Title: An Unsuitable Match
Part: 2
Author: W.bymeeh
Rating: PG
E-mail: jhyunl@aol.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/
*Author's Note: Chapter 2 coming at you! Hmm, and now I'm
getting writer's block. However, I'd love to hear (positive)
feedback and comments...please! I need encouragement to keep
writing, so e-mail! =) I really ought to do more of my physics
homework. =P
*Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, so don't sue me! I
have nothing worth suing for anyways. Also, the story in this
form is mine, so please don't take it without permission!
Thanks.
Chapter 2
[5 years have passed]
Serena smiled at the pure joy of being in a garden. It was
rare that she had any spare time to herself, but Lady Beryl was
napping at the moment. She missed her palace gardens so much, it
felt as if her heart ached for lack of being with the flowers.
She bent and sniffed a red rose. She looked around, and couldn't
help but keep smiling. A real, genuine smile, one that lit up
her eyes and her face. Not the fake one that she plastered on at
balls where she was forced to attend to Lady Beryl, and act
simperingly sweet to her. Lady Beryl knew very well how Serena
felt toward her, but she also knew that Serena would act the
perfect lady-in-waiting, and keep her seething inside.
After five years of waiting on Lady Beryl, Serena's strong
spirit was still not broken. It was obscured, hidden usually by
the internal struggle that Serena went through. The battle
against herself, to remain in control when dealing with Lady
Beryl, or with some of the disgusting servants on the grounds.
Serena shuddered inwardly. The male servants and guards on the
grounds of the family Beryl viewed her as free game. She had
suffered through their lecherous looks and put up with the lust
in their eyes since she had turned fourteen, and had suddenly
blossomed into a striking young lady from the unusual looking
child she had been. It had turned out to be more of a curse than
a blessing, and she often bolted her door at night in fear of
drunken servants. More than once a drunken youth had tried to
pull her into a balcony at night after dinner, and Serena had
been forced, out of necessity, to learn how to defend herself in
a few quick blows. But every time she was caught in a situation
like that, she somehow knew that there was something inside her
that could help her, if she asked. But she never did.
Lady Beryl had become even more jealous of her lady-in-
waiting as the years passed. She ordered Serena around as a
personal servant, not as her companion, in an effort to feel
superior to the young girl's beauty, which by far outshined her
own. She ordered her dressed in cheap material, so thin that
they made Serena shiver when even the slightest wind brushed by.
At every opportunity, she blamed Serena for any mishap. To her
infinite disgust, even the occasional beatings she gave her did
not make Serena lose the light in her eyes, although Serena had
learned to avert her proud gaze away so as to not anger the noble
family.
But, all of that was going to over soon. Serena breathed a
sigh of happiness. Any future would be better than that which
she would have here. She couldn't stand it anymore...it was
slowly killing her inside to be here, far from the people that
she loved, with no one here who would be her friend. It was
different here; there was an air of coldness. Serena had learned
to build a wall up against the cold, so that it wouldn't sneak in
on her. She didn't want to become one of them, a heartless,
barely living servant who found no joy in the day. She had to be
strong. That was practically her mantra now.
Serena, in the five years that she been gone, had written
as many letters possible to home. To Amy, Lita, Mina, Raye, and
her beloved parents, she had written words of comfort. She told
them that she had a wonderful life, and she was happy where she
was. She didn't want any of them to feel guilty that she was
miserable. Amy, especially, would be upset, and Serena didn't
want her quiet friend to take on such a burden. Nothing that had
happened had been her fault.
However, in a day they would be visiting the royal family.
Serena had tried to banish the thought of Darien to the farthest
corner of her mind, but to her annoyance, his image appeared in
her mind continually. His eyes, with a look of need in them,
locking her in his gaze.
Foolish, Serena thought, trying to brush her thoughts
aside. Why would the Crown Prince ever need a girl like me?
Especially considering how young I was then...what a silly
girlhood crush I've carried these years...
The prince would be twenty-one now...five years older than
her. She'd heard wild rumors about him. A new mistress every
month...or was it every week? It seemed to Serena, though, that
it was more than sowing his royal oats. It wasn't that he went
through women like tissues...it was more like he didn't want to
try and keep a relationship going. He pushed all of them away.
