his head. "No, Mother…he and Endymion are coming with Makato for the wedding…"

Serenity raised an eyebrow. "You don't make any sense, Motoki…"

He laughed nervously. "Little one, rarely do I actually make any sense." He ran a hand through his straw blonde hair. "Dermius requests that your marriage to Endymion be in Hershim…since mine and Makato's is here."

Melodine sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "Why all this pain? Of all things…I at least wished to see my daughter's wedding!"

Motoki frowned. "You refuse to come with us to Hershim?"

Melodine shook her head. "Yes, I refuse…I am too weak in any case to make the journey."

Serenity sat gently at her mother's feet. "Don't worry yourself so much, Mother. Try not to think about it. It'll be alright. I'll marry Endymion…and…if he is a good man as Motoki promises, I'm sure he'll allow me to visit you often. I will visit often. I promise!"

Melodine smiled softly and stroked Serenity's cheek. "Dearest daughter. A dear, good child…a beautiful lady you've become. I am very proud of you." She leaned down and kissed Serenity's forehead.

Serenity smiled up at her mother and left the veranda with Motoki. Once inside the palace, Motoki turned to Serenity and held her arms.

"You'll meet Endymion tomorrow."

Serenity gulped. "He's coming with Makato and Dermius?"

Motoki smiled softly and kissed her forehead. "Of course he is. Makato is his baby sister, just as you are my baby sister. I think he'd want to attend her wedding, would he not?" He grinned and winked at her. "Besides…he happens to be my best man."

Serenity gasped in pleasure. "Does this mean that you'll be his best man in our wedding?"

Motoki grinned. "He hasn't said anything of it, but I'm sure I will be."

Serenity squealed happily and jumped into Motoki's arms for an embrace. "I'm so glad you're such good friends with him! I won't lose you…"

He kissed her hair. "You would never lose me anyways…you're my favorite and best little sister, after all." He grinned down upon her, a twinkle is his light blue eyes.

She giggled. "Motoki, I'm your only little sister."

He kissed her forehead. "Which makes you all the more special to me! Now go out and walk in the gardens and enjoy yourself while boring old big brother has to attend another council."

Serenity frowned. "Who with?"

"Just some old wise men that are helping me with the economics of the country, little one. Run along now." He winked at her and left the hall.

She pouted, stomping her heeled slipper against the marble floor. "How come I'm always treated like I have half the brain of a man? 'Old wise men'. He could at least have told me their titles! The nerve!" She shrugged her shoulders irritably and spun, walking out of the room to escape to the gardens.

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Serenity sat quietly in the garden, surrounded by dark red roses. She sat upon a stone, her long pink dress spread out around her. She twirled a strand of her honey blonde hair in between her graceful fingers, gently braiding the strands together.

A rustle of noise came from the bushes and Serenity turned with a gasp. A small giggle could be heard and a girl came tumbling out of the forest, her bright blonde streaks tied in a bright red hair ribbon and her figure clad in an ankle-length, frilly orange dress. She giggled merrily at the shocked look on Serenity's face and sat on the ground around the stone that the princess sat upon.

Serenity rolled her eyes and looked away from the girl, continuing to braid her hair. "Out scheming, young Lady Minako?"

Minako giggled, imitating Serenity by beginning to braid her own hair. "Cousin, don't be so mean. You were just out in the forest with me yesterday morning before the storm! You said yourself it was the best fun you'd had in ages!"

Serenity felt a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. She turned to Minako's bright, livid blue eyes with a laugh falling from her lips. "It was, it was! Oh, but if we had been caught out gallivanting by the guards, we would have had our necks wrung out by Mother!"

Giggles erupted from both of the girls, and soon, Serenity found herself climbing off the rock to sit in the soft grass beside her beloved cousin.

Minako lay down and stretched, staring up lazily at the fluffy white clouds in the bright sky. "Do you think I'll ever marry, Sere?"

Serenity joined her, laying her head on her hands and gazing up at the sky. "Of course you will. You'll meet an amazing man, and you'll fall head in heels in love…and he'll be enraptured by your beauty and will be madly in love with you." Her eyes became sad and distant.

