Title: To Brave The Darkness

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Notes: I'm so sorry this is late. I had a crazy couple of days. I'm moving in my with boyfriend next weekend and we started doing everything this weekend. I'm a little stressed about the move so totally forgot to update a chapter. My apologies. I hope this makes up for it.

She was terrified.

Raye held her hand tightly that afternoon as they made their way to the courtroom. The followed a very nice servant who kept glancing back in sympathy. He seemed to want to say something, but he dutifully kept quiet as he led them.

The palace was so big that it took them almost a full half hour to arrive.

There were so many people there. Serenity had gotten so used to being in such an empty part of the palace that she had almost forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by so much murmuring and talking. Everyone seemed to stare at her with different expressions.

For the first time, she recognized a lot of the faces.

The King had brought in a lot of the men she had met over the years in her stepfather's house.

"My dear Serenity," the King boomed, quieting the whole room.

Serenity felt completely exposed as he came and took her hand.

"Come, we will get to the bottom of this today I am sure. I have reserved you a seat next to me."

The room completely hushed at his words.

Being near the king was one thing, but being allowed to sit next to him was another matter completely. He guided her himself to the chair next to his, and smiled at Raye who took the one next to that.

Serenity's heart was beating furiously in her chest.

But then she saw Endymion. He was sitting among a few other men, including Andrew and his father, and he was gazing at her with so much love that she instantly felt calmer.

She could do this. She could get through this day.

"Now," the King said. "My advisers will take over and we will listen. When everyone has spoken, we will make our decision."

It wasn't a secret that 'our' decision was really 'his' decision.

Serenity settled in her chair as a man came into the middle of the room, dressed in rich clothes that covered his large waist, and spoke to the whole crowd.

"His majesty the King has commanded this hearing in honor of the Lady Serenity who has requested that she be allowed to plead her case. Those who would argue that this isn't a royal matter are permitted to leave."

Serenity glanced around, expecting someone to leave. It wasn't a royal matter. She had questioned it many times. The King had taken her problems and set them up for everyone to see and for him to judge. This sort of hearing, as she had leaned more and more since being here, was mainly kept for crimes against the throne and negotiations of war.

The man kept talking, explaining the rules of the hearing, sounding extremely official. He spoke for what seemed like forever before everything started.

Serenity hadn't seen her stepfather until he seemed to materialize out of the crowd.

He looked exactly the same. His once handsome face was a mixture of anger and greed, and his fine clothes did nothing for his form. He just seemed like an aging man, more cynical than anyone should ever be. He sent fear through her immediately.

When he spoke, his voice was so familiar. It sent shivers through her. He told a story about this ungrateful young girl he had taken charge of. She had apparently known she was to marry him and threw tantrums about being given everything she wanted. Serenity wondered if that was really how he saw her.

It was the second part of his story that made her angry.

"Lord Endymion was invited to my home as a possible business partner. He came under the pretenses of peace, and then seduced my fiancé to go to his bed. He then stole her from me, taking her to his own home, and refusing to let me see her or let her see me."

The crowd murmured, some glancing angrily at Endymion.

Serenity realized that his reputation would not play in his favor here. There were a lot of noble families angry with him for what he had done.

Once her stepfather was finished, other men were brought up to speak. The ones she had met before talked about her stepfather's agreement that they would be considered for his daughter's hand. They were never permitted to see her until the night of their agreements.

The crowd continued to murmur.

Serenity glanced at the King, hoping to figure out what he was thinking. But he sat like stone, intensely watching the men speaking. He listened to all of the facts.

But some of her stepfather's men would come up and contradict the stories of the other men. They would say that they were always immediately told she was to be his wife, and that she was off limits. Some of these men even talked about the night she had left.

Serenity noticed that none of the other men from that night were in attendance. She panicked at that, wondering where they might be. Had her stepfather gotten to them? Had he promised them something to keep them away?

The hearing went on forever, and Serenity couldn't really see one side that was winning. Her stepfather had played his cards well, and Serenity was worried that he was more convincing than the truth.

