If you’re still there, that’s great…then I’m not doing this for no reason! Yay!

Now, back to forging the quintessence…(my other hobby…)

Two notes…yes, this story is supposed to move rather quickly, because I simply don’t have the inclination to go deeply into the Silver Millennium’s background, and the lives of the Senshi etc…call it a Dark Kingdom obsession…and I know that the violin and the piano didn’t exist like that a thousand years ago…but come on, humour me…just a small technical error…

Adonis eyed the prince thoughtfully, taking in his apparent interest in the Princess Selene. "My Prince?"

"Lord Adonis?" asked Endymion, looking up from gazing at the princess across the table. "May I help you?"

"You are the Prince, do you not wish to dance?" he asked, and Endymion smiled when he noticed the twinkle in his lead commander’s silvery-blue eyes. "I am sure that the princess would not decline."

"I must concur," added Orpheus with a languid smile, casting a longing look in the general direction of Orion. "Prince Endymion, go have some fun."

"Are you ordering me around now, Commander Orpheus?" he asked with a smile.

"Of course not, my lord," he replied in a mocking tone, his voice tinged with laughter. "I would never do such a thing, you know me."

"Indeed I do," he smiled larger, and stood. The four immediately responded by falling into position, Adonis and Orion on either side of him, Orpheus and Hermes behind him.

"Excuse me," said Orpheus with a wink at Orion, and he slipped from the dais, moving easily through the crowd towards the orchestra. Adonis had to smile at the way all turned to gaze with surprise and admiration at the young man. He had to admit, Orpheus was a sight to behold, especially when in full military uniform. His mane of luxurious hair fell in waves to below his waist, pulled back loosely by an aqua band. This allowed loose strands to frame his delicate face, adding emphasis to his already delicate frame. The uniform was dark, midnight blue, lined in silver and gold, with a thick belt and his sword at his hip. Like always, he wore a long cape with the traditional epaulettes holding it at his shoulders. But what…

"Now where’s he off to?" asked Adonis, perplexed.

Orion smiled. "You’ll see – but for now, let’s enjoy the view."

Adonis snapped back to attention, realising that they stood before the princess and her Senshi. The princess wore a long silver gown, her hair caught in a strange style of two buns on either side of her head. Impracticably long ponytails fell from each, but he realised it was a traditional style in the kingdom, for the queen sported it also.

He found his attention drawn to the personal guard of the princess next. On either side of her were two women, a blonde and a brunette on one side, and two dark-haired women on the other. From the captivated way Hermes stared at the woman with the long black hair, which she wore unadorned and let hang down her back, this must be the Senshi of Mars…Deimos was her name, if his memory served him correctly.

But the second blonde beside the princess was the one that caught his attention. He hair was as long as that of the Princess Mars, but was half-pulled up by a red ribbon. Her dress was long and a delicate shade of orange, belying her planet of origin.

Senshi Venus caught his gaze, and smiled at him almost seductively. This completely threw the usually collected man off-guard and he quickly looked away.

Fortunately for him, Orpheus had decided to provide a very timely distraction. The young general had stripped off his impractical dress cloak, and had "borrowed" a violin from a bewildered musician. He leapt onto the nearest table, bow in one hand, the instrument in the other. "Alrighty then! Let’s have some REAL music, shall we?" He nodded to the musicians whom he had clued up, and raised the violin.

Adonis watched, absolutely flabbergasted, as Orpheus danced the bow easily across the strings. At first, the music was simple and alone, slow and almost languid. The, it lightened as the orchestra joined in, as he threw himself completely into the music.

Orion and Endymion both laughed out loud at the antics of Orpheus, and Adonis wondered…he had never known that he had been such a wonderful musician…

"Would you like to dance?"

He turned to find the Senshi Venus smiling at him, in her slightly provocative manner. Fortunately this time he had the ability to keep his cloak of cool detachment about him.

"I’m Aphrodite," she said, proffering a hand.

"Lord Adonis," he replied, and she raised an eyebrow.

"The Commander of the generals and the part-time sorcerer? I am in good company."

He lead her easily onto the floor, while Orpheus continued to have the time of his life on the table, where several other musicians had joined him. Aphrodite noticed the direction of his gaze, and decided to speak up on it.

"He’s a general, isn’t he?"

