Disclaimer:
Sailor Moon copyrights February/March 1999 and all its characters are the rightful property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha Ltd., Bandai. English adaptation copyrights 1995 DIC Corporations.
"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
Charles Dickens
All that day, Serena was on needles, reaching out through their psychological link once a minute to see if he's all right. And then he would assure her, and she would calm down for a moment.
After a simple supper (she didn't eat much), Serena, with Mina, stood at the southern border of their camp and looked out into the growing darkness.
"It's almost eight," Mina muttered.
Serena didn't answer, and reached out again to tell him that she loved him. He answered with identical emotions and then, he was off.
Serena did not sleep that night, and fidgeted with Mina sitting next to her. The dawn was cold and bright, and foretold happy news. Once again, she reached out to see if he was all right, and found out that he was injured but alive.
It did not help much; instead, she was worried now more than ever. After she had broken her fast, Serena decided that she would ride to see him. Mina decided to follow her mistress.
She left a general in charge and mounted her horse, flying down the path that he had gone the day before.
The two heard the beats of the drums an hour or two into their dash, and Serena sighed in relief. Quickly now, she slowed her horse to a walk and saw him, at the start of the company again, proud and grave and princely.
Endymion was very surprised as his eyes landed on her, managing the restless beast beneath her. Mina rode forward to see her fiancé, but Serena stayed for a moment where she was. He looked tired and worn out, and pained.
Then, she smiled and turned her horse as they caught up with her. She reached out and took one of his cold hands, and they rode on without a word. They didn't need words; words were too insignificant, and were not enough to express their love for each other.
After Endymion had given orders to the guards and the doctors to take care of the wounded and the dead, he turned towards his tent, where his wife awaited him.
She was testing how hot the bowl of water was when he entered the tent. She looked up, and their eyes locked.
Without a word, Serena took his hand and led him into the bedchamber. Then, she took off his coat and then jerkin. Her eyebrows were knitted together in concentration, and she winced when she saw the blood-soaked shirt of his.
She examined the wound at his side closely. The wound was deep, though it had been taken care of very well, and she cut off the bandages and used the hot water to clean the wound again. It wasn't as deep as she had feared, and the organs were unhurt and function normally – so one would think. He stifled his gasps of pain, but she knew, and took his hand and held it tight.
Serena soaked some bandages in a clear, rubbing alcohol, and faltered as she looked at his wound. But her resolve stood, and gently and trying to make the pain as less as possible, she tied the bandage. His fingers tightened convulsively, but he did not make a sound. Then, she tied dry and clean bandages around him and pulled the sheets to keep him warm.
She kissed his forehead and then left him. A few minutes later, she came back with a bottle of gel.
Serena pulled down the sheets and her face was troubled. He was asleep. She cut off the bandages and looked at the wound again. The bleeding had stopped, but she knew that he was still fighting for possibly his life. She applied the gel medicine to the wound, gently, rubbing with no pressure at all, lest that would pain him and wake him from his slumber. She cut out some clean bandages and bandaged his wound again.
After she had washed her hands and had put everything away, she sat down by him and held his hand. It relieved her that he did not have any more wounds to fight, yet the one he had was enough.
When Endymion woke up, he was confused for a moment at the strange place he saw and the pain at his side. All he registered was the sweet rose scent that was uniquely hers, and then, all memory flooded back. He looked down and saw her head pillowed against his shoulder, breathing quietly, her face troubled.
A small smile tugged at his face, and he leaned down, no longer checking in control the longing to kiss her again.
She was kissed awake by him, and she blinked at him in surprise and innocence. Then she smiled the loveliest smile at him and embraced him.
"How do you feel?" she asked softly.
"Fine."
Serena sighed and reached across, helping him to a glass of warm ale. Then, once again, she reached down and touched his wound delicately. He did not wince; it wasn't painful. She looked relieved, and flung over the sheets and examined the area of the wound. His skin was of its normal hue, and did not turn black or purple or green.
"You'll make through," she said and covered him with the sheets again.
"How many are dead?"
"Two hundred seventy-four," she replied, caressing his face.
Endymion closed his eyes, both in pain that he had lost two hundred seventy-four men and in comfort that she had provided him. "How many are wounded?"
"Six hundred eleven."
He sighed and said no more.
Serena knew that the battle had been fierce and costly, and she knew that he didn't want to talk about it just then. If he did, he would tell her.
Endymion sighed again and pressed his face to her golden hair.
Serena was still troubled by his wound, and didn't talk or eat much at the midday meal and then at the supper. Endymion remained in bed for the rest of the day to tend his wound, and ate and drank little, as well.
