A/N: I've been quite the little worker bee with my stories this week! lol. But I've had more free time than I anticipated, which has allowed me to commit more time to write/proof-read! :)

WARNING: A bit of shameless advertising ahead.

So, I've posted a one-shot (which is canon, btw! lol), so please go and give that a read! It's called A Moment in Time. I also have another new, multi-chapter fic posted: Through Darkness Comes Light. It's inspired by the legend of Hades & Persephone from Greek mythology.

I think this will be the extent of my writings that I will post...for now. I have other ideas in the works, but I'm not even sure if they will come to fruition. Time will tell!

Also, I apologize that this chapter is a little on the shorter side. It's more of a filler, than anything.

Please enjoy! And, as always, I love hearing from you all!

Thanks so much for the continued love/support you all have given!

Until the next chapter,

-Dev

"...I'd rather choose to fall in love and be hurt.
Sometimes I can't even sleep because I love someone too much.
And there's always sadness in our lives.
It's that sad feeling that keeps us going."
―Usagi Tsukino, "Sailor Moon, Vol. 1"

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.:Serenity:.

I hadn't expected to hear from Endymion so soon, but I awoke the following morning after a long, restless night filled with very little sleep to find it waiting for me, having been brought to me by my faithful courier who wasn't above a well-chosen bribe.

My heart lifted with each word of Endymion's letter, his words the perfect balm for my aching heart after a difficult, fear-riddled night. Endymion has found the Relic of Peace! To think that, after all this time, it was finally within our grasp, that after years of secrets and obstacles we would finally rise above them...

I pressed the letter to my chest with contented sigh, only hastily lowering it when Mina entered the library where I'd taken my breakfast. I'd risen early in order to immerse myself in any book that might help me discover the possible location of the Relic of Peace, more eager than ever to end the feud after the events of yesterday—a feud that, thanks to Endymion's letter, finally seemed close to concluding.

But I wasn't quick enough for Mina's careful observance. Despite the shadows beneath her eyes that revealed her own sleepless night, her senses were still sharp. Her eyes narrowed at the letter, and by her frown, she knew who it was from.

"You've been exchanging letters?" Disgust curled her lips; it seemed a single night hadn't been enough to cool her anger, not that I'd expected it to; Mina could wield a grudge nearly as effectively as she could wield a sword, especially one of this magnitude.

Things had been cool between us since yesterday, and while I regretted being at odds with my dearest friend, I knew we were both too set in our opinions to even attempt to make amends. Such a shame that years of friendship that had begun in childhood could have such a disastrous end, a relationship so broken that my only hope of repairing it was obtaining the relic.

"It's none of your concern." I folded the letter back up, but before I could tuck it away, Mina seized it. I leapt to my feet and made to grab it, but she held it out of reach. "Mina!"

"I promised to remain silent about past interactions with the enemy, but this"—she waved the letter accusingly—"is current, Princess." She used my title as a weapon, reminding me how displeased she was with me. "Now I can either read this, or I can give it to the queen to read. Which will it be?"

I glared at her. "Threatening your princess?"

Her shrug was indifferent, the result of years of liberties I'd granted her, ones I fiercely regretted now. "You view it as a threat while I consider it protection."

"The only harm that could possibly befall me from that letter is a paper cut," I muttered.

She ignored this disgruntled comment and carefully unfolded the letter, knowing me well enough that would be my choice from her outlined conditions. But as eager as she clearly was to discover the letter's contents, she didn't immediately read it. Instead she met my gaze, her own almost...disappointed.

"I'm surprised you haven't yet inquired for further details about the fight that broke out yesterday."

Shame caused a nauseous pang to twist my stomach. In truth, the arrival of Endymion's letter had driven all thoughts of the skirmish from my mind. How could I have forgotten about such a vital thing? Men had put themselves in danger to protect me, only for me to treat their sacrifice thoughtlessly.

Mina's eyes narrowed accusingly. "He brings out the worst in you."

My guilt only sharpened at her words. "Of course he doesn't. I meant to ask—I just haven't seen you until now, and you catching me with his letter distracted me—" My protests sounded weak, even to me. I took a shuddering breath. "How are the guards—?" Fear seized the remainder of my words. The thought that anyone could have gotten hurt because of me... I couldn't bear thinking about it.

Mina was silent for a long moment as she carefully studied me, as if searching for my sincerity. She must have found it, for she softened slightly. "Thankfully, we had the upper hand. Though the skirmish lasted a while, your guards fought valiantly and, in the end, no one was seriously injured, not even on the side of Elysion."

I released a heavy sigh, almost weak with relief. "Thank goodness." My worries immediately shifted focus. I twisted my fingers nervously. "And the crown prince?"

"You mean your Endymion?" Mina's tone was mocking. "Our spy that lingered after the fight ended said he came to shortly after our departure and was quite upset you'd gotten away."

I'd have to decipher Endymion's true feelings from those veiled words.

Mina finally turned her attention to the letter, her expression hardening as she read. When she finished, she crumpled it in her fist, her eyes almost wild. "It couldn't be more obvious that this is a trap."

"It's not a trap." I stood and tried to tug the letter free in order to smooth it out and tuck it safely away, but her grip was too firm.

"Don't tell me you believe him? I know bait when I see it. Could it be more obvious he's luring you into danger? The fact he's not even attempting to be underhanded just shows he realizes how much he's ensnared you."

