Title: PEACE AND WAR
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon
Authors Notes: So many questions surrounding Prince diamond. Don't worry, I wouldn't have brought him into it unless he was going to serve some sort of purpose. Keep reading!
I'm sorry I didn't update yesterday but I hope this chapter makes up for it. Work is really hectic so it's hard to stay updated through the week but this story should be done by this weekend.
Darien gritted his teeth against the pain in his shoulder as he swung his sword around to bring down on another enemy soldier. He felt dizzy and nauseous every time he was forced to life his arm to defend himself or attack, but still he focused on the battle around him.
He looked quickly at Kunzite who was fighting a few feet from him. The light haired man had lost his helmet. He expertly took down to soldiers at once with a fierce cry of victory.
Despite the pain, Darien couldn't help but feel the excitement that usually accompanied a victory. They hadn't won yet, but he knew they would. They had attacked before the enemy even had time to re-group. It was more like an annihilation.
Jedeite moved with the grace of a cat, swinging his sword and dodging low to avoid a blow. Darien watched his easy maneuvers and smiled.
Zoicite and Nephrite worked together, double teaming a larger man who carried an axe and stood at least a foot taller then them all. The two smaller men brought the giant down with a thunderous crash.
All around him his men killed the enemy and he felt proud. Today would end the war.
Darien could feel himself well up with emotion. Could this really be it? Could he find peace at last? Could he live in a world not run by the constant corruption of war and death? The thought made his body ache with longing and he could hardly believe that it was happening. He felt almost giddy with anticipation.
He put a hand to his shoulder, feeling the wetness of his blood soak through his shirt. But he felt strong and ready, and the adrenaline running through him would keep his mind clear for a long time still.
The crowd cheered when Darien excited the tent. He stood with his four guards behind him, looking out at all the men who had followed him to this victory. They looked dirty and tired, and yet so full of life and happiness in this moment that he couldn't help but let the emotion seep into him and brighten his heart.
He mounted his horse, cringing with pain.
Zoicite rushed to him when it seemed like his arm would not hold him up, but he waved him away. They mounted their horses beside him.
He lead the way through the crowd of soldiers. They bowed or knelt, and cheered up at him as he went. The sound echoed through the trees and over the rocks of his land. The cry of victory could be heard for miles.
One by one they fell in line behind him to follow him on the long walk home.
And all he could think about was Serenity.
He had honestly thought that it would take days, weeks even months to completely win the war. Yes, the battle may very well have been won, but usually it took days to clear everything out. But it was a clean win. And now it was over.
Darien had never in his life been this excited about returning to his castle. He could see her there, waiting for him. Her ladies would be around her and Raye and Lita would stand to happily welcome them. But his heart beat faster at the thought of seeing her again.
He could hardly explain it, these feelings that welled up inside of him. He was not an empty shell as some people thought, he had felt emotions before, but never anything this strong.
The ride could not have seemed longer. He became uncomfortable with anticipation so that he moved in his saddle every few minutes.
"Are you alright?" Jedeite asked after a few miles.
Darien looked at him and smiled. "Perfectly so," he said.
Jedeite couldn't help but let Darien's obvious excitement fuel his own.
"Are you happy about winning or seeing Serenity again?" He asked with a voice full of knowing.
Darien just looked back in front of them.
"Love is a powerful motivator," Jedeite continued after a moment. "I have found it has saved me from giving up many times over."
Darien looked at him suddenly curious. "I had no idea you were in love."
Jedeite looked uncomfortable, like he had just blurted out a secret.
"Who is the lucky lady?" Darien asked.
Jedeite tried to smile, but he felt nerves flutter through him. "There is no one in particular," he said coughing.
"You don't fool me Jedeite, I know that there is one you care for more than others."
Jedeite wondered if he could tell him. He had wondered it many times over but always decided that Darien had many more things to worry about. And Raye was destined to marry a noble from another country to gain a powerful ally.
Darien's smiled faded when he saw the uneasiness on Jedeite's face.
"Is it someone you are not to be with?" He asked softly.
Jedeite only nodded.
"I can change that if you would only tell me who it is," he said seriously.
Jedeite could feel the usual pain of hopelessness within him.
"I believe that you would help me if you could, but I fear in this instance there is no hope."
Darien was not happy with that answer, but he let it go. He could not help his eyes lingering on Jedeite, watching the man for another reaction that might provide some clue to who he meant. They had been so many places together that it could be one of a hundred girls.
"It isn't Serenity is it?" Darien asked realizing a person he could not have.
"No," Jedeite said firmly. "I respect her greatly, but I do not hold any more affection for her than that of a friend or brother."
Darien nodded.
"Anyway, we will be home soon and then you will find yourself in the arms of the person you love," Jedeite said smiling. "To think you almost turned her away from you."
Darien smiled again successfully distracted.
"Will you marry her immediately?" Jedeite asked.
"No," Darien answered. "Not without her own country relieved of its suffering. I must of course claim permission from her mother. It would be wrong to do it any other way."
Jedeite smiled. "But that won't keep you from being with Serenity now."
"Nothing could stop me from being with her now," Darien said smiling. His eyes danced excitedly.
The castle came into view and Darien could hardly contain himself from sprinting far ahead of his men to get there. He could see the flags of victory already reaching high into the sky. He could imagine Serenity in her room, in the hall or in the library.
"You look like you're about to fly out of your seat," Nephrite said.
Darien just smiled. "We'll get there soon," he said.
The horses, followed by the men on foot, came up at a slow pace to the castle. All were excited about being home again. The idea of seeing family and loved ones kept everyone going.
