YAY! Chapter five is finally out and ready for posting.
More questions to answer: one, yes I will be sending the
story out to other fic archives to post, (right now only
the Crystal Tokyo Library and the Usa and Mamo Archive
is posting it). This includes all the places online
posting my other story, as well as A Sailor Moon Romance.
I am waiting on sending it out to more than these two
because I want to wait until it is done and then make
any major changes according to what fans tell me. YOUR
E-MAILS ARE NEEDED AND WANTED! I was overwhelmed by
all of the mail I got with y'all asking, begging, and
outright ordering me to finish chapter five as soon as
possible. I even got one death threat, (lol!). So
here, without further adu, is chapter five... E-mail
me, Ali, SlrUnico@aol.com to comment!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weaving a Romance
CHAPTER 5: "Strangers in the Night"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena continued to sob, pitying herself and her predicament.
Suddenly she heard a sound, and, gasping, turned to see
who it was. Her breath stopped. "Darien!"
Indeed, Darien was there at the entrance, watching
her in the most confusing way, and looking harried.
Serena was immediately embarrassed he had seen
her crying, and attempted to wipe away the tears. When
she was done she glanced back at him. "Wha...what are
you doing here?"
He was silent, still watching her. Serena's heart
hammered at her ribs. What was he up to? She tried
hard to diagram the look in his eyes like it was a
conversation she did not understand. But whatever he
felt he kept well hidden because she couldn't see.
"Well?" she asked.
"Should I ask why you're crying, princess?" His
voice was low and rough, sending chills down her spine
and her stomach to do flips.
"None of your beeswax," she said haughtily, though
her heart wasn't in it.
"You're crying because of something...and before I
leave I intend to know why. Or do you often burst into
hysterical sobs for no apparent reason?"
Serena narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. It
was nice to be able to show her true feelings in front of
someone, but...dear Lord, did it HAVE to be Darien??
How did he even know where she was? How long HAD he
been standing there?? If anyone was to be asking questions,
she had more of a right than he did. "I am NOT sobbing
hysterically," she said icily. "And for your information,
oh mighty prince of the Earth, I don't recall saying that
you had permission to even speak to me. So go away."
He refused to budge. "Is the announcement true...
you are marrying?"
"Yes. To a wonderfully perfect gentlemen named Bruce,
prince and heir to the throne of Lerence." She watched
his face temporarily change into something unreadable
with satisfaction. Now he knew that he wasn't the only
hot shot man around here. "And if you dare to try anything
I will send him to put you in your place!!"
Darien walked a step or two closer. "Do you love him?"
"Well! Don't you skip right to the point...not one
for subtlety, are you?" No, she was crying inside. No,
I don't love him. Isn't it plain from the look on my face
that I do not...can not? "Sir," Serena cried, trying to
sound outraged. "That is certainly not the type of question
that a man of your status should ask a lady of my status
in public like this! I'm scandlized and refuse to answer - "
"Do you love him?" The words sounded more like he was
ordering them then merely asking.
"No." Serena turned away again. "No, damn you, I
don't love him! I'm just friends with Bruce, just
friends, but I can't help it...the betrothal, and
Mother is worried for my safety...and...and..." She
broke down in tears, her body trembling with sadness.
"It's not there...the feeling's not there...."
Darien took a half step forward, as if to run to
her side. But then he thought against it. He had the
answer he wanted. She did not love this Bruce person....
Perhaps then she could love...?
The thought was brushed from Darien's mind as quickly
as it had entered. I don't love her, he thought. I'm
simply feel sorry and concerned for her. Pity, yes,
that's it, mere pity. Poor girl.
He longed to touch her, caress her hair and tell
her it would all be all right, in the name of pity of
course, and for no other reason. But he held back as
all men should when confronted with that situation. No
matter what he would keep his distance. Until she spoke again.
"I thought," Serena sobbed to herself, as if she did not
know Darien was listening, "I could love him, but I do
not...it's impossible for me to...oh...I have to be strong
for the Kingdom and for Mother. I must have courage
and see this through." Her words brought forth another
bout of tears, stronger than before.
Darien could not stay away any longer. He was at
her side on the bench in a less than a second, holding
her. "Shhh..." he shushed her. "Don't try to be brave
anymore, Serena...you've been brave enough as it is...
shhhh...be quiet."
