Title: Kingdom of Treason

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Note: Thank you so much to Serenity-hime for your review. It was very helpful. Thank you for giving me some feed back. I will definitely take it into consideration. And don't worry, I didn't think you were trying to flame me. It was very constructive criticism.

Okay, here's the next chapter. Thank you so much for all of you who reviewed. It really means a lot to me that you're liking it so much. Let me know what you think about this chapter and I'll try to get the next one out as soon as possible.

Endymion paced back and forth in the large rose garden that was directly below his bedroom window. The sun beat down on him hotly, absorbed by the black of his clothes, and the fragrant smell of roses drifted around him. Usually their smell soothed him, but today it simply wasn't working. He was to on edge, to nervous. There were so many things going on and he couldn't find a way to think of all of them at once.

He nearly sighed in relief when he saw Kunzite walk towards him.

"What news?" He asked quickly.

Kunzite looked around, making sure there was nobody anywhere near them. "The nobles are in agreement. They will stand next to you."

Endymion nodded, feeling his shoulders slightly relax.

"There is nothing much they can do with their power against the King, but if he is overthrown, they will call for an election and nominate you. It will give the Kingdom time to choose, as you wish it."

"Jedeite sent word that the army is ready to move. Everything is on schedule."

Kunzite gave a nervous smile. "Endymion, there is a chance this might work."

He nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Zoicite has discovered the moonlight knights and set up a meeting with them. They'll send instructions through Nephrite, who will make sure there are no spies involved, and we'll get you to them tomorrow night."

"It seems we have all done what we can to prepare," he said softly.

"Now we wait," Kunzite agreed. "When you're gone, Nephrite has arranged personal guards to accompany you so that they can protect you. You can trust them enough to take them with you during negotiations and they are skilled with glimpsing danger. You should be safe from any attack the King might throw at you."

Endymion nodded.

"While you're in the castle, I thought it best to ask Nephrite to make sure his guards are near you at all times, so there is no chance of an internal assassination. But we have to be careful of those still loyal to the King. Even if we succeed, they might be angry enough to try and kill you."

"When that time comes, we will deal with it."

Kunzite hesitated. His colorful clothes caught a small breeze and rippled around him. "I heard that the King intends to find another Queen."

Endymion didn't say anything.

"She will be ruined if he succeeds."

Still he didn't say anything.

"Is there something we can do to help her?"

"Hopefully at this moment he is to absorbed with what he's planning in regards to me that he won't have the time to find another Queen. If we succeed, she won't have to worry. If not, then there is nothing we can do for ourselves, let alone her."

Kunzite nodded. He was worried.

Endymion looked around them again, and then seriously at his friend. "Kunzite, there's something I need you to do for me."

Kunzite looked surprised, but he nodded.

"I know you're going to question my motives and believe me when I heard your fears the other night, but this is something that's personally important to me."

"Alright," he said seriously.

Endymion handed him a piece of paper. "That is the place Serenity came from," he started softly. "A friend of hers was recently sold to Lord Byron."

Kunzite looked shocked. "That's absurd. No respectable person would sell one of their girls to that man. He killed his last few mistresses by beating and torturing them."

"I know," Endymion said. "The girls name is Mina and she is the closes thing Serenity has to a sister. I need you to buy her and hide her away until this is all done."

Kunzite looked completely shocked at the request.

"I know that you think this is an insane time for something as this, but I have to try and help her."

"Serenity asked you to save her?"

"No," Endymion answered. "Actually she didn't." Suddenly he wondered why. Surely she would have thought he was powerful enough to help her, and yet she hadn't asked at all.

"She didn't ask for your help?"

"No," he said. "Why didn't she ask for help?"

Kunzite just looked at him.

"I can't worry about that now," he said suddenly. "Will you do it?"

Kunzite sighed. "Endymion, this can't be a priority. If I managed to buy her, Lord Byron will find out and he'll come after her. He's not a man that gets beaten easily."

"I know."

"Then why is this so important to you?"

Kunzite stared at him without blinking, waiting for him to answer.

Endymion hesitated. "I think I'm in love with her."

Neither of them moved.

Kunzite finally nodded slowly. "I thought you might be."

"I know you think I should be weary of her and I promise you I'm being careful. I won't get her involved unless I have to and I won't put her in a situation to betray me. But despite that, I still trust her. When she heard about Mina, it was the first night she didn't come to me and I was surprised at how devastated I was. I was so worried that I had gotten her into trouble with the letter she carried to Raye that I almost went crazy.

