Chapter 3

Lunch Time Mishaps

"How do you eat this?" The way Serenity asked me this question, with her napkin covering her mouth discreetly and her eyes cast down at her plate with a wide, perplexed look, nearly caused me to laugh right there in front of all the lords and ladies present. The comedy of the situation was unknown to everyone else in the dining room so I couldn't embarrass her by letting my need for laughter get the better of me.

"The way you would eat anything else," I murmured softly and watched as she picked up her fork and hesitantly poked at the garnish along the side of the plate. This time I couldn't help but chuckle. "Except for that. That's just garnish."

"Oh," she whispered and went on to something else with her fork. She picked up and placed it daintily in her mouth and chewed. "Mmmm," she said appreciatively. "This is good." Then she leaned over ever so slightly towards me and whispered, "what is it?"

I smirked. "Do you really want to know?"

She stiffened and stopped chewing. "Maybe not," she replied quickly as soon as she swallowed. "At least not for now." We smiled at each other and continued eating. It actually wasn't anything bad, just duck, but clearly it was something that they didn't enjoy on the Moon.

I looked out over the people around the long table. They were the residence of the castle, lords, ladies, chamberlains, most of whom had been given or rented rooms so that they could be close to court. Many of them owned homes in the city and elsewhere but some of them didn't.

My gaze locked with a pair of intense green eyes. I nearly choked. I had completely forgotten about her.

Who is 'her'? 'Her' is Lady Anne, one of the ladies of court, daughter of one of the richest families in the city. She and her brother, Alan, had chambers in the castle as well as a home in the city. I knew she had her heart set on me, although I wasn't sure if was on me or the titles and riches that came along with me. At this moment she had a look in her eyes that accused me of betraying her, despite the fact that she and I had never courted and I had never given any positive responses to her advances.

I looked away from her and continued my visual trek around the room. Finally I came back to the gentle creature next to me and I couldn't resist but give a gentle tug on our heart string. Serenity took in a sharp breath and her eyes widened slightly. My own heart was now beating frantically in my chest, and again a smile tugged at my lips. She looked at me and blinked rapidly. I couldn't tell if she was angry or not. Then she smiled, returned her gaze to her plate, and continued eating.

Lunch ended eventually and after a few speeches from a few of the Lords and Chamberlains welcoming the Princess to the Earth and each describing how they hoped she would be happy here and have a long prosperous life, etc, etc, it was decided that whoever wished to would go for a walk in the gardens. I knew that everyone would come. No one would miss the opportunity to speak with the royal family and hopefully find more favor in my mother and father's eyes.

I led Serenity to the gardens along with Motoki and Luna. Mother and father were strolling with their Head Chancellor, discussing gossip that they missed while on the Moon. Various small groups hovered everywhere, hoping to get the chance to join in on a conversation with mother and father or Serenity and me. Fortunately Motoki was babbling on about the gardens and the various flowers that resided there and kept us walking so there was really no opportunity for someone to approach us.

Serenity had a wide-eyes curiosity that I found adorable. The gardens of the Moon were beautiful but there weren't very many colors. Here, though, Serenity was being introduced to a pallet of vibrant and striking hues, complimentary shades swirling around her, creating a soothing and refreshing atmosphere.

"How many types of flowers are there?" she asked when Motoki paused to catch his breath.

"Hundreds," I told her, deciding to give Motoki's tongue a rest. "In your whole life you will probably not be able to name them all."

"They're beautiful," Serenity breathed out. "They smell so wonderful too."

I nodded. "I will have to take you through here sometime just to show you the sweetest smelling ones," I offered and was rewarded with a smile. There was a moment where none of us said anything and just soaked in the beauty of the surroundings. Serenity was right about the smell. We were just passing by some beds of tiger lilies and their odor really was overpowering.

"Prince Endymion," a voice from behind us cooed, causing us to stop and turn around. I sighed inwardly when I saw Anne and Lady Naru heading towards us. "It's wonderful to see your Grace again."

Motoki cleared his throat as the two reached us. "Princess Serenity, please allow me to introduce Lady Anne and Lady Naru. Both of them reside here in the castle. Ladies, her royal highness Princess Serenity." Both Anne and Naru curtsied, although Anne's was a bit faster than it should have been.

"You're Grace, it's really nice to finally be able to make your acquaintance," Naru said cheerful as she rose from her deep curtsy. She was a very kind girl and I knew she was very good friends with Motoki, although he denied there being anything between them other than friendship.

"Your Highness, welcome to the Earth," Anne said with a sweet voice. It dripped with sugar and honey, so artificially sweet it nearly made me gag. What was wrong with her, usually she was at least normal.

