::Meredith glances around the list sheepishly, holding a squirming bag.:: Yeah, I know it's been a while, but I finally feel inspired for this one... forgive me? ::Meredith, Dia whispers, They probably don't remember the story at all! It's been forever!:: Oh be quiet! You're not even a real character, just a figment of my imagination! ::hrmph! See if I ever eat you out of house and home again:: You're too much like your mother. ANYWAY, I know most of this is romance, but our regularly scheduled plot took a bit of a vacation so Endy and Sere could get together... well, sort of. Go forth valiant one, read on! Meredith The Will of Heaven 4/? by Meredith Bronwen Mallory mallorys-girl@cinci.rr.com Whatever Endymion had been expecting, the young woman curled up in the shaft of moonlight was not it. He stood in the shadowy threshold, midnight blue eyes riveted on her form and he found he could not look away. She was like a fairy, long golden hair pooling around her and spilling off one side of the raised bed, dainty body clearly visible in the pale silvery light. A long, low moan of despair escaped her lips, and he realized with a start that she was crying. Here was no experienced seductress, no strange and foreign siren sent to coerce him into bed, but a frightened girl, no older then he, her cheeks stained red with tears. For the first time in his life, Endymion felt a sensation so sharp, yet tender, it walked the line between love and hate. Something like rage accompanied it, for this girl was obviously here against her will. With slow, sure steps, he approached the bed, carefully, afraid that the slightest move might send her running. Serenity swore her heart had ceased to beat within her breast. There he was, Endymion, Prince of Earth, perhaps, aside from his father, the most powerful man in the solar system. And she was laying in his bed weeping. The slight hilarity of the situation hit Serenity with surprising force, and she couldnıt help but wonder what twisted joke fate was playing with her. ŒMost likely, no one will touch you,ı Demando had said. How long ago had that been? Week... no, two. It seemed like an eternity since sheıd last seen her friends. Now the guardıs words held little reassurance Why else would her robe had been taken from her, why else would she be locked in the Princeıs bedchamber unless he wanted to..wanted to... she couldnıt even finish the thought. A large hand came to rest on Serenityıs upper arm, and a shudder wracked her hapless frame. He was touching her. Having covered her face with her hands, Serenity moved a dainty finger just so, peering up at the man. With some fear, she noted how large his profile was, features partially illuminated by the moonlight. He was obviously much, much taller than she. Something cracked within the young woman, and her fiery spirit was released full force. In a whirl of pink, gold and flesh tones, a movement too quick for the young prince to register immediately, she shot up to her feet in a defensive stance. Her nimble fingers swiftly unhooked the jewel encrusted brooch that held her sheer dress closed, and she grasped it in her right hand, aiming the sharp end at the man who threatened what was left of her innocence. Eyes glittering, she cried out, ³You shall not touch me!² Shock raced through Endymion as he stared at the little brooch, glimmering in the moonlight, the needle like end aimed at his heart. His eyes traced a line up the curve of the dainty fingers holding the make shift weapon, moving up the long, slender arms, delicate shoulders, porcelain neck... cheeks stained red by tears, blue eyes wild with fear and defiance. ³Iım not going to hurt you,² he said softly. What power was she working over him? She was a paradox, an angel in concubineıs clothing. The amusing aspects of the situation temporarily escaped the young man, who failed to find humor in the fact that a concubine was wielding a piece of jewelry against a prince. ³Thatıs right, because youıre not going to touch me,² Serenityıs blue eyes narrowed, she took his words as meaning he thought what was to follow would be enjoyable for them both. The heavens didnıt seem to be pleased, for at that moment, a bolt of lightning pierced the sky, followed by a crash of thunder so powerful it shook the entire palace. In that instant, Serenity leapt into the air, frightened by the strange noises. Her feet lost their precarious position of the feather bed, she fell forward, and would have surely impaled herself upon the brooch, had it not been for the strong arms that caught her up in their embrace. Her heart lurched Sheıd all but throw herself at him. She struggled against him in earnest, desperate to get away, save herself, but his grip was firm, unyielding and surprisingly...gentle? ³Itıs all right,² he said softly, ³I promise. I donıt want anything from you.