A/N- Hey guys! So here's the next chapter. I know a lot of you are thinking there's going to be some Serena-Diamond action going on, but not yet. It's coming though! Hope you guys like this chapter!
Eternally Sailor Moon- Thank you! Get ready cause you get to read more!
Silver Moon Goddess1- Thanks!
Zoey89- I'm always more than happy to update. It just takes me a little while to write the next chapter sometimes.
Lady Tristana Rogue- Ya I know. Don't worry, Serena's backbone and fighting skills will be coming in handy soon. Not in this chapter, but in some of the upcoming places.
cosmoscrystal96- Yup your right… all will be revealed in time… or upcoming chapters.
Sunny38- It will be interesting, but it isn't going to happen in this chapter, sorry! It's going to be coming up though.
"King Darien!" Someone shouted from the post where Darien was standing over looking the battle. Darien turned to see Tristan racing up to where he was standing.
"What is it Tristan? Shouldn't you be out fighting?" Darien asked.
"Yes my lord, I should be, but I went back to the castle to check up on everyone." Tristan said.
"Why? I thought Lord Charles sent another to do that." Darien said, worry etching its way into his voice.
"Aye, he did. He sent Luscious to go find the girls and make sure they were alright. Luscious was supposed to return to the battle and report back to Lord Charles, but he did not return for many hours so I was sent to check up on him and the others."
"Are they alright? Was there anyone in the castle that needed to be taken care of?"
"There were two men from Diamond's army, but I took care of them. They had Serena when I arrived, but like I said, they were taken care of." Tristan explained. "Serena retrieved her sword before returning to where she was staying with the others. My lord, they are staying in a hidden library. I believe you know the one I am talking about?" Darien nodded and Tristan continued. "Everyone is fine. They are anxious for our return and wish to be notified as soon as we are back. Luscious is with them because he was injured on his way there and so Serena would not let him return."
"Thank you for the report. You may go back to where you are needed. I'm sure Lord Charles would also like to hear this update." Tristan bowed his head before turning and running off to where his commander was. Darien looked back at the battle field and noticed that the men under his control were in the last stage of the final push.
"Let's go help them push Diamond's men back!" Darien yelled to the few men who were standing with him. They all nodded and ran over to where the fight was. They could hear the calls of retreat coming from the commanders. Of course Diamond had yet to appear in the battle and Darien knew when he did appear, that would be the real fight.
By the time that the survivors of Diamond's force had retreated far enough that Darien's men were not fighting them Darien and the others who had followed him into the battle at the last moments were covered in a mixture of blood and sweat. The men were going through the bodies of the field, kicking the bodies of the enemy and carrying their fallen comrades to a place where they could have a proper burial.
"King Darien, I suggest that we go back to the castle and come up with a plan for the next attack." King Steven, one of Darien's allies, said as he came up behind Darien.
"I agree, gather your men and tell them to return and get some food and rest." Darien said. Steven nodded and went to find the men he had come with. Darien quickly had other messengers sent to tell the other armies the same message and soon the bloody field was a barren waste land, riddled with dead bodies, rivers of the blood, and the somber mood of death.
"Darien, any news of the girls?" Jadeite asked coming up to walk with Darien. Malachite, Zoicite, and Nephrite were with him.
"They are safe in a secret room I had built a long time ago. Serena showed them where to go and one of the men that came with Serena went with them to protect them." Darien explained. "Tristan came to me not twenty minutes ago to tell me they were fine for he had found Serena outside, trying to find news on the battle and had followed her back. They are all anxious for our return." The men all nodded and smiled knowing that their loved ones were safe.
The town that surrounded the castle was quiet and deserted as the warriors made their way through it. Slowly the inhabitants of the houses and shops started coming out and cheered when they saw that it was their men who had won and not the invaders. Some women and children threw small flowers that they had picked a day or so before on the returning soldiers and cheered. The men returned to their families as the generals and their king made their way back to the castle.
"Return to your rooms. I will go get your loved ones and send them to you." Darien said when they reached the main hall. A few servants had started coming out when they heard the familiar voice of their king.
"Darien, we should know about this room! Let us go with you." Malachite argued. Darien remained quiet and thought about it for a while before he nodded and walked into the council room.
"No one is to know about these passages. At another time I will tell you how to navigate them. Is that understood?" The generals nodded their head and followed Darien as he led them into the bland passages that hid themselves within the walls of the castle. After a few minutes of navigating the tunnels Darien opened a door to reveal a library with six occupants.
The girls' heads snapped up when they heard a door open only to find Darien and the others walking into the room. Everyone raced to embrace each other thankful the others were alive. Luscious stood behind everyone waiting for when they would either leave or he would be addressed.
"Thank you for looking out for them." Nephrite said, approaching Luscious.
"It was my honor. I barely did anything though." Luscious said.
"But you still watched out for them. It is good to know that they were protected even when we were not able to be here with them." Zoicite said, Amy was securely under one of his arms and he held out the other to shake Luscious' hand.
"Come on, we're all tired and hungry. Let's go get some food and rest." Darien said. He led them through the passages with Serena at his side. When they got back to the council room they walked down the hall and then into the dinning room where some of the palace soldiers were eating. The soldiers stood when they saw their king enter, but Darien held up his hand and told them to sit and down and continue.
