Heart of Silver, Soul of Glass
By Stormlight
Chapter Five
As spring passed by and summer took its place, Serena found herself avoiding
the crown prince more and more. His sudden and very strange behavior was too
disturbing to deal with, and besides, it just didn’t seem like so much fun
anymore to tease him like she used to. It was all his fault, too! After all,
if he hadn’t gone and kissed her like that, he wouldn’t be making her feel so
strange inside whenever she saw him now, and she wouldn’t have so much
trouble being around him! Of course Miaka and Rei noticed the change, and
tried their best to get the reason out of her, but she wasn’t about to tell
them anything. Her emotions were too private to share with anyone, even her
sister and best friend. Besides…she just didn’t think they’d understand.
Whenever anyone brought up the subject, she’d quickly change it to something
far more interesting…such as Miaka’s newfound admirer, Tamahome.
"It’s so obvious he likes you!" Serena insisted as she and Miaka were picking
tomatoes from the plants one morning, before the day grew too hot to be out.
"The way he stares at you when you aren’t looking, and he’s got the sweetest
expression on his face! Kind of all dreamy and lovesick…"
"Oh, stop it!" Miaka giggled, swatting at her sister. "I’ve never seen him
look like that!"
"Well, of course not!" Serena snorted. "You don’t actually think he’d let you
catch him looking at you, do you?!"
Miaka blushed. "Well…"
"Look, I have it on very good authority that he intends to ask you to go to
town with him one night," Serena whispered, her eyes sparkling excitedly.
"Are you going to go with him?"
"I hardly even know him!" Miaka protested.
"What are you talking about?" Serena giggled. "You’ve known him since you
were little!"
"But…he’s Endymion’s friend, not mine! He usually is with the crown prince,
and I’m usually with you and Rei, and…well, we all know how you and Endymion
are, so of course we’re never together. I don’t know him all that well at
all, when it comes down to it. I don’t even know when his birthday is!"
"That’s why you should go with him, so you can get to know him," Serena
stated wisely. "Why are you hesitating? He’s very nice, don’t you think? I
mean…even having Endymion for a best friend hasn’t soured his disposition, so
he has to be wonderful! And his father is the captain of the king’s army, so
he’s got good standing in court!"
Miaka giggled and blushed, shaking her head. "I just don’t know," she
replied. "I-I’d have to think about it."
"Well, think about it fast, because I think he intends on asking you today,"
Serena assured her, winking a little. "Well, I think we picked enough
tomatoes for now. The sun’s rising, and it’s getting warm. Let’s go get ready
for lessons." She picked up her full basket and passed Miaka, whacking her on
the back of the head to get her moving. Miaka squealed slightly, then grabbed
her own basket and chased her sister back into the kitchens.
~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@
It was a very nervous Miaka who entered the library behind her sister and
Rei, clutching her books to her chest as she glanced around the huge, quiet
room. To her relief, nobody else had come yet, and she sank down at a table
with a sigh. She watched as Serena opened one of her own books and
frantically began to read over the pages. "You forgot to do your assignment
again, didn’t you?" she teased. Serena merely grunted and continued to read,
and Miaka grinned in response. The girl would never change.
The door to the library opened at that moment, and Tamahome walked through,
followed closely by Endymion. They were speaking in low, quiet voices, and by
the intent looks on both their faces, they appeared to be in the midst of an
argument. As they passed the girls’ table, Miaka distinctly heard the word
army, followed immediately by patrol, and bandits. She strained her ears
trying to catch more of the conversation, and could tell the other two girls
were attempting to do the same, but Endymion seemed to realize this and
abruptly drew the conversation to a close. Disappointed, Miaka sat back,
exchanging uneasy looks with Serena. They looked to Rei, who merely shrugged.
She knew as little as they did, and she seemed just as unhappy about it. It
was annoying, being left in the dark all the time just because they were
female.
Suddenly, Serena’s expression brightened, and she gave Miaka a not-so-gentle
nudge in the side and winked. Startled, Miaka turned her head…only to find
that Tamahome had crept up on her to place himself in a chair right beside
her. He rested his crossed arms on the back of the chair, and rested his chin
on his arms, and looked at her through impish, blue-gray eyes. His smile was
so disarming that she couldn’t help but smile back at him. "There’s a
festival passing through town tonight," he began, "and I was wondering if
you’d like to attend it with me?"
Miaka blinked. Even though Serena had warned her, his request still took her
by surprise. He’d never shown any interest like that in her before, after
all. She glanced at her sister, who was giving her a smug I-told-you-so look.
