Chapter 2: Betrothal
The gentle bubble of the garden fountain was a welcome sound to Princess Serenity. It managed to drown out the music and chatter of the party. Her party. She sat on the marble bench, leaning into the curve as she looked up at the twinkling sky. When her eyes closed, all she could see were the crystalline figures in her hand, dancing weightlessly on her palm. The prince's eyes watching, unblinking. It was like he focused on nothing but her reaction. Everything about him so far was too mysterious, too hidden.
"What did they see in him?" she wondered out loud. He barely had presence in Solaris as it was, since she knew so little about him. She knew her father had been searching far and wide with enormous expectations for the kingdom. But what did that matter if she was going to be unhappy during the courting process? Sometimes her father seemed so uncaring.
A thick rustling snapped her out of her thoughts and she heard someone groan to her left. She leapt to her feet, part of her dress fisted in her hand in case she needed to run. It sounded as if someone had fallen. Maybe a palace guard…? She straightened her back and followed the sounds, girding herself for what might be around the corner.
Half-buried in a white rose bush was a man, dark-haired and olive-skinned. He was dressed in nearly all black, save for the white-gold glint of a sword at his waist. He winced in pain as the roses pricked at him with their needle-like thorns. Serenity couldn't bear to see anyone in pain and rushed forward.
"Are… you okay?" she asked, kneeling down to extend her hand. The man looked up at her, and she watched his mouth drop open. Before she knew it, he wrenched his sword from his belt, scabbard and all, and used it as leverage to hoist himself to his feet. She watched curiously as he hastily brushed away the leaves and brambles. He was so much taller standing at his full height.
"I'm alright now," he answered, looking back at the crushed flowers he had landed on. "I apologize for the intrusion, Lady…" he trailed off, trying to address her properly. He extended a hand to her.
"Oh, I'm Serenity," she offered, allowing him to kiss her hand. However, he seemed frozen in place upon hearing her name. He swiftly came down on one knee, crossing a fist over his heart.
"Princess… Princess Serenity. Your Highness, forgive my rudeness," he replied quickly, bowing his head and kneeling.
"It's alright, you didn't know. And you are…?"
The man looked up and, seeing that she was rather relaxed, stood to his full height. "I'm called Endymion. I hope I didn't frighten you." He was smiling warmly at her, and Serenity felt her cheeks burn slightly as she smiled back.
"Not at all. Are you with…" she paused for a moment, "the other visiting guests? What were you doing out here?" Even just by looking at him, the man named Endymion seemed like the polar opposite of Prince Diamond. His next answer was proof of that in her eyes.
"I… to be frank, it's a little…" he stumbled over his words, as if struggling with the answer. He then took a deep breath, looking straight into her eyes. "I received no invitation, Princess," he confessed.
Serenity hesitated, knowing that she should have probably called a guard as soon as she found him. She couldn't recall if there had ever been an intruder like this in her castle… but he didn't seem to have any ill intent. Surely there was no reason for alarm.
"I don't think anyone will notice if you are here. An invitation won't be necessary if I vouch for you," she offered, turning around to return to the bench she was sitting on before.
"It's best that I don't have anyone else see me," Endymion replied, following her.
"Why not?"
"You don't know who I am, Your Highness. Or perhaps what I am." The man reached into a pouch on his black belt, withdrawing a blood-red rose.
"It's a—you are a-!" she stammered, and leapt to her feet. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the rose in his hand and the deep blue of his eyes. Terran eyes.
"…a Terran!" she whispered, her excitement barely contained. The biggest grin of child-like wonder nearly made him start laughing.
"Well, yes. I am from Earth," he said quietly, extending the red rose to her. Serenity took it carefully, as if it would dissolve if she wasn't gentle. The petals were so crimson, she almost felt like she had binged on a plateful of chocolates just looking at it. Every other flower in the garden was quite pale in comparison.
"Tell me what its like," she asked, signaling for him to sit next to her. The rose was cradled under her nose and she inhaled its sweet scent. "Is it true that there are oceans as far as the eye can see? Fields full of flowers? Trees as tall as the castle pillars? Clouds that get full of water?"
"Whoa, slow down," he said, giving a surprised smile. "It's clear you've done your research, Your Highness."
"Please, call me Serenity. And I love reading about it. It sounds so lush and full of life." As she continued speaking, Endymion listened patiently, enraptured by her passion for his home planet. Although everything in the garden reflected a white glow from elsewhere, Serenity seemed to radiate from within.
