Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!

Serenity had taken to going for a daily walk in the morning in the Royal Gardens. She particularly loved the roses that bloomed there. She liked how lovely they were while they also possessed thorns. She felt that made them even more interesting.

She wandered the path and stopped short when she saw Endymion. She said, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to intrude. I will find another path."

He shook his head and replied, "You're not intruding. My mother loved this garden. It's good to see people enjoying it."

Serenity chuckled, "Let me guess. Your father had it planted for her, and he picked the roses because they reminded him of her."

"So, you have heard the story."

"I haven't. I would love to hear it though. From what I know of your father and your mother, it was an easy guess to make. I admire his love for her."

Endymion sighed, "He has never remarried. He truly loved her and holds onto their love."

"It's beautiful. My mother deeply loved my father. His going away almost destroyed her. She hasn't handled it as well as your father has. I feel like he gives me hope for love. I want the kind of love that endures, one that doesn't destroy me." she was pensive.

"I never thought of it that way."

She shrugged her shoulders, "There are things I have been forced to face lately." She squared her shoulders and looked up at him. "I won't shrink from them."

Two days later, Endymion was sure he was starting to have feelings for Serenity. He was fascinated with watching her. She had such beauty and grace, and yet, she didn't shy away from anything. He had also witnessed her kindness to everyone. He was coming to find her incredibly interesting to talk to as well.

As he was thinking about her, his prize stallion broke loose from his handler and barreled out of the barn. He ran to grab him. He knew that the horse would head for the field. That was where the mares would be right now. He threw out his hand to catch the swinging lead rope. He almost had it when the horse pivoted, jerked its head and switched directions on a dime. To his horror, he saw it barreling straight for Serenity. His jaw dropped as she smiled at the enormous stallion and held out her hand. The stallion broke down to a trot and then a walk. He went straight to her and nuzzled her hand. She reached out, grabbed his lead rope and then kissed his nose.

She walked the powerful horse on a loose lead line back to the groom who had come running out after him. He bowed low and thanked her profusely. He then noticed Endymion and paled. "Sorry, Your Highness. He jerked his head so hard, he ripped the lead rope right out of my hand."

The riding instructor had come out of the barn and clapped the groom on the back, "Don't worry. He isn't going to be mad at you. He knows that horse is always trying something."

Endymion nodded and said, "He's done that with me too. I can hardly blame you when the same thing happened to me."

Endymion internally cheered when Serenity looked at him with joy radiating from her. She then turned her smile to the groom and said, "You'll quickly learn that Prince Endymion is kind to his servants. You don't need to fear him like you did your previous master." Her assessment of him made him so proud. He was relieved that she saw him like that. He completely missed that she obviously knew the groom's history.

Endymion began watching her more closely when she interacted with people. She not only knew the servants' names, but she also knew about their lives. Yet, it still startled him one day when Andrei informed him that Serena had stopped in to check on the pregnant wife of one of the guards and ended up delivering the child as the woman's oldest child ran for the midwife. By the time she arrived, the woman was holding a healthy daughter. She and her husband ended up naming her Serenity.

Endymion began joining Serenity for her walks in the morning. He told her stories about his family and mainly his mother. It felt good to talk to her about his mother. He missed her and Serenity had a way of seeing the world and love that made him so grateful for the time he did have with his mom. He started letting go of the anger he had held onto ever since she died so young.

He discovered he loved her smiles and her open, easy manners. She seemed so happy and free most of the time. It was rare that she would let down her guard, and he would see that there was something deeply troubling her. He never asked what it was. He hoped she would volunteer the information herself. He could tell it was something he couldn't press her on.

As they would walk through the gardens, Serenity would greet each person they came across by name. He realized he was quickly learning them too. She would also ask about their families and any ailments she knew about.

One day, Endymion asked, "I noticed you are so close to everyone. Why didn't you bring a Lady's Maid? Surely one would follow you anywhere, including another kingdom."

She gave him a stunning smile. "She absolutely would have." She let out a happy sigh. "She's a Lady now. She married someone I deeply trust and I am so happy for them."

Endymion looked shocked, "A Lady."

"Yes, she's incredible. He couldn't help falling in love with her quickly. It only improved my opinion of him. They are quite well matched too. It doesn't hurt his position to be married to a woman that I trust so deeply." she said.

"That makes sense." Endymion thought about that for a bit. She was thrilled her Lady's Maid became a Lady herself. He hadn't ever heard of that before.

Serena smirked, "You do remember that your own mother was a farmer's daughter. It should hardly shock you."

Endymion looked up at her sharply, "Wait, who told you that? It's not true. Actually… I don't really know much about my mother's background."

Serenity rolled her eyes, "I am sure that your father's edict that no one mention her "inferior" birth has contributed to that. There were Lords and Ladies that were cruel to her at first. It must mean that no one dared mention it to you."

"Who told you that?" He sounded defensive.

She just shrugged, "Your father."

"My father? It seems I need to have a conversation with him very soon." He was obviously agitated.

Serenity paled, "I'm sorry. I really did think you knew already when I first mentioned it. Please, don't let it affect the view you have of your mother."

Endymion took a deep breath and shook his head, "You misunderstand me. I don't like that it was kept from me. That's it. It actually makes me even prouder of my father."

She gave him a big smile and squeezed his arm. "I wish I had gotten to see them together. They must have been inspiring."

"They were."

That day, Endymion went to his father's study. He knocked and said, "Father we need to talk about mother."

They spent the next two hours talking about her, how the King met her and fell in love with her. He learned that his father had fallen from his horse when he was off on a military campaign. A farmer's daughter found him, hid him and patched him up. She was beautiful and kind. His father quickly fell in love. He spent a year trying to convince her to marry him. She was nervous to become the wife and a Queen from such humble origins. Finally, love won out, and she agreed to marry him. He said it was one of the best days of his life when she agreed to be his wife.

Endymion reflected that it was the first actual conversation they had about his mother since her death. They mentioned her often, but they had discussed so many things about her that day including how much they each missed her. His father admitted that it was nice that Endymion had her eyes. It was like she was still looking at him sometimes.

The next day, Endymion had a bouquet of roses delivered to Serenity. He sent a note that read, "Thank you. Because of your encouragement, my father and I had our first real conversation about my mother."

She smiled and held the card to her chest. Something about it made her feel warm all over.