And they were mostly high-ranking ladies, too. Lady Beryl had
heard of him, and was looking interestedly at the prospect of
being added to the prince's list. Serena knew this, and thought
it amusing. She wouldn't wish Beryl on her worst enemy.
One day, she thought. One day until freedom. Serena had
her own plans for her future...
"One day?! What? Serena's coming here in one day?", Raye
exclaimed.
"Accompanying Lady Beryl, of course," Amy stated matter-of-
factly, looking up from the letter she was reading as the other
girls emitted a groaning sound. However, it was overridden by
the excitement that surged at knowing that Serena was finally
coming to visit them. Before, Lady Beryl had insisted that
Serena was not ready to yet travel, wasn't polite enough, had to
grow up, was sick, and basically kept her from seeing her dear
friends. Serena had written, of course, to corroborate with
whatever Lady Beryl had said, but the girls were still
suspicious.
A smile lit up on Mina's face, more often now that she was
surrounded by true friends. Her blond hair was swept elegantly
back from her face, and a gold band surrounded her forehead to
signify her royal status. She had grown into a graceful,
stunning princess, and although she bore no resemblance to the
dark-haired royal couple, her manners and carriage showed the
sign of true royalty.
Amy continued to read, her eyes concentrating on Serena's
letter. Amy had blossomed in a more subdued way. Not the pale,
weak child she had been before, she had grown stronger with the
healthier lifestyle she led as one of the princess' ladies-in-
waiting. Her blue hair fell delicately around her shoulders; a few
wisps of it covered her sweet face.
Raye, staring into the fire, smiled and kept an ear open to
Amy. It had become a ritual for them to sit in the library and
read and talk about Serena. They tried, as much as they could,
to believe that Serena was happy, and tried to be happy for her.
But they all still carried a feeling of loss with them inside.
Raye missed teasing her dear friend. She could hardly wait to
see her. Wouldn't she be surprised at me? Raye thought. Raye
had astonished everyone by growing into a polished young lady,
with stunning waist-length black-violet hair and glowing dark eyes.
Of course, Lita held her own as well. She had torn herself
away from the kitchen to become an accomplished young lady, with
her lustrous brown hair framing her face in a style that many
found hard to resist.
The princess and her royal court won the admiration of
many. Even the Crown Prince admitted that his little sister had
finally grown up, and her choice in ladies-in-waiting not too
shabby.
"Ohmygoodness." Amy gaped at the letter as the others
looked at her in surprise.
"Serena's going to be engaged."
Darien walked hurriedly through the palace corriders. He
was sick of them all, the insipid airheads who viewed him as a
prize to be won. He was overwhelmed by his duties as Prince of
the Earth, and the practices to learn to control the Golden
Crystal were a heavy burden. Knowing he had such power at his
fingertips, and yet knowing that it was only his control that
restained the destruction it could bring, weighed heavily on his
soul, with no alleviation from anyone. He had long ago learned
to control his emotions, and kept his inner despair to himself.
There was no one who could lighten the burden, and he would not
have his family feel guilty on his behalf.
He opened the door to his chamber and strode in. Walking
over to his bed, he reached under his pillow and pulled out a
very worn blue sash embroidered with moons. He lifted it to his
head, sniffing it for that faint scent of the flowers from long
ago. He held it, and felt the dark walls that threatened to
close in on his heart recede. As long as he thought of her, the
loneliness disappeared. She was so innocent, lovely...and pure.
But when he remembered how she had left him, the void came back.
He tried to stomp it back down. Goodness knows that he had tried
using other women to forget a little snippet of a girl. But
nothing, and no one could keep the darkness away from him for long.
Serena fidgeted as she got dressed. She was nervous. She
was practically trembling as she tried to button herself up. Her
nerves were on edge, after having to slave away to Lady Beryl for
several hours, helping her to prepare for the welcoming
masquerade, a tradition or whim of some sort by Lady Beryl.
Serena had been closeted away ever since they had arrived, doing
odd jobs for Lady Beryl, giving her no chance to see her friends.