"Go! Go!" she mouthed, grinning, while Rei made little shooing motions with
her hands. A smile twitched at Miaka’s lips. Well, their approval was clear,
at least. Turning back to Tamahome, she gave him a shy smile and replied, "I-
I’d like that, Tamahome."
"Really?" Tamahome blinked, as though he couldn’t quite believe what she’d
said, and then a wide grin split his face. "Great! I’ll call on you before
evening meal, and we can go then!" He stood and gave her another charming
smile, then almost swaggered back to the table where Endymion was sitting and
plunked himself down in front of his friend.
"I take it you had success," Endymion said dryly.
"She couldn’t resist me," Tamahome replied smugly, crossing his arms.
Endymion snorted. "Just don’t let my brother find out you’re taking Miaka to
the festival. He won’t be very happy about it."
Tamahome frowned. "Your brother is a prince. Miaka is a commoner. You of all
people know that any kind of romance between them is impossible. Their
Majesties would forbid it! Hotohori has no right to forbid me to take Miaka
anywhere," he retorted in a low voice.
Endymion blinked at him, and something...A flash of pain, perhaps?...passed
through his dark sapphire eyes. "Yes," he replied quietly. "I know very well
that the children of the House of Rosewood are forbidden to marry below their
station." He sounded so bitter that Tamahome did a double-take. Then, a flash
of insight hit him.
"Is that why," the younger man asked carefully, "you’ve never courted
Serena?"
Endymion looked startled. "What are you talking about?" he growled.
"Come off it, Endy!" Tamahome snorted. "You’ve been my best friend for how
long now? Don’t you think I ought to know the difference between your daily
infatuations and the one girl who’s held your fascination for longer than any
of them? I have never seen you look at any of those princesses or countesses
or duchesses the way you look at Serena, with that heat in your eyes. A blind
man could see how much you really want her!"
"I suggest you close your mouth before it gets you into trouble," Endymion
hissed, narrowing his eyes at his best friend. "There has never, nor will
their ever be, anything but animosity between myself and that...that peasant!
Now Tamahome narrowed his eyes. "You know, up until this moment I never
realized just how much of a snob you really are," he exclaimed in a low,
intense voice. "But might I remind you that Serena truly is a daughter of
noble birth? And not only was her father a count, but he was also a well-
respected knight of Davinshire, which is how she was lucky enough to find
refuge in this castle in the first place. Look at her, Endymion, and tell me
that you don’t see any sign of noble breeding in that girl! She was never
meant to be a servant, but how often do you hear her bemoaning her situation?
Never! If fate hadn’t dealt her such a nasty hand, she would probably be in
the castle as a courtier, Lady Serenity—most likely a potential bride for
Hotohori or yourself—instead of Serena, the daughter of a servant."
Endymion made no reply to Tamahome’s heated lecture, although his ears had
turned suspiciously red. Whether it was in shame for his arrogance, or in
anger that his friend had dared address him like an errant child, Tamahome
wasn’t sure. But he knew when to back down, and now was that time. Endymion
was no doubt stewing over his words, whether he wanted to or not, and
Tamahome idly wondered how long it would take for the crown prince to crack
through those walls of pride and see the truth before his very eyes.
~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@
"What do I wear?!" Miaka asked for the fifth time in two minutes as she
tossed yet another gown onto her bed in the "rejected" pile. She dug
frantically through the once-organized clothes chest she and her sister
shared, looking for anything that seemed nice enough to wear on her outing
with Tamahome. "Too old…too plain…too…why do I still have this old thing?! I
outgrew this when I was twelve!"
"It’s mine," Serena huffed, snatching it from her sister’s grasp. "And you
don’t have to rub it in, you know!" she added hotly, crossing her arms over
her still-rather-flat chest.
Miaka merely grunted and delved back into the trunk.
"You can always wear one of my dresses, you know," Rei offered from her
sprawled position on her stomach across Serena’s bed.
Miaka’s head popped up over the open lid of the trunk. "Rei," she began
dryly, "I’m going to a festival in town, not a royal ball!" Her head vanished
again.
Rei shrugged. "Can’t say I didn’t offer to help," she sniffed.
"Ah-ha!" Miaka crowed suddenly, coming up for air whilst clutching a soft
cotton dress of pale green, embroidered with yellow flowers. "This is
perfect! Not too fancy…not too plain…just right!" She tossed the gown onto
Serena’s bed, ignoring the fact that it landed on Rei’s head, and began to
change from her current outfit; a rather rumpled frock of plain, yellow linen
that she’d worn while washing laundry earlier.
"Miaka, you keep yelling like that and you’re going to wake up Mama!" Serena
scolded.
