Chapter Two

The Ice Cracks

“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.

Continued in the Next Section…