Adonis ripped his eyes away from Orpheus, very embarrassed to realise that even though he held a beautiful woman in his arms, he had been more captivated by a lively young man. "Yes, that’s Orpheus…and he doesn’t usually behave like that. I think he’s drunk."

"I think it’s cute," she replied with a laugh, and the Senshi with dark brown hair laughed as she swung by in the arms of some tall stranger.

"I think he’s cute!" she exclaimed. "He looks just like my old suitor…"

"Odysseus, I don’t see it in the least. Look at him…"

"It’s his eyes!"

"You can’t even see his eyes from here!"

"I can too!" replied the Senshi – obviously that of Jupiter, as her name warranted.

"Really?" taunted Aphrodite, as she continued to dance with Adonis. "Then what colour are they?"

"They’re blue!"

"Really?"

Adonis cleared his throat. "They’re green, actually."

The two women looked almost surprised to have one of the men enter their conversation. "Are they?" asked Aphrodite. "How do you know?"

"Well, he is one of my commanders, and I was his teacher for many years…they’re green."

Odysseus let her partner go suddenly, and looked towards the head table. "Who’s that guy with Deimos?"

Adonis looked up. "That’s Hermes."

"No, not the blonde," she replied impatiently. "The other guy…with the great hair."

"Oh, that’s Orion."

"He looks just like my old suitor – excuse me a second, won’t you?" Odysseus moved through the crowd, and Adonis and Aphrodite continued to dance, Aphrodite shaking her head in amusement.

"Oh dear, I fear she will never give up on that…a thousand years probably couldn’t curb that little habit of hers…so his eyes are green?"

"Yes," sighed Adonis. "As far as I know."

The song ended, with Orpheus taking a sweeping bow. He leapt off the table easily, and took over the place at the piano. He instantly transformed a traditional piece into a pop jazz ballad, just by looking at the music on the stand. Adonis shook his head, but turned his attentions to the pretty Senshi of Venus. She was a very good dancer, and it seemed he was not the only one whom had hooked up with a Senshi. There was Orion and Odysseus, Hermes and Deimos, and Endymion and Selene…that left only Mercury and Orpheus. He got the feeling however, it would take a lot more than the quiet beauty speaking quietly with Serenity to drag Orpheus away from his music.

It was actually a full two hours before Orpheus decided to let the party go on without his musical expertise, and he joined the others at the table. After about an hour, they had stopped dancing to speak amongst themselves. Adonis was amused at the way Odysseus practically drooled over Orion, who seemed slightly embarrassed. Hermes was obviously infatuated with an indifferent Deimos, while Selene and Endymion seemed intrigued by little other than each other.

Orpheus threw himself into the chair next to Adonis, whom had Aphrodite on his other side. The blonde woman instantly leant over to congratulate him on his music, giving him a healthy view of her chest. Orpheus seemed uninterested, but it made Adonis think of the princess in more ways than one. Orpheus smiled graciously and thanked her, and looked longingly to the dance floor.

"Though now, I feel like dancing myself."

"I think you’ve done enough for tonight," put in Adonis, trying not to notice the beauty next to him, who now, rather presumptuously, had placed her hand on his thigh under the table.

"Come on, don’t be so jejune, Lord Adonis…" he almost whined in a playful tone.

"Someone’s been reading the dictionary," he remarked dryly.

Aphrodite looked at her watch, and smiled. "I have to go – I’ll be back soon, okay?" she said, giving Adonis a look that turned him inside out. "I’ll speak with you later."

As she sashayed off, Orpheus started up again. "Come on, let’s all get down and dance – maybe I could convince some girl to dance with me…"

"Well, I haven’t got a partner," he remarked, indicating the passage through which Aphrodite had exited.

"Fine, I’ll dance with you," decided Orpheus, leaping once more to his feet. Adonis thought this guy’s stamina is amazing! and was halfway out of his chair before he realised that Orpheus was about to drag him out onto the dance floor. The guy was serious!

"Orpheus – what the…" stuttered Adonis, as the younger man pulled him easily from the dais. He was much stronger than his small stature belied, and the dancers and diners turned to watch the pair in amusement. Adonis was relieved to realise that they were taking it as one of Orpheus’s pranks. Two hours in his presence had told them what the bubbly young man was like.

Orion swung Odysseus out onto the dance floor, to where Orpheus was trying to convince Adonis to lead him, though the Lord and Sorcerer seemed ill at ease. "Come on, it’s not that hard!"

