ALL RIGHT! WINTER BREAK!!!
I’ve gotten much praise about “Guarding Heart” and I am really
happy you like it. It’s getting to be pretty fun for me to think up what will
happen between the two…LOTS of fun.
And so, let’s get on with my author’s notes. I realize that last part,
I made the mistake of not including a disclaimer, so here is one to cover
last time and this time, I hope. I DON’’T OWN THESE PEOPLE AND
COULDN’T PAY THE PRICE IF YOU SUED ME, SO PLEASE
DON’T!!! Okay.
Also, now that I have re-read my work, I’m feeling down about
how my grammar isn’t all that, and the spelling, and
everything…*SHUDDER* so I’ll fix it, and I’ll post the new revised
versions on my web site, whenever that will be…
Oh yeah! Did I write that I have a web site with my works and
previews? Interested? It’s
http://www.geocites.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/8024/index.html.
Anyways, I would like to say that I am reading some wonderful
works out there and glad that some of my fans who write themselves send
me their works. I have not yet been disappointed, and I want to say that
Kea Castelian’s got a masterpiece in her “Wish” story, and I want to say
that you must read “Past Loves” by Fushigi Kismet, her Valentine’s Day
special, as well as Sue Mei’s, anything by Lianne, and “Love Revealed”
by Sue Mei, and everything. They’re the greatest.
Well, I guess I’ll get on with this, because I know you’re all
anxious to read about Sere and Dare. I can’t promise you that part three
will be immediately out after this, but I’ll tell you that part two will be
pretty long enough to drain me of ideas for a whole week.
ONWARDS!!!!!!!
Love, Luck, and Luna,
Crystal Heart, the storyspinner
I don’t own there people, please don’t sue. But I do own this story.
Guarding Heart
Chapter Two - The Ice Cracks
By Crystal Heart
“When is a myth a myth? When is a legend a legend? How ancient and
disused must a fact be to fall under the category of ‘fairy tale’?”
-Anne McCaffrey
Serena sighed while boredom was taking a heavy toll on her
actions.
Two hours had passed since the ladies and in waiting and their
princess had entered the clothing shop. They were still arguing over white
satin, white velvet, or white chiffon, and one of them was arguing that
cream looked better than off white, and therefore everyone must wear
cream instead, and another was saying that the gold thread wouldn’t be as
nice as silver. Serena didn’t say a word, because she simply didn’t care.
She was tired, and she wanted to fall asleep. She had brought a
book though, so we was not entirely isolated form the outside world.
There was actually something real in that book, unlike the nightmare that
was happening around her.
“Serena!”
Serena turned to look at Lita, showing off the white velvet off her
cheek and hair color. “This looks nice, doesn’t it?”
Serena shrugged. “I’m fashion impaired, remember?”
“No you aren’t; your dresses, when you put your mind into sewing
them, and actually tried to sew something other than those pants you kept
on mending, were pretty; Madam thought you were quite fashionable once
you applied yourself.”
“Only because sewing can be a mathematical exercise. To know
exactly where to put the stitch is not an issue.. That isn’t style. That is
luck!”
Mina sighed. “I still think cream chiffon would look so much
better.”
Amy was fingering the white silk appreciatively. “It’s so soft.”
Raye was looking at white satin.
“For goodness sakes, we’re not sewing wedding clothes, so why
are we even looking for WHITE dresses anyway?” Lita sighed, frustrated.
“It’s a moon thing,” Serena explained. “White and gold are the
royal colors, and therefore, to show we work for royalty, we must wear
them as well. That means that silver thread is NOT to be used. And
cream,” she said, snatching the fabric from Mina, “is not white. Velvet is
hard to embroider with style,” she said, taking the velvet from Lita, “and
white satin is far too extravagant, and too wedding-like,” she sighed,
taking the satin from Raye. “The white silk is the best for embroidery.”
“How do you KNOW all this?” Amy asked.
“Madam Kilbourne constantly reminded me of prices and customs
and such; not only that, she had the impression that I was to be a diplomat
or something, so, she constantly told me trivial facts of royal colors. I
think she had special instructions from the queen, for she constantly was
telling me how to deal with people of other cultures and how to address
them, and the common way of offering tea; you’d think she was training
me to be the princess herself!”
“Or maybe the princess’s sister…” Lita laughed. “We saw you
check out and gape at the prince last night. He DOES have a nice butt.”
“LITA!!!!!!” Serena’s face got red.
“And he spent the entire evening with you…” Mina said, carefully.
“So? He did so because of his mother. I saw the way she smiled at
him. I like her majesty a lot, but I wish she didn’t think I was marrying
her son, because she appears to throw in a comment of his loveless life
every once in a while, to which I reply that it’s his choice, and that might
we talk about the nice weather we’ve been having?”
Amy laughed. “Serena, you know that Madam wanted you to talk
about weather in order to stay lady-like, but you KNOW it is rude to
abruptly change the subject like that.”
“I can’t help it; her majesty is obsessed with marrying her son off,
and she appears to have chosen me as his intended, though I KNOW it’ll
never happen. It’s ridiculous; one would think her highness would want a
rich wife to unite powers, or land, but instead, she shows interest in a mere
tomboy, whom of all women, he despises more than enough. And to add
on top of that, she knows that the intended is not interested in matrimony.
Why does she even THINK I’d marry her idiot son?”
“Oh Serena, isn’t it obvious? The reason you don’t get along is
because though you are on the same wavelengths, you are going in
opposite directions. If you only saw…”
“I saw one thing when I look at him; a conceited jerk.”
“A rather HANDSOME conceited jerk…” Mina specified.
“Looks have nothing to do with it. Looks only deceive and it is
proven that looks cause more trouble than anything else in the world!”
Serena rejoined.
“You DID look like a cute couple, and I DO want a sister…” Raye
began, smiling.
“And besides, don’t you remember: her majesty was a poor girl
once as well, and the king married her for love. Riches, power, and land
are not reasons for her at all,” Amy stated, reprimanding Serena, who
ought to have remembered her history.
“If you two really were to marry…” Raye began.
“There is not a thing in the world that would make me marry him,
or any one, because marriage is just a pain! You have to care for him, and
you have to feed him, and AUGH! It’s disgusting! And then we have to
add in the Darien factor, which would make marriage even less desirable
by a factor of infinity…”
The girls laughed, as Serena walked to the clerk, to tell them that
they’d take white silk and gold thread.