Serena clutched at Darien's body as if it were a
life preserver in the middle of a swirling, storm ridden
ocean. She breathed in the scent of his cologne and
felt comforted a fraction. Everything that she had
been feeling was now out in the open...and Darien
didn't condemn her for her thoughts. He was hugging
her...! Even if she could scarcely believe that this
man, a man she had hated a few moments earlier with her
very being, was now acting as something a little more
than maybe a protective older brother, he was there now
for her. "Darien," she cried breathlessly against him,
dying to get it all out of her system. "I don't love
him, what will I do? I don't!"
He hugged her as tightly as he could, wishing he
could shut out the pain. But that was impossible, and
the embrace did seem to be soothing her. Why do I feel
so strange, he thought. This cannot be love, it just
cannot be! But...Serena....
They stayed like that for a long time. No more
words were said. And all was suddenly understood.
The invisible fates that decide the destinies of
all our souls breathed out in silent relief. They had
led the young couple this far...now it was time for them
to make choices of their own.
And even though the coming night was clear and bright,
no one alive could see the storm clouds that the prince
and princess themselves had suddenly created head toward
the castle over the horizon.
When Darien finally opened his eyes he saw Serena still
in his arms and that the two of them were still seated
on the marble bench...leaning against the vine covered
wall of the garden.
The night sky had grown dark and starry around them,
and all was quiet on the palace grounds. It took his
mind a moment to register that the two of them had stayed
outside until later than planned. "I must have dozed off,"
he murmured.
Serena was asleep, still gently entwined with his
body, dried tears glittering like frozen star dust on her
cheek. His heart jumped momentarily but he brushed away
the emotion, trying hard not to move suddenly in case he
awoke the sleeping princess. What should I do with her,
he thought. I can't very well stay here the night, someone
will see us in the morning, or notice her absence if they
have not already. And I don't have the heart to...abandon...
her. So, I'll take her to her room.
At this Darien felt excited, but fretful. If they
were caught, what would others think? He, Darien,
carrying the betrothed Moon Princess in his arms to her
bed room? It would be a scandal, Serena would be
shamed. Still...there was no choice.
As softly as he could, Darien rose and lifted her
completely into his grasp. She stirred only once, just
to sink more deeply into his arms snuggled in a more
comfortable position. Carefully the prince walked out
of the garden and across the lawn, trying as hard as he
could to lessen the rustling of their clothes, namely
Serena's gown. Damnit, why did women have to wear such
garments? It made more noise than he had thought. Why
hadn't he ever noticed how noisy their dresses could be?
Hugging her close to his body, Darien made his way to
the hall and up the stairs as if he had done it all his
life....
After an endless flight of steps they were on the
second floor where he assumed her room was. There was
no second chance though at guessing which door led to
her chambers. All it would take was one wrong choice
and the occupant would blow his cover.
Finally Darien found what appeared to be Serena's
room. The door was open slightly and the subtle smell
of her perfume wavered out of the darkness. For a
moment he closed his eyes. Yes, he knew that it was
her room...he had visited it enough in his dreams to
know it well, even if he had never seen it awake before.
Deftly, he moved into her chambers and closed the door
behind him.
The dim light of the sky outside her window basked
the room in a pale glow, enough so that he could
faintly make out her bed and the other furniture. As
gently and as lovingly as possible, Darien laid Serena
on the mattress. Her white dress blended with the
coverlet, while her hair's golden sheen stood out
against the pillow, seeming as if she had been made to
lie there.
Something about the way the sleeping princess
looked there on her bed, innocent and naive, stirred
Prince Darien's heart. He stood, entranced, watching
over her, for a matter of minutes before she opened her eyes.
He gasped but made no move as her eyes swept over
him before returning to look at his face. The two were
silent as an emotion crept up from inside their souls
that had been sparked since the day they first met...
something so strange but so familiar that they did not
notice until it was too late.
"Serena..." he gasped hoarsely.
"Darien," she responded in the same tone.
And then, fate took a hand and Darien swept her
lightly into his arms and kissed her. It surprised
them both but before either could object the kiss grew
deeper and more needing. When he finally and reluctantly,
let her go she had fallen back into a sleep almost as
deep as Sleeping Beauty's, and just as magical.
Serena awoke early the next morning. Birds were singing
at the window where the first rays of sun were entering
her room. As she stretched her arms and yawned the princess
noticed two things. One, she was not under the covers
but on top of the comforter. And two, she was still in
her dress from the day before rather than in her night clothes.
