A/N- Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. I was gonna have it up sooner, but I went to San Diego for a couple days and couldn't update. I did work on the chapter though so I could update almost as soon as I got back. So here it is and I hope you guys like it!
WitchyWiccan- Yep, uh-o.
moonchild08- Hm…good guess.
Dertupio- Here's the next chapter and Selene and Serena have their small face off.
Sunny38- They are close, but pretty much every family has its problems and Serena and her mom are no different.
- Well, I'm not quitting and if you don't like it then you shouldn't be reading it.
cosmoscrystal96- Good to know I'm brewing up something good.
Silver Moon Goddess1- Thanks!
Melody87- Well I had to have a jealous person somewhere. Ann might make an appearance or two, but nothing too big.
Lady Tristana Rogue- Thanks for the review! Now you can see what happens next!
It was the day after the ball and Serena and Tristan were getting ready to leave. They had their things back into their traveling packs and were waiting upon the horses. Their friends were surrounding them and they were having a light conversation, trying to hold off on the goodbye. "Will you come back to see us?" Mina asked looking hopeful.
"I hope so. I will try and get on good terms with mother so she might allow me to return, but then it might be with more of an entourage." Serena explained. "I wish you could come visit us, but outsiders are strictly forbidden."
"You never told us why that is." Malachite commented.
"We like the way our village is now and many also believe that the elders are scared of change, mainly change that could bring war and death." Tristan explained.
"Keep in touch then. Is there any way we can contact you?" Lita asked.
"You can send something back with the owl or the other birds I might send. If it's the owl just be quick. If it is any of the other birds try to have a letter or two ready the next day." Serena explained. The stable boys led the horses around to the front of the palace steps, with the saddles and saddle bags ready for the journey. Serena looked down at them and then back at her friends. The groups said their goodbyes, but Serena lingered on Darien, not knowing what exactly to say to him. "I don't want this to be goodbye." She whispered.
"Neither do I, but you have your duty, your village, and your mother to return to. Just make sure it does not take another year to come back." Darien replied. Serena nodded sadly and suddenly threw her arms around Darien and gave him a hug. Their friends smiled at the event while other onlookers who did not know what went on between the two gasped at the girl's boldness. Darien did not care though and returned the hug, bringing Serena closer to his body.
"Be safe in this war, I do not want to find out that you are dead." Serena said.
"I will be. Have a safe journey." Darien said. He kissed her forehead and Serena slowly backed away. Her hand lingered on Darien's until she was forced to walk to her horse and mount him.
"Thank you again, for everything!" Serena yelled as she started to trot out of the city. She waved one last time before she gripped the horse's reigns and took off on a canter.
"She'll be back." Rita said. She had been quiet most of the time and just liked watching and listening to everything. Everyone nodded and had sad smiles. "She wanted to come see my kids. I know she'll be back to see them."
Serena and Tristan traveled far for their first day. They reached the valley where they had seen the soldiers before and were getting ready to make the run on the edge. "Serena, we need to be careful. We do not know where they've moved in two days." Tristan said quietly. Serena just nodded quietly and walked her horse to the forest's edge. The army was closer to the edge of the valley, but not because they've moved, but because they have had more people come.
"They're recruiting and building up their forces to attack." Serenity gasped. "Darien needs to be warned!" Tristan grabbed her horse's reigns before Serena could turn around and rush back to Darien.
"He will be. We will send one of the birds to with a note as soon as we get home. I talked to Darien and his generals and we believed that King Diamond could be here to build up his forces. It will not be a surprise, but it will be nice to have knowledge of this event before the war." Tristan said. Serena just nodded and took a breath before she kicked her horse and flew out of the forest, shortly followed by Tristan. They rushed past the camp and to the safety on the mountain.
"What was that?" A soldier asked.
"What was what?" His comrade asked walking over.
"I thought I saw something rushing over near the far edge of the valley." The first man explained.
"You've been drinking too much and the shadows are probably playing tricks on you." His comrade said.
"Should I tell Diamond? He likes knowing about every single thing that's going on."
"No, don't worry about it. Just forget about it."
"Whatever you say."
"Do you think they saw us?" Serena asked Tristan. They had slowed down once they were far enough up the mountain that they were sure the men couldn't see them and probably weren't chasing them.
"Well there's no one following us so let's assume no." Tristan said. "Do you want to travel through the night or do you want to camp?"
"I want to get home as soon as I can. The sooner I can get home the sooner we can stop living this lie." Serena said. Tristan nodded and they resumed their trotting in the forest. They eventually stopped and watered their horses before starting back once more.
When the pair arrived back at the village the town was asleep. There were no candles or torches flickering in windows and everything as silent. Tristan smiled and took Serena's horse before saying his goodbye and leading the horses back to his family's barn. Serena watched him leave and then took a breath before entering her home. She quietly walked up the stairs, missing the 4th and 9th steps because she knew those creaked. When she got into her room the bed was made with no one sleeping in it. Serena assumed that Molly had gone home for the night so she quickly changed into her nightgown and slipped into bed.
"I did not know you were such an expert at escaping and a mastermind." Selene's voice said coming from the shadows. Serena shot up straight in bed and looked over to where the voice came from. Her mother sat in the old rocking chair, hidden in the shadows of the door.
"Mama…"
"I don't want to hear it. You disobeyed me. You could have been attacked, injured, kidnapped, or even killed!"
"Tristan was with me."
"There is a war going on out there Serena if you did not notice! Tristan could not take all those men if they decided they wanted you!" Selene said.
"Mom, we're fine. Tristan's home, I'm home, Molly's probably home, you're home, everyone's fine." Serena tried to reason.
"But what if something happened to you? Or to Tristan? How would we know? You did not leave a note of any kind and had Molly shift to look like you."
"Yes mom."
"We will talk about your punishment tomorrow. We'll see if going to this ball was really worth all this trouble. If your father or brother had been here…"
"Well they aren't so don't even think it!" Serena yelled. "And any punishment you give me will be worth going to the ball and fulfilling my promise to my friends. You want to know what happened? I danced with the king and had fun! I talked with my friends! Tristan talked to the king and his generals! And then we slept in our own rooms. We had breakfast with them and then left after taking a few minutes to say good bye! It was one of the hardest goodbyes ever!"
"One of the hardest goodbyes hm? I've already had to say goodbye to your brother and father. The hardest goodbye would be saying goodbye to you as well. I wouold ot be able to handle that one. Why is this one so hard?"
"Because I love Darien!" Serena yelled. She gasped and put her hands over her mouth and watched as her mother's eyes widened.
"You love the man?"
"Yes mama…" Selene just nodded before she got up and quietly walked out of the room. Not wanting to say any more to her daughter. Her head was so tired already from worrying about her daughter's well being and now her proclamation of love to a man who might not return it. Both women of the phoenix household went to sleep, tired, confused, and not knowing where to go after their last confrontation.