Darien circled Kunz with the fencing sword.
“Come on, your majesty, you can do better than that!” Jed said
from the sidelines.
Darien came in for the kill, and in few seconds, had Kunz to the
floor, and disarmed. Darien tossed the sword aside and sat down on a
rock, wiping sweat from his brow and catching his breath.
“You’ve improved,” Kunz said, getting up.
“I had to; didn’t want that amazon to beat me over the head again.”
“I think she still has a lot to teach you, though,” Zoy laughed.
“How could you work with her, and become her friend, when she
is so…so…WRONG!”
“We work with you, don’t we?” Neph teased. “Come on, honestly,
Darien, wasn’t she STUNNING last night? You couldn’t take your eyes
off her once you looked at her. I was watching you. In fact, I watched so
much my dancing partner thought I was a bore. Doesn’t matter, she’s not
much better,” he grumbled.
“I think you are giving her far too much credit.”
“We think you are giving her far too little. But you’ll see, some
day.” Kunz stated decisively.
“Yeah…” sulked the prince, walking away.
“Honestly, what do you think?” Neph began fencing with Jed.
“Honestly, I think she’s going to tear him apart, and when she’s
through with him, he’s going to be humbled. She’s going to have more
respect for him. You know them. They’re so stubborn. It’ll take a while,
let’s just say that.”
Lady Beryl walked sulkily into the court. She was clearly upset.
Her majesty was not helping her mood.
What was this about some tomboy being in Raye’s ladies in
waiting? And what was this about her dancing with HER Darien that
night?
The daughter of the Queen’s advisor, she had known the throne all
her life, and she thought that SHE ought to have been at least a lady in
waiting. But even then, she received no invitation. It was NOT pleasing.
She wanted to rule the kingdom. She was not of royal blood, but
she wanted to be. She wanted to step to the throne and give it her all. She
wanted the Earth kingdom to be the best in the world, in the universe, and
she wanted all the people of the universe to bow down to her, in
submission. She wanted total control.
And she was angry that she didn’t get it.
It was not fair. Raye knew nothing of the throne and Darien, no
matter how handsome he was, would not understand her desire for the
power, the conquest. He’d say something ridiculous about keeping the
peace.
Peace? There’d be peace after her conquest. There’d be plenty of
peace. She’d rule over everything and no one would try to take her throne.
Therefore, there’d be peace, and happiness. For her.
But that would all change. A few days ago, something was
brought to her attention, something big…
Serena smiled secretively as she saw Amy and Zoy walking in the
late afternoon sun, through the gardens. *Just because I don’t have things
like love doesn’t mean that others shouldn’t.* No, Serena decided a long
time ago that love was not in her future, because that would involve giving
a lot of other things in her life. It was like matrimony.
Serena had nothing against matrimony itself, it was just that she
didn’t want to be part of that whole thing. Not when life itself had so
much more to offer.
But as she looked at the couple who stood at the gates to the
garden, she sighed and thought that maybe the best of what life had to
offer was in that scene she was witnessing.
But really, Serena did not want to get married and have to care for
someone else for the rest of her life that way. She was already a lady in
waiting, and caring for Raye was a huge enough duty.
She couldn’t imagine why she wanted to take care of the Prince, as
one of his guards. As she thought about it, she decided that if she ended
up one of the four who guard then, he’d die because she’d kill him, and
that would miss the whole point. She wanted to be someone important in
the kingdom, to be able to show her parents just who she was.
But now it seemed that other things in life were more important
that the glory, as a pang of loneliness settled lightly in her heart, making
an emptiness.
Just as quickly, the emptiness vanished, and Serena stood up and
walked away, thinking the sun was having an irritating effect on her
eyes…it seemed that she was going to cry!
“You are so beautiful, Amy,” Zoy said, stroking her cheek lightly
with the back of his finger.
Amy blushed. “It’s the sunlight. I always look nice at sunset.”
“No really, Amy, you are very beautiful.”
She blushed again, and turned to the exit of the garden. “Zoy, this
is wrong.”
“Why not Amy?”
“Because…because…” Amy began. *I’m not good enough for
love.* she completed in her mind.
“I just can’t, all right?” Amy said, and turned, ran away into the
castle.
Zoy stood, looking after her, hearing her slipped feet step patter
down the garden walk.
*This is the LAST time, Amy…*
Serena sighed, putting aside the pile of white lace she was using to
trim a parasol, and walked to the other side of the room, where Amy sat,
crying her eyes out. “Ames, what is going on? Do I have to beat anyone
up?”
“No.”
“Can I do anything?”
“No.”
“Ames, at least come out from under your blankets and talk to
me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Ames, you are being a child, and I will tear those sheets away
from you if you don’t come out on your own.”
“Go ahead and try; I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to do
anything but stay here, where it’s safe.”
Amy had a tough grip on the sheets, Serena would admit that. But
Serena did not train all those years for nothing. Within minutes, she held
the sheets Amy had been clutching at before. “Now, Ames, we are going
to talk about this.”
“There is nothing to talk about.”
“Yeah, and that is why you are sitting here on this bed on perfectly
beautiful night, crying your heart out, when you should be with Zoy doing
lovely gross things I can’t stand,” she teased.
Amy only cried more.
“Ames…” she sighed, sitting down on the bed.
“Look, Sere, please, leave me alone, now.”
Serena looked helplessly into the wide, frightened trembling blue
eyes and gave up…for now. “I’m going to let you go now,” she tossed the
sheets to Amy, “But I’m coming back later, and I expect an explanation.”
Dear Mom and Dad,
Something’s up with Amy. I don’t know what, but I’m going to
find out. She’s starting to worry me. It’s been a week now, and she’s still
all upset. She always goes out walking all by herself and makes it obvious
that she does not want any company. I don’t know what to do.
Zoy is callous. He seems to have no regard for her whatsoever. I
am afraid that they have quarreled. However, I do not know, for he will
not tell me about it; in fact, he pretends she had never existed. It as if he
never met her, and when talking with her, on the rare occasion that he
must, he would be succinct and concise, and then leave her. I haven’t
heard him ever address her. It is as if he doesn’t remember her name.