The Princess woke up early next morning, when it was still dark, and went to watch the sunrise. Her heart was heavy with an unknown feeling of anticipation and perhaps nervousness. All she could think about is how no one accepted her and fought because of her. And she was the cause of all the destruction, all the deaths; all the families that had lost a husband, or a father, or a son. She was the cause of her Endy's wound.
"Good-morning," he said, slinging his arms around her waist.
"You should be in bed!" she exclaimed and took his hands off her. "Come on, I'll get you back in the tent."
His hands tightened around hers as he bent to silence her protests. When the kiss was over, she had submitted to his will and hugged him close.
"We'll start for Burling after dinner," he whispered to her ear.
She nodded and leaned against him in that cold and misty morning.
When noon came around, the Prince and the Princess had visited the wounded. Then they headed for lunch, and as they finished, a guard came in, saying that Frank wanted to see them.
"Let him in," Endymion said authoritatively. He squeezed her hand gently.
Frank stood before them, and his eyes were of deep blue, like Endymion's. It struck hard at Serena suddenly that they were so much alike, not just the looks, but also with the same air of royalty. And then she realized that they were brothers.
"There is no need to hesitate, Mr. Frank," said Serena and she stood up, taking a wide mirror in her hands. "Mr. Frank, please sit in my seat."
A shocked and confused Mr. Frank obeyed her wish without protest and blinked as she showed them the mirror. "Endy, do you see?"
Endymion nodded slowly. "I see, Bunny."
"So you see, Mr. Frank, we know," Serena took away the mirror.
Frank was silent. "I was reading a very old book on our mother, Prince Endymion," he said. "And I realized of the birthmark described on the book."
"We were separated immediately after you were born. I remember Mother was grieved. But we hadn't dared to give out the news and create a panic in the people…" Endymion sighed and trailed off.
Serena slipped out of the tent, leaving the two long-lost brothers to talk, and stood again at the edge of their camp, tired and worn. She wanted to stop this meaningless war. She wasn't worth all that fighting.
And when she had mounted her horse and awaited his coming, she looked over to Mina, who was speaking quietly but lovingly with Andrew, and Andrew seemed as though he was restraining himself from hugging her.
It was then that Endymion came to mount his horse. His wife looked mournful and sorrowful, and he wanted to comfort her and ask her what was wrong. She seemed very absorbed in her own thoughts, and his heartstrings trembled as he knew for sure what she was thinking about. Then, he nudged his love to her through their link, and he saw her smile, the holiest and loveliest sight on earth.
She replied with identical emotions and watched as he mounted his horse. Then, he reached out and held her hand, his hold very tight and needy.
Robert Franks – or whatever his name was – rode behind Endymion quietly, a mask of impassiveness on his face.
"Your wound's healing nicely," Serena remarked as she changed his bandage again.
"Good," he kissed her, holding her trapped in his embrace.
"Love, we have supper with Franks' family," she reminded him, even though her embrace was turning passionate. "We don't have the time, and your wound still is deep."
Endymion groaned in frustration. "Come on, let's get the supper over with."
"He's your brother, Endy. You should be glad to see him," Serena said and straightened out her petticoats before helping him dress.
"I am. It's just that compared to you, he seems like a person with little importance."
"Endy," she said blushingly. "Don't flatter me. You know I become addicted to your flattery."
He bent to kiss her again. "You're very beautiful and very sweet."
"I told you not to flatter me," she answered breathlessly, staring deep into his eyes.
"I would prefer to speak the truth," he whispered to her. "And you as my addict doesn't sound very bad at all. It sounds wonderful."
"Endy," she said in warning, even though she was blushing so hard that her face was like a tomato.
He bent to kiss her again and held her close. "I love you, Bunny."
"I love you, too."
Serena was politely silent as the long-lost brothers talked. The rest of his family was silent, as well.
Robert Frank had a wife named Anne Lane Frank. They also had a little boy, no more than five years old, named John. A pang hit her heart as Serena realized that the baby within her abdomen was growing every single day. Her morning fits were growing worse, and she was often tired and feeling sick. Of course, her
Endy was a big support, holding her and caressing her at night and nudging his love towards her all the time. This was one of the times.
She smiled slightly and answered with similar emotions.
As they finished dinner, Endymion leaned towards her and whispered that he will talk with his brother alone. She smiled and nodded at him and he excused himself.
When the brothers were gone, Serena took a sip of her ale. She found Anne looking at her, and smiled and nodded courteously.
"Would you like some dessert, my lady? Perhaps some cakes?"
"Oh, no, I'm fine. Thank you very much," Serena replied. "Your cooking is exceptional, Mrs. Frank. May I ask if you had acquired the parsley and rosemary and basil at the local market?"
