Storms Upon the Heart

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Chapter Four

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Serenity stood quivering in front of the prince, her eyes wide and her mouth unable to form words.

Motoki kissed her hand once and placed it in Endymion's, before turning and ordering everyone into the palace.

Once the grounds were bare of people, Endymion looked at Serenity with a small smile. "You're shy."

She blinked. "Oh…yes…"

He glanced down at her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "You don't have to be." He kissed the inside palm gently, making her blush.

"It's…hard…or…difficult…to not be afraid of someone that I've just met." Serenity whispered, a bright blush staining her cheeks.

"True." He untwined his fingers from hers, took her arm, and led her away from the pathway. They began to walk side by side through the palace gardens. "But I am to be your husband, and you shouldn't fear anything about me…" He glanced at her sideways, "…though I believe we both know this is not a marriage of love." He stopped walking and turned her towards him. "It is only fair to you to tell you that I am in love with another, even when I am marrying you."

Her eyes became wide and she stepped back. "Oh…oh…..oh."

He sighed softly. "This is an inconvenience for me, but I know it is for you as well."

She crossed her arms and sat down on a stone bench. "Of course it is." She whispered softly.

She looked up at where he stood, his back turned to her. Several long silent moments passed. Her eyes became stern and her voice became bitter and harsh. "I've known about this marriage since I was a small child, and I've learned to accept it. I know many things about you, yet until this day I'd never met you." He turned slowly and looked at her. Her eyes held cold tears. "You said it yourself. You are to be my husband." She stood up and stared up at him. "I am not strong or bold, and I fear many things. But, I will say this now. I do not care to hear of any woman in your life that you claim to love. I am your fiancée, your future wife, and my ears will not hear it. Have your mistresses. But then don't come to my bed claiming that you are my husband and I owe you that. I owe you nothing." She spun quickly on her heels and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the stone.

"Serenity."

She continued walking, wringing her hands on her dress.

"Serenity, stop."

Suddenly she felt an arm around her waist and she gasped. His breath was suddenly tickling her ear as he spoke.

"I may have said that I love another…but that does not mean I will be unfaithful. I only wished you to know that you will not have my heart…only my name."

He turned her to him and kissed her mouth harshly, and then left her to stand alone in the garden.

She stood staring after him as he walked into the palace. Tears sprang into her eyes and she placed her hand over her mouth, letting out a scream.

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"She won't come down to dinner no matter what I say."

Motoki groaned and laid his head on his desk. "Why, Mina?"

Minako twiddled her thumbs together nervously. "She says she won't stand to be in the same room as him after he shamed her today." She dug her slippers into the carpet. She stood in front of Motoki's grand desk in his study.

Endymion received a stern look from Motoki. The Hershim prince frowned and stood from his armchair. He turned and looked down at the young girl. "Tell her I apologize if it shamed her to have her fiancé kiss her."

Minako's blue eyes looked at him coldly. "That isn't what she is upset about. You stole her kiss from her painfully, and you made her cry. I'm not your servant, prince. Apologize to her yourself if you want to see her again." She glanced at Motoki and nodded before spinning on her short yellow heels and trotting out of the room haughtily.

Motoki watched the door close behind her and sighed loudly. "Endymion, what HAPPENED?"

"I didn't mean to be harsh with her, Motoki. She angered me and I…" He rubbed his temples with his forefingers. "I just…I don't know, there's something about that girl!"

Motoki stood from his desk and made his way around it, leaning against the front panel. "I promised her you were a good man and you would care for her…don't show her anything else. Don't make me regret my words!"

"I will care for her, I promised you that. But the girl expects me to love her; I see it in her eyes. She's young and naïve and she expects love. I can't give it to her."

Motoki nodded sadly. "I know…that's what I hate most of this." He looked at Endymion imploringly. "Please, please be good to her, though….and apologize to her VERY soon. If not right now."

Endymion sighed. "Alright, I'll go now…" He started to leave, but glanced back at Motoki before exiting the room. "How old is that fireball of a cousin of yours?"

"Four years younger than Serenity. Mina's thirteen."