² His hand found itıs way to the small of her back, an understanding, sympathetic gesture. It was Serenityıs undoing. The day had been filled with too many good-byes, too many revelations, her world had all but turned itself upside down. And now, here was this man, who up until a few moments ago, she could have sworn was going to take her if given half the chance. And yet he was holding her, like a china doll, afraid he might break her, and his arms were oh so warm... It was the straw that broke the camelıs back, so to speak, and she burst into tears again. Her arms stopped trying to push him away, and started snaking around his waist, to cling to him. His arms came around her, one patting her back while the other stroked her hair. Serenity howled out her pain in the strangerıs arms, not even realizing that heıd taken a seat on the bed, or that heıd drawn her balled up form into his lap. Had someone told Endymion two hours ago that he would be rocking a concubine in his arms as she wept against him, he would have been the first to commit them. But right now, on this strange, dreamlike night, it seemed the most natural thing in the world. Some distant wondered how anyone could be so small as she, or how anyoneıs hair could be as soft as her satiny mane. Eventually, her river of tears seemed to run dry, and she simply lay there, breathing heavily, body shaking. Looking at the hourglass sitting near the bed, Endymion was surprised to see that more than two hours had passed. Wasnıt it only moments ago he was staring at her over the sharp end of a brooch? Gently, he began to lift her up, holding her body with one arm as he drew the covers back. She began to struggle again, obviously afraid he was going to try something with her, but he merely laid her amongst the feathery pillows, pressing a finger to her soft lips and drawing the blankets up around her as one would a small child. He saw her glorious blue eyes widen in surprise, and found himself chuckling a bit as he snatched up a pillow and the unused blanket at the end of bed, patting the girl on the head before retreating to his chambersı outer room. Serenity watched him go, something coming to bloom in her heart. Her eyelids grew heavy, her mind tired of trying to think so hard about everything, and she turned slightly, resting her face on her hands. Breathing in deeply, she found the pillows carried the comforting, distinctive smell of roses and evergreens... so pleasant and warm. She was asleep within moments. ------------ It was still raining in the morning, but Serenity no longer found it as strange or threatening as she had the night before. It still seemed wrong for water to fall from the sky, but now it sounded like a distant orchestra practicing. Like a cat, she stretched, momentarily disoriented, before the room came into focus, and she threw back the silken covers, chilling as her skin came in contact with the cool air. She resolved to find something more...er...appropriate to wear as soon as the opportunity presented itself. She didnıt even glance in the mirror as she passed it, more curious about her new surroundings than interested in her appearance. Opening the heavy wooden door, she found herself in a large, marble room, with high ceilings. There was a fountain in the corner, desk nearby, several bookcases, and a long black sofa... on which laid the Prince of Earth. the concubine was astonished, Could he be that kind? Tentatively, Serenity approached the sleeping man, afraid her slight movements might wake him. He was stretched awkwardly along the couchıs length, his form much too tall to be sleeping on it, one leg having escaped the sheets, his bare chest showing... The young woman took this in, a blush staining her cheeks, before her eyes came to rest on his face. She hadnıt really gotten a good look at him last night, it had been too dark, and she hadnıt really been concerned with it, but now... she gasped. He was beautiful. It was hard to think of a man, any man, as being beautiful, but the Prince *was* beautiful, in a masculine way. Serenity considered, gazing on his features, relaxed to innocence in sleep. A traitorous hand darted forward to tenderly brush away a stray lock of ebony hair, and the young woman momentarily closed her eyes at the feel of it. Endymion started awake at the touch, opening midnight blue eyes to see the concubine leaning over him. She jumped back, as though burned, when she realized heıd awakened, and the prince felt suddenly deprived, having lost her warm touch. ³I... Iım sorry, your Highness, I didnıt mean to wake you,² Serenity stuttered, drawing back. The Prince managed to sit up, his muscles protesting the abuse of his cramped sleeping conditions. ³Donıt worry about it,² he said quickly, ³Good morning.