A/N- Here's somewhat of a long chapter for you guys. I know this took longer than you guys would have liked and actually what I liked, but some stuff happened this week that sort of stopped me from writing for a few days. Everything's back to normal though so we're all good to restart the story!

Serenity05- Glad you liked it! To tell you I thought the relationship was rushed just in the respect to their discovery of the feelings. I'm happy to know it wasn't too rushed though.

Supersaiyanx- Glad you liked it.

InuYashaJunkie- Thanks

katie-baby-3X7-21- It's alright to get into the stories. I know when I read them I do the same thing. I'm not planning to stop anytime soon, so you don't have to worry.

cosmoscrystal96- I'm not a feminist where the guy has to do everything first (though I have found that chivalry has not died). Plus she did have something to tell him… I wasn't going to make her lie.

Lady Tristana Rogue- Now you can find out what happens next!

Sunny38- Glad you liked it! Time to read more!

Melody87- Who said the others had to find out right away?

Silver Moon Goddess1- Thanks!

"Serena! Where did Darien drag you off to? We didn't even get to say hi!" Lita said when she finally found Serena in the library. The other girls were closely following her.

"He took me to the garden to talk. I needed to tell him something." Serena explained.

"What did you talk about?" Mina asked, ready to start another round of gossip. She sat down on the chaise across from Serena and waited for Serena to reply.

"I would rather not say right now." Serena said.

"What? Why not? Aw come on Serena!" Mina begged.

"Mina stop it. If she does not want to talk about it then she does not have to." Ami said, coming to Serena's rescue.

"Ya Mina, we can always get it out of Darien. Or have one of the guys do it for us." Rei added. Serena just sighed and nodded her head.

"I'm sorry to cut this short, but it has been a long ride here and I'm quite tired. I will see you all tomorrow morning." Serena said as she got up. She set the book she had been trying to read down, gave each girl a huge, and walked out of the room.

"What do you think she talked to Darien about?" Mina asked Rei.

"I have no clue. You want to get Mal and Jed on it?"

"You talk to Jed tonight after dinner."

"You do the same with Mal." Both girls smiled and rejoined their other two friends who were having a quiet and polite conversation about anything other than Serena and Darien's secret conversation.

"Charles, have you sent my mother a letter yet?" Serena asked as she walked into the barracks where most of the army was staying. Charles was at a desk overlooking some maps and other things that Jadeite had provided him with.

"Not yet. Do you intend to send something as well?" Charles asked.

"Yes, I haven't written it yet so don't send the bird back quite yet alright?" Serena asked.

"Of course. Miss Serena, when the fighting takes place you will be in the castle, protected and safe, won't you?" Charles asked.

"Of course! I promised my mother."

"Yes, well you also promised her you wouldn't attend Darien's ball, but if I'm correct, you did. Plus if you were planning to stay in the castle, then why did you bring your sword?" Charles asked. He bent down and picked up a sword that had a phoenix carved into the handle.

"Um, well I can never have too much protection." Serena laughed nervously.

"Serena, you will not fight. I will place a guard in your room if I have to, but you will not fight!" Charles exclaimed.

"I know, I won't fight." Serena whispered. "Please, don't send the bird back until I return." Charles nodded and Serena left the barracks and made her way back to the castle.

She was on the way to her room when a hand shot out of the shadows and grabbed her. It pulled her into a strong body before lips covered her mouth. Serena was about to scream and fight before she realized that there was something oddly familiar about the lips that were assaulting hers. Her arms glided up and wrapped themselves at the base of the neck of her assailant, or as she thought, her love.

"I missed you. Where did you just come from?" Darien whispered when he finally broke away.

"I missed you too. I was talking to Charles for a bit." Serena said. She tried to kiss Darien again, but Darien's height advantage stopped her from reaching her goal. "Darien, one more kiss?"

"Not here, let's go to the library."

"But your sister and the other girls are in there still! They were trying to get me to tell them about our conversation in the gardens."

"And did you tell them?" Darien asked.

"No, I did not think it was the right time and I wanted you there with me when I told them." Serena said. "So let's not go to the library please."

"I was not going to take you to that library anyways. I was going to take you to my private one. I've always been an avid reader so after I finished all the books in the library I started my own collection. I have some new additions though. These new books are usually about mystical characters such as vampires, shape shifters, werewolves, and phoenixes for example." Darien explained. He led Serenity down the hall that held most of the living quarters and pressed a hand to one of the walls. The wall clicked open and a secret passageway was revealed.

"Secret passageways?" Serena asked.