Minako leaned over on her side and stared at her cousin. "I'm sorry you couldn't fall in love, cousin. I've seen Endymion, though…he's very handsome." She winked down on her cousin.

Serenity laughed lightly and sat up, brushing her lips against Minako's forehead before falling down to the grass again. "Of course, that's all you ever think of when it comes to men…Minako, my darling, what will I ever do with you?"

The bubbly blonde stretched out and stood, and began to twirl happily around, her orange skirt fluttering softly around her. "I don't want to think of marriage right now! I'm going to be young and free!"

Serenity sat up and brought her knees up to her chin. Watching her cousin spin, her eyes became dreamy and hazy. "Spin, love…" She whispered, watching Minako's frolic. "Don't let go of the joy in your heart…any day, it could wither and be taken away from you…" She rose and began to walk toward the palace.

Minako stopped spinning and blinked away the dizziness from her eyes. She saw Serenity gracefully walking away and she rushed up to her, slinging her arm through Serenity's.

"You will let me be a bridesmaid at your wedding, won't you, Sere?" Minako turned her large blue eyes on Serenity, who looked down and smiled warmly.

"Of course, if you want…but I thought you might want to be the flower girl?"

Minako wrinkled her nose in disgust. "You treat me like I'm a child still, cousin. I'm only four years younger than you! I'm too old now to be a flower girl!"

Serenity laughed gaily, the sound fluttering in the soft breeze. "You are too old now, aren't you? I'm sorry, Minako…it's just that…" She turned and hugged her cousin closely to her heart. "I still imagine you my little baby cousin…but you're grown now." She tugged playfully at the red hair bow in Minako's hair. "You've grown so fast…your parents would be so very proud."

Minako beamed. "You think so, cousin?"

Serenity nodded. "I know so."

Minako giggled happily and hugged Serenity once more before bounding away. She skipped down the pathway, a rose twirling in her hand. She called back as she ran on happily. "Don't treat yourself as so old, Sere! Seventeen isn't old, cousin! You're not old! Don't be old! Old doesn't suit you, beautiful cousin! You're not old!"

Serenity laughed. 'Thirteen years old and still so young…' She thought, shaking her head. 'How I wish my heart was as lively as hers…but mine seems so cold and so…broken.'

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Motoki sat in the library of the palace, reading a book in somber, unmoving quietness. He flipped a page idly, not really noticing the words that drifted across the page before him. Sighing, he closed the book.

"Your heart isn't in the book, is it, Motoki? Your mind wanders."

Motoki stood from his chair and turned to face the large door where the Lady Rei stood, her violet eyes warm and kind.

He smiled and shook his head. "You're always right when it comes to matters of the heart, my lady."

Rei came into the room, her heels sinking down into the plush crimson carpet. She sat in a velvet chair across from the one that Motoki had previously occupied. She smoothed out a wrinkle that had crept into her pale red dress. "Don't be so formal, Motoki."

Motoki's blue eyes twinkled in the soft light that came from the fireplace. "I am sorry, Rei. Once I'm married, it will be very different between myself and any lady friend that I have."

Rei pursed her lips together sourly. "Will you be forced to address even the youngest of ladies, such as your cousin Minako, as 'my lady'? Dear prince, Makato isn't such a beastly lady. You should know this by now."

He shook his head, smiling softly. "I know. I feel obligated, though."

Rei crossed her legs and leaned back, fingering a lamp on the table beside her. "You shouldn't. After you're married, you should still have the freedom to address your friends by their names. That shouldn't change." She looked at him. "Anyways, I didn't come to scold you. I came to ask a small favor."

Motoki nodded. "Of course, Rei. Anything."

Rei grinned. "I was hoping you would say that. I want your help in planning a small party for Serenity."

"A party?"

She nodded. "Yes. I was hoping that a party would lift her spirits. It would be a…wedding party of sorts, but a gathering with all of Serenity's close friends would make her feel so much better."

Motoki grinned widely. "Rei, you're amazing. Of course I'll help!"

She stood up happily. "Oh, good. You agree." She headed out the door. "I'll set it for the day before we all leave for the wedding at Hershim."