"I fear, my little friend," spoke up Orion, his eyes gleaming with laughter as he regarded the younger man, "That Lord Adonis is not really wanting to be your partner…"

"Shut up, Orion," he said good-naturedly, as a pretty young woman in a long purple dress stepped up behind him.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?" he asked, letting Adonis’s hands go. The Lord took it as a simple escape, and slightly perplexed, Orpheus watched him leave.

"Hey – he dumped me!" He frowned slightly, and turned to the small woman with the short, dark violet hair. She smiled tentatively.

"Would you like to dance?" she offered shyly. Orpheus smiled, and shrugged warmly.

"Sure," he replied, and the pair took off. Orion watched the pair dance for almost an hour, before Orpheus excused himself and returned to the main table. His erstwhile companion had vanished in much the same direction as Aphrodite, but he didn’t seem to care.

Orpheus took a glass of wine, and tried to break in on the conversation between Endymion and Selene. The two were unable to be distracted, and he began to feel decidedly left out. Thus, he turned his attention to the others around him, and found little luck there either. Deimos and Hermes were talking quietly, as were the King of Earth and the Queen of the Moon, and Adonis and Orion were now no-where in sight. The other assorted important members of the court were also otherwise engaged.

"Orpheus, isn’t it?"

Startled, he turned to find himself gazing into two deep blue eyes, mirrored by the deep blue hair on her head. He recognised her instantly – this was the Senshi of Mercury…

"I’m Athena," she confirmed, and she gestured to the empty seat beside him. "May I sit?"

"Any one may sit," Orpheus replied, a twinkle in his eye. "But as for whether I will speak with you…are you educated? Brilliant? A physics teacher?"

She smiled, looking slightly taken aback. "What, is it that obvious?"

"You are a physics teacher?" Orpheus was startled – was it typical for a Senshi to be so intelligent?

"In a manner of speaking – does that surprise you?" She took the seat, as a servant poured her a tall glass of orange juice before moving discreetly away.

"Curiously, no. I suppose it must be your intellectual face." Orpheus began absently tapping the edge of the table, mirroring the actions he had taken on the ivory keys earlier.

"I have an intellectual face?"

"Don’t worry," he assured her, giving her one of his dazzling smiles. "It doesn’t take anything away from your beauty."

No sooner had the words left his mouth, that he wished he could reach out and take them back. Athena automatically blushed and lowered her head. Orpheus could have kicked himself – it was not the first time he had implicated himself in a platonic relationship with a woman. Truthfully, he did admire the creatures, he thought they possessed a great beauty and internal strength…but he was simply not interested in them in any other way. He hoped to the heavens that Athena realised his friendly comment was simply that – a friendly comment.

The pair easily carried on a swift conversation, that lead from mathematics to chemistry to physics to medicine. Orpheus was shocked at the vast array of the girl’s knowledge – it outdid his by a millennium of miles. Luckily, though she was incredibly knowledgeable, she was not conceited nor presumptuous, and he found himself easily relaxing in her presence…though he soon began to wish he’d brought some kind of pocket dictionary.

Adonis was in the gardens for about ten minutes when he came across Orion and Odysseus, walking one of the meandering paths.

"I ditched Orpheus!" he declared proudly, and Orion had to laugh.

"I don’t think he was too pleased about that," added Odysseus, and Adonis simply shrugged.

"I can’t help that…what was he thinking, anyhow? I don’t dance with other men…"

Odysseus frowned slightly. "He sure doesn’t look like a man though…except I do have to say he is very pretty…maybe even beautiful."

"And doesn’t he know it," sighed the older of the two generals. "He even uses that charm in battle – I can assure you, it completely throws the enemy off-balance," he added, turning to the Senshi Jupiter, who smiled in return.

"He doesn’t look like much of a threat…but he is very agile, isn’t he?"

Orion gave a smile filled with many innuendoes in the direction of Adonis. "He does has remarkable strength for one his size, too." Suddenly, something hit him. "Hey, I haven’t gotten him drunk yet!"

Odysseus gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"

Adonis sighed. "I thought that was a joke, Orion. You’re not seriously going to try that…at an ambassador’s party?"