"Yes, there are many in the castle. My father had them built in case the castle came under attack. Only my sister, the generals, and the other girls know about them. They don't know where they go… well Malachite does, but he's the only one." Darien explained.

"It was a good idea. Your father must have been a very smart man." Serena said.

"He was. He was able to avoid most wars by talking. He was the one who implemented the winter ball for all the lands. I'm just sorry I could not live up to that. It seems my time on the throne has been riddled by wars that never seem to end. I'm worried that unlike my father I might actually have to use these tunnels."

"It isn't your entire fault Darien. The people I live with back home and I are very aware of Diamond and is greedy ways. No amount of reasoning could stop him once he got an idea in his head." Serena said. Darien smiled down sadly at her and nodded his head.

"Yes, but let us hope this war is over soon."

"We can always hope." Serena whispered. She gave Darien a hug, which he returned, and the pair just stood there for what seemed like ours, but was really only a few minutes. When Darien broke the embrace he pushed a door that was behind Serena. The door opened to reveal a large library with what seemed to be no way in or out.

"There are four doors into this library. They come from every direction." Darien said. He continued on to show Serena the doors. There was a door behind a portrait of Darien and his parents, another behind a wall of books, another behind a mirror, which he showed Serena was really a two way mirror, and the final one which they had come out of was what looked like an ordinary wall.

"Did you or your father design all of these?" Serena asked.

"I designed these doors and passageways. There are many others throughout the castle that either my father or I designed." Darien said.

"I know you don't share them with a lot of people considering that only you and Malachite know how to navigate through the walls, but could you show me sometime?" Serena asked.

"I will. My father showed my mother the tunnels when they first declared their love for each other. I find that I wish to follow in that way as well." Darien said. He bent down and captured Serena's lips for a quick kiss before he led her over to a half filled shelf.

"Phoenixes: The Truth Behind the Legend, Mystical Creatures, The Encyclopedia of World Legends, World Mythology, The Creatures of the Shadows, Mystical Creatures: The Past, The Present, and The Future. Darien, you have quite a few books about me and my friends." Serena said.

"You have friends who are mystical as well?" Darien asked.

"Yes, my mother and I are the last of the phoenixes currently, but our village is made up of werewolves, vampires, shifters, and any other mystical creature you can think of." Serena explained. "The owl that brought you those letters the first time, do you remember her?" Darien nodded his head and Serena continued. "That was my friend Molly. She's a shifter. Her father is Lord Charles who is also a shifter."

"The army?"

"Is made up of those who wish to fight. They are also the only ones that can look like humans. The mermen can not leave their ponds, lakes, and rivers, so they stay home guarding our home from the waters. The centaurs guard our village still along with the unicorns. The angels stay and guard the village, even though they can hide their wings and look mortal, because they do not wish to see blood unless they have to." Serena explained.

"It was thought all those races were killed years ago. What about elves and dwarves?" Darien asked.

"You have done your reading." Serena laughed. "There were enough elves to create their own village, but they stay close to us. It is only an hour's ride to their home. It is quite beautiful as well. The dwarves, though there were few, retreated to the mountains. They like their caves and jewels. Though again, the entrance might be hidden from men, but is close to our home so we can find it easily."

"Why did your races go into hiding? If your villages are able to send warriors why could they not fight?" Darien asked. The questions that had developed since Serena started explaining everything to him came spewing out of his mouth.

"The reason why we hide is another story for another time. We are able to send help to you, yes, but it has been years since we have needed to fight. We have been able to build up an army. We were weak when we went into hiding because we were caught by surprise. Those who did fight to protect their families died." Serena whispered the last part. Darien could barely catch it, but was able to piece the words together.

"Your father and brother?" Darien asked. Serena nodded sadly as a tear escaped the confines of her eye. Before Serena was able to wipe the tear away Darien did it for her with his thumb as he held her cheek.

"We should be getting back. Rei and the others will be wondering where we went and I will probably have to answer to some of their questions." Serena said. Darien nodded and led her to the door behind the mirror.

"Here's your first lesson to get through the halls. The doors have letters on the corner of all the intersections. They are the directions. If you know what direction you want to go, then it's easy to find." Darien explained. Serena nodded and studied one of the cross sections that they had come upon. Sure enough there were carvings expressing the four directions.

"You made it somewhat easier on people traveling in the tunnels. Though they are high up and small." Serena said. She tried to reach on with her hand, but was still a good foot or so short.

"It is so if someone who is not supposed to be in here is trying to find their way, they will not see them." Darien said. "Did you see them on our way to the library?"