All of a sudden Serena remembered the events that had taken
place the evening before. Darien...in my room...holding
me...KISSING me! She gasped. "It had to have been a
dream, I'm sure it was a - "
Then she saw it. Sitting perfectly and soundly on
her dresser.
A single red rose.
As if in a trance Serena sat up and left the bed,
walking slowly to the piece of furniture. Once there
she picked up the flower and studied it. "Darien," he
lips mouthed, but no sound surfaced. The princess' mind
reeled. "It wasn't a dream after all! It was real and
this is proof." She did not know if she was supposed to
be happy or sad. "What does this mean?"
Any other young girl would have searched the room
for a note to accompany a flower left by a man who had
been in her room. A letter of remorse, apology, love.
But Serena didn't need any note. The rose was enough.
And with that she slumped into the vanity chair and wept.
Serena stayed in her room for a very long time, trying to
sort out her emotions, and what had happened the night
before. Everything good in her wanted to scream with
happiness that he loved her and that her feelings had
not gone un-noticed. But there was still the matter of
Bruce. As she sat in her chair, looking in the mirror,
she felt like crying again before finding she had run
out of tears.
"First," she told her image, "I must figure out if
Darien *does* love me or if he was just...just..." But
if he doesn't care for me, she thought, why did he kiss
me? Maybe it's a game of his or something, maybe he was
mocking me? Still...no man could kiss like that and not
mean it. She sighed. "I'd better find out for sure just
the same.
"But then what do I do? If Darien does love me...is
our love powerful enough to stop a betrothal? Would
Mother and the king and queen of Lerence, let alone
Bruce, understand? Mother has to, she just has to! Isn't
a union with Earth what she's always wanted? But she
gave her word to Queen Estelle...so long ago...."
Serena rose, feeling frustrated. "I have to get out,
have to do something, have to find Darien."
As quickly as she could, the Moon Princess dressed
into one of her prettier dresses, fixed her hair, and
applied a little makeup. Then she noticed the rose still
sitting on the vanity where she had put it. Gently,
Serena picked it up and holding it, went downstairs to
find a vase.
If anyone had seen her going down the stairs they
would have noticed a change in her step, to complement
the glow in her cheeks. Anyone would have been able to
tell that love had done that to her, had made her even
more beautiful and more lively than imaginable. Her
hair, which was usually very perfect, (for the one thing
Serena prided herself on and took the most care of was
her hair and its unique style)...each strand having
always been in place, was just a little mussed up. It
no longer looked perfect, but it did look gorgeous and
pure and living...the hair of a woman who has awoken for
the first time in her life and is so enlightened by love
for someone that she does not have time to worry about
things like hair and such.
Her steps down the stairs were rushed and bouncy.
Serena's whole body jumped with each stair, as if she
relished in the activity and yet could not wait to get
down.
The princess giggled as she ran down the hall,
slowing to a walk every time she saw someone coming or
reached an open door way she would have to go in front
of. No sense having the other people in the castle
thinking that there was something wrong with her.
Suddenly, just before she had reached the servant's
quarters, her back stiffened and she knew someone was
there, watching her. Someone... Serena started down
the hall again, running this time without care that
several maids were staring after her, until she was off
the stone floor and on the thick green grass. A few
yards ahead was the gazebo. And in it was Darien.
"Darien!" she gasped, and ran to him.
There he was, waiting for something, possibly her.
He rose when he saw her coming and let her run into his
arms. Before he knew what he was doing he hugged her.
"Serena," he murmured. "I should apologize...last night..."
She pulled away. "Please, no apologies, I understand."
"But you're betrothed!"
"To a man I don't love," she responded bitterly.
He was silent, staring at her. Then his gaze
sifted to the rose clasped in her hand and he relaxed.
"The flower...you found it."
"It's the prettiest I've ever seen," Serena declared.
"And I've seen alot of roses."
Darien smiled. "You're so beautiful..."
She blushed.
"We have to talk, darling," he went on.
Serena couldn't believe the sound of the
endearment... "darling". "Say it again," she begged.
Another smile played on his lips. "What?"
"Darling."
"My darling," he replied, with more emotion than
the first time, gathering her back up into his arms.
"My darling Serena," he said again, dropping his voice
to a husky whisper. "You know," he whispered, "something
very odd happened to me last night in your room, Serena."
"What?"
He held her tightly. "I fell in love."
Serena smiled sweetly.