His hand instinctively reached out and touched hers, causing her to trail off.
"I can take you there," he whispered, looking up at the night sky where the Earth hung silently above them. She followed his gaze upward, the blue planet reflected in her matching eyes. Her mouth tried to form words, but the way his hands cradled hers was too much. To actually be able to go there…? She could hardly comprehend it.
A burst of applause came from the windows above and Serenity jumped up, breaking away from the Terran beside her. The party! Her smile fell away.
"I… I can't. I'm sorry," she apologized, turning away rigidly. The rose was still clutched in her hand. "I need to go back inside."
"I understand, Your Highness," he replied, "I've been very rude to keep you here." Endymion stood up, extending his hand for the rose. Serenity paused, then placed it in his open palm.
"If you want, I can give this to you after everyone has gone home. Though I would like to give you an entire Terran rose garden, just to see you smile again." The slightest tinge of blush showed on Serenity's face, along with a small grin.
"The offer is tempting…" she admitted. "I don't know when this whole thing is going to end though."
"I don't mind waiting," Endymion smiled, "and I won't get caught." Serenity nodded, almost feeling speechless again with the thought of going to Earth.
"I'll come back right here then, at this fountain," she promised, picking up her skirts and heading towards the side entrance. Her heart was pounding with the thought of sneaking out to meet him after the party. All she had to do was stall for a little longer.
Her father's booming voice could be heard as she neared the unguarded door, slipping inside the threshold. The crowd was fixated on his every word. From the back of the group, Luna emerged and rushed straight for her.
"Where have you been?" she asked breathlessly, one hand clutching her side in exasperation.
"I only went out for some fresh air," Serenity replied. Luna raised an eyebrow.
"Listen, you don't have time for last minute trysts!" She pulled the princess behind a powder blue curtain, away from prying eyes. "I saw you with that man down in the garden. What are you thinking? This party is supposed to be for you and your fiancé, and King Yukito has already—"
"Luna, he's not my fiancé!" Serenity blurted out, jerking her hand away from Luna's panicked grip.
"He is now! While you were down there getting cozy with some stranger, your father went ahead and gave your hand to Prince Diamond." Serenity froze, as if cold ice had been splashed on her head. Without a word, she drew back the curtain just in time to see everyone clapping, and the white-clad Prince Diamond giving the most ostentatious bow. Her face was still burning as she threw back the curtain completely and marched up to the front. Selene was the first to spot her, and Serenity couldn't make out the expression on her tranquil face. Her mother was too good at masking her true feelings. The queen coughed just loud enough for Yukito to notice, and pointed towards the princess.
"Ah, and here she is!" Yukito announced, gesturing grandly towards his only daughter. The crowd of guests and nobles erupted into applause again when Serenity gave a quick curtsy, doing her best to not show her shock through a smile. "As you know, Princess Serenity is to be of marrying age quite soon. We've scoured the galaxy for the best suitor and believe we've found a worthy successor not just to our only child and bearer of the crown, but to the entirety of the Moon Kingdom." Everyone applauded once more, except for Luna, who stood wringing her hands nervously in the front row.
"In three days' time, the wedding between Princess Serenity and Prince Diamond will commence. I invite you all to attend this joyous occasion, starting with another dance! I suggest that our betrothed take the lead."
Serenity barely registered her father's words when she felt two strong hands circle her waist, guiding her firmly to the marble dance floor. The thoughts of distaste melted away from her when she felt the front of her body flush with Prince Diamond's chest. The music from the orchestra began, a heartfelt ballad of medium tempo, and he took a skillful lead. The faces of nobility blended into each other as she focused on the rhythm, at least trying to not make herself look like a fool. The steps were not too difficult after a certain point, and she finally looked at his face. He was watching her so calmly, and she found herself staring to the point of rudeness at his delicate, silver lashes. Her throat felt tight.
"Are you alright, Princess?" he asked, twirling her around once, and bringing her close to him again. She could barely catch her breath, but managed to give a curt nod.
"I'm perfectly fine," she replied. What…? No, I'm not fine. Why did I say that? His violet eyes seemed to flash.
"Yes… you are perfect. I love perfection," he said low, his voice reverberating. Diamond made her spin again, her paraffin gown blossoming outward on the dance floor. She felt terribly warm, unbearably so.