Miaka snatched the gown from Rei’s head—who looked a little disgruntled at
being used for a temporary hanger—and paused as she pulled it over her own
head, peeking out through the neck hole and frowning. "Does she have one of
her headaches again?" she asked worriedly.
"No, she was just tired," Serena replied, shaking her head. "She took some of
that tea Luna made for her and went to bed early."
"I don’t like it," Miaka complained. "The tea doesn’t help for long, and Mama
hurts, but she won’t go see that doctor Luna told her about!"
"She’s afraid she can’t pay him," Serena replied seriously. "She’s too proud.
Her Majesty said she didn’t have to pay anything, but Mama won’t take
charity."
"Then Mother ought to order her to go see the doctor," Rei added. "She’d have
to go, then!"
"But Mama and the queen are friends," Miaka replied softly, pulling the dress
fully over her head and lifting her hair so Serena could button the tiny
buttons going up the back. "Her Majesty wouldn’t force Mama to do what she
didn’t want to."
"She would if she cared about Ikuko’s life!" Rei snapped.
All three girls froze into shocked silence as soon as the words were spoken,
hanging ominously in the air between them. "Th-that wasn’t funny, Rei!"
Serena stammered, her face pale.
"I’m sorry," Rei replied softly, eyes downcast. "Of course there isn’t
anything wrong with her. It’s just a few headaches, that’s all. Everyone gets
headaches!."
"Right!" Serena exclaimed with forced cheerfulness. She brushed out Miaka’s
hair, then braided it into a neat tail down her back, weaving a yellow ribbon
in through the braid. "And now you’re all ready for your rendezvous with the
oh-so-handsome Tamahome!" She giggled and pushed Miaka to the front of the
apartment, just as somebody knocked on the door. "Coming!" she chirped,
skipping to the door and opening it. Tamahome stood there, looking well-
groomed and rather nervous, but after one look at Miaka’s blushing face, his
nervousness eased away.
"Ready to go, Milady?" he asked warmly, bowing to her. She smiled back and
nodded, and took his proffered arm.
"Tell Mama I’ll be home later," she told a grinning Serena and a slyly
smirking Rei. Before her sister could make some catty retort, she took a
firmer hold on Tamahome’s arm and hastily led him away, Serena’s giggles
echoing after them.
~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@
Serena yawned as she washed the last of the dishes, wondering once again how
she had managed to get conned into helping in the castle kitchens after
supper. Why couldn’t I have simply said no when Annie asked me to take over
for her tonight? Sometimes I’m too nice for my own good, she grumbled
silently as she hung up her apron and waved goodnight to the other kitchen
maids. Wandering outside, she realized how dark it had gotten. "Hmmm…I wonder
if Miaka is back yet," she said to herself, then grinned and sprinted for her
home, ready to grill her sister on every detail of her outing with Tamahome.
Upon reaching the apartment, however, she saw that the lights were off, and
that it appeared deserted. Frowning, she lit a lantern and carried it to her
mother’s bedroom, creeping in silently to check up on her. She felt more
relieved than she cared to admit upon seeing Ikuko laying there peacefully,
breathing deeply and evenly. An empty teacup and an empty packet of
medication lay beside her on the floor. "Poor Mama," Serena whispered sadly,
stooping to gather the cup and paper up. She tucked the blankets more firmly
around Ikuko’s body and kissed her on the forehead. Ikuko sighed and stirred,
a sweet smile coming to her lips. "Kenji…" she whispered softly, before
falling deeper into sleep.
Serena felt tears prick her eyes as she crept out of the room again. Kenji
had been her father’s…well, her adoptive father’s…name. Her poor mother; she
missed him so badly. "I hope I never have to fall in love with anyone and
lose them," Serena whispered to herself as she prepared for bed. To be that
lonely for so long… A pair of dark, sapphire eyes peering from beneath a mop
of shining black hair flashed through her mind, and she squeezed her eyes
shut to rid herself of the image. "Stop it!" she whispered harshly. "He’s
nothing to me! And even if he was something…it’s hopeless! Only a princess is
worthy enough to marry the crown prince!"
She brushed out her long, knee-length hair, then pulled a white night shift
over her head and blew out the lantern. Miaka wasn’t back yet; she’d just
have to wait until morning to pry information out of her sister. With a sigh,
Serena closed her eyes and settled into sleep.