"Yes, my lady," Mrs. Frank answered, smiling pleasantly.
"I must obtain some of it for the Burling Palace. Would you please excuse me? I feel the need to walk around and take a fresh bit of air in."
"Of course, Your Highness."
Serena stood up and left, but not before smiling at the little boy, who was staring, unheeded, at her. She felt uncomfortable again in her stomach. "Calm down," she whispered and patted her stomach.
"Are you feeling all right?" Endymion came out of a chamber and spotted her.
"I'm fine, Endy. Just a little tired," she smiled assuringly at him, even though he was holding her tight. Carefully, she took out a beautiful dagger from the pouch at her skirt.
"Isn't that…isn't that the dagger that I gave you…so long ago…before we married?" he asked, and a tide of emotions crashed upon him… She had kept it for so long…and cherished it…
"Yes," Serena replied. "I keep it with me as a luck charm and a protection."
He hugged her. "I love you so much, Serena…"
"I know, I know."
When Anne Frank (AN: sorry, just a coincidence) came around the bend of the hall and saw Her Highness standing in front of a window, looking up to the stars thoughtfully, she wished for a moment that her husband wasn't a rebel, so that they might know each other better… This princess seemed so…royal and amazing…yet as rumor had it, she was once but a maid…
"I hope supper was to your liking, Your Highness," she said, standing beside and a little behind the princess.
"Oh yes. It was wonderful," Serena replied, coming out of her trance. "I'm sorry that I did not have a chance to taste your cake. This baby here keeps me from most of things."
"Baby?" Anne Frank asked. "You're with child, my lady?"
"Yes, I am."
"That's wonderful! I wish you a blessed child and a happy life!" Anne said agreeably.
"Thank you, Anne."
"Good-evening, Anne," Endymion kissed her on both cheeks. "Good-evening, Robert. We shall see each other soon."
Robert nodded in happiness as Endymion mounted his horse.
"I'll be there, Endy," Serena said.
Endymion nodded without protesting and rode away.
Serena waited until she was sure that he was out of earshot and turned to the Frank family. "I would like you to know that love and trust does not come to my husband easily," she said earnestly.
"I know," Robert Frank nodded solemnly. "We can all see that."
Serena sighed. "Please understand that he hasn't welcomed you fully as a brother and a sister," she continued. "After all, it's hard to gain his trust, and you have proved yourself to be against his wife."
"Then how did you gain his trust and then his love, Your Highness?" Anne asked suddenly.
Serena, surprised, looked at Anne. "I want to be honest with you, Anne. I do not know. I suppose it's because we're so alike in ways… I do not know, Anne. We love each other, and I think that is enough for everything and anything."
She mounted her horse and waved goodbyes to the Frank family before taking off into the chilly night.
Endymion had watched the exchange in the darkness, and came out from the shadows as he saw her approach. Gently, he lifted her from her horse and placed her in front of him, holding her close to him as though she was a treasure.
Andrew and Mina rode behind them silently.
As they arrived at Burling, Endymion lifted his wife from the horse and did not let go even though her feet had planted in the ground.
"Serena, may I have a word with you about the kitchen?" Mina asked hesitantly.
Serena looked up to her husband, and he nodded. "I'll be right there, Endy, I promise." She hugged him again before approaching Mina.
"Do you intend to get the basil and the parsley from the local market tomorrow?" Mina asked.
"I don't know. I'll have to see," Serena shrugged. "I'm not exactly popular right now. Maybe you can go."
"We'll see. Well, goodnight. Is the baby all right?"
"Yes. Goodnight, then," the friends hugged and Serena climbed up the steps into the Burling Palace.
"You were talking with Robert," Endymion said from the balcony of their room.
"Yeah." Serena answered, beginning to take off her garbs.
"What did you talk about?" he asked without turning, still looking out to the gardens below.
"You didn't trust Robert. And I saw it. I needed them to understand, however." She took off her skirt and under-gown.
"To understand what? That I don't trust people easily? I don't trust people easily, yet I trusted and married you. They don't understand how much I trust you.
They never will. But suspecting and doubting you is out of the question."
"I know." She answered simply, reaching to her back and trying to untie her corset.
"I'm jealous," he admitted and closed the door to the balcony and let loose the curtains. "I can't handle this, Buns. I don't know how to handle this. This jealousy… I trust you; I know you won't do anything… But watching you talking to other men just makes me very…uncomfortable." And he turned.
Serena was just pulling off her corset, but the last of the fastenings were still on.
He stood there and stared at her.