"...but now I wonder...if I hadn't been in love with
you from the very, very start." He lowered his face to
hers and for a moment the world stood still in time, as
the same rushing sound filled them both with a strange
and new power that could only be one thing...a love so
true that it bound them together body and soul and left
them suspended in air together.
Suddenly another person called out from the castle. "Serena!"
"Mother!" Serena yelped. She was almost dizzy; the
world had spun back into motion and left her breathless
and terrified and unfulfilled all at the same time.
"Oh no..." Reluctantly she tore herself from Darien.
"You better go," she muttered. "We're unchaperoned...
and I'm...well...she...oh!"
He nodded, understanding. Before she could protest
he kissed her quickly but firmly and gently on the lips.
Then he pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Tonight...
we must talk..."
She nodded. "When...where?"
"You'll know," he whispered, hearing the queen
approaching. "Farewell my princess." And suddenly he
was gone, one second dashing off as fast as if the
devil himself were on his tail, and then vanishing
behind the castle.
Serena was still recovering from the sudden embrace
when her mother arrived at the gazebo. "Dear," the
queen said. "Are you all right? Dilcy said that she
saw you racing down the hall at an alarming pace and
wanted me to ask if anything was wrong...."
"Yes, umm...fine, Mother. I'm just a little
tired- I mean," she started again, realizing that her
being tired could not logically answer the question as
to why she was running like the wind earlier, "I saw a
bee," she finished lamely, "and I came out here to get
away and I was...ummm...resting from the exhaustion of
trying to get away." The princess gasped at a sudden
sound, much like a man's deep throated chuckle, awhile
away and wondered if it was only her imagination or if
Darien had stuck around behind the building to hear what
lame excuse she would dig up to feed her mother.
Serenity didn't seem to have heard anything,
instead giving her daughter a concerned look. "Well,
even if you are just a little winded from the bee, maybe
you ought to lie down and rest. You weren't yourself
at all later yesterday, and the cook said you didn't
come to dinner because you weren't feeling well. Bruce
was most concerned about you, you know." She eyed Serena
carefully. "He does care very much for you, darling....
"I know that you aren't terribly excited or thrilled
with the prospect of a wedding, but I want you to keep
in mind that everything always works out for the best,
and that soon you will come to love Bruce the way he
loves you. Have you come to...to accept the wedding a
little more, now that you have thought long and hard
about it?"
How am I supposed to "accept" it when I am in love
with another man and he is in love with me??, Serena
screamed inwardly at her mother. But then she remembered
her duty, and since she had nothing sure yet...."Yes,
very, Mother. I thought about it like you said and then
realized you were right, and that I really do kind of,
umm...like Bruce...more than a friend. In fact, it
just might be love." Oh please, please, Darien, be
away from here already so you didn't have to hear that...
even though it's not true and you know it.
The queen's eyes dropped downward and Serena then
realized that she was still holding the rose that Darien
had sent her. Stifling a gasp, she moved to hide the
forbidden flower behind her, but it was too late, her
mother had seen it. "Dearest, where did you get that
exquisite red rose?"
"Ummmm...it came with a large bouquet, from some
noble Moon family wishing me luck with the wedding." To
cover her nervousness, she laughed. "You wouldn't believe
all of the flowers and plants and gifts I have been receiving...
my room would be a variable jungle if the maids hadn't
been cleaning them out occasionally." She stopped then, for
fear that she was babbling.
Serenity beamed, not even noticing the lie before
her very eyes. For awhile she had been extremely worried
that the rushed wedding wasn't in her daughter's best
interest. She had taken into confidence the Queen of
the Earth, who knew that the coming of Beryl was at hand,
and had been soothed by Celia that it was the best thing
that Serena be gone from the galaxy when the war did
come. If something were to happen to the princess,
Serenity knew she would never be able to live with herself.
But in the slim chance that there was nothing to be
afraid of, Serena would be stuck married to Bruce and
no one was sure she loved him. It was a chance, though,
that they would have to take.
Now though she was almost wholly reassured that
Serena would be fine.
If the queen had looked deeper, however, she would
have seen that her daughter was not at all happy with
the sudden change in her future, and that her heart
would never belong to Bruce...but to another....
Serena couldn't contain herself. "You'll know." Those
had been Darien's parting words of confidence, and she
had faith that somehow she would figure out how to meet
him without drawing attention to them. So the rest of
the day she spent on her toes, waiting for a sign.