Raye was called, and spoke her story. She was forced to confess that she didn't know of any of her stepfather's dealings first hand, just what Serenity had told her. It was disheartening to see her friend want to fight so bad, but unable to. She was very clear and firm on her respect for Serenity, and positive experience of her nature.

Finally, when it seemed everyone had been heard, the king spoke.

"How about we hear from Lord Endymion now."

Serenity held her breath when Endymion walked forward. Men in the audience shot him glares and some hateful looks, or looks of admiration as if they were looking at their idol. Many of the ladies in the crowd looked at him with longing and desire, and sometimes sadness. She wanted to jump up and warn them that he was hers now, and they better back off. But of course she didn't. She just sat still, watching him.

"Hello again Endymion."

Endymion bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty."

"I'm going to ask you to be frank with me."

"Of course," Endymion said calmly.

"Your reputation, is it well earned?"

Serenity felt like she had been winded. Why would the King ask that? Was he trying to publicly disgrace him? Was he trying to make his testimony worth nothing?

But Endymion looked calm. "It is, your Majesty."

"How many lives do you think you have hurt?"

"More than I wish to count, your Majesty. Most of the families in this room have complaints about me."

"Are you ashamed of this?"

He hesitated. "Yes and no," he said honestly.

"Explain," the King ordered, not appearing to be having fun or being gleeful at his old friend's humiliation.

"I regret my past actions only recently. I did not regret them at the time and I never cared to."

"That is a very bold statement," the King said.

"It is the truth. I never thought about the consequences of my actions until they affected me. It is selfish, I know, but it is the truth."

The King nodded. "Did you take the Lady Serenity into your rooms while staying with her stepfather?"

"I did," he said without hesitation.

"And did you persuade her to do so."

"No," he said, and the crowd murmured. "But had she not come to me that night, I certainly would have."

"And why is that?"

"Because she is beautiful," he said, "and I desired her."

"Then why didn't your persuade her?"

"I didn't get the chance. She came to me the first night I was there. We had only been permitted to see her for a couple of moments at dinner, and then she was sent away by her father. I assumed I would have time again the next day."

"And why didn't you send her away?"

"Because I didn't want to." His answers were so clear and honest. Even the people in the crowd seemed captivated by what he said. It was unusual for a man of his reputation to so openly admit things he had done that were harmful to his reputation.

"Endymion, did you take Serenity away from her stepfather's home?"

"I did," he said. "Once I made it clear to her father what I had done, I thought it best to leave. Staying around to deal with angry fathers has never been something I've taken much pleasure in."

Someone in the crowd laughed, followed by a few murmurs, but Endymion remained serious.

"As I was leaving, I did witness her father's blatant dismissal of her. She hurried outside into the kingdom, where I had not yet had the chance to leave. I didn't want her to be lost in the kingdom, scrounging for food, so I took her with me."

"To you home?"

"No, to the home of a very trusted friend," he said. "Lady Raye has lived close to me for some time, and she was willing to help Serenity in her quest to be free."

"Did you see her again after that?"

"I did. I visited a few times when I returned from business as well as accompanying them to an opera. There was also a night at my home where Lady Raye celebrated her birthday. Serenity made it clear that night that she was more than a little angry with me."

"Why?"

"Because I brought another lady home with me."

The King nodded, taking in the story and obviously deciding that was enough. He dismissed Endymion quickly, and Serenity felt her anxiety kick up again. But just as Endymion was about to sit down, the King called to him again.

"Endymion, one more thing."

"Yes your Majesty?"

"What are you feelings towards the Lady Serenity now?"

Serenity held her breath. Was this a test? Was he asking him to lie? Surely telling the truth now would only hurt their cause.

"I love her," Endymion said without hesitation. "I don't intend to every be with anyone besides her again."

The crowd immediately started talking, but in surprise and disbelief. Obviously there were some who didn't believe him. Some sounded almost angry, and the few women in the crowd had decided that Serenity was now the enemy.

"Serenity?"

Serenity looked over that the King's voice, surprised. "Yes your Majesty?"

"Would you be willing to stand and answer a few questions for me?"