Her hands stopped and she looked up into his face.
His face was sharp, and a fire began to burn in his eyes. Confidently, he strode towards her, and took her hands gently from her corset. His hands shook as he reached out to free the ties, and his face became taut, very taut.
She rested her hands on his shoulders and waited patiently as he flung her corset aside. "Endy," she whispered softly, dangerously.
Endymion lifted her by her waist and gently laid her on their bed. Then he leaned down and set his lips to hers.
Endymion stroked her face and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he murmured.
"I love you, too," she replied sleepily. "Any engagement of battles today?"
"Not any that we've planned," he said, shifting his hand to caress her shoulders. "Don't worry, I won't go anywhere today."
She nodded and snuggled closer to him.
"Endymion!" General Andrew Howard knocked urgently at the door, waiting impatiently for the prince.
The light in her blue eyes faded in disappointment. She sat up and pulled the sheets over herself, covering her naked body.
He kissed her softly and stood up to dress. "What is it?"
"The rebels are starting to attack one of our camps further south. Mr. Robert Frank is trapped, Endymion! You must hurry! He's torn between loyalty and family!"
Hearing this, Serena flung aside the sheets and began pulling on her clothing, as well.
Serena and Endymion dashed towards their southern camp, with troops and guards behind them. He nudged his love for her through their link again, and she returned it.
When they arrived, many soldiers on both sides were already dead, lying on the field of battle. Serena stared, and was sick to her stomach.
"Bunny," he whispered, kissing her knuckles. "We'll have to negotiate with them. I've already sent out aiding troops, and I told them to watch out for Robert."
Serena nodded. "We've got to find him fast. This is so close to his home. Should we check that out first?"
Endymion nodded, and with some fifty trained soldiers behind them, they set out at a steady pace towards Robert Frank's house.
It wasn't a good view. Horses of the rebellions were kicking the dust restlessly, and the couple exchanged an uneasy glance before dismounting and knocking on the door.
It was Anne who opened it. She looked very troubled and perhaps even scared, and when she saw them, she looked even more anxious. "The others are here.
They're asking Robert for a decision. He doesn't know what to do." Then Anne let them in.
Arguments rose as they neared Robert's office. They opened the door and stood just inside, waiting for someone to notice them other than Anne and the servant girl in the corner, looking frightened.
Eventually, they were able to feel a forbidding presence – two forbidding presences, in fact – in the room, and all saw them as regal and grim figures in the doorway.
There was no need for introduction. The Prince knew them and they knew the Prince. However, it was Serena who drew the most glances, though all looked away as though afraid of her bewitching them.
"Mr. Robert Frank, have you come yet to a decision?" Endymion's voice rang in the suddenly silent room.
From the middle of the group, his face troubled and a little crushed in the spirit, Robert Frank came out and stood, trying to decide whether to bow.
"Very well," Endymion said, and looked to his wife. "Will you please take it from here, my Love?"
She stared into his eyes. Me?
Yes. This has to be solved sooner or later.
Well. Wish me luck.
You'll do fine, don't worry.
"Of course, my Love," she replied and turned to the rebels and the torn-between Robert Frank. "As I understand it, gentlemen, you have this uprising because you think I'm a witch. If I'm wrong, please, do not hesitate to correct me," she added, looking as though very confident and very solemn, though in her heart she was trembling with fear and seeking for his comfort, and that Endymion gave freely.
"Tell me, gentlemen, what is a witch?"
No one answered. Serena lifted up her skirts and walked towards a bookshelf, where the dictionary was. However, as she passed, the men gave way to her, fear conquering their pride and their reason. She was painfully aware of it, and tried to be impassive.
"According to the Oxford dictionary, witch is defined as: woman thought to have evil magic powers, sorceress, who practices witchcraft. Do you agree, gentlemen?" she snapped the book close and put it back.
There was no answer. Endymion, observing this, stepped forward. "Gentlemen, Princess Serena is asking you a question. You may disagree with her, but she is your superior."
Serena nudged her gratitude in his direction and he replied with his love. "Do you agree, gentlemen?" she asked yet again.
Reluctantly, they nodded, one by one.
"Very well." Serena hardened her resolve and her face was stern. "Then I can tell you that I am not a witch. I do not practice witchcraft, for one. I do not have evil magic powers. I do not have any magic powers, for that matter. And therefore, I am not a sorceress. But tell me, gentlemen, why do you disagree with me so much? If I understand your cause, perhaps I can satisfy your unanswered questions."
There was a silence. Then, at last, someone spoke.
"It is said that it is very difficult and nigh impossible to gain Prince Endymion's trust," the man said, without any titles and without any courtesy. "How did you manage in such a short while and even became his wife?"