Knowing Darien's resources anything and everything had
the potential to hold a secret of some sort, a code, a
picture, a message.
The Inner princesses, who had come back from their
home planets for a few days visit with Serena at the
request of her mother, noticed a change in Serena ever
since that morning. No one could put her finger on it,
however. Mostly they attributed it to her being in love
with Bruce. Only one did not believe that was so....
Raye confronted Serena in the hall later in the
afternoon. The other girls had gone off on a flower
hunting expedition in Chase Medow, a hill where abundant
wild plants grew. "Serena," she called after the blond
princess who was on her way up to her chambers. "Wait!"
Serena stopped on command, turned, and faced Raye.
"What's wrong?"
Raye, out of breath, put a hand on her friend's
arm. "Serena...that's what I wanted to ask you. Are
you hiding something from me?"
"Hiding something? I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"Cut the bull Serena," Raye snapped. "Look, I've
known you since we were both in diapers, I can tell when
something's up...and now something is definatly UP! So
spill."
Serena considered telling the other princess her
secret. "Oh Raye, I -" she started. "I..."
Raye waited patiently for the answer. "Yes?"
"I...well, I just...I'm..."
"Yes??"
Serena sighed. "Nothing. I'm just a little concerned
about the wedding, I don't know that much about Bruce
you know, I feel as if I hardly know him, and it scares
me that I'm going to marry a guy I don't understand."
Raye was watching her with an earnest disbelief. "Is
that it?" she asked suspiciously.
Oh let her believe what she wants, Serena's mind
replied. "Yeah."
The princess of Mars looked Serena up and down
skeptically, then nodded and flounced off leaving her
friend standing alone.
Raye didn't look back at Serena as she swiftly turned
back into the castle. "Does she honestly think she can
throw that lame excuse at me and that it will put my
feelings to rest?" she muttered. "Well, she has another
think coming then." The dark haired girl walked up the
stairs and in no time reached her room. "I know I
promised not to do this ever to you, Serena," Raye
murmured as she opened the door and stepped in, locking
it behind her. "But this is for your own good -- you
should have told me the truth when I asked you."
She went to the closet and flung the door there
open, to reveal the innocent looking dresses and other
clothing on the hangers. But under them, hidden among
the shoes, was a large and heavy box, unlabled and
indiscreet, Raye hoped, dragging it out into the light
of the room.
Once done, she opened the flaps of the box and
peered inside where there were an assortment of small
bowls, candles, incense and other holy scrolls.
Carefully but swiftly, Raye removed many of the items
and set them up on the floor in front of the largest of
the box's contents -- a huge ceramic bowl. She placed
the sticks of incense inside it and proceeded to start
a small controlled fire within the confinement of the
dish.
Raye had long ago made the promise to herself and
to the other princesses that when she learned the
ancient and mysterious art of fire reading and fortunes
she would not peep into their lives unless there was a
dire and serious reason. It was quite frankly invading
their privacy, and she knew that Serena wouldn't like
what she was about to do one bit. But she should have
told me herself, Raye thought. I gave her that chance.
I need to know what the problem is, maybe I can help.
After all, we're best friends.
The fire soon began to crackle intently, the
powerful scent of the incense floating all over the
room. Raye picked up a leather pouch and sprinkled it's
contents -- a light powder -- into the bowl, causing the
flames to shoot up with new energy. Then she began to
chant softly under her breath, secret and ancient codes
which held the power of the future.
"Oh great fire," she began after the chanting was
over. "I beg and beseech you to show me what is troubling
my friend, the Moon Princess, Serena. In the name of Mars,
I plead, show me how to help!"
The flames jumped up and licked the air, but to
Raye's surprise did not show one thing. "What??" she
gasped. "This is impossible...why won't it project an
image for me?? Great fire, PLEASE, tell me what's wrong
with Serena!!!"
Still, the result was nothing at all. The princess
of Mars banged her fists on the floor in frustration.
"This isn't fair," she muttered. "It didn't work...."
Then she thought for the first time that perhaps nothing
was the matter with Serena. "Maybe I'm just imagining
things -- if the fire didn't show it, then maybe I'm
overreacting."
Raye turned away for just a moment in thought. As
she did, an image was projected in the fire of Serena
and Darien at the gazebo, hugging. Then, right before
she reeled back to look at the flames, it disappeared.
"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream! I
know you the gleam in your eye is so familiar a gleam...!!