I remember them that first evening. She liked him then, she was
charmed and happy and witty. I never saw her so bright in my life. I
don’t know what’s up with her. Mom, please explain to me what’s going
on; you understand women more than I do - you are one, and though I am
one as well, you know that I never had any sensitivity training to go with
my athletic endeavors and teatime.
As for his majesty the Snob, well, you know what I think of him.
Did you know my friends actually had the gumption to force me to dance
with him a whole evening on the night of my first ball? I must concede
that he is very handsome, and I’ll admit it caught me by pure and pleasing
surprise. You would think that he looked wonderful, mother (though not
as handsome as father, of course). He CAN dance. However, he is still as
dumb, narrow-minded and dense as he always was. I was right about my
theories about him when I first met him.
The Moon Queen is coming in a month, and preparations are being
made right and left. I’m starting to stitch up a pretty white silk for myself
with golden threads, but I have few surprises up my sleeves…I think it’d
be interesting to see the look on everybody’s faces when I enter in a dress
that is fairer than everyone else’s. I can’t wait to see what his majesty will
say!
I sew by myself, and when the other ladies sew, I sew blouses and
stitch fans…I want my dress to be a pure surprise, to clear EVERYONE of
the doubts they had of me…you know I hate dressing up, but you know I
love to cause surprise! I stitch late at night, bathing in moonlight at my
window. Sometimes, I will look up and stare at the moon…I know Selene
is watching me and smiling as if she were in on this whole thing.
The nights are wonderful here, and I love watching the moon while
I sew; it reminds me of home; I suppose because I know that you are
looking at it as well. Knowing that, I feel comforted and happy.
During the day, I continue my studies and readings. Amy has
stopped studying with me, so I must do all the work on my own. It gets
lonely, but I don’t mind; Socrates and Euclid keep me company. After I
study, I take a walk in the gardens, to study the flowers.
I love the castle gardens. They are always filled with beautiful
flowers. I have fallen in love with them, and I am always enchanted by
the roses at night. They are velvet, satin, and silk, in the bloom of love. I
am envious. I wish I could wear a dress made of rose-petal cloth, but we
know that doesn’t exist, though it should. I wouldn’t even mind making
the dress as low cut and tight as the others, as long as it is made of that
fabric.
To reply to your questions mother, I am quite all right, and have
enough to eat, as well as to read. I am not planning to merry the Prince, as
Jed has written his family, and so, don’t worry, I don’t need wedding
clothes. Thank you for sending me Shakespeare; he seems like a
potentially great writer. I can’t wait to read more of his works.
I miss you both much, and hope to see you when the moon festival
occurs when the Moon Queen arrives. Please say you will close the shop
and come visit me.
I love you both,
Your daughter,
Serena
She sat on a rock, her tears touching the rock lightly, as she looked
up to the endless stars, her eyes filling up once more with tears.
She cried for the most part of the past days. She COULDN’T love
anyone.
Not after what they said, and who she was.
She wasn’t even a respectable young woman, they didn’t even love
her, making it clear that she didn’t belong anywhere, or with anyone…
“Amy?” Serena came walking down the garden way.
“Sere?” she looked up, frightened.
“Amy, look, I know I’m not “Princess of Sympathy” but I’d like to
hear your problem…I know it’s been tearing at your heart these past
weeks, and I saw you sitting out here tonight, and thought you needed
some companionship.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that if we talk about it, maybe you’ll feel better.”
“But…”
“Just start talking…did you quarrel? What happened?”
Amy burst into tears again.
“Oh Selene! I didn’t mean to make you cry!” Serena exclaimed,
putting her hands on Amy’s shoulders.
“No, I’m all right. I’m just thinking too much.”
“As if anyone could let THAT happen!” Serena lightly joked.
“Come on, Amy, please tell me.”
Amy looked into the honest blue eyes which were staring into hers.
An understanding lay deep among the calluses Serena had grown on her
soul. She seemed to immune to everything, but Amy knew, that deep
inside, under Serena’s thick exterior, beat a passionate, true heart.
“Please?”
Amy stammered. “Well, it’ll take a while.”
“We’ve got all night. We’ll sleep in tomorrow and forget about
stitching in the morning.”
Amy smiled. “Well in that case…” she smiled softly.
“You know what I mean. Please, now just begin. It won’t be hard
once you begin.”
“Um…I don’t know where to start…”
“The beginning would be nice?” Serena teased.
“The beginning,” Amy took a deep breath. “There is no beginning.
In the beginning there was nothing. I was nobody…”
Serena pursed her lips.
“I am not the Milners’ true daughter. I had no family, because I
never knew who they were. I was found in a superstitious old village on
the day after Michaelmas, lying in a basket in the town square. The town
was very old, and it seemed that magic never vanished from the minds of
those who lived there. It was believed that orphans were cursed, for that
was the only reason why they were without parents; their curse killed their
parents. No one wanted me.
“However, there was an unsuperstitious woman in the village, and
Mrs. Potsworth was the nicest woman any girl could have for a mother,
and I lived with her until I had turned seven. She encouraged me to study
and be the best woman I could ever become. I loved her so much, and I
used to always stare into those eyes and see the world in them, offered to
me.
“But, she…died on my seventh birthday. I was left alone in the
world, and…I…I thought that the gods had destined me to be alone, and
that if…if I loved anyone, that they’d be taken away from me…I thought
that I killed Mrs. Potsworth. It was part of the curse that was placed on
me at my birth. That’s what everybody said. Lady and Lord Milner,
whom Mrs. Potsworth worked for, thought that. However, even though I
had a curse upon me, the Lady and Lord decided that I had quite a bit of
money for an orphan, and they grew greedy. It was odd; I was only a poor
orphan, and yet, I had a large inheritance, which I had never seen. The
Milners decided to “take me in” and at first I was overjoyed. I was taken
to the large mansion. You see, earlier, when I was five or so, I befriended
their nephew, whose mother was too ill to take care of him, and his father
dead. He was my best friend, and I was glad that I was going to be able to
see him more often. But…but…even then…” Amy was on the verge of
tears.
“They didn’t let you stay with him, did they?”