Endymion sighed. "So, we're back on this again. It's true that it's nigh impossible to gain my trust, that much I grant my assent. But Princess Serena is different, and I cannot tell you how many times I have considered the question myself. No, I do not know why I trust her so. No, I do not know why I love her so. But as proverbs have it, love is not reasonable. I know why I love her, but I do not know why I love her so much. And I do not think that you, gentlemen, have time enough for me to inform you of the reasons that I love Princess Serena. The list itself would go into eternity. Now, take the bow and let the matter drop!"
Serena was amazed. She had never seen her husband so majestic before, nor so infuriated. She was equally ashamed that she didn't have the power to convince them, and needed her husband to help her. But his love overwhelmed their link, and she no longer felt ashamed but honored that he loved her so.
When no answer came, Endymion swept his wife into his arms. "If you'll excuse us, gentlemen," he said mockingly and went away. Anne was staring openly, but no one no longer paid any heed to courtesy.
Serena snuggled closer to the warmth of his embrace. "Where are we going, Endy?"
"We're going back to Burling and make love for the rest of the day."
She felt an edge to his voice, and slid her arms around him. "Endy, don't be angry. I'm sure they simply want to know what's happening. Please, don't be angry."
He reined in his horse and looked down to her face. "You're begging for mercy to them?"
She nodded. "I just don't want any more killing," whispering, she touched his face. "It's so unnecessary. But I don't know who to convince them. I just…I…"
He kissed her and dismounted, helping her dismounting from his horse, as well. "It's okay," he whispered to her. "Why don't you go into a tent? I'll have to talk things over with the Counsel. You're too tired for that. Then I'll see if we can spare to go back to Burling and continue with our plan for the day."
She nodded obediently, blushing a little. "I love you."
"I love you too," he kissed her again, unhurried and slow, as though they had all the time in the world.
Now Serena stood alone, in the midst of the tents, and the cries of battle were close, nearly on the edge of the camp. She walked into one of the tents and sat down tiredly.
Then, something happened to her eyes. She looked through a misty field, and saw her Love riding upon his steed and dismounted, his banner shining in the sunlight. And she saw a soldier of the rebels, fitting his bow with an arrow and shot her Endy in the heart.
She cried out in fear and ran from the tent. She could see him, approaching the point where she saw him shot. "Endy!" she shouted his name amidst the cries of battle. "Endy! Stop! Endy!"
His love and concern poured through their link and he turned, having just dismounted. She jumped at the last step and went crashing into him, and screamed in pain as the arrow pierced her left shoulder. Instantly, soldiers and troops and guards sprang and went forward with a deafening cry.
"Serena," he whispered in horror, shaking her gently. "Buns. Buns, wake up. Oh, God, what have you done? Come on, Love…"
She opened her eyes and saw her blood all over him. But he was all right, and he was safe, and he'd live, and… She choked. "Endy, it hurts," she whispered.
"I know, I know," he replied, holding her close. "You'll be all right. I'll make sure you're okay. Come on, let's go to Madame Rowland." He stood up, and brought her into his arms. "You'll be okay," he said, and repeated the words over and over again. Troops came up, prepared to help, but the Prince shunned their help sharply, letting no one touch his precious Love, and put her gently to a bed within a tent.
"Love," she swallowed, and gasped for breath, the pain spreading from her shoulder to her chest.
"Yes?" he said, holding her hand very tightly. "What is it?"
"Remember that I'll always love you," she gasped, her fingers closing loosely around his. "And…and know this…I want you to make peace with the rebels…but…but don't…don't give in so easily…and…tell Father and Mother and Sam that I love them…and also…Queen Serenity…and my people…" she closed her eyes, breathing heavily.
Madame Rowland rushed in and winced at the sight. She ordered a servant girl to close the flap of the tent and gently cut open her dress from her shoulder.
She examined the wound closely, but her face was troubled.
"Endy," she whispered his name, and felt all his love for her, and felt his hand tight around hers, and felt his lips upon hers in a soft kiss. "Endy, I love you."
"And I love you," he replied, and looked up to Madame Rowland. "How is it?"
She shook her head heavily. "It's poisoned. It's going to be hard work getting that arrow out. I hope it hasn't broken her shoulder bone. It doesn't look like it, though…"
"Love,"
She opened her eyes again, and smiled at him, though it was strained and pained. "Yes?"
"Come on, drink some whiskey," he pillowed her head with his one arm and carefully put the bottle, which a servant girl had given him, to her lips.
She drank the liquid slowly, with some difficulties, and choked at times. But at last, she had downed the whole bottle, and went to a deep slumber, from which Madame Rowland began her work.