She awoke, hours later it seemed, with the feeling that something was very
wrong. Her eyes flew open with a snap, and she lay in the dark, panting for
air, feeling the sheen of cold sweat settle over her face. "Miaka?" she
whispered, looking toward the other bed, thinking perhaps that was what had
awoken her. But it was still empty. Her eyes widened further with worry. Was
that it? Was something wrong with Miaka? Shivering against the chill air,
Serena lit the lantern and tossed a light shawl over her shoulders, padding
on bare feet to the front door and peering outside. The courtyard was empty;
guards patrolled their stations, and a horse whinnied softly in the stable
across the way. There was no sign of Miaka or Tamahome. "Mama sure will be
mad if she doesn’t get back soon," Serena whispered, frowning a little as she
turned to head back to her room.
On an impulse, she stopped at the door of Ikuko’s bedroom, pushing it open to
peer inside. Everything was quiet and peaceful, as it had been before. Ikuko
was still asleep, looking pale and relaxed in the faint twilight that crept
in through the window. Serena began to leave, but that sudden, nameless dread
abruptly gripped her again, so tightly that she could hardly breathe.
Shaking, she turned around again, and deliberately placed one foot in front
of the other, making her way carefully to Ikuko’s bedside. Reaching out,
Serena placed a trembling hand against her mother’s forehead, shuddering when
she felt how cool it was. "Mama?" she whispered.
There was no sound, save for that whisper. Not a one.
No.
There was one sound.
Serena’s rapid, panicked breathing.
Yes. She could hear her own breathing, as clear as a song...
But she could not hear her mother’s.
"M-Mama?" she whimpered, a little louder this time, loudly enough to cause
her mother to start up in surprise…only she didn’t. She remained where she
was, that strange, contented expression on her face, as though she had found
something she’d been searching for, for a very long time. "Mama!" Serena
cried, no longer bothering to keep her voice low. The lantern crashed to the
floor and went out with a puff of smoke, flooding the room in sinister
shadows. "Mama! Mama, wake up!" Serena cried, grabbing her mother’s shoulders
with both hands and shaking with all her might.
She was so cold…so cold, and so…
"Mama!" Serena was sobbing now. "Wake up, Mama! Please wake up! Luna! Luna,
where are you?!" Turning on her heel, she fled the room and flew to the front
door, yanking it open and stumbling through. She tripped and fell at that
point, hands and knees skidding painfully over the cobblestone, but she
scrambled up, her chest heaving with gasping sobs, and raced to Luna’s small
apartment, heedless of the stones that cut into her bare feet. "Luna!" she
screamed. "Luna! Luna, she won’t wake up! She won’t…wake…" Her sobs choked
her voice as she used her fists to pound on the door, which flew open a
moment later to reveal a startled Luna, eyes wide with fright.
"Good heavens, child! What…"
"She won’t wake up, Luna! Make her wake up! Please make Mama wake up!" Serena
babbled hysterically, gripping Luna’s nightdress and yanking on it like a
small child. Luna didn’t say another word. She grabbed the small, leather bag
she kept just inside the door and followed the hysterical girl back to the
other apartment. By now, the entire courtyard was brimming with activity as
those awakened by Serena’s screams opened doors and windows to see what the
noise was about. Several guards came running, and when one of them realized
the situation, he sent his officer to notify the queen.
Luna ordered every lantern in the house to be lit and brought beside the bed
so she had enough light to work. When she saw Ikuko’s pale, still form, her
expression became even grimmer than it already was. "Please remove
Serenity," she ordered firmly, ushering the sobbing girl to the door.
Serena’s teary eyes went wide. "No! NO!" she shrieked, clutching at the door
frame. "Mama! What’s wrong with Mama?!"
"Somebody please take her! I have to work, and she does not need to see
this," Luna pleaded.
"I’ll take her," came a firm, commanding voice, and Endymion appeared, his
face pale and grim.
When Serena saw him, she shrieked even louder and tried to bolt, but he
grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into his arms, kicking and
screaming, and hurriedly carried her out of the small room. "Let go!" Serena
shrieked. "Let me go, you demon!" She clawed at his face desperately, choking
and gasping on her sobs, and he jerked away with a hiss. Finally, when he
could take it no more, he set her on her feet—keeping a firm grip on her
arm—and gave her a light smack across the face. "Stop it," he commanded
coldly.
Serena stared up at him, shocked out of her hysteria, her wide eyes still
glittering with tears, red and swollen. "I’m sorry," he told her gently,
instantly feeling remorse at his harsh action. "I’m sorry. I had no choice."
He noticed her chafed palms; the holes in her nightdress where it had torn
when she fell. "You’re bleeding," he whispered, sitting down on a bench and
pulling her into his lap. Gently, he took her hand and, with the edge of the
cloak he’d thrown on over his night clothes, wiped the blood and dirt off as
best he could. She sat there and trembled and said not a word. Her eyes were
wide open and staring at nothing, and he realized that she was in shock. All
he could do was hold her until Luna reappeared. He only hoped it would be
good news.