Serenity curtsied in return. "Thank you for your kind welcome," she replied. "I'm in love with your planet already."

"Oh, you're going to love it here," Naru chirped. "It's so beautiful all year round. Even in the winter." We began walking again. Naru was chattering with Serenity and Anne fell into step beside me. I found myself separated from Serenity by Naru, with Motoki on the other side of Serenity along with Luna. It wasn't a scenario which I particularly liked since it left Anne on the other side of me and I wasn't in the frame of mind to begin a conversation with her.

"I assume you had a nice trip, Endymion?" Anne asked quietly.

I clenched my jaw momentarily before answering. "Yes, it was. The Moon has many wonders that I never knew of," I replied, casting a glance toward Serenity, a glance which Anne failed to catch.

"Everything must have been a tad dull there, no? There is no color on the moon, everything is so...monotone." I didn't miss how Anne had stressed the word 'everything.'

"No, actually. The beauty there doesn't depend on the vibrance and spice of color. Everything has a simple, clean beauty to it, a tranquil and serene air. It reminded me of a clean, crisp winters day, where everything is beautiful even though it is covered in a blanket of white, colorless snow."

"Hmm, yes, I suppose that one could handle such beauty for a while but then one does start to desire the other seasons to put a bit of excitement back in life. Who doesn't enjoy the warmth of the sun after a long, harsh winter."

"It all depends on how you look at it, Lady Anne. The Moon is anything but harsh."

"Please, I have told you before, you need not call me 'Lady' Anne. Just Anne will do." I mentally growled at her, but said nothing in response. "Well," she continued when she saw I was saying nothing. "You did manage to find a lovely wife there. She really is a sweet little thing."

Her words were kind but her tone did not convey the same feeling. Still, I would play along with her game of gallantry. "Yes, she really is a beautiful creature. Very kind, too, and talented."

"Yes, she does look like she could be too kind for her own good."

"You can never be too kind, Lady Anne," I replied. She frowned at the formal acknowledgment but did not dare contradict me a second time.

"I don't mean that she is too kind, do not think that my Lord. Rather, what I mean is that she is kind to the point where people could take advantage of her. She doesn't seem like the kind of girl to give no for an answer."

The double meaning not missed, I shook my head. "Oh no, you are mistaken in that. She has great fire in her when she needs it and she can most definitely say no when she wants to."

Anne was about to reply but Naru cut in. "Anne, we have to go and show Princess Serenity the Ladies' Garden. You have to admit it's the most beautiful garden on the planet."

I looked at Serenity who looked at me pleadingly. "Do you mind?" she asked.

"Go," I said cheerfully. The Ladies Garden was a place I didn't mind her going without me, since it was just that; a ladies garden. Mother had set it up years before as an escape for ladies from their men, just so that they could go and gossip amongst themselves; not that they would ever admit that they were gossiping.

Naru took Serenity by the arm and started to lead her away from Motoki and me. Anne took Serenity's other arm and Luna followed behind. All three woman chattered as they walked and I was happy to see that Anne was being civil with Serenity at least, even a little friendly. Perhaps things wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Well, so far so good," Motoki said, taking my attention from Serenity.

"Yes, so far. I'm worried that it's only a matter of when a man happens to accidently touch her, not if."

Motoki nodded. "I know what you mean, it's a difficult thing to guess at. I just hope that by that time she'll be a little more comfortable with you so she can turn to you for comfort."

I grinned. "That would be nice." I glanced back down the path where Naru, Anne, Luna and Serenity had disappeared. They were out of sight and all I could do was sigh as I looked back at Motoki. "So, how big is this ball tomorrow night supposed to be?"

Motoki shrugged his shoulders. "Not too big. I made sure that the hall wouldn't be filled to capacity since that would probably kill the Princess if she just looked in. I suggest that the two of you get there early and sit with your parents so that the hall will fill gradually and then it won't be such a big shock as if you came and there was already a large crowd."

"Good idea," I replied. "I'll make sure she's ready in time." As soon as I said those words I felt a tug on my heart. It was soft but it sent my heart slamming against my ribs. Suddenly there came another tug, this one more urgent. The thread glimmered in the air and I suddenly got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I started jogging down the path where Serenity had gone, following our thread.

"Endymion, wait, where are you going?" Motoki called out as he began to run after me.

"Serenity needs me," I barked over my shoulder and picked up my pace. The tugs got more and more demanding and then the string went taught and glowed bright. I started to sprint and the next corner I rounded brought with it a sight that filled me with dread. Serenity was crouched on the ground, crying hysterically, with Luna kneeling next to her holding her in her arms. Naru was trying to comfort her and Anna crouching next to her as well using one hand to balance herself and the other to motion for her brother to stand back. Anne's eyes darted to me when she saw me approaching. I could see what looked like genuine fear in them but I didn't have time to deal with her at the moment. Serenity needed me.