"No, but I was not really looking and I was sort of distracted."

"So you were." Darien agreed. He continued onto their journey until they came to aa deserted council room. "My sister and the others should be getting ready for dinner, you should as well. I will see you then." Darien kissed Serena goodbye before leaving the council room and Serena. Serena soon followed and found her way back to her room. She immediately set out to writing her note to her mother.

Mother

I hope you are not worrying too much. I know you will until I return home, but I don't want you worrying enough to get sick. I am fine in the confines of the castle. Charles and the army are in the barracks close to the castle and there are soldiers everywhere in the castle. Be assured that I have safe. I am sure Charles will tell you this in his report to you, but it is King Diamond that is attacking Darien. The men have found a new reason to fight. If not to help the men that they said they would help, they now wish to fight for the past, for those who were not as lucky as we were. I am following your request and I will be staying in the castle while the fighting is going on. Darien has shown me secret passages that I will hopefully be able to navigate if needed.

With Love Always,

Your Daughter,

Serenity

P.S.- He returns my love.

Serena quickly folded the note and put it in an envelope. She took off her ring and poured wax to seal her letter before pressing her family's symbol, a phoenix of course, into the cooling wax. Serenity found a suitable dress for the night's dinner before picking up the letter and returning to the barracks.

"Charles, is your letter ready?" Serena asked. Charles was talking to Alec and another officer when Serena entered.

"It is." Charles said. He picked up his envelope that had a blank seal.

"Good, here's mine. If you can send these tonight it would be for the best." Serena said. Charles nodded and took Serenity's letter before giving them to the other officer and giving him orders to send one of the eagles. "Please tell me you did not tell my mother about my sword."

"I did not." Charles said.

"Good, if I can retrieve it tomorrow? I would like to have it with me." Serena said. Charles looked at her skeptically before nodding his head.

"I will be training the men in one of the fields on the other side of the castle. You know where your sword is." Charles said. Serena smiled and said her thanks before rushing out of the door. "She is planning something."

"You never know my lord. She is sometimes as innocent as she seems." Alec said. "She was not planning to come here when she went to visit her father and brother's graves."

"But she had not met Darien or the other yet." Charles said. "Let us hope you are right. Go get a good night's rest. Diamond has always liked to surprise everyone. Let us hope we can get one night's rest before anything happens."

"Yes my lord." Alec said. He bowed his head before leaving to find his sleeping quarters.

Dinner was mostly, an uneventful event. Rei and the girls tried to pry information out of both Darien and Serena, but both parties played innocent. Rei was fuming but the time that the food was served. Darien was thinking it was one of the funniest things ever because Rei made it a point to know everything that was happening. Jadeite thought it was exactly the opposite because he'd be listening to Rei's tantrum that night.

After dinner the girls retreated to the garden as always. Rei and Mina had given up on trying to pry information from Serena so they went on to talk about the gossip of the town. Serena asked about Rita and Lita told her that Rita was doing well; she was just busy with the kids. Serena made a mental note to go visit Rita the next day. Soon the girls were joined by their counter parts. Serena and Darien went off together and Rei tried to drag Jadeite in the same direction, but he stopped her with a kiss that distracted her long enough for the new couple to get away.

The next morning there was a council between Darien, his generals, the generals from other nations and some of the men Serena had brought. The girls were all in the library reading or writing so Serena, bored out of her mind, decided to go see Rita and her family. Rita welcomed Serena in and Serena met her son and daughter as well as Rita's mother. They spent the day, talking and caring for the kids. Serena was even dragged into a game of lay sword fighting by Andrew Jr. who Rita called Drew. That evening Rita and Serena returned to the castle for dinner, a surprise for Andrew who did not think Rita would be back in the castle for another day or so.

Before they had to get ready for dinner Darien showed Serena more of the tunnels. "Here's your second lesson about the tunnels. Above each door there are numbers. Each room as a number. The master room, my room, is number one. There is a map of all of the rooms and their numbers in my library that you can look out."

"What is my number?" Serena asked.

"I believe you are in room 14." Darien said. Again they traveled through the secret passages until they had to get ready for dinner.

Unlike the night before, Serena and Darien were not interrogated for information. Rei and Mina figured when the time was right Darien and Serena would tell them. Of course they had come to this conclusion after Malachite and Jadeite had talked to them. Before everyone was able to go out to the gardens or just talk inside, a warning alarm was set off. Everyone was surprised and they were all soon up to find out what was happening.

"Diamond has attacked!"