That was probably Beryl's intent. As for the masquerade, no
doubt Lady Beryl wanted to sneak up to the Prince in disguise,
because if he saw her first he would most likely run, Serena
thought with a giggle. Lady Beryl had become obsessed with the
tales of the Prince that had drifted to their corner of the
world, and although she wouldn't of admitted it, Serena had also
listened with an attentive ear.
Serena glanced at herself in the mirror. Serena had made
her own alterations to this dress, hoping it would help her in
escaping from her life. Gold thread had been used to embroider
delicate stars and moons on the hem, and she had sewn tiny
rosebuds on the waistline. The dress clung softly to her shapely
curves, and she knew that she was more than presentable for the
dance. She pinned a few small roses that she had managed to
pluck into her golden hair, which she had plaited and wound
around her head, letting a few tendrils loose to frame her face.
She was ready. On the outside at least. Serena hoped that
she wouldn't have to face HIM. She had never been able to quite
forget him and his hauntingly beautiful eyes, and she knew she
would not have the courage to go through with her plan for
freedom if she became lost at seeing him.
She was determined. She would meet the "nice, handsome
young man" that her parents had arranged for her to meet tonight,
impress his lights out, and accept the marriage proposal that she
knew was coming from a man that she knew was to wear the mask of
an eagle. He was a palace guard, but then she was only a lady-
in-waiting. It would be a suitable match, and she knew that it
was the only escape from the life of torture she had with Lady
Beryl. She picked up her butterfly shaped mask and tied it
behind her head. She was ready. Be strong, she told herself.
This is your last chance...
Darien fidgeted with his costume. He wasn't looking
forward to this stupid ball. He hadn't even planned on a
costume, but by chance it had been unluckily remedied. Darien
recalled the conversation he had with one of the palace guards,
who happened to be a close friend with one of his own generals.
Jonathon, or John or some variation on that name. He had come
down with a dreadful cold from nightwatch on a dreary night, and
he was supposed to meet his betrothed tonight, some servant's
daughter or something. He had begged the prince to give her a
message, that he did want to marry her, and woo her...he went
on blathering romantically about this girl.
Darien snorted in disgust. Apparently, the guard had never
even met the girl, but had become infatuated with her by hearing
of her from her parents, who desired a suitable match for their
daughter. She was probably another plain peasant girl, which was
fitting for the nice but bland guard. Now Darien had to act as
cupid and dance attendance on a little girl who was apparently a
lady-in-waiting to one of the royal couples present. She was
supposed to wear a butterfly mask...and Darien was now tying the
strings of an eagle mask behind his head. A more inappropiate
costume for the weak-spirited guard he could not imagine. Most
likely, the girl was as placid as he was. Darien would not have
chosen to play the part for the palace guard, but he had
felt pity for the man's worrying at losing his bethrothed...and a
touch of envy, too.
Darien glanced out his windows and saw the full moon. He
felt the old anger surge again. Even though it was arranged, at
least his palace guard would be content with the young girl he
was supposed to meet on his behalf tonight. It wasn't fair. Why
should everyone have someone except for him? Darien sighed, and
put his anger out of his mind for at least this night.
Serena followed Lady Beryl demurely, with her head bowed
low as a sign of respect to her mistress. She did so not because
she actually held respect for Beryl, but because she wanted to
hide the pure delight that shone from her eyes. At last, this
was the beginning of her freedom. Serena had no doubt that she
could learn to love her husband. Serena had never had any
problem learning to love, and she knew that this was the only way
to leave her current life behind and be with her dear friends and
family.
A memory of Darien in the moonlit garden emerged in her
mind, taunting her with the stunning eyes that had shook her to
her very soul. 'No', she told herself, banishing the image away.
She shook herself. 'This is an unhealthy way to begin the
evening. Remember what you are supposed to do.'
Darien scanned the ballroom, which had already filled with
masked ladies and gentlemen dressed in their finest. He spotted
his sister, her royal highness, dancing with one of his
generals, Malachite. He raised an eyebrow. And yet, he was
not all that possessive of his sister, and trusted her judgement,
and moved his view from the pair.