"He hasn't ensnared me," I snapped. "And he's not luring me into danger."

Her brows lifted mockingly. "So you find nothing suspicious about him asking you to venture into enemy territory alone? It seems vastly convenient that the relic you've been searching for would happen to be right in the enemy's lair. That's not at all suspicious."

I flinched. Even I could privately admit how bad this looked. "It's not his fault that's where the relic happens to be."

She frowned. "Perhaps not, but if that's where that relic truly just happens to be, he's calculating enough to use it to his full advantage. Do you really believe he only just found out about it? Of course he didn't. He simply waited for the opportune moment to use it to spring his trap."

For the briefest moment, doubt clouded my thoughts. It did seem strange he'd only just learned of the relic's whereabouts, but I forced my doubt away, clinging to the explanation he'd provided. "He's explained himself; one that I've accepted."

"Foolish, considering it was a rather weak excuse."

I clenched my teeth. "Regardless of what you think, I trust him."

"Trust that's severely misguided." With a roll of her eyes, Mina smoothed out the letter and returned to perusing it, searching for something she could twist to fit her biased assumptions, as if she could discern Endymion's treachery between the lines.

"There's something else I also find convenient," she said. "He claims the Relic of Peace was acquired by his ancestor, making it so only you could obtain it, leaving him free to claim the Relic of Abundance for himself." She lifted a challenging brow, inviting me to come up with a defense to such an accusation.

"He has no interest in the Relic of Abundance." Yet uneasiness settled over me. In truth, I didn't know which relic he'd been searching for before his focus had shifted to the Relic of Peace. She was correct that he'd be free to claim another should I be the one to acquire this one.

Once again I forced my doubts away. Even if Endymion did want the Relic of Abundance, it didn't matter; by the time he obtained it we'd finally be together, allowing us both to benefit from it.

I lifted my chin. "Regardless of your prejudice, I trust Endymion. Thus I confidently know that this letter isn't a trap, but the answer to what we've spent nearly a year searching for. Even if you try to stop me, I will find a way to get that relic."

I expected her to fight me, but to my astonishment she only appeared thoughtful; by the look in her eyes, I sensed a plan brewing in her mind.

"I see that you're determined," she slowly said. "And I also realize that you're so entangled in the enemy's deceit that you won't come to your senses. At least, not until you finally realize his true nature. So, I will make a deal with you, Highness."

Though her offer should have signified a promise, forholding knotted my stomach. "What sort of deal?"

She shifted the letter. "I'm convinced this is a trap, but even the most carefully laid one can be thwarted if we venture into it on our guard and armed with knowledge of danger. I believe we can emerge from his plan unscathed, for that prince won't be expecting you to suspect you're in any danger."

"Mina, I'm not—" I began, but she talked over me.

"But we're not to leave until I've had time to come up with a plan to ensure your protection. I need to peruse some records in order to learn more about which relics Elysion has acquired over the years so that I can discover what others may be in that palace. If there aren't any that could overpower my efforts to protect you, then we may go."

I stared at her in disbelief. I'd expected to have form some elaborate plan to sneak away from her protection and find my way to the winter palace in Elysion. But, instead, she was...cooperating?

I didn't believe for a moment she'd experienced a sudden change of heart. She was definitely up to something. I studied her for a long moment. "You anticipate catching Endymion in a lie," I surmised.

Her serious gaze was unwavering, confirming that yes, that was exactly what she expected. "This is the first test of his devotion. If this prince is a man of his word, then you really have nothing to fear. But if he isn't..."

Despite trusting Endymion completely, I found myself frowning. A strange, almost calculating look filled Mina's eyes. She was as sneaky as she was stubborn and determined. Something more was definitely going on if she wanted me to test Endymion, despite the danger that would come from venturing into enemy territory.

Fear prickled my skin. It was unlike Mina to allow me to enter any situation she deemed dangerous, so she clearly had a larger plan in mind to justify the risk, undoubtedly one that would separate me and Endymion permanently. If I go along with her scheme, and she succeeds... My heart wrenched at the possibility of losing Endymion.

And yet, there was no other way for her to conceded to my demanded to go to Elysion. Despite my earlier determination, deep down I knew that without her cooperation I'd be unlikely to succeed in meeting with him. Yet with her assistance I felt as if I was walking into a trap—not one of Endymion's doing, but hers.

And any trap created would risk the relationship that Endymion and I had forged. Can I take such a chance?

I needed to, for Endymion had finally found the Relic of Peace. If we could obtain it before Mina's own scheme came to fruition...I'd no longer have anything to fear, for the relic's power would finally cause her to trust Endymion, thus eliminating whatever obstacle she had determined to use to keep us apart. But if I failed...

What should I do?

In truth, the choice had already been made—if there was even the remotest possibility of path that led to Endymion, I had to take it, which meant I had to allow her to accompany me. It was the only way I could go at all. I would just have to ensure that I emerged as the victor in this new game; the cost should I fail was far too great.

"Very well, I agree to your terms." It was an effort to keep my voice from shaking.

Triumph filled her grin, causing my heart to pound wildly. And even though her agreement brought me closer to the relic I'd spent years searching for, I suddenly felt as if I was further than I'd ever been

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à suivre...