To all who have reviewed, favourited, followed & waited so patiently for the reminder of this story I wish to apologise profoundly for its too long arrival. Please read & enjoy x
With one final twirl in the mirror, Serenity dashed from the bed-chamber. She was already late for her first day with the handsome fair-haired Prince Diamond. But choosing the right dress, styling her hair and fastening her jewellery on had taken longer than she thought. It did not help that she had slept in late either.
Serenity was in that much of a hurry that she failed to see him standing at the bottom of the stairs. At the last moment, his violet eyes caught her off-guard. Instead of stopping, which is what most elegant princesses would have done, she blundered, caught her shoe on the hem of her dress and tumbled forward. With movement as smooth as liquid, Prince Diamond moved and caught the princess in his arms. Serenity gazed up to her prince's face, a blush reddening her cheeks.
'I seem to have caught myself the most sweetly of all beings, Princess Serenity.' The slightest smile curled his lips.
'Indeed. Um…my thanks Prince Diamond. I am not normally so clumsy.' Serenity hoped the lie was not obvious.
He kept his hold of her petite frame a little longer than necessary. Serenity loved how the warmth of his body seeped through their clothes and melted her limbs. It felt cosy and secure.
It was all over in a matter of seconds. They parted even though both secretly yearned for more. Falling into a natural pace they both walked from the stairs and the main hall out into the early morning. On Venus the sun blazed constantly it seemed; the air was always hot, dry and heavy with the fragrances of exotic flowers.
They walked in silence for a while amongst the gardens. Serenity occasionally stopped to sniff some of the more colourful blooms. Back on the moon it was too cold for flowers to grow; its beauty was in the glistening minerals and gems and the hills that moulded the landscape. One of the reasons she enjoyed visiting planets, like Venus, was to enjoy the diverse range of nature. She found herself blundering this to Prince Diamond. Blushing deeply she waited for his reproach. It never came.
'It seems we both share an appreciation of nature princess. Tell me, have you ever visited the third planet from our sun, Earth?' Serenity shook her head. 'Perhaps someday you will permit me to show you. If you think these flowers are lovely then I would love to see how you react to the earth blooms. There is one in particular you would like. It smells divine and it can be found in various shades of a woman's blush.'
He held his closed fist in mid-air. Gradually he unfolded it to reveal a flower bud, the palest shade of red. In his palm the bud. Slowly the bud opened. Serenity gasped. Diamond grinned, his eyes never leaving the princess's face.
'It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen Prince Diamond.' Diamond allowed a chuckle to escape. He tucked the flower into one of her buns.
'I would have to disagree with you Princess Serenity.' The breath from his words heated her cheeks even more. Once he had secured the bloom his fingers traced the length of her face, down her cheek until they rested under her chin.
Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Serenity thought she had to say something, or do something.
'What is the flower called?' she managed to whisper.
Diamond could not help himself falling for the princess. It was love at first sight, yet the more time he spent with the blooming girl, the deeper he fell. At first he just wanted to tease the girl and then somehow he found himself wanting to laugh with her. Never in his life had he been so care-free with another. Not even his younger brother. And even though he knew the young moon princess was forbidden for any member of his kingdom, he thought a friendship would be acceptable. He did not want to let this warm feeling inside go. And if he did fall in love with her, he thought, where was the harm in that? After all there was little chance she would return his affections. Serenity could marry any man she wanted, so why would she be content with him?
Not wanting to dwell on his thoughts any longer he finally turned his gaze from her beautiful wide eyes that always seemed filled with love and hope.
'My sweet Princess Serenity, on earth they call it a rose.'
'Catch me if you can Diamond…' Serenity yelled as her mare galloped ahead.
Diamond responded to the challenge with an eager growl. He kicked the yellow stallion beneath him, urging him to catch the moon princess.
Who would have thought the little princess would be such a skilled rider? A natural born rider, Diamond pondered. He loved how her hair flared behind as she rode the mare with ease across the dusty plain. In this moment in time Diamond forgot who he was. That was often the case when he was with her He could allow himself to be the man he wanted to be with her. There were no titles, no responsibilities and no worries to plague them.
Ahead of him Serenity giggled, taunting him as she sped away.
Diamond yelled at her. 'I am coming to get you, my sweet Serenity!'
Serenity's sigh was heavy as she gazed out her window. For the seventh night in a row she lost herself dreaming about visiting the planet with her beloved prince. Maybe he would present her with a real rose. Another sigh escaped her. They had only been parted for several days and already she missed him dearly.