Apparently, the other three of his generals/guardians were
enjoying themselves thoroughly with his sister's ladies-in-waiting.
Raye was fiercely arguing with blond Jedeite, who looked both
infuriated and fascinated by the spirited dark-haired lady. Amy
was blushing from the gaze of Zoisite, who could not take his eyes
from the quiet, modest girl dressed in sky-blue. Nephrite was
handing a glass of champagne to Lita, who looked surprised by his
gesture and stared at him strangely.
Darien rolled his eyes. He wondered if they had anything
better to do. Now, all he had to do was find a certain young
lady, tell her the happy news, congratulate her, and quietly find
a way to leave the ballroom before he was accosted by yet another
silly girl.
He turned as he heard yet another royal family introduced.
This time, it was the Beryl family. The name tugged at his memory...
there was something familiar about it.
Into his gaze came the lady herself, and Darien remained
bored. He had just about given up on having a remotely good time
when his gaze landed on the young lady following Lady Beryl into
the ballroom.
Darien's jaw dropped.
Here was a stunning woman, who by far outshined her
mistress. Her carriage was elegant, and yet her face was turned
slightly downward as to show proper respect to Lady Beryl.
However, as Lady Beryl turned to socialize with a nearby
gentleman, the young lady lifted her head and looked around the
room.
Darien was now in shock.
Even across the room, her beauty was as stunning as the
brightest star. Her golden hair was wound about her head, but
fascinating curls framed her face and gave her an air of mystery.
She wore a butterfly shaped mask that didn't do much to disguise
her face and her beauty. A smile played on her beautifully
shaped lips, and her gaze searched for someone as she turned
about the room. She held a touch of innocence and youth, as she
was completely unaware that she had captivated the eye of every
man in the room, and even the respectful admiration of most of
the young ladies.
As Darien stared at her, unable to remove his eyes from
her, she suddenly turned in his direction and saw him. And
smiled.
Darien's heart stopped.
As she began to walk toward him, Darien suddenly remembered
to close his jaw. And as he wondered at why she was heading
straight for him, he realized that he was wearing the mask of an
eagle...and she the mask of a butterfly.
Darien decided that the loss of a single palace guard
would go unnoticed.
As she came within arm's length of Darien, she gracefully
curtsied. He bowed in return, and on impulse, held out his arm
to her for the waltz that was beginning. Her face lit up, and he
felt his insides start to melt.
He tightened his hold on her as they swirled around
together on the dance floor, and refused to let her twirl very
far from him, as if he was afraid that she would disappear. He
looked down into her beaming face, and wondered if she was
feeling as madly attracted to him as he was to her.
I wonder if I'm dreaming, Serena thought. If so, I hope I
never wake up. This mysterious man is all I've ever wanted. So
handsome...with a magnetism that won't let me look away from him
since the moment I saw him. I wish I could see his eyes though;
they're hidden behind his eagle mask. I'm sure they're beautiful
though...deep blue eyes...
Darien felt like floating. Gradually though, he was pulled
back to Earth by the worry that had crept into his angel's eyes.
He then noticed that the waltz had drawn to a close, but he was
still trying to dance with her. And also, pretty much every
single eye in the ballroom had been fixated on them...
Darien kept his firm grasp on her slim waist as he guided
her gently to the wall. There, she tilted her head and
whispered, "Could we go somewhere a bit more private?"
Darien could of sworn he was in a dream. He nodded, and
guided her to the balcony, which overlooked the royal gardens, as
well as having a staircase that led to them. She eagerly took
the lead there and walked down the stairs to the dewy lawn below.
After walking in silence, she said, "There's a place that
I'd like to go to talk...if that's all right."
Darien could only mutely nod in agreement.
After picking their way through some undergrowth, they
reached a clearing flooded with moonlight.
Darien was shocked. He had been here, five years ago with
a young girl named Serena. Whom he had never quite forgotten.
He stared at his angel...wondering...
She reached up her hands to untie her mask.
"Serena..."
She smiled. "I know my parents haven't told you too much
about me. Please, don't say anything yet. I know what it is
that you were planning to ask me...but you need to hear some
things first. Wait," she said, putting a hand to his arm to
prevent him from untying his mask, "don't show yourself yet. I
already know who you are, but I want you to listen to me before
you reveal yourself...that way, you can still have a choice of
walking away."