Darien handed his horse off to a stable boy and made his way quickly into the castle. His men followed behind him knowing that he would break with tradition the moment he saw her.
Darien flung the doors open and walked into the front hall.
And stopped.
His smiled faded immediately at the look on her face.
Serenity looked heart broken and yet somehow excited to see him. She seemed as if she wanted to run to him, but was not allowed. He wanted to go to her, but the look in her eyes stopped him.
Raye and Lita stood a ways away from them and they both looked tense.
The whole room seemed……awkward.
"What's happened?" Jedeite asked startled at the scene.
Serenity stood forward slightly, tears in her eyes. Her hands shook as she clasped them in front of her, and she could not tare he eyes away from his.
"Your majesty," she said curtsying to Darien like she had done so many times when they had first met.
He was so confused by her actions. He had honestly been expecting her to run into his arms and kiss him passionately, excited beyond reason that he was home and safe. It would have been the first time that had ever happened to him, and yet she stood as if formality was the only thing in which knew.
"May I present to you my mother," Serenity said evenly.
Darien looked startled towards the older woman who had walked into his line of vision. She was beautiful like her daughter, with lighter blue eyes and the same pale skin that seemed to glow even in the shadowed hall.
Darien bowed, catching himself before completely freezing with shock.
"It is a pleasure to meet you your majesty," he said trying not to look at Serenity.
The Queen was as regal and beautiful as any Queen could ever be, but he could see that her eyes were drawn.
"I congratulate you on your resent victory," she said trying to smile. "I know that this is a very important step for you on your way to peace."
Darien wasn't sure what to say. "Thank you your majesty," he said softly.
"I know that my presence here comes as a shock, but I must speak with you immediately."
Darien nodded. He could feel the heat from the gazes of the people around him.
"We can go to my study," he said.
"Very well," the Queen said following him. She looked at her daughter. "Serenity, come with us. Your ladies may come as well, but this is not a discussion up for debate. You will tell them to keep their opinions to themselves."
Serenity looked scared. "Yes mother," she said keeping her head low.
Darien had always assumed that Serenity had a great relationship with her mother, and yet it seemed that there was tension between them. His mind raced with a thousand question, but he kept his mouth shut.
He went through the castle until they reached his study and allowed everyone in before closing the door behind him. He glanced quickly at his four guards standing behind his desk before sitting down in front of them. They all looked confused and tense.
"I am sorry for this intrusion," the Queen started.
"You may forget your formalities," Darien said eagerly. "I am eager to hear of what has happened in your war. The fact that you are here indicates that you have in some way found a form of peace again."
"I wish we will be at peace again within a short time," the Queen said looking very tired. "But the price we must pay is very dear. We do not have enough resources set aside to win this war and we will not survive another few days. But we have been offered another way. The attacking country has identified themselves to us and offered a deal."
"What deal?" Darien asked a little weary of the idea.
The Queen hesitated.
"Serenity is to marry Prince Diamond."
Darien felt his heart plummet into his stomach and the world went hazy around him.
"What?" He nearly whispered.
"That is the condition. Serenity will marry him and peace will be restored to us. In so doing she will make a valuable ally in him and both our countries will prosper because of the union."
Darien couldn't say anything. He couldn't even think anything.
He looked at Serenity.
He could tell she was crying even though she didn't look at him. Her shoulders seemed slouched and she had her head facing down towards the floor. Her beautiful blonde hair fell around her creating a sort of shield.
"I know that you will not support my decision," the Queen continued.
"No, I will not," he said without taking his eyes of the blonde girl he loved.
"Unfortunately I do not have a choice…."
"You always have a choice!" Darien cut her off angrily.
The Queen stood up, angry with his tone.
"I am informing you of our plans as a common courtesy your majesty. But if you insist on raising you voice then I will….."
"What?" Darien stood up yelling. "You'll what? You're already taking away your daughters life by making her marry a man who will destroy her. Your sending her to a hell I couldn't even conceive of and you're doing it to prevent a fight that will…."
"I am doing it to save the people of my country!" The Queen yelled. "Every one of them will die if I cannot find a way to solve this."
"And now Serenity will die in despair."
"She has understood the sacrifices she might have faced since she was a child. She understands what is expected of her."
"That doesn't make what you're doing to her right," Darien yelled. "It only makes you feel better about doing it."
"STOP!" Serenity yelled startling them both.
Everyone in the room looked at the small girl who had stood up so quickly she had knocked her chair over.
Her cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes showed how much she hurt.
"Please, stop yelling," she sobbed. "I'm right here and you are fighting about my future like I don't have a choice."
The Queen walked towards her but Serenity flinched away.
"Serenity, you don't have a choice," she said softly.
Serenity nodded. "I know mother, and I'm not going to fight you."
Darien felt his heart shattered at her words.
"Unless we can find another way, I will marry Prince Diamond," she said feeling the whole room fall away around her. She finally, for the first time, looked up at Darien. "But he will never have me," she said. "If this is my fate and I am to give up my life to this man who's name sends chills into my very soul, then so be it. But from the day we marry, I swear never to love or be happy ever again."
Serenity looked at Darien with tears in her eyes and he knew that she loved him, but his heart still broke for her. He wanted to go with her when she walked from the room with her ladies behind her, but he knew he couldn't.
The Queen looked heart broken. "It is the only way."
Darien shook his head. "I won't let it happen."
"It is the only way to bring us peace," she said softly.
"Then you fight for your peace," Darien said harshly to her. "And I'll fight for Serenity."
End of Chapter Fourteen!
Reviews please! I told you he would serve a purpose. Next chapter should be up soon!