² ³Um,² she looked astonished by his kindness, ³Good morning to you too.² Endymion smiled, scooting over on the sofa and gesturing her to join him. She looked hesitant, and when she finally did take a seat, it was as far away from him as possible, so she was precariously close to falling on the floor. ³Would you like some breakfast?² he asked. ³Y-yes, your Highness, that is, if itıs all right with you, sir,² Serenity said softly, looking down at her hands, folded in her lap. He quickly rang for the servant, who came and went quickly, like a shadow. Turning back to the girl, he introduced himself, hoping she would no longer feel the need to address him as Œyour highnessı and Œsirı. He had the strangest desire to hear his name roll of her tongue. ³Iım Endymion,² he said. ³I am very pleased to meet you, your highness,² Serenity said softly. A flash of annoyance passed through the prince, but he stomped out quickly. ³Please, call me Endymion, Œyour highnessı sounds so stuffy, Iım only a few years older than you.² ³If that is what you wish your hi-² she caught her mistake, blushing, ³Endymion.² ³Thatıs better,² the prince smiled, ³Now, whatıs your name?² Serenity looked up at him, startled. She knew she should tell him her name was Mayumi, use it as a shield, keep herself safe from those piercing blue eyes (AN: Oh, too late my dear! ^.^) but the weight of that name, the memories it carried, was all too much for her. Internally, she heard Demandoıs voice, calling her name in that half scolding, half gentle tone he always seemed to use with her. No, Mayumi was another person, a life time and a planet away. ³Serenity,² she said softly. ³Itıs a beautiful name,² Endymion said, turning away and drawing a bundle out of the coffee table drawer. It was Serenityıs robe. ³The guards left this for you.² he told her. ³And this as well.² Serenity looked down at the bundle in her hands, realizing it was the gift from the girls at the harem. For a moment, the Princeıs existence completly slipped her mind as she undid the pale blue ribbon holding it closed. More than a dozen bracelets, rings, hair clips and personal accessories, each belonging to one of her friends, were revealed before her eyes. Tears rose within the young woman as she shifted through the gifts. ³Whatıs all this?² the Prince inquired. ³My friends at the harem,² Serenity said softly, ³They knew I was leaving, they all came to see me and... gave me this.² Seeing the puzzled expression on the young manıs face, the concubine elaborated. ³See this,² her dainty hand selected a hair pin with a silver fish on it, ³This belongs to Michiru, she wrote the most amazing lyrics. Her friend Haruka,² now she pointed to a plain leather ankle bracelet, ³would write music, and theyıd perform the songs for us.² ³Were you happy there, Serenity?² Endymion asked in wonder. He wasnıt entirely sure what he expected the young woman to say, but he was surprised by her sentiments. ³I suppose itıs hard to be happy when youıve been taken away from your family,² Serenity said thoughtfully, ³But I had a year there, I made friends. We were all each other had.² She turned away slightly, her hands shifted through the rest of the treasures, and she gasped. There, laying amongst bracelets and earrings, any number of feminine items, was a single, silver hook, a small amethyst set in the center, belonging to a man. She knew what it was on sight, one of the pins that held Demandoıs purple cape. Had he been in on this too? Had he... ³Whatıs the matter?² Endymion asked, noticing her distress, which seemed centered on the silver item resting in her hand. ³Iım fine,² she said softly, distractedly. ³Will you tell me about them?² he asked. She looked up at him, nodding slowly. Right now, despite their rather royal surroundings, their less than formal attire allowed the two to feel as though they were normal human beings, friends having a conversation, and not two strangers thrust together by fate. More than an hour passed as Serenity and Endymion shifted through the gifts, and it seemed she had endless tales about her friends, all of them more than willing to be told. The Prince found the concubine utterly charming as she reminisced about the Œold daysı. She was in the middle of relating a particularly humorous incident involving her friend Haruka and a pair of dirty socks, when the servant arrived with breakfast. After setting the steaming plates on the coffee table, he quickly disappeared. Neither of them noticed the small smile on the servantıs face. Endymion had certainly caught himself a pretty one! ³Whatıs this?