Chapter 6: Strata/Serenity
Princess Serenity was sitting in her room going over a letter than her husband-to-be, Prince Endymion of the Moon, had sent her. She let out a soft sight when she suddenly heard commotion outside. Frowning, she got up from her chair and made her way over to the window to see what was going on.
She saw the Warrior, Touma, standing in the courtyard holding his bow out in front of him. The target was further away than the average archer could shoot at and her eyes grew wide as she watched his man. He didn't hesitate when he released his golden arrow and it landed in the middle of the target like several other arrows he had released from his magnificent bow.
It was noticeable that he had been outside for a while because of the way his hair clung to his forehead from the sweat. Yet he didn't show a hint of exhaustion, just concentration. She was curious about the warrior her mother had assigned to her to protect her from any evil and left her room.
Making her way outside, she sat in the gazebo as she watched as he released another arrow. "Touma, careful, you'll run out of arrows if you keep it up," Seiji quipped as he walked outside.
"It keeps my mind occupied," Touma answered simply before he released another arrow into his target.
"From what?" Seiji asked.
"The fact my friends are easily deciding to give up their armor and being a warrior for a bunch of women," Touma answered before firing another arrow.
"None of us are going to give up our armor," Seiji insisted.
Touma put his bow down. "Seiji, have you been hit over the head recently? The day our armor chose us was the day we all vowed that we would never take wives or have families because that creates targets," Touma answered.
"And I stand by what I said, that the Ancient and the Queen had planned this. To give us all something in life than just war," Seiji answered.
"Then the Ancient and the Queen have a twisted sense of humor since the Princess I am paired with is to marry someone else," Touma muttered.
Seiji stared at him. "Have you even spoken to her?" he asked.
"No, I do my duty during the day to protect her then I retire in the evening," Touma answered.
"Get to know her, talk to her, Touma! You have no idea what she is thinking, maybe you are supposed to speak to her to give her another option. From what we know, Prince Endymion is all about show. You, Touma, know about honor and loyalty," Seiji reminded him.
Touma was silent as he looked over at the gazebo where the Moon Princess was sitting and watching. "She obviously likes you, every time you practice she sits in that gazebo and watches you," Seiji told him. He gripped his friend's shoulder. "I think it is time we find happiness of our own," he added before he went to find Jupiter.
The Warrior of Strata was standing there staring at his bow that he had placed on the stone table, then his eyes went over to the princess who had flushed and acted as though she were reading the book in her hands. He pulled his tunic back on and made his way over to the princess. "I feel I should ask for your forgiveness, my lady," he said suddenly, making her look up.
"Forgiveness?" she asked curiously.
Touma frowned as he thought of the last several weeks they had been here, he never spoke to her in conversation just to ask her if she needed anything of him. When she dismissed him that would be the end of it and she wouldn't see him the rest of the night unless she called for him. "I have been cold to you, my lady," he replied as he suddenly bowed to one knee before her, "As our friends get to know each other I have kept you away." Serenity's cheeks flushed as she looked at the man bowed to her.
"Please, stop bowing to me. We are all friends here, truly," she insisted, pulling his arm to get him to stand.
He stood up and she smiled softly. "Would you like to join me here under the gazebo? It is a nice day out," she commented.
"It is," he answered as he sat beside her.
Her eyes were shining and then she looked back at the book in her lap. "You are all fine warriors, what is it like to see battle?" she asked, looking at him. Touma frowned and let out a sigh.
"Some battles are easier than others, depends on the enemy trying to take over," he answered.
She saw his blue eyes grow dark at his words. "Is this not the life you want?" she asked, "Is the fighting too much?"
"No…it's all I have ever known. My father gave me to the Ancient One after my mother left us for another man. My father had no desire to raise a son on his own, he became a drunkard went to the pub every night. I was only an infant, unable to take care of myself so he would force the women from my village to come take care of me," he explained.
Serenity's heart broke for the man as he spoke. His family didn't want him, rejected by the people who should have loved him unconditionally. "The Ancient came to the door, asked my father about me. My father just shoved me into the Ancient's arms, telling him that I was no use to him and closed the door without another word. I was too young to remember," he murmured.
"Did the Ancient tell you this happened?" she asked.
Touma shook his head. "No, my father told me when I went back home to visit my village to understand where I came from. There was…in the pub…drunk as a skunk and he just called me his "useless, bastard son"," he murmured.
"That's so horrible," she said softly.
She reached up and she touched his hair. Touma looked over at her. "I don't think this is proper, my lady," he told her.
"I think I can decide what is proper," she answered.
She stroked his hair still. "Why?" he asked suddenly.
"Why what?" she asked.
"I have been cold to you since I had arrived, yet you're kind to me," he answered.
"There's something about you," she said softly.
He let out a deep breath and stood up. "And how would your husband-to-be feel if he knew you were talking and touching a man like this?" he asked, leaning against the gazebo rail.