Thankfully the music was finally reaching its end and the surrounding onlookers clapped joyously. Finally she could step away from him! A smile, more of relief than politeness, barely crept on her face when someone yelled from the back of the crowd. The guests were a mixture of gasps and cheering and laughter, and then Serenity's blood ran cold when she finally recognized what had been shouted.
"Kiss… kiss… kiss!" It started so silently, but to her shock, everyone seemed to chime in, until the voices became a roar. Serenity realized that Diamond was still holding her right hand; she couldn't slip away from his grip at all! Her eyes darted nervously, trying to find her father or mother, but they were nowhere in her sight.
"Do forgive me, Princess. I can't ignore such a humble request." His voice lacked remorse of any kind.
"Wait, don't!" were the words on the tip of her tongue… but they refused to emerge. Why!
His pale hand cupped her chin, his lips descended onto hers, causing the crowd to go wild with deafening cheers and shouting. Her body felt like it was on fire. An eternity passed… then two. Finally she broke free.
She didn't stop running until the fabric of her dress snagged on the garden flora. People were calling for her, but she didn't dare look back. Nothing could have made her stay in there any longer than she already did. Her father would be furious, she knew. And that prince…! He had the audacity to call her perfection, to insist on dancing with her, to take her first kiss…
It wasn't until she had nestled herself against the bottom of the garden fountain did she allow herself to breathe. At least, as much as her bodice would allow her. Serenity found herself regretting the dress altogether the more her fingers struggled to undo the laces. Luna had outdone herself, that much was certain. A stitch of intense pain was forming on her right side.
"Come on…!" she gasped, trying not to make the strings any tighter than they already were. She felt a tingle in arms and tilted her head back to the sky. There were more stars than usual in her vision. Any longer in this state and she would faint.
The next moment, a pair of hands were on hers, warm and certain. Something incredibly warm was draped over the front of her body, blanketing her from the cold.
"Forgive me, Your Highness… Serenity. Stay with me," someone spoke, the voice decidedly male. The hands were at her torso, pulling the strings of her bodice loose. One by one, the threads came undone and Serenity inhaled deeply. Her vision came back into focus, seeing that it was Endymion kneeling beside her, untying what her hands had managed to tangle.
"En…dymion," she whispered. She sat up to straighten her back and the cloak he had draped over her began to slip down. Without a word, he tucked it securely under her neck and behind her back, protecting her modesty.
"Thank you…" her voice was affected. She couldn't hear anything from the ball room windows anymore. Even so, her parents and the prince were certainly looking for her. It was as if all her education on etiquette had flown out the door.
"Of course. I did say that I would be here when you returned. Is everything alright?" he asked her. Serenity stayed silent, burying her face into the heavy black material. Luna probably knew where she was. It was pointless to stay in the garden to avoid everything.
"Princess," he said, pausing for a moment before reaching into his waist pouch, pulling out the red rose from before. "Here, I didn't forget. It's yours." But she didn't take it.
"I have to go back in. They're probably looking for me right this very moment," she replied, looking up at the twinkling stars. Her words sunk in and he sat back next to her, twirling the rose between his fingers slowly.
"You mean the King and Queen?" he asked. Serenity nodded.
"And the prince too," she added quietly, finally looking up to meet his blue eyes. Endymion seemed to understand her dilemma.
"You're meant for him, aren't you? That's what this event is all about." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The red rose hung limply in his other hand. "A betrothal…"
'No… I'm not. I didn't make this choice. I wasn't even there when Father made the decision. I hate all of this,' is what she desperately wished she could have said. But the words were clogged in her throat. She wished her tears would follow suit. All she could do was turn her face to the sky.
"I understand, Princess…" Endymion whispered. "If there's anything I can do to help you, don't hesitate to ask me. I know what it's—"
"Please stop. Don't say anymore," she replied, unable to keep her bottom lip from quivering. It was no use now.
She suddenly found herself engulfed. The scent of roses surrounded her in Endymion's embrace. Nothing could stop her from crying; she was past being embarrassed or worried about how he viewed her. He continued to say nothing, as she had requested, and held her until she had calmed down. She pulled back just enough to reach up and wipe her eyes, keeping the black cloak against her front. She stayed silent for a while, resting her forehead against his chest, as he lightly rubbed her back. Finally, their eyes met.
Their lips met just the same.
By the time she registered how different this kiss was, voices were calling out to her. Serenity broke away, scrambling to her feet.