Endymion held her hand very tight the whole way through. It was hard work, indeed. Madame Rowland asked for water for at least a dozen times as she slowly managed to take out the shaft of the arrow. Blood gushed out from her wound, and she kept whispering his name in her sleep, and her love flowed towards him through their link at all time.
At last, Madame Rowland stitched up her wound, and sighed heavily. "Your Highness, the arrow has been taken out, but I'm afraid the poison will have already done its work." She gave the Princess some elixir.
Endymion nodded, for he knew it well. Then, he dismissed Madame Rowland and told her that he may call on her at any moment, and bade a servant girl to stay in case anything happens. Aside from that, only he and his wife remained in the chamber.
"Endy," she whispered softly, and opened her eyes.
He kissed her lips lingeringly, letting her know that he loved her, though it seemed a very small reason for her to stay. He knew very well that the wound hurt a lot, maybe even clouding her mind, and he wasn't sure if she could bear the pain.
"I love you," she told him again. "Tell everyone that I love them, especially my family, and Queen Serenity, and my people…" she gasped for breath here, and her sentence was cut off. "And…though I haven't been…long…on this Earth…I've been very happy…especially the times with you," she choked slightly, and reached up her right hand to touch his face. "Don't…don't be…so sad…I'll always watch over you… And forgive those who ask for your pardon…and…I wanted to give you…so much more…but…I'm afraid…" she stopped here and gasped again for breath. "I'm afraid…the baby…I'm so sorry, Endy…I wished that…I could give birth to the child…and…and…I wish it was a son…you would dearly like a son…wouldn't you, Endy? And…don't…don't mourn over me, my Love…don't be so sad…I don't ask for much…I just wanted you…to…to remember…our times together…it doesn't have to be often…but…that's all…I ask… And you'll find…" she choked here again, and breathed heavily, and didn't see or feel his tears on her face and in her hair. "And you'll find…a better woman…one with the perfect bloodlines…who could make you very happy…and wouldn't start a war…and…"
"Shut up, Buns," he whispered savagely, stopping her finally. "I won't promise you any of that. I'll tell everyone that you love them. And I'll forgive those who asked for pardon. I wished our child had been a son…but it's not as important as you… And no, I'll never find anyone else…after everything's done, I'll come and join you…"
"No!" she said sharply, and opened her eyes again. "You can't, Endy. But I'll wait for you. And I'll always love you. But you can't…"
"But death is too far a breach for us!" he cried in despair. Serena said no more, and she kissed him lingeringly.
The servant girl was silently weeping in the corner, watching the couple.
Serena curled up in his arms, enjoying for the last time his sweet caresses and loving words spoken against her ear. She wished dearly that she could've given birth to their baby, but it seemed impossible now.
"Love?"
"Yes?"
"Will you tell Mina that I wish her and Andrew a happy life with many children?" she looked up to him, and saw his sad smile.
"Of course, of course…" he embraced her again, and kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered, and kissed him softly.
Endymion didn't dare to hope that she was getting better. Some color had returned to her pale cheeks, and she was speaking now without any gasps of breath. She could now look at him and smile into his eyes again. But he didn't dare to hope…
"Madame Rowland, may I speak with you for a moment?" Endymion asked her outside the tent.
"Of course, Your Highness. How may I of service to you?"
"I wanted to check with you to see… Serena has been getting better, or it seems like it. Will you have a look at her?"
"Of course."
Serena opened her blue eyes and smiled at him. "Can I have some water, please?"
He took the glass from a table and gently lifted her, helping her to drink. Then Madame Rowland checked her wound, her eyes, her heartbeat, and her face was troubled now than ever.
"What is it?" Endymion asked anxiously, now that they have went outside.
Madame Rowland was reluctant to say whatever that she had diagnosed, and paused here and there to find precise words that wouldn't hurt this man standing in front of her. "The poison has done its work, and I am afraid that she will not last too long now…" his face blanched. "This is only her will to stay with you, sir, for the time being. She cannot last very long now, and…"
"Thank you, Madame," Endymion whispered, and turned to go back to the tent.
She was asleep again, and her breathing was very regular. He stood beside her, watching her, memorizing her, though there was no need to, since she was embedded in his mind.
Then she opened her eyes and reached up, taking his hand. "Where did you go?" she whispered. "It's been a long while."
He kissed her forehead. "I went to get some water for you, Love."
She smiled in gratitude, and it made him humble that she would be so generous with her love, even in the last minutes of her life. He had done nothing to deserve this sacrificing of her life to save him. It only he'd been less surprised, then perhaps she wouldn't have pushed him down and the arrow might've hit him, instead of her…
"Love?"