La de da da da la da dee de!"
The singer's voice echoed down the hall and wavered
into the conservatory where generals Malachite, Neflite,
and Zoicite were sitting. Zoicite was covering his ears
with the throw pillow. "Make him stop!" he whined to
the other three generals. "Make it stop, haven't we
suffered enough???"
Malachite looked over at him and sighed. "I know,
first that scene at breakfast yesterday, and now this.
What is with that guy's mood swings, huh?" He turned to
Neflite. "What do you make of it Nef? I mean, you must
have a theory, you're so full of that psychological junk
...Nef?"
Neflite did not respond, and simply continued to
draw lines on the map on the desk he was sitting at.
"NEFLITE??" prompted Malachite.
Still no answer.
"Maybe he's gone deaf," quipped Zoicite. "From
Prince Phantom of the Opera's little concert."
Malachite shot him a dark look. "Don't try to be
humorous, Zoi. It doesn't become you...Nef!" he began
again, turning back to the brown haired general. "Answer,
you oaf!"
Jedite chose than moment to enter the room. "Morning,"
he greeted them. Then he gestured outside. "I've
always said we needed to have chamber music after breakfast.
Helps the stomach digest and all that. Why hello, Mal," he said,
looking at his friend, "aren't we looking cheerful this
morning!"
Malachite, breathing in and out heavily, pointed to
Neflite. "In a moment I'm gonna box his ears. He won't
answer, for crying out loud, he won't answer me when I
call!"
Jedite laughed and strode over to Neflite, then
tapped his shoulder. Neflite looked up at him and
reached over to his ears, withdrawing from them two
small cotton balls. "Yeah?"
"What were you wearing those for??" exclaimed
Malachite.
"Dar's singing was getting to me. How in the
world am I supposed to graph out the new canal through
Belzar with him cajoling throughout the castle?"
As if on cue, Darien leaped into the room in a
single step. "Gooood afternoon, boys," he sang out.
"And how is everyone today?"
Malachite chose not to mince words. "What the
hell is up with your mood swings, Darien??"
Darien smiled a quirky smile and remained silent.
"Well??" Malachite prompted.
"Is it a crime for a man to be in a good mood?"
asked the prince in an innocent voice.
"Noooo..." mused Zoicite. "But yesterday...at
breakfast...you were, sort of, I dunno...warped. And
now suddenly you're all happy-go-lucky. Are you on
drugs or something?"
Darien laughed. "Yeah, I'm high..."
Jedite inhaled sharply.
"...high on love."
He let out his breath. "Well then, who is the
lucky girl this time, old boy?"
Darien chuckled again. "Can't say...sorry, pal."
"Awww...c'mon," coaxed Zoicite. "I betcha it's some
real beaut you want all to yourself."
"Very selfish of you," remarked Neflite, looking up
from his maps. "Let me see if I can guess...is it...hmmmm
...the Duchess of Montecore? the Marquise of Phillan?
the Princess of Urbania? Come on, Dar, am I even lukewarm?"
Darien shook his head loftily. "No, no, and no.
Not even close. The beauty of those three cannot compare
to the beauty of the one I hold dear." His words took on a
poet's ring. "She of the gold spun hair created from
the sun itself, she of the blue eyes that peer into the
far, far corners of my soul and can see all that I desire
her to see, she of the red lips that kiss mine so longingly,
so searchingly. Her words are sweet as honeyed sugar,
and her voice as clear and as cool as a lapping spring.
The knowledge she possesses, no matter how naive, is of
great lengths. I can only wish for those of you around
me to find such happiness in their own lives as I have
found with her."
The generals' mouths were all hanging open.
"Alas, I cannot reveal her to you as of yet," Darien
finished in a lament. Then he stopped speaking as if
singing a serenade. "So, anyone care to take a few more
stabs at it?"
"What I don't get," Malachite said, "is why you
won't tell us who she is. If she's so lovely, you'd
think that you'd want to brag about it."
Darien held up a hand. "You'll know when the time
is right."
"I know!" said Jedite, excited. "You can't tell us
because...because...her parents don't approve of you!
And you're keeping your romance a secret! Am I right?"
Darien bit his lip. "No, not even close."
"Oh." Jedite pondered for awhile, then his eyes
lit up. "Ahhh...maybe she's not as pretty as you say..."
"She is MORE beautiful than I can describe."