During the last few weeks on Venus they had spent most of their time together. It was near impossible adjusting herself to life without his smile or his voice. Everytime her thoughts wondered to Prince Diamond her heart thudded deeply in her chest. Was this love?
When had these feelings become so intense? Since the first moment their eyes meet Serenity had felt a connection. She thought him refined, mature and immensely handsome. Several times he had…implied that she was pretty. Was she was pretty?
At her request Diamond had spent lengthy hours indulging her interest in the other planets. As a child she had visited all of the inner planets with her mother, except for earth. People of the moon and earth did not step foot on one another planet outside of formal meetings. In fact her mother was currently hosting one. It was all to do with the newly founded Silver Alliance. Serenity paid no heed; politics bored her. She would rather day-dream.
Her heart ached again. She had sworn never to tell the prince her feelings. It was forbidden anyway, what with relations between their two kingdoms being particularly fragile at the moment. Her mother would never agree. And at the end of the day Serenity could not live with Diamonds unrequited love. No, she sighed, she could form a union with nearly any man she wished, but Prince Diamond would not be one of them.
Was Prince Diamond thinking of her now? Did he miss her as much as she did? And did he see her only as a silly little moon princess, always asking questions and never sitting still for too long?
I could spend the rest of eternity like this, dancing with him. Since our eyes met across the room I have become lost within them. Can I even describe them? A fathomless blue filled with the spark of the starry sky? I laugh secretly at my attempt at poetry. Never have I become so utterly lost before. And I never want to be found.
Wait…someone is shouting my name? It sounds so desperate? No, here it is only my beloved Prince Diamond and me. No other is dancing with us in this room. Wait…no one else is dancing. Or chatting or drinking for that matter. There is nothing surrounding us.
Wait…how did I end up here?
I glance around frantically at the shadows, yet Diamond remains the same. It is almost as if he is not really there.
Wait…since when did Diamond have blue eyes? His eyes are a velvety violet. Yet I know those blues eyes. I love those blue eyes.
A man calls for me again. I know that voice as well as I know those eyes.
Before me Diamond face melts, a liquid layer, to reveal a completely different man. I gasped.
'Endymion!'
'What have you done to her? If you have harmed here in any way I swear…!'
'Calm it earth boy!' from his forehead Diamond shoot a beam of white light at Prince Endymion.
From here resting place Serenity cried. Both men snapped their gaze to her. Diamond's eyes where filled with surprise, then hope. Endymion relief was soon replaced with worry.
Serenity attempted to sit up but her blurry mind prevented her initial effort. 'Please, Diamond! Do not hurt Endymion.'
Diamond's eyes narrowed at Serenity's plea.
Endymion smirked, 'It seems your attempt to brainwash Serenity have failed.'
Diamond shoot a glare filled with venom at Endymion. 'I was merely trying to remind her of her affections for me earth boy. No brainwashing. Just pure, real, beautiful memories that we share.'
Serenity's heart melted as she witnessed the depth of Diamond's sorrow gleaming in his eyes.
In the dark chamber the opposing princes faced one another, both ready to fight. To the side Serenity now sat, observing how different they appeared yet how similar they were on the inside. Both loved her passionately. Once there was a time when she indulged in fantasies of a future with Prince Diamond. Would she have been content with him? She had disliked Endymion for his interference, yet after it all, she had allowed her heart to bond with his.
So many memories flooded her brain. Her summers growing up on Venus spent with Diamond. The short months she bloomed into a woman on earth with Endymion. It was all too much. Her heart felt full with the weight of love. It was ready to burst.
Diamond's voice drew her attention. He was by her side, teary eyes pleading up at hers. 'Serenity, say you will stay with me! I just wanted to give our love a chance. You do remember how much you love me?'
Serenity began to nod. Her heart constricted with the weight of her affection for him. He was her first love, her promised prince charming she had danced and laughed with endlessly. She reached her hand out to Diamond's cheek, brushing away the single tear. At her touch, Diamond clung to her, kissing her palm deeply. It was if his existence depended solely on her answer, on her love.
From the corner of her eye Endymion jolted, as if to move towards them. Her gaze drifted to the other prince she knew. All other memories of her and Diamond were forgotten. She remembered her first kiss, and how her heart soared at the touch of his lips. Was it fate? Serenity did not know yet she knew that within that single gaze Endymion communicated the world to her. And in his eyes she saw the answer. It was like an invisible arrow hit her heart directly, piercing straight through it.
Again thanks to all who have followed & waited for the conculsion of this story. I plan to update the next & final chapter soon. Please review & leave your thoughts for me :-) many thanks xxx