When I found her, I swear I thought she was broken. She had no idea what time it was or that I was expecting her. She had a letter, and she explained to me what happened. I stayed with her in the ladies courtyard all night, trying to comfort her. She kept telling me not to, that it wasn't my responsibility."

"It wasn't," Kunzite said.

"I know, and yet I couldn't leave her. When she hurt, I hurt. I want to help her."

Kunzite nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Serenity said they look very similar. Blonde hair blue eyes. She said they were the only girls that age that looked like that, the rest are younger. You shouldn't have trouble picking her out."

"What if they won't sell her?"

"I'll give you enough money to overbid him. They wouldn't have sold her to him if he didn't pay an extraordinary amount. It's all about money with that world."

Kunzite nodded.

"The woman who runs it is called the lady. Apparently if you know her, you ask for her with that name. Otherwise, she won't see you."

"Should I ask for Mina by name?"

"No, you'll ask to see all the girls. They won't bring her out because she's already sold so you'll have to pretend you're not interested. When she says there's nobody else, start to walk away. If you make it clear you want a blond and you're willing to pay a great deal for her, as soon as you start walking away she'll bring her out. When you see her smile, and walk around her as if you're studying her. You'll have to be crude about it, but you can apologize later."

"Where should I take her?"

Endymion ran his hand through his hair. "I suppose you can bring her here, and put her in the ladies courtyard."

Kunzite shook his head. "That will be suspicious. I'll take her to my place."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"No you can't, but I can offer. I'll tell her what's going on and she won't be allowed to service any of my family, but she'll be safe until this is all over. I'll order the lady to keep my name anonymous so Lord Byron won't be able to track me. When this is all over, then we can talk about bringing her and Serenity back together."

Endymion nodded. "I owe you a lot Kunzite."

"Yes you do," he said smiling. "And don't you worry, because I'll be sure to find ways your can repay me later."

Endymion couldn't help but smile.

"I'll leave later tonight and send word when I can."

They quickly said goodbye and Kunzite walked swiftly out of the rose garden, leaving Endymion there by himself. He looked around at the still empty garden, taking in the sight of the beautiful blood red roses. Soon the palace itself would be stained that color. This was going to end in blood, he could feel it.

Serenity felt her fingers shaking as she delicately clasped the silver clasps that held his armor to his clothes. She wondered briefly why he wore black and silver while the rest of the Kingdom wore gold. The armor was polished to a mirror shine, and it reflected the light of the sun shining brightly through the windows.

"You're very quiet this morning," Endymion said softly.

Serenity just nodded, failing to smile completely.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "The ladies have been comforting me for two days," she said finally. "They say you'll probably be gone for years like last time."

He firmly placed his hands over hers, making her look up at him. "This isn't like last time," he said firmly. "No matter what happens, it'll be done within a few weeks."

She once again tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You're not convinced," he said not letting her go.

"I'm being selfish," she said shaking her head. "I've just become accustomed to seeing you all the time, and now we're saying goodbye and I don't want to." She shook out of his grasp and started buckling the rest of his armor on.

He didn't know how to comfort her in this, so he stayed quite for a time and let her work. He could tell that she was still upset, but she was stubbornly hiding it from him.

When she was done she took a step back from him, allowing him room to test all the buckles and clasps to make sure they wouldn't come off. He seemed satisfied with them and looked back up at her.

"The King has dismissed half the guards into the city," she said softly. "The ladies say that never before has the castle been so loosely guarded."

Endymion nodded. "He's expecting something."

"He has also arranged a party for two weeks from now. What he is celebrating no one seems to know. It is surely to soon to celebrate your victory."

"Perhaps," he answered.

"All the ladies of the courtyard are to attend."

"You are not part of that," he said. "The King knows that you are merely staying there but you are meant only for me."

She nodded.

"Kunzite will be close by," he said. "If you are in trouble, send word to him through one of the guards outside the courtyard. They will not involve the King."

She nodded again.

He stepped towards her and wrapped his arms securely around her, pulling her to him tightly. His armor got in the way, but he ignored it as much as possible.

Serenity felt tears form in her eyes, but she fought with everything she was to keep them away. He didn't need to see her cry. It wasn't the last image of her she wanted him to see. She was to send him away, happy and confident. That was her job. Over the last week he had allowed her closer to him, but that didn't mean that there relationship was equal. No matter what she still belonged to him and she didn't mind it. She would do whatever she could to show him how much she had grown to love him without expecting anything in return.

"I'll come back," he said gently. "If you keep yourself out of sight then the King won't even remember you and you'll be safe. The war will be long and tedious, but it will end. I have not lost yet."