The younger general laughed. "You’re so stiff and straight-laced, Adonis. Come on…"

Senshi Jupiter smiled, still hanging onto the other man’s arm. Adonis had to note how tall and lean she was, she looked twice the threat that Orpheus did. She was still pretty in a warrior princess like way, but she was obviously dangerous. Orpheus was like a rose – beautiful, but with hidden thorns that could be deadly. "Why are you so desperate to get him drunk, Lord Orion?"

"Well, Princess Jupiter, I just want to…"

Adonis had to laugh at the expression on her face. "Your highness, one thing you’ll discover about Orion is his love of any alcoholic beverage…and he and Orpheus like nothing better than annoying one another."

"So, let’s go!" declared Orion, taking Jupiter’s hand and dragging her back to the main party. Adonis shook his head, and continued with his silent musings under the hanging orb of the earth.

"So you see, if this strut is placed here, the construction will be enlarged, but the structural integrity is rather improved than compromised," finished Hermes, as Deimos and Orpheus stared open mouthed at his creation. Somehow, he had overheard part of the conversation between Athena and Orpheus, and had to prove his own mastery of engineering. The general was amazing that way – he also had a knack for chemistry, making him a helpful scientific addition to the four generals.

He had just completed the tower of plates and forks, and was now embroiled in an argument with Athena about how they could make the thing higher.

"Are you finding this as thrilling as me?" asked Orpheus, giving Deimos a raised eyebrow. The fiery Senshi sighed, and looked at Hermes with a mixture of annoyance, and…desire? "Of course I am, Lord Orpheus…I love to watch people build their little toys out of dinner utensils."

He went to reply, but hurricane Orion arrived on the scene, trailed by Odysseus. "Orpheus!"

"Yes dear?" he asked, craning his neck around. Deimos had to laugh at the expression the endearment caused to cross Odysseus’s face. Orpheus was very good at shocking people – no one could actually tell when he was being serious.

"You haven’t had a drink yet!"

"No – I don’t have your tolerance, Orion. You know I don’t like to drink." His voice took on a haughty, aloof tone – it was remarkable, thought Deimos. He sounded absolutely like that silver-haired commander…Adonis?

"Aw, you’re about as much fun as Adonis," moaned Orion. "C’mon, just one?"

"One what? One shot, one glass, one bottle, one keg?"

"How about all of the above?"

A wicked smile crossed the young man’s face. "Hokey-dokey, here we gokey!" he stood, and turned to the nearest servant. "Waiter! ALCOHOL!"

"Preferably not straight," added Orion. "It’s no fun if you go blind straight away…"

Athena looked up from her argument. "Orpheus, have you any idea of how that much alcohol will affect your liver? It’ll become highly stressed under that much pressure!"

"Really? Wow, sounds cool," said the man in reply, sitting on the edge of the table, swinging his slender legs. "So, Orion, you joining me in a toast to – what are we celebrating, exactly?"

"Getting you drunk," he replied with a grin, handing him a glass of straight vodka.

He shrugged, and inclined his glass. "Hear, hear!" he cried, and sculled the lot.

"This is going to be interesting," mused Jupiter, taking her own glass. Athena rolled her eyes, but watched the two generals undertake their drinking game. Fortunately, the king and queen had left by this point, and the party was now a more informal affair. Deimos whispered something to Hermes, and they vanished in the direction of the gardens.

Adonis had to wonder how Orpheus was holding up, if Orion had indeed decided to go and attempt to get him drunk. The greatest weakness of the effeminate youngster was that he was a sucker for punishment – he couldn’t resist a challenge. And he should know better. No one on earth had the tolerance of Orion, their token "drunk."

"What are you doing out here all alone?" questioned a voice at his side, and he swung around to face the up turned face of Aphrodite. She was still in her sleeveless, low cut gown, though she now had a silk pearl-coloured shawl draped about her bare shoulders.

"I like it," he replied honestly, giving her a look directly. She marvelled at the cool beauty of his platinum eyes – at first, inside, she had thought them to be a light, cerulean blue. Out here, in the cool white light of the earth, she thought they were almost silver.

"You must lead a solitary life, Commander," she replied, walking to a park bench. There, she sat down, indicating the space next to her. Without quite knowing what he was doing, he followed her, taking the seat beside her. He was now increasingly aware of the beauty of the princess – her pale blonde hair was almost as pale as his in the white evening light of the stars, and her eyes were alight with a million dancing meteors.