“They made me their scullery maid!” Amy cried out. “They took
my fortune and said that I was unworthy of it, for the wealth was meant for
those with good luck in their lives, who were blessed by the gods. They
said that I was meant to be alone and poor, and that was the only way I
could not possibly bring misfortune upon anyone. I believed them, and I
still believe them now! It’s true! I was to stay away from their nephew if
I knew what was good for him…and that I was unworthy of my
inheritance and I was unworthy of love because I was…I was…a…witch.”
“Amy…”
“It was the only logical explanation, that the curse was a
punishment of the gods, that I had sinned and therefore received a curse
upon my head.”
“And how did you get out?”
“I studied. In the end, it was the nephew who saved me. When
Lord Milner passed on, which was again blamed on me, for the fact that I
lived in his household, his nephew inherited, and had not forgotten me.
He did not believe in the curse. Against his aunt’s wishes, he called me to
his office, and told me that I had a substantial amount of money in my
name, and that I was to spend it on something. When he asked me what I
wanted, I told him I wanted to be educated. You see, earlier, I’d receive
old text books in secret from some servant or another. Rumor had it that
they were discarded editions the master wanted me to have. He
understood; always, from the moment we met, that I wanted to know the
world. When I told him what I wished, he agreed, and agreed to send me
to the best school in the land, the one he had gone to. I was fifteen, and he
nineteen.
“I received all my inheritance, and I went to school until Prince
Darien banished women from schools. When I reluctantly came back
home, the nephew was gone, but he wrote me, and told me to come to
Terryl Manes, where he was, and become a lady in waiting, the best post
that could ever be for a woman such myself. Because he was so kind to
me, I agreed to do so…but Serena, I loved him…that’s why accepted him,
in truth…”
“Then why didn’t you tell him?”
“I thought I’d curse him, that he’d die because I loved him…”
“No!” Serena stood up. “You are not a witch, you are not cursed.
You’ve just had a miserable life in a parochial town. Amy, don’t you
know that there is no such thing as magic, and even if there were, you
aren’t cursed?”
“But I don’t want to take a chance…”
“Because you love him? Did he love you?”
“I think he still does. While I was at finishing school, I prayed that
he would fall in love with someone else. I thought perhaps another
lady…”
“But he didn’t…”
“No he didn’t.”
“Have you heard from him?” Zoy slipped from Serena’a mind as
she concentrated solely on Amy.
“Yes, I have.” Amy said, calmly. “I see him everyday…you see,
Sere, the reason why chose to be a lady in waiting was not to be in the
most exclusive group of ladies in Lire, and not to make a future for
myself. It was to torture myself by seeing him everyday, knowing that I
loved him and that I couldn’t let him love me back. I chose to be a lady in
waiting because I wanted to be near him…”
“Wait…the nephew…he’s…Zoy, isn’t he?”
Amy looked away.
“Amy! THAT’S why he looked at you that way when I arrived at
the ball. I thought he fell in love at first sight, and I thought it queer
because it went totally against his character, and I knew he had a girl back
at home, but it didn’t click!”
“I felt like such a fool, saying nice to meet you to a man whom I
had met so long ago, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. And the way
he was looking at me was unnerving! And nothing had changed, and it
was so terrifyingly sweet! I love him still, and I’m so afraid for him!”
“He was looking at you that way because he loved you!” Serena
gripped Amy’s shoulders again. “Don’t you understand? He loves you!
He wants to risk it!”
“But I don’t! I don’t want him to die!”
“He won’t! I know I’ve always been a skeptic, but I’ll tell you a
secret, Amy. I believe that love is a pretty strong thing. I know that I
won’t ever find it, but I’ll tell you right now that YOU shouldn’t give it
up.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that he loves you, and that is more important, more
powerful than any imaginary curse or any stroke of bad luck. If you don’t
love him, it won’t make a difference; he’ll keep on loving you. I’ll tell
you that.”
“But I can’t love him!”
“Liar!”
“I CAN’T!” Amy cried out.
Serena took her cold chin in her fingers and looked into the blue
fright in her eyes. “You can, and you must give in to it…please, Amy.
You don’t know what you are turning away from; you haven’t even given
it a chance!”
“I don’t want to give it a chance!”
“Amy, do you truly love him?”
“What? We wouldn’t be going through this conversation-“
“Do you love him?”
Amy looked into Serena’s eyes, and she tried to lie, but she
couldn’t. “Yes, I do!”
“And do you want to see him happy?”
“I want to see him ALIVE…”
“He loves you, and you make him happy. That’s what matters.
Think about that. You think too much about irrelevant things. Don’t let
those things get into your mind.”
With that, Serena got up. “I think I’ll leave you alone for a while.
You need some time by yourself.”
Amy nodded absent-mindedly.
He was tired, reading the documents before him, but he thought he
saw her, standing outside, talking with someone.
As he neared the window, and peeked through the heavy burgundy
velvet curtains, he caught a glimpse of golden hair, bathing in moonlight,
and a pale face, looking sadly into another’s upturned face.
It was a painting.
She looked like a princess, with the moon crowning her hair, and
her loose white night robes looking like a princess gown. He should have
thought that dressing such was inelegant and scandalous.
But he thought it was beautiful.
She was beautiful, standing there, apparently confronting another,
with determination in her posture, and a set expression in her profile. Her
body was draped in light material, and her maiden form was outlined in
moonlight.
He thought she was a vision of moonlight, some trick of the light
and the late hours.
Midnight struck on the clock down the hall form his room and he
turned to the door, startled. When he looked back to the scene, she had
disappeared, and only a crying shadow remained.
Who was that?
There was firm knock on the door of the offices of the four who
guard.
Kunz looked at the door and said, “Yes?”
Expecting Serena, they were all stunned when a young woman
with blue hair entered the room, her face pale, and thin, her weak and thin
frame in blue skirts and a white blouse.
“May I please speak to Zoicyte, alone?”
The other three looked at each other, and then at the fourth
member, who was stunned beyond words, sitting in his chair and staring at
the young woman as if she was the most beautiful woman on the Earth.
“Sure,” Kunz replied, and communicated to the others with a
gesture of his hand that they were to leave and let the two talk.
They filed out, and left Amy to stand in front of Zoy’s desk.