"I did not choose him, he chose me," she answered with a sigh, "He made it hard to say "no" when he asked for my hand."
Standing up, she placed her book on the bench behind her and stood in front of him. "I have heard many stories about you Touma of Strata. Your bravery, your deeds," she added.
"All stories I am sure," he answered.
Feeling her hands slide up his chest he let out a deep breath and his heart picked up speed. "My lady, what I do is dangerous. You could be targeted just by being with me," he insisted. Serenity stared at him, obviously not paying attention to what he was saying, either that or she didn't care.
"We have one life, Touma, one. I would rather spend one life with you no matter how short even if it's just a day and know that you care than pretending to care about someone for the rest of my life," she answered.
She stared into his eyes as blue locked on with blue. "My mother has always told me to follow my heart, to follow what is right. I have met you, Touma, I have gotten to know you just by sitting in this gazebo," she said softly.
"And what did you learn about me?" he asked.
"You want love, you have been rejected by those who should have loved you more than anything. You want someone to love you and you hide that pain by pretending to be angry with your friends because they have found it," she explained.
Leaning forward, his forehead rested against hers. "And I know you are a girl who also tells stories with her words, but your actions say the exact opposite," he answered. Serenity closed her eyes, resting her hand on the side of his neck. Touma closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath.
"I have fallen in love with you, Touma of Strata. This is the first time we ever spoke but I am in love with you," she said softly, "I love how safe you make me feel whenever you are around me."
Resting his hand under her chin, he tilted her head up a little so he could look into her beautiful face. He thought of how happy his friends had been since they had admitted their feelings to each of the princesses. He would do anything to just have a fraction of how happy they were.
Taking this one chance, he leaned forward and kissed Serenity lightly. Serenity happily kissed him back, her hands gripping the front of his tunic, but then she let his tunic go and reached up to move her fingers through his hair.
Inside the castle, Serenity was standing on her balcony smiling softly at what she had seen. "It worked Amadeus," she whispered softly.
Later that night, Touma and Serenity were walking through the gardens together. She had a hold of his hand, her fingers entwined with his. This was how love was supposed to feel, the way he looked at her as if she were the most precious jewel in the world. When he would randomly stop and kiss her only because he felt like it and not for show.
He suddenly stopped walking and she looked at him quizzically. "Touma?" she asked softly.
"This was far from the greeting I would expect to get," a familiar voice stated.
Looking over, she saw Prince Endymion standing at the entrance of the gardens. Immediately, Touma let Serenity's hand go and he bowed low to the prince. "My lord, we were not expecting you for another two days," he stated.
"I had decided to come early," Endymion stated as he walked over to Serenity who stood there with her hands clasped in front of her.
"Endymion," she greeted softly, bowing to him.
"You have no need to bow to me, my lady," he answered, tilting her chin up.
Touma kept his eyes closed when the prince leaned forward and kissed Serenity briefly. She didn't respond to his kiss, instead her eyes were looking over at the Warrior still knelt on the ground.
Touma kept his eyes to the ground when Endymion stood in front of him. "Protecting the Moon Princess, hmm?" he asked.
"As the Ancient had commanded me, as you have commanded me," Touma answered.
He sat in silence as he stayed knelt on the ground, but finally Serenity had him stand up. Looking between the couple, he let out a deep breath. "I shall take my leave," he said softly.
"No, you have no reason to leave," she answered, holding onto his hand.
Turning to her, the Warrior of Strata smiled when he felt her hand grip his tightly. "Shall I escort you to your chambers, my lady?" he asked.
"Yes, I am tired from the evening," she replied.
She bowed to Endymion. "My apologies, my prince, but I am tired from a long day," she told him.
"Of course, get some rest my princess," Endymion told her.
Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her lips and Serenity winced, looking at Touma who looked as though he wanted to punch the prince in the face to get him off her. Letting her go finally, the Earth Prince watched as the princess was led away from him.
Reaching her chambers, Touma smiled softly at her. "This is where I leave you for the evening," he murmured softly. Serenity smiled as she ran her hand over his tunic covered chest.
"I love you," she whispered.
He rested his hand on the back of her neck as he leaned forward. She stood up on her tiptoes as their lips connected. Touma's fingers moved up and her back as his eyes slid closed. Unfortunately, their kiss was broken and he rested his forehead against hers. His Life symbol and her crescent moon were pressed together before he kissed once more. "And I love you, Princess," he said softly. He stroked her cheek for a brief moment, then he turned towards his quarters. Serenity's heart was fluttering in her chest with a soft smile on her face
Touma reached his quarters and he let out a deep breath as he tossed his jacket over a chair followed by his shirt and tunic, leaving him standing there in his boots and breeches. Staring outside, he looked at the Earth. Leaning against the windowsill, his eyes slid closed as a gust of wind washed over him. For the first time in his life, Touma felt free and he felt happy.