"Oh no!" she cried, "You have to leave, now! Over here!" She pointed to the outer hedges, where there grew a thick line of tall shrubbery. Endymion wordlessly obeyed, though lines of worry still crinkled his brow. Serenity handed him his cloak as soon as he was well hidden, and she began to quickly lace herself up.
"Serenity!" came the far away voice of her mother. Her fingers worked tirelessly, about two-thirds of the way done. She made sure to not lace so tightly this time, making her way back to the marble fountain in the center of the garden. As soon as she finished the final bow, Queen Selene appeared, looking very concerned.
"Dearest! So this is where you were," Selene said, hugging her daughter before looking her over. "Now don't worry, your father was able to keep everyone calm when you left. I know it was difficult to process what was happening." Serenity shook her head.
"It's alright. I'm sorry I ran away and embarrassed you and Father like that."
Selene nodded, looking over her shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll be forgiven; you're his pride and joy, after all." She paused, taking on a more chastising tone. "Of course, you will apologize to him, and to Prince Diamond as well." Her mother sounded quite final in the matter. Serenity agreed to it, albeit a little reluctantly. With her mind still on the hidden Endymion in the garden, she hoped he would stay put until she could sneak back. They returned to the ball room, where King Yukito and Prince Diamond were waiting. Nobody else was there. Serenity had barely entered the room with her mother before Diamond stepped forward immediately, flinging his silken cape behind him and bowing gratuitously.
"Lovely princess, please accept my deepest apologies," he pleaded, taking her hand in his. His gestures were overly grandeur for the situation, but King Yukito did not seem displeased in the slightest. "It was not my intention to have embarrassed you in front of the royal guests." Serenity gave a weak smile, withdrawing her hand and catching her father's eye before she accepted Diamond's apology. She gave a half-curtsy, complete with a counter-apology for her behavior. She was screaming on the inside the entire time.
"Tonight may have been a touch stressful, so allow me to make it up to you… with this." With a quick, circular motion, Diamond fashioned a delicate silver necklace from thin air, complete with a lavish crescent moon charm encrusted with jewels. He took her shocked silence as a time to fasten it around her neck. To Serenity's surprise, her father seemed overjoyed and actually clapped with praise.
"Fascinating!" he declared, "How wonderful!" She touched the charm that now sat around her neck, both taken aback and curious on how weightless it felt at the same time. The gems certainly felt real, but…
"Father, Mother, I want to discuss something highly important with you as soon as possible," she proposed, her heart pounding in her chest. The king waved his hand dismissively; he seemed more interested in Diamond's conjuring powers.
"Yes, yes, but whatever it is I'm sure it can wait until morning, can it not?" Yukito didn't want an answer when he spoke this way; that much Serenity knew. It wasn't negotiable. She turned to her mother.
"Mama…"
"Sweetheart, I'm afraid I'm going to agree with your father about this. Let's sleep on whatever thoughts we have and discuss it at breakfast," Selene suggested. Serenity was stunned. Diamond smiled at her, making her stomach do flip flops and she quickly averted her eyes.
"Very good then," King Yukito boomed, clapping his hands together. "My good prince, let me personally show you to the guest chambers for the night. I'm sure you'll find it satisfactory."
"By your leave, Your Majesty," Prince Diamond replied, and the two of them left to go upstairs to retire. They had barely left the room when Serenity spoke to her mother in haste. Her hands were already fiddling with the weightless necklace.
"Mama, please listen! Why did he make that choice without me there?" she asked breathlessly.
"Believe me, dear, you aren't the only one that isn't happy with your father right now," Selene answered, her tone significantly different now that her husband was absent. "I won't be waiting until tomorrow to talk with him." Serenity sighed, feeling a little relieved. She relaxed enough to talk with her mother freely.
"Father expects me to just fall into his perfect plan without considering how I even feel about marrying a prince who wasn't shown to me at all beforehand. Father at least had been showing me other suitors. I was able to see their faces. I wanted to at least get to know him, like you and Father were allowed to do before your marriage. At least then, I would have a good reason to reject him," she added.
Instead of reprimanding her, Selene gave a melancholic smile.
"Sweetheart, we weren't allowed to do anything of the sort. But," she gave her daughter a wink, "we did so anyway. We knew how limited our time was, so we made the best of it. And I agree, you should be able to at least talk to the prince before anything permanent happens. I'll be certain to talk to Yukito about it tonight." Her mother gave an uncharacteristic yawn, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. "Now, off to bed with you. We've already sent Luna to your room to tuck you in." Serenity nodded, feeling tempted to listen to her. It was so late already, and she desperately wanted to slip into her nightgown.