“What do you want?” he asked coldly. His gray eyes flashed
slight anger. The surprise was gone, and only replaces with careful
coldness. He’d offered her his heart twice. She’d injured it. His pride
wasn’t going to let him risk it again.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“My past,” Amy took a seat across from his desk. “I want to know
where my inheritance came from.”
“You inherited from Mrs. Potsworth.”
“Where did she get so much money?”
She saved for many years…”
“That still doesn’t account for all the fortune I sill possess. I have
almost as much as the princess of Lire.”
“Truthfully, I don’t know, all right? All I know is that when Mrs.
Potsworth died, she left you a basket of gold, with sapphires and blue
satins and silks lining it. That was yours. My uncle and aunt sold the
articles, and kept the money for themselves, and once my uncle died, I
learned of the transaction, and made sure you received the money for it.”
“Where did she get such an expensive thing?” Amy began, and
then remembered a similar story…Lita’s. “You know what, forget it.
Let’s forget that for now. I just wanted to know a little about myself, and
now that I still know nothing more of my past, I’m just going to give up
rationalizing this strange story and tell you want I came here to tell you.”
“And that would be?” Zoy said, twisting a quill between his
fingers. “Could you hurry it up? I’m busy.”
“You always are,” Amy rolled her eyes. “The perfect nephew,
always caring for every servant, making sure everybody liked you.”
“Are you suggesting that I shouldn’t be honest?”
“No, I’m just suggesting that you be a lot more honest with
yourself right NOW.”
“It’s not as if you are.”
“You know what? Forget. I’m leaving right now!” Amy turned to
the door. “Forget I even came here, and forget I even met you, because I
am over you! I can’t believe I loved such a heartless, sulky baby!”
The door slammed with a huge slap that echoed in Zoy’s ears. On
his face, there was a red creeping up, as if the she had really slapped him
there.
Serena looked up from a book as Amy stormed in. “What’s
wrong?”
“Nothing, only that I loved a jerk, and now I have awaken, and I’m
ready to be a woman again, and not some heroine of some romantic story.
Let’s face it, Serena, I don’t even know why I thought that love was even
the question. He’s a jerk, and I can’t believe I wasted so much time on
him.”
“So he pushed you away?”
“What do YOU think?”
“Oh Amy, I’m sorry, but…”
“There’s a ‘but’? Were you expecting him to turn me down?”
“You didn’t do much to encourage him before, and Zoy is very
stubborn…”
“So it’s all my fault now?”
“No, it’s not, it’s no one’s fault.”
“No, it’s YOUR fault!” Amy shoved at Serena’s shoulders. “You
made me do this! And now you’re pinning all the blame on me! Ha! No,
I don’t think so. You don’t even know what love is. You say you don’t
want love, but I bet that’s only because you’ve never felt it!” she yelled at
her.
Serena’s face grew pale, and anger was starting to flood her mind.
“Amy, I think…”
“I don’t care what you think. I trusted your judgment before, and it
only made me believe in something false! I’m going to go out for a walk,
and when come back, you’ll already have packed up all my things, and
I’m preparing to leave. I don’t want to be a lady in waiting anymore!”
“But Amy…come on. Calm down. Once you have, you’ll realize
that you must stay here to win Zoy…”
“I don’t care what you say. Leave me alone. It’s the least you can
do!” she said, tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. She turned on her
heels, and exited, leaving Serena stunned, staring after her, wondering if
this whole experience had been real.
She ran through the forest.
Her tears were rushing now. As she stopped in the clearing, and
looked to the dizzying sun, and tried to clear her eyes, as a sore feeling
started to make them throb, bubbles of tears ready to burst.
Serena Kingston did not just cry. Crying was for weak people,
people that could be hurt.
Serena Kingston did not cry.
But it seemed to be the only thing that she could do right now.
“Lady Kingston?” Lady Beryl was startled when she came out of
the cave to discover the golden-haired maiden before her, crying. She felt
a strange surge of energy in the girl’s presence…this girl would make for
something interesting to try out with…but not now. Later, at night, when
the power was more…
Serena looked up, startled into the green eyes of Lady Beryl.
There was a flash of blood red in them, and it startled her. She cringed at
first. This woman was not one to be trusted.
But she really didn’t care about that now. “Lady Beryl…” she
sniffed.
“Serena? Have you been crying?” she asked scornfully.
“Yeah, over nothing though.”
Beryl looked at the girl. She then looked away. “Very well. Good
day to you.”
And with that, she swept off.
Serena sat in the clearing more, thinking of her friend.
*Oh Amy, what are we going to do?*
She was weary. It was not right, to be sitting at a fancy dinner,
enjoying nobody’s company, when one felt so bad inside.
Amy poked the food with her fork, looking at it, and turning to
look up at the clock. Dinner hour would last for twenty more minutes.
She looked around the table, looking at everyone except the one person
she knew was secretly watching her. She knew, because she was secretly
watching him.
Her gaze fell on Serena, who was sitting next to his highness. She
had gotten in late, and therefore had no choice but to sit there, but Amy
suspected again that her majesty the queen had secretly arranged for the
seat next to Darien’s to be reserved for her.
And coincidentally, since Serena was left handed and Darien was
right, they continuously bumped hands, and Serena always took his
silverware by accident.
It seemed that the only thing they could agree on was to not agree
on anything at all, and therefore, they did not talk. She ignored him, and
he ignored her, and Amy noted that they were both of the same mind,
though they would never admit it.
It came as no surprise, Amy supposed. And Serena deserved it,
after making remember all those painful childhood memories. Her bags
were packed, but after rationalizing, she decided to stay. She had no
where to go, and no one to go to…
Beryl, who sat across from the terrible two, soon saw the sparks
flying between them. Why, there was more energy between those two
than in the entire kingdom! They were lively and energetic, and the best
thing was that they already disliked each other. If Beryl could take that
power, and manage to harness it…
Her majesty the queen was enjoying dinner very much. Sure,
Darien and Serena weren’t talking, but at least they were looking. And the
way they looked at each other, and then looked away! She wanted to roll
over with laughter. Everything was working out wonderfully, she thought.
His son would have a bride that would force him to stay on track, and if
they realized how similar in mind they were, perhaps they’d realize the
anger they felt for each other could be turned around just as easily as it had
started, and could burn into a strong passionate fire.