He nodded and opened his book once more. "That sounds great, Rei."

She stood at the door, and turned to look at him. Watching him silently for a moment, she sighed. "Motoki…do you really think the wedding between Endymion and Serenity is wise?"

He looked up with a start and blinked. "Well…"

She went on. "I know, you and Makato are the perfect match and you already were courting secretly before your marital announcement…but Motoki, Serenity is so very frail…what if he hurts her? Her heart couldn't take that kind of pain…"

He shook his head. "Endymion will not hurt my sister, Rei. He has promised me with his life." He smiled at her. "I worry about her, too, Rei. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't think of her. But it will all turn out for good…I know it."

Rei smiled at him in return, nodding her head. "I'll trust you. Besides," her eyes twinkled, "if he hurts her, I'll kill him myself."

Motoki laughed. "I'll be right beside you, dear Rei."

She laughed and left the room.

Motoki stared down at his book again, but again his thoughts drifted to his young sister. He frowned.

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Minako skipped into the great room and sat primly on a large, stuffed sofa beside the queen. "Hello, Auntie Melodine!" She said, a giggle escaping her mouth.

Melodine, who sat also upon the sofa, looked up from her knitting and smiled down at Minako. "Hello, Minako. You are rather rowdy today."

Serenity walked into the room and took a seat in a chair adjacent to the sofa. "Mother, Minako is always rowdy. She's actually very mellow today." She grinned at Minako, winking lightly.

Minako started giggling happily. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

Melodine kissed the girl's forehead. "You'll have the men literally chasing after you in years to come."

Minako giggled again.

Melodine looked over at Serenity and frowned, noticing frailness in her. "Serenity, are you feeling alright?"

Serenity nodded, putting a hand to her forehead. "A little tired is all. There's been so much excitement lately that it has my head spinning." She laughed lightly, closing her eyes.

Melodine frowned and eyed her daughter for several moments before carefully turning back to her knitting.

Motoki walked in the room, noticing them all sitting around. He grinned and walked up behind the couch, placing his hands over Minako's eyes.

She squealed, reaching up and covering his hands with hers.

He grinned. "Guess who!"

She giggled. "Moto!"

He grinned and kissed her cheek, pulling his hands away from her eyes. "You caught me!"

She turned around and sat on her knees on the couch, hugging him.

He laughed and hugged her back, looking over at Serenity, who sat with her eyes closed, leaning back in her chair. He frowned and gently pulled Minako off him and patted her head before going over to Serenity and sitting on her armrest.

"Serenity, are you alright?"

"She said she was just tired." Melodine whispered, her eyes worried.

He glanced at his mother and frowned, and placed a hand on Serenity's arm. His frown became deeper. "She's like ice."

Feeling his touch on her arm, Serenity opened her eyes and groaned. "Brother, stop fussing over me. I'm fine." She stood wearily, noticing all eyes on her. Sighing, she turned away and left.

Motoki warily followed her, watching her and tracing her footsteps as she walked into the halls, up the winding staircase, and finally into her bedroom. He sighed and went back into the great room with his mother and cousin. "She went to her room… hopefully to rest."

Minako's eyes looked dull. "I'm worried about Sere…"

Motoki patted her head. "She'll be alright, Mina."

Minako bit her lip, but nodded.

Melodine didn't look up from her knitting. "She's stressed with worry; she's thinking about tomorrow and meeting that Hershim prince."

Motoki rolled his eyes. "That Hershim prince? Prince Endymion, Mother. He has a name."

"I don't address those less of me with names."

"Such a cold heart you have…come on, Mina. Let's go play a game or something." Motoki took Minako's arm and led her out of the room, leaving Melodine alone.

Melodine never put her knitting down.

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End Chapter Two

This is…VERY different from the things I usually write. But I like it…do you all?

Chapters will be a little slow, as I'm planning to make them very long and they take time. I'm also very busy with school and I'm constantly becoming sick (T-T) so chapters won't always be consistent. But, there should at least be a chapter out every two or three days…at least one a week.

Please review!

Luna