However, as soon as Selene was out of sight past the ball room entrance, Serenity made a mad dash back to the gardens, only managing to slip once at the bottom of the stairs. She went straight to Endymion's hiding spot, whispering his name. But he was not there.
"Endy…mion?" she called quietly, looking closer into the ivy-covered bushes. Other than a slight indent in the soft, powdery soil, there was no sign of him. Maybe he left to go back to Earth. She felt a chill of disappointment and looked up at the blue marble up above. She didn't want to say good-bye already.
"Someday… I'll go there." There wasn't a single waver in her voice.
"Would tomorrow do?"
Serenity whirled around and Endymion was standing next to the fountain. She couldn't help but smile, and then his words reached her brain.
"Y-you mean to Earth? You'd take me!?" she asked gleefully as she ran up to him, unable to contain her bubbling excitement.
"Shhh shh!" he whispered, though he was smiling too. Serenity couldn't help but hug him, throwing her arms around his neck, bouncing on her tiptoes as he returned the hug. She vaguely took note of how much taller he was than her. "Just meet me back here tomorrow night, and we can go together."
"Can we go to an ocean? I've always wanted to see one up close."
Endymion nodded, "My family owns a fair bit of land next to one. I can teach you to swim if you like."
"Oh yes, I would love to. Does your land have any flowers?" she continued. Her fingertips played with the tips of his hair.
"Hundreds. No, I'd say thousands. As far as the eye can see."
"It sounds so lovely… I might stay there forever," she said wistfully. But… "I don't know if I can." Endymion watched her slowly deflate, the fire dissipating from her eyes, her arms withdrawing as she began to step away.
"Princess, I…" he began, and he shook his head. In one swift motion, he swept her up in his arms and kissed her. Whatever thoughts she had, her persistent doubts, were washed away as she found warmth in his cloak. Finally, when they broke away from each other, Serenity felt her face burning.
"You may be promised to this other man. But doesn't your heart lie elsewhere? I know you long to be there, on Earth. I can't explain it, but I want to give that gift to you. Even if it's just for a moment…" His blue eyes shone with determination, and Serenity felt her heart full to bursting with emotion.
"I'll be here. Tomorrow night. No matter what happens," she promised him. They stood in each other's arms, and he kissed her forehead.
"And I'll be waiting," he replied. He looked down and she saw his eyes land on her necklace. "Were you wearing that before?" he wondered out loud.
"Oh, this? It's… just a gift." She touched it, feeling the individual diamonds on the charm. "For the wedding."
"I see. It is rather beautiful, but…" he trailed off, looking embarrassed. Serenity cupped his cheek, giving him a quick peck.
"I look forward to your gift much more than this," she said sweetly, and he smiled sheepishly. Endymion was lost for words it seemed, and he simply kissed her again.
"You should probably go. Tomorrow will be here before you know it."
"Alright," and finally they parted.
She felt as if she could fly, all the way up the flight of stairs to her room. It felt so wonderful to be able to have a chance to go to Earth. She'd finally be able to lie in the green grass, play with the animals, touch the bark of trees, dip her toes into bubbling streams. Not to mention being accompanied by a real Terran.
As Serenity tiptoed down the empty corridor, planning her first trip to Earth, and her mind full of thoughts of the kind Endymion, a shadow watched her silently before appearing behind her.
"What a disobedient princess you are," it said, catching her wrist. Serenity stopped instantly, coming face to face with Prince Diamond.
"Let go of me," she ordered, unable to hide the fear in her eyes. He had a surprisingly strong grip, using it to yank her forward, putting her back against the wall, shaking the nearby tapestry. Serenity winced, barely registering what was going on.
"I'll have to teach you some proper manners," he hissed. "For starters, no more midnight encounters in that little garden."
"What?" She felt an icy shiver down her back when she looked into his violet eyes. He couldn't possibly mean…?
He was leaning into her now, his long lashes on her cheek as he kissed her neck. She panicked and quickly pushed him away with all her might, barely creating an opening for her to step away and escape.
"Luna!" she called, hoping that her voice could carry for her friend to hear. But the word didn't even escape her lips before Diamond clamped his hand over her mouth from behind, twisting one of her arms behind her back. The shock of pain was so great she backed up into him, trying to prevent further injury rather than to escape. His mouth was on her ear.