Some servants brought out some more food, mainly chicken and some vegetables that were still in the kitchen. The dinner was silent and quick, without any talk of war. When everyone was done they all left for their rooms. Serena followed Darien as he led her to his study. "Why were you outside o the library?" Darien asked after closing the door and circling his arms around Serena's waist.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked, trying to play innocent.
"Stop playing innocent with me Sere, I know you were outside in the hall while the battle was going on." Darien said.
"Yes I was outside of the library. We were getting anxious and wanted to know what was going on. Luscious was still recovering, but it wouldn't have mattered because I was the only one who was able to navigate through the halls." Serena explained.
"You should have waited. What if Diamond's men, well his army since you came face to face with his men already, were in the castle? Sere, I can't loose you again." Darien said, tightening his arms around her.
"I know, but… I don't know. Will you forgive me?" Serena asked.
"Of course, just promise me you won't do it again." Darien said.
"Promise." Serena smiled. She turned around in Darien's arms, looped her arms around his neck, and leaned up to kiss his lips. After a few minutes of kissing Serena broke apart and led Darien over to his chair and started to massage his back. "Darien?"
"Hm?" Darien moaned from the pleasure Serena's hands were giving his sore muscles.
"When I was outside of the library and hiding in the hall I heard two of the men, well the two men who tried to kidnap me, talking. Diamond's planning on kidnapping Rei, Mina, Lita, and Ami." Serena said.
"You heard them talking about this?" Darien asked. He stopped Serena's hands and turned to look at Serena.
Serena nodded before continuing on. "Yes, they said they were going to kidnap them and then wait till they were back at the camp before they would tell you."
"I'm putting extra guards on all of you. I don't want anything to happen so I'm not going to take any chances." Darien said. "Tonight I'll have the girls stay with the generals. No one will be able to protect them better and they won't complain as much."
"Ok, well you go do that. I'm tired. I'm going to go to bed. I will see you in the morning hopefully." Serena said as she stretched.
"That rule goes for you as well Serena. I want you protected as well." Darien said.
"Ok, one little problem. I don't have a general. I have a King. The general I'm closest too is the father of my best friend." Serena said. She crossed her arms over her chest hoping to give off somewhat of a defiant air.
"Well then, your King will have to do the job of the generals." Darien grinned. "Now come on, let's go to sleep." Darien led Serena out of his study and walked down the hall, past Serena's room, and into his room.
"Darien people are going to start talking." Serena whined.
"So?"
"Darien, they're going to think we're not being… honorable."
"They can talk. You know the truth, I know the truth, and our friends will believe us if they are truly our friends." Darien said. "Go get ready for bed. I need to go talk to each General real fast before I can get some rest."
"Alright, just hurry." Serena said. Darien nodded and leaned in to take another quick kiss from Serena before he left the room to go update his generals. While he was gone he also visited the men from Serena's village and told them where Serena was going on and to come to breakfast the next morning. When Darien returned to his room he found Serena asleep in the middle of his bed. Darien smiled before quickly changing into some loose pants and then he quietly crept into the bed, blowing out a candle that was next to it. He pulled Serena close to him and she instinctively snuggled into him.
"Lady Selene, Lord Michael and his general, Lord Steven have arrived." A maid said. Selene was sitting in one of her sitting rooms staring off to where she hoped Serena still was. She knew nothing had happened to her daughter yet for she didn't feel the emptiness in her heart that accompanied her husband and sons death.
"Thank you, show them to my study and I will be there soon." Selene replied. The maid bowed her head and retreated to the foyer where the men were waiting. Selene gracefully made her way down the stairs to the first story of her home and then silently walked to her study. Lord Michael and Lord Steven were sitting and quietly talking in front of her desk.
"Lady Selene." Lord Michael greeted when they noticed her. Both men bowed their head and kissed her hand.
"Hello, thank you for coming. Half of the men are fighting with the humans. My daughter is with them, but in the castle. I have received letters from Serena and Lord Charles. Both letters informed me that it is King Diamond who is fighting Darien."
"King Diamond?" Michael asked.
Selene nodded before continuing. "We believe that if he defeats Darien and his allies then Diamond will start coming closer to our lands and will try to kill off the people because we are different."
"What do you want Selene? An army?" Michael asked.
"If you would lend part or most of your army, it would be much appreciated. I plan on having more men leave to help in the cause." Selene stated simply.
Selene's two guests were quiet for a moment. They seemed to be having a silent conversation before Lord Michael looked back at Selene. "And you will have the aid of our men as well."
"Thank you gentlemen." Selene smiled.
"King Diamond, Callahan and Lukas have yet to return." A general said as he entered the King's tent. Diamond was sitting behind a makeshift desk that was piled up with a lot of maps and other documents.
"What do you mean they have not returned? I sent them on one simple mission and they could not get that done!" Diamond yelled. "During the next battle do not send two idiots like last time, send seven of your top spies in to get the girls!"
"Yes my lord." The general bowed out of the tent leaving Diamond to himself once more.