"Have we seen her?" Zoicite interjected.
Darien paused for a moment before he nodded. "Yes."
"All right then. It shouldn't be that hard to
figure out who this mystery girl is."
"Then..." Jedite smoothly concluded, "you've gotten
her pregnant. That's it, she's pregnant with your son
and that's why you can't tell us."
Darien stared at him with a withering look. "Oh
please, that would be something you'd do."
Neflite winced. "Ouch, right where it hurts."
Malachite grunted and slumped into a chair. "All I
have to say, if anyone wants my opinion -- "
"We don't," interrupted Zoicite.
"...is that this girl isn't as great as Darien says
she is and that's why he won't reveal her identity. Or
maybe there is no girl at all. Or still more, perhaps
she does not return his love. What do you say to THAT, Dar?"
Darien smiled a knowing smile and departed.
Serena spent the rest of the day looking for the sign that
Darien had promised. And when she wasn't searching, she
was day dreaming in her room of their encounter earlier,
of his words to her, and of their stolen kisses. She
blushed in the middle of lunch thinking about it, and had
caused a spark of interest among the other princesses,
especially Raye.
I can't believe he was right under my nose the
entire time, she thought. All along the man I have
waited for all my life turned out to be Darien. And I
never knew it. Or maybe I did, and I just hadn't admitted
it to myself until now. Oh, love is so wonderful!
She dared not mention anything to her mother about
it. If the subject were to come up she planned to pretend
as if she still hated Darien, as hard as that would be
from now on, and then in the meantime think of some way
to break the news to her gently. After all, she was
engaged to Bruce, and that could produce some problems,
especially with Queen Estelle.
What if, Serena thought with a panicking feeling,
what if Darien and I cannot stop the wedding to Bruce
from taking place? What if I'm forced to marry him
otherwise?? Oh, that's too terrible to think about!!
Her mind began to spin. She saw herself, several
years from now, brushing her hair at a vanity inside the
castle. But it wasn't HER castle -- it was the one on
Lerence. The woman in her head was crying to herself
softly, as if she did not want someone to hear her.
"Oh Darien," she said in a little voice, looking around
the room. "Oh Darien, I wish that you were here..."
The scene slipped up to reveal Darien, a few years
older himself, snoring in bed as he slept with another
woman. Serena could not make up her mind if he was married
to the woman with him, who looked a little older than
herself, or if it was just some meaningless date. Her
heart ached either way as the scene left her head.
Mother says that in time I will learn to love Bruce,
Serena continued, but he's more like a brother to me...a
brother I haven't seen since I was seven. The cruelest
punishment in the world, she concluded, would be having
to marry a man that you don't love, especially when the
man you DO love you are kept from seeing. "Why is life
so unfair," she pouted to herself while wandering down
the hall to the rose garden.
At the sight of the rose hedges her heart leapt.
This is where we discovered our love, she said silently,
brushing the silk like petals of the red rose nearest to
her with her finger tips. What a lovely place to start
a romance. It's just like out of a fairy tale.
She sat among the fragrance of her beloved flowers
on the marble bench at the start of the rose hedge maze
and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. When she did
open them she found that she had turned her head toward
something most unusual.
On one of the bushes a flash of white could be seen
peeking out of the red and green hues, looking very out
of place and alien. "What?" she said aloud, puzzled.
"What is a white rose doing in the thick of a red rose
bush?"
White roses were not uncommon to the Moon Kingdom,
but they *were* to the palace rose garden, which was
made up of only the most purest of red roses. As each
color meant something, white petals indicated secrecy
and mystery. This bit of knowledge mystified Serena
more and more until she finally had the sense to arise
and step forwards towards the foreign flower.
Once there she carefully took hold of the white
rose and pulled slightly. It came loose easily.
It was then that Serena discovered there was a thin,
tan piece of paper carefully rolled around the stem.
Excited, she unraveled the paper, smoothed it out, and
read what was written there. The words were in an
elegant scrawl, and formed a poem that Serena had never
heard before:
Heart of the Rose:
Behold, the fairest face of
All is yours!
Look for the red rose at the
Cat's hour
Only then will it sail into the
Night's place of secrecy
Yours...it is yours!!
"What is mine?" asked Serena in a mutter. "What is this
puzzle supposed to mean, Darien, I can't make heads or
tails out of it...must be a code. I wish I knew what he
meant is mine. 'Cat's hour'. Hour is time, so maybe
that is some kind of clue as to when he is coming."