She nodded against his chest and then slowly pushed herself away from him. "They're waiting for you," she said breathlessly.

She thought that he would leave her in the room. They had already said goodbye this morning, and she didn't expect him to show affection to her in front of anyone else. But he took her hand softly and guided her with him out into the hallway where guards were waiting to escort them to the front. She walked with him through the marble hallways all the way to the front, and he never let go of her. No until they reached his horse.

Then he looked back at her, and with everyone watching her kissed her.

Serenity was left completely breathless and buzzing with his energy when he swiftly swooped up onto his giant horse and it leapt away from her. She watched him, wide eyed and afraid as he was quickly followed by a thundering heard of guards and soldiers.

He left her there, wondering why he had kissed her in front of everyone.

Raye came up quietly beside her. "Come on," she commanded softly. "It's easier of you turn and walk away."

Serenity followed her almost stupidly through the halls, feeling everyone's eyes on her. It was almost numbing, the affect he had on her. Why had he kissed her? What was he doing?

And then it came to her and she smiled. He was sort of marking his territory. He had claimed her as his in front of everyone, and now they would be stupid to go anywhere near her. It made her fill up with warmth.

"You have some sort of magic," Raye said after awhile.

Serenity just looked at her.

"I've know Endymion my whole life and he's never done anything like that before. To touch you now would be akin to treason."

She couldn't help but smile. If he was willing to do that, perhaps he did feel strongly towards her.

She shook herself. She couldn't start thinking like that. She knew that she had gone against her own rules and given into him, but she couldn't expect him to do the same to her. She belonged to him and he didn't like to share. But despite what she knew she should think, she continued to smile.

"Serenity, I need to ask a favor of you."

She stopped short as Raye spun to face her.

"Will you promise to keep it a secret?"

Serenity looked around. They were alone in the long hallways. "Of course, I give you my word."

Raye nodded. "I know you risked a great deal giving me that letter from Endymion. I believe that you will do almost anything to protect him."

Serenity nodded. "I will."

"That is what I'm counting on when I ask you to write to him and tell him you are leaving the ladies court."

"What?" Serenity said in shock.

Raye looked around quickly. "The King has seen that you are a favorite of his brothers and he is enraged by it. While Endymion is gone he plans to find a way to ruin you so that his brother will have nothing to come back to."

Serenity felt fear grip her.

"If you leave him there will be no reason for him to act."

"Where will I go?" She whispered.

"You will become one of my personal ladies. I will hire you to wait on me and help me with day to day tasks. Of course I will not really ask much of you, but the King might look away from you as a threat. We will of course hide all this from Endymion and he will think that you've left for good."

"You're not sure if it will work?"

"It will work if you break his heart."

"I can't do that," Serenity said. "I can't hurt him."

"At this moment you have no choice. During the war, I often go to visit a friend in the country so that I might be hidden from any violence. He doesn't know that we have messengers there who keep us informed of what's happening."

"Why can't I tell him that's where I'm going?"

"Because it won't work unless he's angry. The King has spies watching him. If you hurt him he'll surely show some emotion and the King will hear of it. Trust me Serenity, it's the only way you can remain safe. Go now and write him a letter, and make sure he'll believe it."

Serenity just looked at her for a moment.

"Make sure the letter is sent through normal means so that it might be intercepted."

"I can't….."

"You have no choice. You can make it up to him when this is all over."

Serenity swallowed. "What if I don't have the chance to….."

"Are you dense," Raye said cutting her off again. "He loves you."

"I can't expect that….."

"Oh stop," Raye said rolling her eyes. "Look, I understand that you can't live allowing yourself to think that one day some rich guy is going to fall in love with you and things will be happy, but you're not the same as everyone else. I'm telling you he loves you and I already know that you love him. You'll hurt him, and I know you don't want to, but he'll forgive you. When this is all over, I swear I'll explain everything to him and he'll forget all about it."

Serenity felt like the world was suddenly pressing down on her.

"If you love him you'll protect yourself so that he'll be able to see you again."

Slowly, Serenity nodded.

"Good, no go and write that letter. Don't mention where you're going or that I'm involved. If he knows that he'll think you're safe and he won't react."

Serenity nodded and Raye quickly turned and walked away.

She stood there for a moment listening to her heart beating madly in her chest. This couldn't be happening. She was afraid. She was afraid that if she did this, he wouldn't forgive her.

She walked slowly back towards the ladies courtyard, feeling shaky and weak. Every person she passed seemed to look at her, and it made her shrink away.

"You're looking awfully pale."

Serenity nearly jumped right out of her skin at the voice, and she quickly knelt down to the ground, bowing her head.