"Yes?"
"I still have your dagger. It's in my pocket," she suddenly stopped, and breathed heavily. Endymion's heart stopped in fear, but she opened her eyes again, and they were the clearest blue he had ever seen. "Will you let me take the dagger with me? It's the only thing that I have of you, aside from this unborn baby and your love."
"Of course, of course," he smoothed her hair away from her face. "Of course, Love."
She smiled up to him. "And…and…Endy…" she choked, and her fingers tightened around his. Endymion bent down and brought her into his arms, caressing her, whispering loving words to her. "Endy… Please…know that I'll…always…love…you…and…and…I want you…to be happy…and…just remember me once in a while…doesn't have…to be often…that's all I ask…"
"Of course, of course," he said, clutching her now. He could feel her soul starting to drift away, and it was a tearing feeling, and their entwined souls struggled in agony…
"And I love you, Endy…"
"I love you, too. I love you, Buns."
She smiled into his eyes for the last time as he leaned down to kiss her, and her arms gave way, and she closed her eyes and her breathing stopped.
Instantly, he felt a ripping agony in his soul, but did not voice it, and continued to kiss her, until he could feel that her body was dead.
There was no battle that summer night. Endymion sat by her side and held her hand for many days and many nights. He didn't eat, didn't sleep, and didn't drink. His face was pale, almost like that of a ghost, and his eyes were unfocused, distant, like that of a man enduring, or trying to endure, the torture.
He never spoke. On the forth morning, he called upon Lord Howard, who nigh broke down in tears himself as he glanced at the Princess, now dead, laying upon a bed.
"Henry, will you please order someone, anyone, to make a glass coffin for her?"
"Of course, Endymion," Lord Howard replied.
"And will you tell them to carve roses on the glass?"
"Of course, my Prince."
"And tell them do not carve anything else on the coffin."
Lord Howard bowed.
"Thank you, Henry."
He bowed again and left the tent. Then the Prince called upon Mina, and the servant didn't dare to look upon her friend, in fear that she'd start crying.
"Mina, will you please choose a gown for her? Her favorite one?"
"Yes, my lord."
"And also her jewelry box."
"Of course, my lord."
"Thank you, Mina."
The maid curtsied and left the tent.
When Mina brought in all that he wanted, she went away at his dismissal, and Endymion stared at her peaceful expression for long.
At last, he made a move to stand up, but tears spilled forth and landed on her flesh, and he sobbed silently at the loss of his Love. It was an hour later than he dried his tears and began to take away the mass of garments from her body.
The hardest piece was the corset. The clump of blood had stained the satin and the silk, and now it was hard to untangle the mass and take it off. So he took a shear and cut it open. Then he brought her into his arms and held her close for a while, and finally bathed her in the water that he had asked for.
When she was clean, he brushed her hair gently with a comb, unravel any hair that had tangled up, and soon, her hair was dry and flowing again. He took the gown and everything that Mina had brought and began to dress her.
When he was done with that, he slipped on the new slippers that Mina had brought and opened her jewelry box. His heart jolted when he saw that it consisted mostly of his gifts to her. He took out the sapphire set and put it to her neck, her ears, and her forehead. Her gown was purely white, and he took her hand and saw her wedding ring, and smiled through his misty eyes.
When that was done, he called in Mina and asked for clean sheets and a clean pillow and rose petals and two perfect roses, with stems but without thorns, one red and one white.
Afterwards, Endymion finally ate and drank and bathed and slept. Lord Howard, his son, Mina, and many guards and soldiers stood guard around the tent of their fallen Princess. All mourned at the loss of her, and wore dark garments.
When the coffin makers came with the glass coffin that he had asked for, the Princess was on a bed with rose petals all over her, and in her hands, she held two roses, one red and one white. It was a vision of Heaven to all those who looked upon her, yet their hearts were heavy with grief.
Then Endymion's heart changed. He did not want to cage her in a coffin, even one made of glass. So he had troops bearing it back to the Palace, and he himself rode beside those who bore the Princess, on the bed with roses and everything, and she looked more asleep than dead.
It was then that Endymion noticed the wound of the arrow had disappeared. It was as though the arrow had never been, and she was but in a deep and restful slumber. How he wished that it had been like that…
Or maybe if he'd been quick enough and sharp enough…if he hadn't been so surprised…but his mind always went overload where she was concerned…and it surprised him to this day that she loved him and gave him her all, for he deserved none of it. But if he'd been sharp enough to sense danger…he was just thinking about her and their unborn child within her womb when he felt her rush of alarm and panic. Why was she so good to him? She gave him everything that she had and was, but he could not give anything to her in return, save only his love and his wealth…but he knew that she cared only for his love… She was so good to him, though he never deserved any of them…
In the darkness of the night, he slept with her in his arms, his dreams painful and slipped from his memories in the morning. As dawn came, the Prince asked for more rose petals and the two roses, and spread the fresh flower over her body.