"Of course," she said, quickly pushing herself up and walking to the center of the room where Endymion had stood. She faced the King, ready to be honest with him.

"Are you in love with Endymion?"

The first question wasn't supposed to jar her like that. She had hoped he would ask her about her stepfather or what had happened that night. She was prepared to give out all the details.

She stuttered for a moment, and then steadied herself.

"Yes," she answered honestly.

"Do you intend to marry him?"

"Not until I'm sure I can trust him."

"That is very wise of you. Did you love him the first time you met?"

"No," she said confused. "I didn't know him."

"Then why would you permit yourself to sleep with him?"

"Because anything was better then being trapped in that house."

The crowed murmured.

"So you used him."

"Yes," she said, even though it wasn't a question. "I saw his arrival as a lucky coincidence. My stepfather had just informed me that when his guests had left, he would be teaching me my place."

"And where was that?"

"Apparently in his bed."

Her stepfather stood up angry, shouting "That's a lie!"

"You had your turn," the King said smoothly, "it would be unfair of you not to let her speak."

Serenity didn't look at her stepfather. She took a deep breath and kept going.

"Serenity, you must see that it's impossible to let you live with Lady Raye and have no guardian. Your stepfather, although an obviously crude man, has a right over you as his daughter."

Serenity nodded, feeling her heart sink.

"What would you do if I told you there was no choice, you had to marry him."

She knew that she was supposed to tell the truth, but it was hard. "I would do everything I could to escape, and then live out my life as a beggar on the streets. I'm not afraid of being tried as a criminal. I don't fear being banished to the wastelands outside of the city. But I do fear the man who calls himself my father, uses me for financial gain, and then threatens to violate me if I do something that displeases him."

"But you are to be his wife."

"No," Serenity said. "I was never intended to be his wife. He married my mother when I was a child, and I am hers. He never mentioned keeping me for his own while I was growing up. He simply locked me in his house. My mother would be ashamed for ever knowing him."

The room was angry now, but not angry with her. They were angry at what she was saying. This man, who some of them knew, was showing his true colors as a monster.

The King smiled slightly, and then nodded to her, motioning for her to sit back down beside him.

This was it. He had spoken to everyone.

Serenity reached over to clasp Raye's hand tightly.

"I see no reason to force a woman into a situation such as this," the King said.

Her stepfather stood up in outrage. "I have a right to her, she is my stepdaughter."

"You do not have the right to disobey your King," he said evenly. "The Lady Serenity will be taken under my care. Her guardian is now the King."

The crowd was shocked.

"I officially sever all ties she has to you, and to anyone else who has treated her poorly."

The whole room was silent for a long moment, and the the murmuring broke out. It escalated until everyone was talking so loudly they were almost yelling at one another.

Serenity wanted to cheer, but she stopped.

"Endymion!" The King hollered.

Endymion looked at him, and the room went quiet.

"With your reputation, I cannot allow you access to my ward."

Serenity would have stood up and argued, but Raye kept her help tightly down, stopping her.

Endymion looked completely heartbroken in that moment, but he nodded, keeping his posture firm.

Serenity felt her entire form quake at the new information. She had gone from pure happiness to complete despair at the kings words.

"That said," the King continued slowly. "If you manage to turn your reputation around and right all the wrongs you've done to my people, I see no reason your family might not be connected with mine."

That was it. All he had to do would be to right all the wrongs. Serenity could see hope in the horizon.

Raye groaned. "That's going to take him forever."

"This hearing is dismissed," The King said, standing up and waving his hand. He turned to Serenity, offering her his arm. "Come now, my ward. Let us see how we can manage here by ourselves."

Serenity was completely speechless as she took his arm, overwhelmed by his presence alone. This man was the most powerful man in the kingdom, and he had just offered her his protection.

He led her out of the room, followed closely by Raye and a few guards, while the arguing started behind them.

She only had time to glance back at Endymion, who smiled warmly at her. She could see his determination as if it were her own. No matter what, he would not let her down.

End of Chapter Thirteen! Please review!

reminder that I'm on facebook now. My picture is a girl with a violin.