For some reason an image of a little black kitten with a
yellow ribbon came to mind. It was a picture from one
of her favorite fairy tale stories, of a young Moon cat
who was given a magical ribbon by...oh, she couldn't
remember exactly who, but the point was that she had gotten
the ribbon and used it each night to...to..."Turn into a
human at midnight, to steal away to her human boyfriend's
home to be with him!"
Midnight was the key! Clever, Darien, she thought
with a smirk. The prince had done well, anyone who might
accidentally see the poem would not be able to understand
what it meant. Serena was quite pleased with herself for
coming up with the answer, when she realized there had
to be another part to the whole plan missing...where.
"Midnight, where at, though?" Her blue eyes skimmed
the poem three times: first frantically, then carefully,
and then once more with idolizing intimacy, tearing apart
each word with her hands and looking at each letter bit
by bit. But the end result was nothing.
"I wish I was Amy," Serena said in frustration.
Amy always had a knack for these things. Her mind traveled
back in time to their childhood. When Mina, Lita, Raye
and Serena were romping around the palace grounds on treasure
hunts or flower gathering expeditions, Amy always stayed
in the gazebo, intently working with crossword and sentence
puzzles that her father, King Orion had given her. Once
in awhile the blue haired little girl would try to get
Serena interested in such games.
"See?" Her memory spoke in Amy's childish but proper
voice, making her sound wise beyond her years and at the
same time wondrously young. "Look carefully Serena, what
do you see?"
"Nothing. I can't find the word." Now her mind
was speaking in a younger version of her own voice. "Please,"
it begged, "let's go with Mina and the others to catch
those turtle doves in the field. It must be such fun
and we're missing it!"
"Wait, first find the word. It's very simple, Serena.
You're not looking hard enough. You're only looking from
side to side...you need to look up and down...up and down..."
The Amy voice became harsher and more realistic, waking
Serena from her memory, though it continued to speak.
"LOOK, Serena, up and DOWN! UP and down!! UP and DOWN!"
Unconsciously, Serena obeyed, moving her eyes up and
down the poem rather than reading it. And there was her
answer!!! "I don't believe it!" she cried out, not wanting
to say the place aloud for fear of it disappearing before
her strict and taut gaze. "No way! It was right there
in front of me. The whole time! Thanks Aims, your advice
helped."
On her way back into the castle, she caught sight
of the princess of Mercury sitting in the gazebo, bending
down over something in her lap. Serena sucked in her
breath and detoured away from the stairs leading up to
her room. She instead, crept up to Amy and looked over
her shoulder.
Her friend turned around to find Serena standing
there. With a soft smile, she patted the place next to
her. "Want to sit down, Serena, and help me with this
crossword? I just bought this book in town, and its a
bit more difficult than I anticipated. Would you assist
me with it?" Hopeful blue eyes stared into a pair the
same shade and glistened in the sun.
"Sure," said Serena, walking fully into the gazebo
and taking a seat. Together the two worked on the puzzle,
two twin hunch backed girls, thinking together as the
sun shone on them. And somewhere, far far away, or perhaps
not so far away as one might think...maybe just as close
as a memory of friendship, two children's voices rang
out:
"See? I knew you could do it!!"
"I found a word, I really, really did!!"
"I knew you could. Now, how about those turtledoves..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whew! The End...for now. I know, I know, I know, it
wasn't a cliffhanger there at the end either. But there's
still something for y'all to do while I am preparing the
next chapter. Notice Serena didn't say where she would
be meeting Darien that night. Ah ha! I did that on
PURPOSE! The answer is hidden in the poem...it's nothing
big...maybe you spotted it the first time around. Follow
Amy's clues. If you are still stuck and are dying to
know e-mail me. Heck, e-mail me even if you do know the
answer!
NEXT TIME, IN CHAPTER 6: Darien and Serena's first
arranged secret meeting. What will happen? Does Raye
really know what's going on? What do the Inners have to
say about all of this? And...I don't know if this scene
will take place in this coming chapter, but Darien will
take into confidence one of the four generals, spilling
his guts about his secret romance. In turn, this now-unknown
general will give Darien some advice that will change
the rest of the story. All this and much much more in:
CHAPTER 6: "Defying the World"
~~~Ali~~~ (SlrUnico@aol.com) (
geocities.com/tokyo/courtyard) (
geocities.com/tokyo)