Discliamer: As always, these characters don't belong to me, I'm just borrowing them. Secret Garden- Chapter 7 "Mother, I need to speak with you." "Not now, Endymion, I am working on some very important matters to our kingdom." Endymion entered the study, a huge library with wall-to-wall book shelves and slammed his hand down on the table under his mother's eyes, "This cannot wait, mother. I do not know how much longer we may have a kingdom for." The Queen laughed, looking up to meet his stormy blue eyes, "That is non-" "No, mother. Come with me, we have to talk about this." He grasped her hand in a firm grip and then moved to her side to help her out of the chair. Once standing, he placed his other hand on her elbow. The Queen started to protest but one look into her son's closed face and deep blue irises had her keeping quiet. They finally stopped, after miles of hallways, outside his bed chambers, "Mother, take a deep breath, I do not wish to alarm you and have you faint on me, alright?" The Queen sighed and did as he asked, "Really Endymion, what are you..." she trailed off as he opened the door and revealed a glittering vision dressed in white. A hand flew to her mouth in surprise, "My lord, can it be?" Endymion let go of his mother and fetched a chair for her. Serenity was bathed in bright sunlight, backlit, her silhouette unmistakable for anyone who knew the legends of the moon. As the Queen of earth settled into a chair, shocked, Serenity stepped out of the direct light so that the older woman could see her face. The crescent moon on her forehead shone and glittered as her golden tresses did. She approached the woman until she was standing a few feet from her, being careful not to trip. "I am Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom," she said finally, dropping into a curtsey, "I humbly ask, your majesty, for your forgiveness in breaking a law that has been in effect for many centuries." The Queen looked at Endymion, her face frozen somewhere between shock, horror and wonder. "Is this supposed to be come kind of sick joke, Endymion?" He shook his head, extending his hand to Serenity. The Princess accepted and allowed him to pull her into his embrace, "No, mother. Princess Serenity is here and she broke a law for the chance to see colors she has only heard about. It was just fortune, good fortune, in my opinion, that she appeared in my sight." The Queen bowed her head, resting her face in her hands in a dejected posture, "Then what you said was true," her voice was muffled, "We may not have a kingdom for long." Serenity looked at Endymion worried. She'd formally greeted the Queen and had gotten only shock as her response. "Endy, did I do something wrong?" she whispered worriedly, "Did I mess up the greeting?" Endymion shook his head, leaning down to whisper for her ears only, "No, my love, you were wonderful. I am afraid my mother was caught extremely off guard with this." Serenity bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes, "I hope she is alright..." she pulled out of his embrace and approached the Queen, going so far as to rest a gentle, cool hand on her arm, "Your majesty, are you alright?" Queen Mindaya brought her head up, years of training belatedly kicking in as she stood and nodded to the Princess of her closest neighbor, "I greet you in the name of Earth, Princess Serenity, but, I can not forgive you. You are aware of the consequences your actions will have?" Serenity nodded, meeting the Queen's gaze squarely, "I am. I was not when I first arrived, but my aunt informed me of them. I accept responsibility for my actions." Serenity trembled, as the queen's eyes seemed to bore through her. She used every trick she knew to keep from shaking in front of the woman. She knew that by accepting responsibility, royalty or not, that the Queen could have her banished from the kingdom. Endymion stepped up to her side, sliding an arm around her waist to support her. He felt her tremble slightly and looked at his mother, "Mother, please. What has been done, is done and it cannot be undone. The prophecy has been fulfilled. With or without your blessing, I am going to marry Serenity." The Queen's eyes flew to her son's... "Yes, do that. If we ally ourselves with the moon kingdom, and the Silver Millennium, now perhaps, just perhaps, we can fight the coming darkness..." Serenity looked at Endymion and rested her head on his shoulder, closing sad blue eyes as the Queen swept from the room. A tear trickled from her closed eyes. Gentle fingers brushed the crystal from her cheek, "Why the tears, my love? I have my mother's blessing to marry you, in fact, from her tone of voice, she is going to talk with your mother and the court of the Silver Millennium right now." Serenity's eyes flew open, one hand going to her mouth, "Oh, no... My mother knows nothing of this! I am in big trouble, Endy. If your mother does go talk to her about an alliance by marriage and then my mother goes to talk to me about it..." Endymion hugged her, "Relax, Angel. Nothing you mother, or mine, can do will change things. I love you. Come, let me take you into our world and get you a ring. You have yet to see an Earth city." Serenity looked down at her dress, "Umm... Endymion, I cannot go out there like this. I am in my formal gown and I have nothing else to wear! Mother will be upset with me if something happens to this gown." Endymion hid his amusement, "I am sure we can find something. Do you mind waiting here for me while I go look?" Serenity looked around his room, yawning suddenly and then blushed, "If it is alright with you, I would like to take a short nap. Being away from the moon and out of its light is rather draining." Endymion scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bed, laying her gently on it, "Sleep, Princess, I shall wake you in about an hour." He kissed her gently and then smiled as she curled up on the black sheets. Her hands were folded under her cheek, as if in prayers, her golden hair spread out and around her, the two streamers glinting in the bright light. Her eyes were closed already, long dark lashes fanned out against her cheekbones. Endymion found himself shaking his head, marveling at her amazing beauty. This woman-child was absolutely amazing. Sleep only made him more aware of her tiny size. When her breathing finally drifted into a slow rhythm he pulled himself away and looked at her, really looked at her. She was small, tiny even for a girl of 14, but her youthful exuberance and obvious love of life made her seem so much bigger. He shook his head and smiled, gently freeing his sheets from beneath her and covering her with a light one. She snuggled down into his pillow, one of her hands curling beneath the soft, fabric covered feathers. Her dress clung to her womanly curves, curves that were only beginning to show. She sighed in her sleep, already having dropped off and Endymion turned and left the room, closing the heavy oak door as softly as he could. ******** Author's note: This is almost finished. For those of you who wrote me to let me know what you thought of this, it is greatly appreciated :) If you wish to let me know your thoughts (flames, suggestions... anything else) my e-mail is Jade_Max@innocent.com More to come shortly. My apologies this has gotten so long. it shouldn't be much longer :)