Chapter Fifteen

Artemis's Plan

Artemis had been left behind.

Again.

He understood why of course. The Kingdom needed protection, it needed someone to stand in for the King and Queen, The children needed him, he was just needed. At this point it had become a mantra.

It was just so irritating.

He wanted to be privy to the action, the adventure. He wanted to know how his brother and the group fared. He wanted to find a way to prove he was well, more than anyone expected.

Instead he played nurse.

"Uncle Artemis! Will you play with me?" Serenity pleaded. He sighed, closing his book. "Don't you want to play with Michiru, Endymion, or Makoto?" Serenity's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'll ask." She tottered away, leaving Artemis alone in his study. He felt a little ashamed for neglecting his niece. She was just a child, and he'd been childish to dismiss her because he felt he was being treated unfairly. No matter how much it grated at him. He resigned himself to his books and realized he'd already read them.

Perhaps now would be a good time to apologize.

"Serenity?" He asked, tentatively opening the nursery door.

A cushion sailed into the air and promptly hit the door.

"Serenity, stop throwing cushions."

Another cushion flew, hitting its mark this time.

"Serenity!"

"What!" She yelled at the top of her tiny lungs. Her eyes were red and weak with tears.

"Serenity…" A whimpering sound could be heard from inside his jacket. Serenity ignored him.

"Look now what have you done," Artemis scolded lightly. Serenity scowled. "I don't care."

"But you woke up the puppy," Artemis said smiling as he pulled out a small wolfhound pup from his pocket. The pup had shiny black eyes underneath small tufts of blue-black and brown fur, and it stared wonderingly back at Serenity as she promptly forgot her anger. "Can I hold it?" She asked curiously. Artemis handed him to her. She cuddled him in the crook of her arm and held him like a baby. "Can I keep him?" She pleaded. Artemis made a show of looking around. "Don't tell your mother and father," He whispered good-humoredly. "Otherwise-" He drew a finger across his throat. Serenity chuckled delightedly. "I won't tell," She whispered back. "What should I call him?" She asked.

"Anything you want." He assured her. She thought for a moment. "I'll call him Ra."

"Why Ra?"

She just smiled secretively.

They played with the puppy for a little while before it went back to sleep. As the puppy lay fast asleep on one of the stray cushions, Serenity spoke. "Uncle Artemis, I still haven't forgotten this morning."

Artemis stared. Didn't bribery usually make children forget? It had always worked on his brother when they were young. Or so he thought. "I really wanted to play with you this morning. You're always so angry that I thought you were mad at me. Are you mad at me, Uncle?" Serenity asked plainly. Artemis sighed. "I'm not angry at you, Serenity. If anything I'm bored." He said truthfully.

"I get bored too, when Endymion and Michiru are studying and Mako takes a nap. So I just look for someone else to play with. Cookie always has sweets for me, and there's always someone who will play with me if I ask." Artemis stifled a laugh. No wonder the staff loved the Princess! She was absolutely precious! "I would but I feel like there is something I should be doing." He replied. She sighed dramatically. "Of course there is."

Just then a messenger rushed into the room, panting. "Master, the castle is under attack!" He choked out.

Lady Setsuna's head poked up from her examination of Michiru's fate loom. She had been teaching her today how to weave according to her visions. It was much more difficult than normal weaving because the weaver cannot actually see what she is doing. The magic of the thread keeps her from making out what it is the fabric is trying to tell her until she is finished. It is far more difficult than peering into a crystal ball or reading the lines of a palm but it is far more ancient an art and more accurate.

Michiru had been working non-stop on the loom. In fact, that morning, when the maid came in to light the chamber she screamed with fright to see the Swenyian Princess there patiently huddled over the loom. She had not spoken a word until now.

"Things are going to be very hard, aren't they, my Lady?" She said softly. It wasn't a question and it was spoken in a voice far beyond her twelve years. Lady Setsuna sighed. "It only gets harder from here, I'm afraid." She agreed, stroking the young girl's hair. "I just hope they're up to it."

"Who?" Michiru asked.

Endymion had been trying to shake off the infant Makoto when he saw the flaming arrow whiz over his head and stick itself into the wall. "Serenity!" He cried automatically, suddenly tugging a shocked Makoto along after him as he ran to her chamber. He was scared and he wanted to be sure at least that his best friend was all right.

Artemis was relieved to find Endymion and Makoto outside her door. "All of you stay here!" He locked the door behind him and created a small shield about the room in hopes that the children would be protected from any more threats.

Is this the action you were hoping to find? A small voice said nastily in his head. Artemis prayed fervently that the gods would forgive him for his selfishness as he unsheathed his sword, the armor melting over and onto his body. As the helmet concealed his face, a grim determination came over him. He would do as his brother asked and protect the children and the castle. But not before taking down a few incubi.