"I don't know who that man is, but he's going to meet a gruesome end if I ever catch you with him again. You belong to me." He paused, as if he wanted confirmation. But Serenity was too shocked to do anything. Her restrained arm was tingling with pain. Her still silence seemed to be enough for him and he ever so slightly loosened his grip on her, the hand on her mouth coming down to touch her neck, his long, pale fingers tracing the necklace she wore. She shut her eyes tight, hoping to wish him away. His hand didn't stop it's descent…
A column of light illuminated the last half of the hallway, the door at the end opening to reveal a female figure at the threshold. At that instant, Diamond vanished and Serenity almost stumbled forward upon being released.
"Serenity, there you are!" It was Luna, dressed in a lavender shift, holding a florescent blue crystal light in her hand to light the dark hallway. When she saw that the princess didn't move, only stared forward, she rushed forward and took her by the shoulders.
"Hey, what's the matter? Come on, you should have been in bed an hour ago. Serenity…?"
"Luna… I…" she mumbled, but was unable to speak anymore. Her hands were trembling. Luna managed to gently lead her back to her chamber, helping her out of her gown, into her night clothes, and taking down her hair. As was their nightly ritual, Luna brushed her friend's silvery blonde hair until it was free of tangles. Nothing was said between them until Luna tied the pink ribbon at the end of her braid. A small sniffle and the princess buried her face in Luna's shoulder. She didn't have to ask what was wrong.
"I don't want to marry him!" she cried, "He's awful to me… just awful."
"Are you talking about what he did in the ballroom tonight?"
"Not just that," she clarified, "He…" She paused, realizing her dilemma involving Endymion. It wouldn't do any good to try and keep him a secret either. Serenity took a deep breath, then explained what happened. Several minutes later, Luna was staring at her, wide-eyed.
"We have to tell your father first thing in the morning. Surely he'll see that he's made a mistake by simply inviting that horrible prince into the palace." She looked quite determined. "I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. But as long as Art and I are around, he won't hurt you like that again."
The princess smiled weakly, unsure of how to answer. But she didn't want to be discouraging.
"The Terran I was with tonight," she began, changing the subject, "He seems pretty strong. He had a sword at his side too. I'm sure he'd be willing to help if I asked." There was a genuine smile on her face before she knew it, making Luna raise a knowing eyebrow.
"You're in love with him!" she declared, beginning to pace with excitement. "Oh I should have known from seeing you two down in the garden, it's so obvious!"
"Luna, I'm not—I mean, we only just met," she stammered, feeling blood rush to her cheeks and the tips of her ears. But her dark-haired friend was already bouncing on her toes, grabbing Serenity's hands and giving a little squeal of happiness. Ignoring the princess's intense blushing, she stopped and gasped, covering her mouth dramatically.
"Wait just a minute… do you mean to tell me that, on the night of the announcement of your engagement to Prince Diamond, you sneak off to the garden to get friendly with a trespassing Terran, not once but twice?! That is so terrible!"
"Luna, of course it sounds terrible if you put it that way! But…" and she couldn't help but feel a tingle of happiness at the thought, "he promised to take me to Earth. You know how badly I've always wanted to go. Well, now's my chance!"
"You can't just up and leave! You're not thinking things through at all," Luna replied, biting her lip worriedly, "If your father finds out, he'll have my head. I'd rather keep it, thank you very much."
"You can always come with me," the princess suggested coyly. Luna sighed, sitting on the luxurious bed behind her.
"I'd rather not get in your way. Besides," the dark-haired girl added, "If this Terran is really that good of a catch, you'd better do what you can when you can, right?"
"Then you'll cover for me? Please?" Serenity batted her eyelashes, making her friend giggle.
"Of course. I'll see if Artemis can help too."
"Thank you. I'm sorry, but—"
"Don't be sorry for your true feelings." Luna motioned for her to get into bed, pulling back the sheets like always. Serenity sighed, slipping underneath the covers, pulling her braid to the side. "You can't help who you fall in love with."
"I know. Will you stay until I fall asleep?"
"I planned on staying in here anyway." She dimmed the light crystals next to her bed, then crawled under the sheets next to her best friend. "That nasty prince won't lay a finger on you, not if I can help it. Now try to sleep."
With that, all Serenity could do was close her eyes and find solace in Luna's words, drifting away to sleep in the dark. Tomorrow morning couldn't arrive soon enough.