Lita was picking at her food. It was dull, she mused. And the food
could be a lot better. Looking around her, she decided that the company
could be better as well. She sat between Darien and Nephlyte, and neither
was good company. She sighed and picked at her food again.
Neph was wondering about the beauty beside him. Sure, he had
dances with her, and sure, they hadn’t really gotten along, and there wasn’t
a thing about her that convinced him that he ought to look at her again, but
there was a certain softness in her face, in her presence that made him feel
interested anyway. He did not like the feeling. He sipped his wine slowly,
letting the liquid clam his dry throat, and take away thoughts.
Zoy sat next to Neph, and noted that in all his years at the castle, it
had never been so dull before. In the beginning, they never had dinners
such as these. The four who guard dined when they wanted. It appeared
that the queen had other plans, now that Raye had her full troupe as well.
It was obvious that the only reason why they were all there was because
the queen needed an excuse to put Sere with the prince. Zoy thought the
whole thing impractical. He knew both their minds, and though they were
the same, they were going in different directions, and were determined not
to meet. Also, he knew that they were not going to be pushed together.
When they came into revelation, they’d do it on their own. They were
smart enough.
But there was always that beautiful blue-haired girl at the corner of
his eye. He thought that if he left her alone long enough, she’d come to
realize it as well, and it kind of worked, only he screwed it all up. But it
wasn’t all his fault. She waited so long to tell him; what did she expect?
That he fall down on his knees and thank all the gods for her blessing to
love her? No! She simply was too late, and he wasn’t going to let her
mislead him again, like she had the last times. Always thinking of her
education, never of him. It was time she felt what it was like to be in love
with a callous unfeeling twit, not that he was a twit. He stared angrily at
the plate before him, and ate dinner with a heated passion.
Mina ate silently, looking around her. This was different from the
usual dinners. At least people talked during that time. This was silent
treatment to the max. No one was talking, and it seemed that such a thick
blanket of silence enveloped them all that there was no use trying to break
the barrier. Looking around her, her eyes met the soft blue of another,
who looked up just then, and their eyes conveyed understanding to each
other. Mina smiled, and went back to eating, thinking that perhaps
Kunzyte Clendon was more intelligent and understanding than she had
thought t first.
Kunz was smiling to no one in particular. The lady in waiting that
had been there the most, Mina McLullen, Jed’s sister, understood. It had
been different before the last three of the ladies in waiting had arrived. He
didn’t have to eat dinner with the queen and her daughter. It was all very
odd. And he noticed that the young woman who sat at the other end of the
table understood. He looked at his glass of water, took the glass, and
tipped it subtly to the girl who smiled at him, and toasted her
understanding.
Jed was furious. Sitting next to the princess indeed! She must
have maneuvered it. Of course. The Princess, no matter now pretty she
was, with her midnight hair and velvet violet eyes, was still a brat. She sat
there, with her perfect posture, eating her food without saying anything.
She was not only bratty, she was also acting like the most idiotic docile
dolt he’d ever seen. So perfect, not doing anything that would turn a
critical eye on her, but then again, not doing anything at all.
Raye was fuming. How dare he look at her like that! When she
felt his gaze upon her, well, she simply had to be perfect, and sit up
straight. If he turned away, maybe she’d catch a breath, and a break. Why
was he watching her so? She hated acting perfect in his eyes, but she
knew if she didn’t, he’d have plenty to criticize. And beyond that, his
gaze was cold and unnerving, and what she wanted to do was go up to her
room and wrap herself in warm blankets until the shivers went away. She
sighed, and calmly sat even straighter, and started a conversation with her
mother about the weather.
Serena brushed her arm accidentally against HIS while reaching
for a dinner fork, and looked him for one second as he turned to her. She
was going to apologize coldly and go on eating, but they caught each
other’s eye.
She was just curious about what he looked like today. He was
pleasing to the eye. She couldn’t help THAT! Okay, so she thought, he
was the most dashing young man she had ever seen. It still gave no
excuse for his behavior, though if she were more shallow, she might have
overlooked his pigheadedness for just a kiss…but she was smarter than
that, she told herself, looking away regretfully, maybe even cursing herself
a little.
He was pondering how she managed to always get that enchanting
glint in her eye when she looked so furious. It was making him feel
strange inside. He didn’t look often upon her, for when he did, he was
tempted to just kiss her, just to see what it would be like to kiss a beautiful
young woman, as enchanting and alluring as Serena Kingston. It wasn’t
as if he was in love with her. Far from that. She was a foolish and
insolent girl. He just thought she had a killer body, a killer mind, and a
killer tongue…for TALKING…though he wondered about kissing…
Darien turned away. Dinner was taking a nasty turn.
Standing in the midst of the shadows, she lured her with a
nightmare.
Serena tossed and turned on her bed, then sitting up, sweat pressing
her bangs to her brow, and slicking her neck and arms. It was not good
sleep. She’d had the nightmare one too many times.
The image was acute. Standing in the castle gardens, by a fallen
body, trying to defend herself and the body, which was still apparently
alive, only unconscious. She felt the fire burn her lungs, as she felt
darkness threatening to smother her breaths down her throat, and darkness
stinging her eyes into blindness. She heard the low laughter of a dark
presence, and the shriek of an insane sorceress. She’d feel her breaths
growing shorter, more painful…
Serena looked out the window, to see an unfamiliar sight.
There was a woman, standing in the darkness of the garden, with
black velvet mage robes, and a dark obsidian upon her head. Her hair was
thick fire, and her figure thin, and bony. She summoned her.
Serena was paralyzed. The woman was staring at her. Serena
didn’t don’t what to do. Her heart told her to fight it, to go out there, and
demand to know why this woman was threatening her sleep. Her more
practical mind told her to hide. But she couldn’t hide form nightmares, or
at least from this one.
She silently got her shirt and pants out of her bureau, and put a
jeweled dagger up her sleeve.
He looked from his documents, and out the window for his vision
in moonlight. He’d imagined her there many times since, and was startled
to find a person actually standing at the spot.
But not his charming moonlight elf.
She was tall dark woman, in dark robes, with an air of threat
menacing the air.
He got and out of bed, ready to confront the odd intruder.
She stood in front of her, a vision of moonlight, and purity.
But she could soon change that.
Serena looked bewilderingly at the vision, reaching for the dagger
in her sleeve.