"You’ve been watching me – so, how do I rate?" she asked with a tinkling laugh, and he had to laugh in reply.

"Very well, your highness. You possess an exceptional beauty…but then, I think you already knew that."

"Indeed," she replied with the laughter still tingeing her soft words. "And I am sure that you know that you are also exceptionally attractive, Lord Adonis."

"Thank you for your kind words, my lady," he said, trying to rip his gaze away from hers. But their two blue gazes had locked, and he was suddenly overwhelmed by a strong urge to reach out and touch her hair…he wondered if it would feel as silken as it looked.

"You don’t have to thank me," she replied, her once lyrical voice now hoarse. He wondered at this for but a moment – then he realised. He was sure that she was as nervous as he was…she was as attracted to him as he was to her.

"You can touch me if you want," she murmured suddenly, causing his heart to skip a beat. He became aware of her long-fingered hand on his thigh as she moved closer into his side. The long split up the side of her skirt opened, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw how it revealed one long, creamy leg.

He remembered her open invitation, and moved one hand to the side of her sweet, lovely face. It was a contradictory face, one that was child-like, yet mature beyond her years. She closed her eyes, and leant further into the tall commander. Her unruly fingers moved to his mane of star-light hair, and she pulled their faces together in an unexpected burst of passion. The kiss was magical, and seemed to last an eternity.

Until Aphrodite gently pulled back, their eyes opening simultaneously. "Is that what you had in mind, princess?"

"No," she whispered, running her hands over his taut chest. "It was better…"

She moved to kiss him again, but Adonis moved gently aside. "I’m afraid our presence will be missed at the ball, Princess." He stood, inclining a hand to her. She took it, placing her hand in his.

"Then we must return – and plead our innocence," she said with a laugh.

Adonis arched an eyebrow, a smile playing at his lips. "We are innocent – we haven’t done anything…"

"Yet," she promised, standing on her tip-toes to plant a kiss on his lips. "Not yet."

"That you would see him later," completed Orion, finishing off his glass with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Hey…" cried Orpheus, sloshing the brandy down his hands as he tried to look annoyed. "I ain’t like that, Orion…you know me…" he steadied himself as he seemed ready to plunge down from his precarious perch on the high back of a chair. Unfortunately, this meant the brandy and the glass sacrificed their lives for his safety.

"Oh, nuts," he moaned, looking at the ground. "What a waste of perfectly good booze…"

"Nuts?" Odysseus perked up. "Do we have any pecans? Or almonds?"

"Face it, Odysseus," spoke up Athena, looking up from the heavy tome she had picked up and began reading when Orion started his drinking game with Odysseus and Orpheus. "There’s only one kind of nut you’re interested in…"

"Athena!" admonished Odysseus. "I would expect more tact from a woman of your status!"

"What’s going on in this corner?" boomed a familiar voice, the group turning to see Aphrodite and Adonis regarding them. The Princess looked amused, the Lord bemused.

"I think it’s beddy-bye time," declared Orpheus suddenly, and promptly passed out.

Orion regarded the unconscious young man critically over the rim of his glass. "He lasted longer than I thought…he’s an absolute riot when he’s pissed."

"Who gets to take him home tonight?" asked Aphrodite with a wicked grin. "’Cos I volunteer if no one else wants him…" She gave Adonis a reassuring look however.

"Do you guys know the way to your chambers?" asked Athena, standing up. "If you’ll excuse me, I’ll see you all in the morning…"

Adonis watched the slight princess leave, and then looked to the young man who was gently snoring as he lay curled up like a cat on the marble floor. "What do we do with him?"

"I’ll take responsibility," piped up Orion. "I started it, of course…Odysseus, give me a hand, would ya?"

"Sure," she replied, and Adonis got the uneasy feeling that there wasn’t much Odysseus wouldn’t do for Orion. He wondered if she knew that he was engaged. And that he already had a mistress…and a close male friend named Orpheus…

He took his leave of them then, and wandered back to his own chambers. He was alone for only a while, however…

He smiled when the blonde figure sashayed into his room – at home, he had a close friend named Polyhymnia, but she was none but a friend.

Here, he thought for the first time in his life, he had found a woman that he could love as an equal.

______________________________________________________________________________________

What do you think, hmm? You want to tell me what you think? Email me at luna_dreamscape@hotmail.com…

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