I crouched down next to Luna who was holding the sobbing Serenity to her chest. "What happened?" I asked quickly, trying to talk over Serenity's sobs.

"I don't know," Naru cried out without giving Luna a chance to explain anything to me. "We were walking and met up with Lord Alan and started talking to him and when we introduced him to Princess Serenity she just broke down and started crying!" I felt bad for the girl, she probably hadn't noticed a faint brush of a hand, a light touch, something that would set Serenity off.

"Lord Alan tried to kiss Serenity's hand," Luna murmured as she rubbed Serenity's back.

"My Lord, I swear, I did nothing to harm your Lady," Alan said hurriedly.

I waved his comment aside for the time being. "We will discuss this later, Lord Allan, the fault is not yours probably." At least that managed to silence both him and Naru. I looked at Luna who was staring at me helplessly. With a sigh I wrapped my arms around Serenity, hoping that the action would not cause her hysteria to rise. Surprisingly, it didn't. I scooped her up and she buried her face in my chest, still sobbing. Luna stood up too, as did Naru and Anne.

"Motoki, please explain things to Lord Alan since I hope to god he has a good excuse, then report to me in Serenity's room," I ordered before starting a fast paced walk towards the castle. "Luna, follow me," I called and she followed quite willingly. I was glad to be on my own land now since I knew all the shortcuts and doorways in the palace. I managed to lead us to Serenity's room and all the while be only seen by a few servants and guards, whom I knew had all been informed of Serenity's condition. They moved out of the way and allowed us quick passage. I ordered one maid to bring some wine, water and food up to Serenity's room, but that was all I did until we reached her door.

Luna opened the door for me and I quickly lay Serenity on the bed. She still clung to my shoulders which made it almost impossible for me to let go. "Serenity, please, you have to let go," I murmured gently in her ear, which didn't seem to work. I gave a sharp tug on the thread which finally caused her to snap out of her trance. Her sobbing stopped and she snapped her head away from my chest and stared up at me. Her tear streaked face and disheveled hair was almost comical but the look in her eyes was anything but funny. Through those blue orbs flashed fear and pain, confusion and disbelief. She let go of my shoulders and pushed me away, causing me to stumble backwards a little and her to fall onto her bed.

"I told you not to touch me, you promised!" she shrieked, obviously oblivious to the fact I had carried her all the way to her room.

I regained my footing and shot her an apologetic look. "Serenity, I'm sorry, but-"

"No! You promised!" she screamed and hurled a pillow at me, one which I managed to catch quite easily.

"Serenity, please," I tried to calm her before she found other, more painful, objects to hurtle at me. "It's not what you think!"

"Get out!" she cried, "Get out now!"

"Go," Luna whispered urgently, "I'll explain things to her!"

Not knowing what else to do, I did as Luna instructed and quickly took my leave. Once in the sanctuary of the hallway I let out a shaky breath. I wanted to kill Alan at that moment, although I knew he probably had not know about Serenity's tactophobia. He should have but he could have been abroad when Motoki was giving instructions to everyone about Serenity's arrival. Still, I wanted to murder the bloody bastard.I took in another slow, shaky breath. No, he wasn't that, but at the moment it sure felt like it.

I strolled to my room slowly and once inside I went onto the balcony. The gentle breeze cooled my face as I leaned against the marble railing, wondering what I could do to ease her anger. She was angry at me, she had made that very clear. I only hoped that Luna would be able to reason with her.

I raked my fingers through my hair. "Is she all right?" a voice from behind me asked me.

"Luna is speaking with her," I said to Motoki as he leaned on the railing next to me. "Did you explain everything to them?"

"Yes. Alan wishes to express his apologies to both you and the Princess himself. He just arrived back home a few hours ago from a trip overseas. Lady Anne told me to send her apologies for her brother and Naru instructed that I send word as soon as Princess Serenity will accept visits." Motoki slumped his head down.

I smiled a little. Perhaps Naru would prove to be a new friend for Serenity. "Thank you, Motoki."

"No problem." He looked at me with the eyes of a man who just realized the task I had before me. Now he had seen first hand just how untouchable my princess was and now he understood why it would be so hard to protect her. So what would happen next? I would go and see Serenity, just as soon as she had calmed down and was not out to assassinate me.

Disclaimer

I do not own the rights to Sailor Moon or any of the characters. That honour belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, and I am simply a lowly author who can use her characters for my plots.