But the sorceress simply halted her movements with a spell that
paralyzed her. Serena felt darkness gather around her limbs, entwining her
in place.
The sorceress approached her.
“Such power, such energy in someone so small and young! You
could be one of my best generals if you don’t stop impressing me!”
Serena looked away. “I don’t think I want to get my hands on that
power of yours.”
“You won’t have much of choice!” she laughed, reaching a hand
for her forehead, trying to take her energy.
The contact of hand and pale marble forehead was cold, and
chilling. Serena felt uncomfortably cool and slightly scared.
She looked up to her enemy, a woman with a pale curve of the
face, and black soulless eyes which housed a flame that threatened to burn
everyone. Serena’s blue eyes flashed in brief recognition, but her
resistance was draining much of her energy.
“Don’t fight it, Serena.”
“Don’t…want…it…” Serena forced from her lips as the darkness
started to flow into her limbs, taking away memory and strength…
“You will succumb to the superior power of Queen Metalia…”
“No I won’t!” she stammered out, feeling darkness starting to
coldly flow into her lungs.
Beryl was amazed. Her victims before had never resisted so much.
“Leave her alone!”
Serena heard the voice in almost a dream. She felt ready to faint,
still fighting the darkness.
“Let her alone, whoever you are!” Darien brandished a sword.
Beryl laughed. “What a pleasant surprise! I didn’t think this night
would prove so fruitful!”
But Darien came forward, and with his sword, slashing a bright red
cut across her pale arm, the hand of it being touched to Serena’s forehead.
Beryl withdrew her hand, and Serena dropped to the floor of the garden,
unconscious, trying to drift back into consciousness.
Beryl took amazement in the man who stood in front of her, sweat
starting to coat his forehead, and a fight emanating from his presence.
She was intrigued. Such bravado, such foolish courage. She
always needed a strong belligerent handsome husband to justify her cruel
position. It appeared Prince Darien more than fit the role.
But while he had slashed her arm, she was furious at him.
She paralyzed him with an incantation, letting the one on Serena
go.
Darien had a sinking feeling that he was going to faint. He was
cold, frozen into place by darkness, and the chilling force was starting to
take his body, making his muscles sore and his mind cold and numb.
Unable to fight the stronger force, his energy was quickly falling from
him, and his face was losing color fast.
He reached for his sword slowly, fighting the nerves that were
stinging every cell in his arm, and put it to her face, but only managed a
small, weak slash on the cheek.
Beryl was shocked. No one fought the paralysis spell and marred
her face! She prepared yet another dark, stronger incantation as she felt
him kick her in the stomach. She fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
Meanwhile, Serena Kingston forced herself from unconsciousness,
as she felt the dark cloak being lifted from her soul, and found breaths of
air in her lungs once more. She opened her eyes, and focused on a shadow
of moonlight and night air. “Hmm?”
“FOOLS!”
Serena immediately forced herself up, despite the acute pains in
her stomach, as well as legs. The voice was not the one of the unknown
sorceress, but of yet another unknown person present.
“Who dares conquer my ward?” the voice in the air was frigid,
frozen.
“I do!” Serena chattered the coldness and silence into a thousand
pieces.
“As do I…” Darien stammered out.
“Weak mortals, you may have weakened my ward…” as the body
of the fallen sorceress vanished from sight. “But you will not weaken the
punishment I have for you!”
Immediately, the air about them became solid darkness, and Serena
struggled for breath. It felt like every breath she took was seething with
could fury and the pain stabbed her throat.
The coldness fell through her legs, draining warmth from her body.
She felt her blood being replaced by something infinitely denser,
smothering energy and vitality in her veins.
She was conscious that the man by her side was falling, into the
slumber of nightmare darkness.
But she would not give up. She would fight.
She was being persistent, Metalia mused. As she tired to intensify
darkness, she got a response she did not expect.
Her body was glowing, and light was starting to fight darkness
away. But that couldn’t be possible…Metalia brought more darkness
upon the girl.
But she would not fall to the incantations and machinations of
queer presences which did not exist.
She a sinking feeling of deja vu. It was her nightmare.
She was losing breath fast, and her energy was failing her…she
fought to break the fetters of cold icy darkness about her, but to no avail.
She started to fall to the ground, making Metalia smile.
Serena opened her cloudy eyes, now in blind stupor. She could not
see anything…except the moon, glowing brightly, the light which was
flowing from it.
If she could have some of that light to help her…
“Oh Selene, lend me your strength…”
A flash of unexpected brightness surrounded her, like a warm
blanket, after stepping from the cold.
She took a breath of pure warmth and energy, and she felt her
limbs loosen, the ice lost.
Serena stood, in the gardens, with white robes gathering about her,
and a gold medallion of the moon, drooping from her neck. Her gold hair
spilled to the ground, and her eyes flashed dangerously into the night.
Serena did not know what was running through her body, but felt
it, pounding through her, supplying strength. For that reason, and for the
reason that it came forth in pure white light, she trusted it.
“Now leave me!” she cried into the air, forcing a burst of light
from her body.
Metalia looked, stunned at the moonlight-clad figure. It couldn’t
be…she felt something coming to her that signified pain. It was coming
from the girl. She finally relinquished her hold on the girl, and let go of
the night, for she did not have enough forces to fight Selene…
Serena felt the shadows creep away, and stood in moonlight,
feeling the relief pour through her.
What had happened? Why was she dressed in these odd robes,
with gold writing she did not understand on a sash that went across her
chest, from one shoulder to opposite hip.
She didn’t remember leaving her hair down, and she certainly did
not wear white robes down here.
“Serena…” she looked about, and decided the voice came from the
lake that was on the other side of the castle.
She walked to it, for the voice was one of help, and soothed her,
and promised her answers to her questions.
She found her standing on the lake.
She was tall, with pure moonlight white robes around her body,
and long pure white hair, glistening in moonlight. Her complexion was
pale, her lips almost white. In fact, the only things that were not white
were her eyes, which were the night’s dark warmth, which contrasted the
feelings she got earlier to the strange presence that threatened her life.
Serena knew, from the golden sash she wore, and the one that went
across the chest of the other, that this woman was the one who gave her
the strength to save herself, and the other…the other! What about him?
Who had saved her before this?