"Fiery temper for a child..." He muttered.

Motoki laughed. "My friend, she's nothing compared to Serenity. The Fellontinhan maidens are all alike. Gentle and meek on the outside, fiery and fearless in protection of their hearts and the hearts of ones they love. My cousin and sister are very close. You take on Serenity as a wife, you take on Minako as an enemy to appease. You have to keep her happy just as much as Sere. And you'll keep Minako happy by keeping Serenity happy." He noticed Endymion's eyes widen and grinned. "You've entered the maze of Fellotinhan…welcome."

Endymion rolled his eyes and left.

Motoki collapsed on the sofa. "I desperately need sleep."

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Serenity ran a hairbrush through her hair angrily, staring at her mirror in fury. "That…that bastard…" She muttered, pulling at knots.

A sharp knock rapped on her door.

She looked at the door for a moment. "Who is it?"

Silence.

She rolled her eyes and stood up from her vanity, straightening her dress and going to the door. She opened it and stared out angrily at Prince Endymion. "I knew it was you."

"I knew you knew it was me."

"Don't talk in foolishness. You'll confuse your inferior mind." She spun around and went back to her vanity to continue brushing her hair.

He stood behind her and gazed into her eyes through the mirror. "Your cousin confessed to your brother and me that you are very upset with me."

"Did she, now? Well, Minako is quite the gossip for her age."

Endymion sighed. "You angered me this afternoon. You seemed sweet and gentle at first…and now you are sarcastic. What happened to the gentle princess I was told about?"

"Ah, so now you expect me to become your gentle, meek little wife?" She yanked the brush through her hair. "My heart is tired and my entire body is tired. I tire easily. It doesn't mean I am meek. I am just fragile."

He raised an eyebrow. "You tire easily?"

She shrugged. "I've been this way for almost a year now. I don't possess the energy seen in my cousin."

"Is it a health condition?"

"I do not know."

"Possibly it can be cured?"

She sighed. "Endymion, I just told you. I don't know."

He frowned and left her alone at her vanity, finding a seat beside her window. "You did say this afternoon that you are not strong..." He watched her brush her hair for several moments. "Serenity, stop brushing your hair in anger. Stop being angry with me. You have no reason to be."

"I think I do. You hurt me."

"I simply kissed you…"

"You kissed me with pain, and you stung my heart with your cruel words." She stood up and put the brush on the table. "Leave. I'm going to bed."

"You haven't eaten."

"I am not hungry."

"Serenity, come down to dinner."

"No. Leave my room so I may change and get some rest."

"Come eat dinner and then you may rest."

"Stop trying to command me. You won't succeed."

"Stop being stubborn!"

"I'm being stubborn? I think I'm just trying to protect myself from the likes of you!"

Endymion stood and began pacing in front of her window. "All those words about your kindness, your sweet smiles, your loving ways….all lies! You're an impossible woman!"

"I'm only impossible when you're near! I've never acted this way in my life!"

"Why around me!"

"You drive me to madness! You irritate me!"

"You don't know me to know if I irritate you!"

"Well, you don't know me!"

"Of course I don't!"

"You don't have the right to tell me you won't love me! I've never had the chance to love another! You won't even give me that chance with….your claim to love another woman!"

Endymion turned and looked at her. "What?"

She was breathing heavily from shouting, and she turned and threw herself on her bed in sobs. "Just leave!" She choked out.

"Serenity…"

"LEAVE!"

He walked away from her window and sat beside her on the bed, stroking her back. "That's what you're upset about. You're not upset about the kiss at all…"

"Just…leave…" She whispered through sobs, trying to pull away from him.

He sighed and let her pull away. "Alright. I'll leave." Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, brushing his lips against her hair. "I'll ask to have a servant send you up some food. I don't like you not eating. Good night, Serenity."

The door shut gently behind him, and Serenity broke out into deeper sobs.

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End Chapter Four

It's been a while, but hey, I found inspiration. I wasn't planning on making Endymion this way…but it fits what I'm going for. I'm updating again. I should have the next chapter out soon.