"I'm sorry your majesty, I was lost in thought."

"Thinking of my dear younger brother?" The King said walking towards her.

Serenity felt every muscle in her tense. "He has been very kind to me."

"It seems to me that he is attached to you."

He moved very close to her. In that moment she realized exactly what he might be willing to do to her. His eyes glittered at her, filled with a dark desire that was frightening. His presence was powerful and overwhelming.

She gulped in a ragged breath. "No more than any other servant your majesty."

"Stand up."

She quickly stood, keeping her eyes on the floor. He walked around her, looking her over. She could feel his eyes roam over her, taking in her entire form.

"You are very beautiful," he said softly.

Serenity felt her hands shaking. "Thank you your majesty."

"I'm hosting a party in a few weeks and I'd like you to attend," he said abruptly.

Her heart pounded. It wasn't really a request. "I will try your majesty."

He stopped and looked at her, with those cold eyes.

"You will try?" He asked slowly. "You are attached to him and think it would be unsuitable of you."

She could smell his scent. It was similar to his brothers, but for some reason it made her sick. His rich clothes and golden hoops seemed to glitter harshly at her.

"No your majesty. I simply do not know if I will be around when the party is to take place. I had……while the prince is gone, I have been offered a position of employment. He has not asked me to wait for him."

She could almost hear the excitement in the Kings voice. "You intend to leave him?"

She hated that the king thought she was betraying Endymion. She hated that she had to pretend to do so. But she was afraid in that moment. She was afraid that King would force himself on her and she would no longer be able to live completely devoted to him. She was afraid that he would see it as a betrayal and cast her aside. She was afraid that she would cause him even more pain than she already had to.

Every part of her was shaking. "If you are angry with me, I could stay with him."

"No, I am not angry with you. Will you tell him of your departure? You know he might be loath to lose you."

"I am sure he will find another woman to share his bed at night. I am no different then any other."

He laughed then; a deep smooth chucked that sent shivers coursing through him. "You will do better than I thought. Perhaps your new employment will be beneficial to us both."

She bowed. "I hope so your majesty."

His smile was dark.

"Do you not like him?"

"There is nothing wrong with him," she said vaguely.

"You are a lethal sort of woman." He seemed so impressed with her, so completely captivated by her. He reached out his hand to gently play with a piece of her hair. She could feel his warmth breath on the side of her face, tainting her. "Good, make sure you let him know of your plans. I will make sure he gets any message you wish to send him."

"Thank you your majesty," she said quickly.

She thought perhaps he would keep her there. Did he still intend to use her?

"I think that you could do more damage than I could," he said finally. "Good and make your preparations to leave."

He watched her as she quickly made her way down the hall, trying not to run. She could feel his eyes on her and the shadows that seemed to grip at her in his wake. It made her cold. She could almost feel the dark thoughts moving around in his mind, trying to stain her. She would be damned before she let him lay a hand on her. She shivered.

She found her way to her room quickly, passing the guards without greeting them for the first time since her stay. She felt sick. What she was doing was so beyond anything she had thought she would have to do. The idea that she was at this moment, betraying him. It was more than she could bear. She couldn't betray him. She had given him her word.

She sat down at her small desk, trying to collect herself. She breathed deeply, trying to calm down. There must be a way around this.

Her room seemed to quite down.

There was a way around this.

Slowly a plan formed in her mind. She didn't have to betray him for more than a couple of seconds. It wasn't necessary.

She pulled out her paper and quickly started to write.

When she was done, she hesitated only a moment before putting her note for Endymion into an envelope. Then a second.

She quickly went out to the guards and looked around the hall.

"I need this delivered," she said handing one of the guards a note. The guard bowed swiftly. "Of course my lady."

The look he gave her said he understood, and she was thankful that Endymion had been right about them.

She went back into the courtyard. She made a big show of sending Endymion his letter. First she handed off to the normal messenger saying loudly it was for Endymions eyes only, knowing they would signal its importance and the King would look at it. She tried to be as stand off-ish as possible, but she couldn't help but feel pain shoot through her at the thought of hurting him.

Then she went back to her room and quickly packed her few belongings. Within a few hours she was leaving the ladies courtyard with everyone watching her and being escorted to the Queens rooms as Raye had instructed.

She tried desperately not to cry as she helped pack the Queens belongings for their journey.

"Serenity, it's going to be right in the end," Raye said trying to comfort her. "Amy will come with us to the country, and Endymion won't have to worry about you. It'll make him more alert and focused on surviving the war."

She could only nod.

At least she was escaping the King.

End of Chapter Seven!

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