His heart was laden with grief and pain and sorrow. His soul was still struggling to keep her with him, but they were losing it: Death was tearing their entwined souls apart, and he felt her agony and that tripled his own.
When, after a dozen days, they finally arrived in the Palace, it looked bleak and empty, without the laughter and sparkling eyes of a certain lady. Endymion had her in his bedchamber, on his bed, with petals of roses and the two roses in her small, delicate hands.
There he retired to for days. He ate little and drank little. All the affairs of the kingdom he gave to Lord Howard to be in charge of and the Counsel, including Andrew, to help. No news of the war passed to his ears, for he had no wish to see anyone, not even Andrew, who was his dear friend.
But if he had heard the news, he should have been glad, for the rebels surrendered with Robert Frank leading them, into the very camp where she passed away. There, they all bowed low and paid their homage to the tent, though the Princess was no longer in there. Lord Howard, who knew the mind of his nephew Endymion quite well, pardoned all those who he thought earnest and executed none. The war had been bloody enough, and there was no need for any more blood to be shed over one who had brought happiness and joy to so many and was now dead.
Lord Howard, with his only son Andrew, visited his older brother and sister-in-law in their graves one gray morning. He told of all things that had been since they left, and wept within the privacy of the small chamber with only his son.
It did not surprise Endymion when her body did not appear to be anywhere near decomposing. Her beauty and peacefulness remained, and she looked asleep.
And he didn't doubt that angels stay with the ones that they love forever, even in their human bodily form.
Lord Howard, with Andrew and Mina, came into the room that evening. Endymion did not notice them, for he was deep in thought of one sunny summer afternoon in the green country, with the smell of pines about them.
"My lord," they all bowed, and waited for him to notice them.
When he appeared to be very much lost in thought, Lord Henry Howard cleared his throat and stepped up. "My lord, all the rebels have surrendered, and I have pardoned most of them and gave to others light penalties in your name, sir. We have driven back those of the invading kingdom, and our borders are now peaceful and growing prosperous. I gave honor to those families who lost their loved ones. My lord, I think it is time for you to give your speech."
There was no answer. After an awkward silence, Lord Howard said again, "When plans you of the speech, my lord?"
There was another awkward silence. At last, Endymion lifted his bleak and empty eyes and looked upon his Chief Counselor. With a puzzled if not painful and strained smile, he said, "Yes, Henry?"
Lord Howard, however laden with grief and pity, could not help but feel a little worried and irritated. The Endymion he had known had never until now been elsewhere in the heart and mind when a Counselor was reporting. It annoyed him a bit that he had to repeat everything he had just said. And the Prince seemed so uninterested.
He decided that his lord would not care much anymore for anything else. "Your Highness, according to custom, every king after a war gives a concluding speech, and if the king is dead or sick, then the eldest prince."
"Yes, I am quite aware of it, Henry," Endymion replied, but his voice was not mocking, and he was not insulted.
"And when are you planning to do that, Endymion?"
"Soon, Henry."
Then he turned back to the sleeping beauty, and Lord Howard sighed heavily. After giving some instructions to watch out for the Prince to his son and Mina, he left, and the couple, too laden with grief to marry, stood at the door of the bedchamber and allowed no entrance.
Endymion kissed her cheek, and it was cold. He lifted her hand, and it felt now smaller and fragile than ever. He then pressed his face into her hand, silently bearing this injustice and the unbreakable gap of death, where they were unreachable to each other.
He regretted again that day. If he hadn't been so hot-tempered, he might have brought her onto his horse and they might have ridden back to Burling, where they might still happily be. And because of his temper, he brought forth the troops…if only he'd been…
"Endy."
His eyes snapped down to her face. He thought that he heard her voice within the now silent and empty bedchamber that they used to share. "Buns?" he whispered, and his voice cracked.
Andrew came in at that moment, and asked for his presence at the Counsel meeting. Endymion was about to refuse or simply turn back when he thought that perhaps, she had wanted him to go, that perhaps there was something that he needed to know at that Counsel meeting.
"I will come," he said, and kissed her brow softly before standing up and leaving with Andrew.
okay i lied, this is it for tonight. Next sunday will be the last chapter for this story and there is a sequel you guys!
Crystal Selena