² Serenity asked as she looked over the unfamiliar food items. She hadnıt even stopped to consider that the food on Earth might be different from her native moon. It smelled good, but she wasnıt one who made a habit of eating strange things. Endymion looked over at her, mid-sip of orange juice, a small chuckle rising to his throat, only to be drowned in the liquid. ³Those are rolls,² he handed her one, ³these are muffins, and those are eggs,² he pointed to the white and yellow blobs. To Serenity, they didnıt look at all eatable, no matter how good they smelled. ³Eggs?² she asked. ³Yeah, they come from chickens,² Endymion replied, spearing some with a fork and putting it on Serenityıs plate. ³Chickens?² the young woman inquired, even more confused. ³Yeah, theyıre white birds with a kinda nasty temperament..² the Prince looked over, seeing he wasnıt getting anywhere, ³Never mind, just try it, itıs good.² Taking his word, Serenity daintily lifted the egg to her lips, chewing thoughtfully for a moment, before a smile lit her face. ³It is good!² she cried, then proceeded to woof down the rest of it. Endymion watched her with amusement. How she could act like a princess one minute, and a child the next, was quite beyond him. They continued breakfast in companionable silence, when a knock sounded on the door. ³Sire,² it was Minako, Serenity realized happily, waving to her friend from behind the Princeıs back. The blond woman winked discreetly at the concubine before continuing, ³Your mother and father wish to see you and Serenity-san in the throne room.² ³Thank you, miss,² Endymion said, in a dismissive fashion. He turned to Serenity, noting her complexion had paled greatly. ³Whatıs wrong?² ³Your parents... the King and Queen?² she squeaked. The Prince just laughed, gesturing for her to put on her robe. ³Donıt worry about it,² he told her. ------ ³Donıt worry about it,² Serenity said bitterly as she stood just outside the throne room, waiting to be summoned. What was to become of her now? So far, everything Demando had said about Endymion had been correct, but she had to leave margin for error. What would they do with her, if she was not to serve her intended purpose? ³You are the concubine?² the herald asked, having approached Serenity without her noticing. Mutely, she nodded, and began to pray to whatever deity might be listening as she followed the man. At the archway leading into the throne room, the herald stepped aside, allowing Serenity to bare witness to a tender scene. Endymion was down on one knee before his motherıs throne, on which reclined a delicate woman with a cameo profile. The Queen gazed raptly at her son as they conversed in hushed tones, reaching a somewhat withered hand to brush a few stray locks away from his face. Feeling like an intruder, Serenity glanced at the other occupants of the room. The King, a kind, elderly gentleman that reminded her somewhat of Artemis, and four young men, about Endymionıs age, dressed in uniforms. She realized these must be the Princeıs guards. She stood there uncertainly, until some small sound or movement caused Endymion to turn his head and look at her. He climbed to his feet, a smile on his face as he said; ³Do come in Serenity. Mother, this is Serenity. Serenity, this is my mother, Queen Cassiopeia of Earth.² In that moment, Demandoıs instructions rang in the concubineıs head. ŒIf you are taken to the Royal family, prostrate yourself immediately once you are in your presence.ı In one fluid motion, Serenity dropped gracefully to her knees, head down, arms outstretched, all in the prescribed manner. She was very thankful, her legs wouldnıt have held out much longer anyway. she thought at the guard. ³Do rise, Serenity,² the Queen said. The girl swore she heard a hint of reproach in the older womanıs tone, ³Come closer, I want to see if Endymionıs extravagant praise is true.² Obediently, Serenity rose, coming to stand just before the Queen. For the first time, she got a good look at Cassiopeia, and was struck by the resemblance between mother and son. The Queenıs features, though cast in a feminine mold, were remarkably like Endymionıs, especially in the eyes and mouth. Her rain straight black hair had not a hint of gray to it, and was pulled back in an elegant gold fillet, her form clothed in a royal blue gown that reached well to the floor, pooling around her. Queen Cassiopeia turned her head, dark lashes briefly fanned over deep blue eyes Serenity had momentarily thought to be so like Endymionıs turned to a cool gray, like a winter sea- and just as cold. She smiled briefly, but only Serenity seemed to notice that it didnıt reach her eyes. She shivered, knowing almost instantly that she had made her first enemy on this strange green planet. ------------- Horrible, ne? I thought so too. EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL me and tell me what you thought!