“Think one thing at a time, Serena. Don’t worry, he will be safe.”
Serena looked, confused at the figure. That was when she noticed
a crown of moonpearl in her hair, and Serena knelt in front of the woman,
as a sign of respect.
“You may rise.”
They looked into each other’s eyes, and the blue ones flashed in
understanding. “You are Selene…”
The Goddess of the Moon nodded.
“There comes a time every thousand years when the goddess will
chose one whose anger and power is great, and train her in the powers of
black magic. The Greeks call her Hecate, and her more common name is
Metalia. She is my sister.
“It began a time ago when Hecate’s powers of darkness grew
unbalanced, and she wanted to take over all the world. The gods forbade
that, by forcing her to put her powers in a child, which she and her
husband were to have soon. However, they did not want the child to abuse
these powers she had received. As her sister, the goddess of the moon,
they thought my innocence and purity would balance her wicked soul. So,
I had to bring some of myself into the child, to be reborn every thousand
years.
“Her child, this era, has much knowledge of Hecate’s
machinations. In a war against one of her own mothers, she has lost her
father, husband, and her child. She is a grown woman now, and she is
fighting to keep her mother from her most prized possession.
“You see, Metalia found out recently that her daughter had given
birth twenty something years ago…the daughter was taken to Earth, and
hidden from Metalia. With her, her four guards were sent as well, to seal
the protection of the princess. In the event that the princess was to be
protected, the guardians were to be awakened by one whose name is the
Moonlight Maiden.
“The granddaughter is to remain safely hidden, among the mortals
of the Earth, hiding and living her life in ignorance of this, but Hecate has
summoned her own angry mortal to kill the guardians, as well as find the
princess, and corrupt her. You confronted her tonight. She now seeks the
four guards, and plans to use them as her own generals. She thought you
were one…”
“But I am a mortal child, born and raised here…”
“Which the sorceress does not believe. She tried to take your
strength and mind, but you did not allow her to do that, showing great
resistance, and even an inner light which helped you. That was when I
knew that you were the Maiden to bring the world to the peace, and to
fight Beryl. You are the messenger. Your task is to find the four
guardians of the granddaughter, and train them to fight the force Hecate
has awaken in Beryl. You are to protect the identity of the girl, no matter
what. However, you must also protect my child as well, when she
visits…”
“Queen Serenity…”
“Yes…”
Serena nodded her head in assent, and watched as the glowing
figure vanished before her eyes.
He lay on the bed, feeling sunlight patter across his face, and slug
him in the pains of his stomach. What had happened? It was well into the
day, and he was still in his bed.
He felt cool smooth hands massaging sore muscles.
As he opened his eyes, he saw a dream.
A golden halo, framing a pale, tired face, with an ethereal look.
Her lips were pressed in concentration, as she found another tense kink in
his foot and massaged THAT.
Her eyes were flitted down, and the creamy eyelids flirted with his
mind. He reached out, to touch that face, caressing the face softly, and
taking the hand that was slightly shaking. He took it into his, and brushed
it softly with his lips. “Thank you…”
“Your majesty!”
He recognized that voice, and focused on the eyes. The eternally
deep blue eyes of a beautiful young woman whose face scorned his in
disgust.
“Lady Serena…I…”
“Try to show some kindness and you get some romantic advances!
I can leave now.”
“No! Wait!”
“What?” she turned rolling her eyes to the ceiling.
“Why am I in bed?”
“You were found on the castle walk of the gardens late last night
unconscious and injured. I simply ministered to your broken ribs, and I
worked out your pulled muscles.”
“I…”
“I learned medicinal arts when I was in schooling, so don’t
mistrust my healings. And if you get a headache, it may be from that big
bump in your head.”
She turned and walked quickly out, before Darien could say
anything.
Last night seemed like a dream. It couldn’t be that magic existed,
for powers such as those were for only the gods, and yet, her opponent last
night had magic, and she herself had a strange sort of magic. It was very
frightening. Her beliefs were falling, and fast. It seemed that now the
fight had began, she’d only be able to hold on, and not fight it.
It had been puzzling last night to return from the lake to find
Darien at her feet, out cold. It could only mean one thing; he was her
rescuer the night before. So he DID have some redeeming qualities, only
they weren’t numerous.
It couldn’t seem possible that he had showed so much strength and
courage before, and it bewildered her to think about it now. What had
driven him to go outside, to fight the evil force? And what had driven him
to fight for her life?
He had fought very well. His moves had improved, and he moved
with more agility, and more speed. She had been impressed by the man
last night who defended her, and was perhaps slightly disappointed and
very shocked to find that the man who saved her was indeed the last man
she ever wanted to show strength as good as, or perhaps superior to hers.
She tried to repay him by healing him this day, to the surprise of
all in the court. The royal family doctor was away, and there was no other
doctor nearby, but there was Serena, who had volunteered, and justified by
saying she had learned how to heal in her early life.
That meant that she could no longer scorn him as the boy he was
when she had left; though he still proved to be a conceited moron, he had
proved himself in battle, and she was indebted to him for her life, and that
meant that she had to respect him.
He wondered about the events of the night before.
He remembered a strange sorceress, attacking a woman, and he had
stepped forward in her defense, and had vanquished this enemy to confront
yet another who had felled him.
But now, he did not know how he ended up from the gardens to his
bed. Someone had seen him, and brought him inside, but it made no
sense; who had saved him from the dark sorceress?
He sighed, as he stretched his muscles. He cringed as well. He felt
the pain in his ribs, but at least he swollen arms and legs were feeling
better now. He had to admit, though there was no reason whatsoever for
her to show up and take care of his medical problems, Serena Kingston
was a good healer.
So, here is part two! YAY! Anyways, you may notice that Hecate
IS actually the goddess of darkness, but again I did twist a few things so
that Selene was her sister. I don’t think they are. Anyhow, I wrote it that
way.
Who knows when I’ll have to courage to touch this again.
“Guarding Heart” is a very hard piece to get going; I think about it too
much, and then my story ideas change every other minute. I hope to get it
out in yet another month, but I believe “Flower Girl” or “Darien’s Fall”
will be coming out before then. I also plan on revising Masquerade,
putting in some extra scenes, so look out for that too!
Thank you for reading!
(
geocities.com/element_sprite)