'Walking away? Who would be insane to walk away from this
beatiful creature?'
Darien stared, mesmerized by the woman that Serena had
become. She was even more beautiful than she was in his dreams,
where he woke reaching for the sash that held her scent. He
knew, that this was the one who could make his nightmares recede,
and could take away the emptiness in his heart. She was the one
who could make him whole. How he knew this, he didn't have an
idea, but he didn't stop to ponder it.
Serena looked up at him imploringly. Darien couldn't
move...he was immobilized by her gaze that asked, but didn't
demand. He who gave commands with the air of one that knew they
would be followed.
"You know that I'm a lady-in-waiting to Lady Beryl...and
I've spent five years with her. I've written many letters to my
parents and my friends about my life there...which I'm sure
you've heard about. But what I have to tell you...what you have
a right to know...is that it's not exactly true." At that moment
her eyes brimmed with tears, but she bit her lip and fought them
back. Darien's heart started to twist in agony...what could have
happened to her? An angry feeling of protectiveness came over
him, and he pulled Serena into a close embrace. She was
trembling in his arms, and she slowly let out a breath to
continue.
"It was...very difficult there. Lady Beryl was...a strict
mistress, and not the easiest to serve. It was probably my
fault, I'm not a very subservient, obedient, girl. In short, I
wasn't the best lady-in-waiting to my lady. And...there were
these awful men at Lady Beryl's home..." Darien gently stroked
her hair as she started to sob. "They were so horrible, they
kept trying to...to make me..." The mental shields that Serena
had built up after the long years away from her family and
friends shattered as she was held by the safe, protective arms of
a man she barely knew but trusted.
With Serena's guard relaxed, Darien could feel the
memories flowing in her mind...Serena hiding under the bed, a
closet, out on a balcony...anywhere to stay away from them.
Darien became caught up in the flow of her tragic adolescent
years, and felt irrational anger that she had suffered so.
Serena continued to sob into Darien's dress shirt, letting
lose all of the tears that she held back all these years. She
shuddered as one of Darien's hands traced the curve of her back,
and he realized that it wasn't because she was afraid of
him...but because something else had happened to her.
"What happened, Serena...who hurt you?" Darien tilted her
tear-stained face to look into his masked face.
Serena faltered. How could she betray her mistress? But
the image of Lady Beryl had come automatically into her mind,
carrying a whip, and without her knowing it she had already
relayed it to Darien.
A fire began to burn in Darien...it seemed to consume him
with anger. Anger at the people who would hurt Serena, this
wonderful girl with the dazzling eyes so full of love, life, and
laughter. He would protect her...he needed to protect her. He
wanted to be the one she ran to, the reason why her eyes would
light up at seeing...he wanted to make sure she was happy.
"Does it really matter? Do...do you still want to be...my
knight in shining armor?" Serena looked at Darien in the eye,
begging him silently not to turn her away because of what she had
revealed.
Darien was in awe of her. Serena would risk her future by
telling a prospective husband her painful past, a history that
might scare off others, but had no effect on him. He wanted this
girl like no other.
"Knight in shining armor...", Darien repeated the quaint
phrase. He knew what she was truly asking, and he was fully
prepared to answer it.
"Don't you remember, Serena?" Darien pulled off his mask
and pulled out a handkerchief with his royal symbol emblazoned on
it. "I already promised you that I would be your knight in
shining armor a very long time ago." Darien knelt before her,
placing his handkerchief in her hand, as Serena stared at him in
shock.
"Darien..." Like a prayer, she whispered it. In shock,
she placed her hands in his larger palms. Her eyes looked at him
with such a deep love that it shook him...and yet he knew that
the same love was reflected in his eyes. He stood up and pulled
Serena into his arms, a desperate, close embrace.
"It was always...only you," he whispered as he bent his
head and kissed her underneath the moonlight in the garden where
they had first met, so many years ago.
**************
w. bymeeh
jhyunl@aol.com
http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/
(
geocities.com/element_sprite)