After many, many minutes, the door of the apartment opened slowly, and a very
tired and haggard-looking Luna stepped outside. Endymion looked at her and
blanched. She appeared to have aged ten years in ten minutes. He swallowed,
and looked at the girl huddled in his lap, who appeared not to have noticed
the healer’s return. "Serena," he whispered, and she blinked slowly and
looked up. Her expression suddenly changed, and in a moment she was
scrambling off Endymion’s lap and bolting for the healer. "How is she? Is she
okay? Can I see her?" she cried, the edge of hysteria making her voice high
and sharp.
Luna looked down at the girl sadly, then gently laid a hand on her shoulder
and pulled her aside, where she began to speak in a low, soothing tone.
Endymion felt his heart constrict as Serena’s eyes grew huge and teary once
again, her head beginning a slow, rhythmic movement, back and forth…back and
forth. He could see her entire body shaking from where he sat. Abruptly, a
loud, keening wail broke from her throat, like the moan a hopeless soul in
mortal pain, and Serena collapsed to the ground in slow motion, sobbing
hysterically.
And he knew.
Ikuko was dead.
Luna straightened, wiping tears from her own eyes, her faced lined with
grief. She didn’t need to say anything. Serena’s heartbroken wails and her
own expression told the tale, and all those who stood in the courtyard were
stricken with shock and grief at the sudden, unexplainable loss of one of
their own. The women began to quietly sob, while the men bowed their heads
and blinked back tears. Endymion staggered to his feet, heading for Serena,
intending to comfort her as best he knew. He was stopped by the arrival of
his brother and sister, looking pale and frightened, with his parents not far
behind.
Rei knew instantly what had happened, and a sob rose to her throat as she
raced for her friend. Serena held onto her tightly, and together they sobbed.
Hotohori looked as though somebody had kicked him right in the stomach. Queen
Julietta, her face composed but her eyes bright with unshed tears, spoke
quietly with Luna for a moment, then turned to her husband and began to weep
into his shoulder. She had lost a dear friend that night.
"Where is Miaka?" Hotohori asked, his face nearly as white as the silken
shirt he wore.
"She was with Tamahome in town," Endymion replied, his voice hoarse. "Sh-she
must not have come back yet." He looked at Serena, still sobbing into his
sister’s arms, and the lump in his throat seemed to grow bigger every moment.
Why must someone so young go through so much pain? he thought furiously.
What other cruel tricks will fate play her before she even grows up?!
There was sudden commotion at the far end of the courtyard, and two figures
came running, shouting breathlessly. It was Miaka and Tamahome, just
returned. "What’s going on?" Tamahome called. "Is somebody hurt?"
Miaka caught sight of her sister and the princess just then, and she stumbled
to a halt, her face turning white. "No…" she whispered, hands flying to her
mouth. Her head shook back and forth slowly. "Oh no…" Abruptly she was
running again, bolting across the yard, screaming her sister’s name.
Serena looked up, her face wet with tears, and immediately hurled herself at
Miaka, wrapping her in a tight hug. "I-it’s M-Mama," she sobbed. "Sh-she went
t-t-to sleep…and she nev-never woke up!" She broke off as more sobs wracked
her body.
"No. No, that’s a lie!" Miaka cried, shoving her sister away from her. "Mama?
Mama, I’m back!" She bolted into the apartment before anyone could stop her.
Tamahome started after her, his eyes going wide with shock and alarm, but
Hotohori beat him to it.
"Mama!" Miaka called, throwing open the door to Ikuko’s room. "Mama, I’m…"
She trailed off, upon seeing her mother laying in her bed, her face pale and
unmoving. "Mama?" she whispered, her heart pounding in her throat. "Mama…are
you okay?"
"She cannot hear you, Miaka," Hotohori said softly from behind her.
She turned on him furiously, ready to scream at him, but the grief in his
face stilled her. She gripped the bedpost as a roaring suddenly filled her
ears. "Sh-she’s dead?" she whimpered. "But she was only sleeping, Hotohori!
Only sleeping…" She looked up at the prince through wide, tear-filled eyes,
looking very young, and very lost. "Why didn’t she wake up?" she asked in a
soft, childlike voice that was thick with tears. Her hand slowly slid off the
post. "Why…" Then the roaring overcame her senses, and the floor rose to meet
her as blackness crept over her vision.
Hotohori caught her in his arms, feeling hot tears trailing down his own face
as he held her close to him. "I’m sorry," he whispered into her hair as he
carried her out of the room. "I’m so sorry, Miaka…"
(
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