Title:Rebels & Royals.Part 7
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:PG13
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879
Standard Disclaimer Apply
*denotes thought
30/9/01

"Woman was created from the ribs of man
 Not from his head to top him
 Nor from his feet to be walked upon
 She was made from his side to be his equal
 From beneath his arms to be protected
 From very near his heart to be loved."
         --Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale. 
Reaching up, she pinched her cheeks to bring some colour back into them.
Here she was the Princess Serenity, about to face her ultimate demise. It
wasn't at the hands of Endymion....no. She was to go down and meet her
betrothed, Prince Dimando.

  She stared once more before silent tears once again ran down her cheeks.
 *Endy...you promised.*

  Endymion sat up in his bed, beads of sweat ran down his face and naked
chest. He slipped his feet out of bed and put on a white silk shirt and
pulled on his black boots. Getting up, he stretched and stared at his
reflection in the long mirror. His ebony hair was unruly, his eyes were
dark. He glared at his reflection as though it disgusted him. He left his
shirt unbuttoned and the tails hanging down over his black breeches.
  He'd been so tired after the capture of the rebels, he'd left Beryl and
went to his room, after taking off his boots, coat and shirt he'd stumbled 
onto the bed and fallen fast asleep.
  His door opened and Beryl breezed in.

  "Endymion..." purred Beryl. "You're awake."
  "Yes." answered Endymion.
  "I've missed you, Endy."
  No response.
  "Are you, feeling guilty to what you did to the rebels and how you caught
the Princess??" asked Beryl cautiously.
  Endymion turned his head to stare at Beryl.
  "What gave you a ridiculous notion like that??!" demanded Endymion.
  "No, I just thought the way you looked at her this morning, you seemed
guilty." said Beryl snidely.
  Endymion's dark eyes flared angrily.

  "I am NOT feeling guilty, nor am I in love with the Princess for all 
you're insinuating." snapped Endymion as he grabbed her arms and pulled her
closer.
  "Really...perhaps you should prove it." challenged Beryl saucily.
  Endymion's eyes took on a black gleam.
  "With pleasure."
  He lowered his head and kissed her hard. One of his hands sliding up and
down her bare back.
  "Mm-hmm...naughty. A bare back dress. Only the Princess and the Queen 
are daring enought to wear one." mumbled Endymion.
  "It's the latest fashion after all." smiled Beryl wickedly.
  His other hand slid down to her hip. Beryl gasped in delight and pulled 
his head closer for a harder kiss.
  Endymion's hand was sliding up and down Beryl's hip when suddenly, a 
flashback assailed his brain.

~FLASHBACK~ (Endymion's POV)

  He was kissing a woman with silver hair. His hands tangling in the long
silver strands, held up by...meatballs??
  "Endy, I love you." whispered the woman.
  "I love you too." he replied.

  He stood back to admire the woman in his arms. *It was the *Princess*??*

~~~~~

  He was staring down into her tearful eyes. He was holding Beryl in his 
arms. She whispered his name. He could see the pain in her eyes and the 
look of betrayal and a promise broken in her expressive sapphire orbs.
  As she was led away, he heard her last words that seemed to be carried on
the wind, only for him to hear...

  "Goodbye, Endymion??" and she had turned her back and walked away.

~END FLASHBACK~

  "Endymion??" called Beryl as she stared up at him. His eyes were blank and
he'd frozen in the middle of the seduction. He wasn't responding to anything
she did.
  "Endymion!!" snapped Beryl glaring at him. This time, his head turned 
down and stared at her. His hands slipped from her back and hip, and he
stepped away from her. He used his forefinger and thumb to pinch the bridge
of his nose and turned his head to stare out his window with a stoic face.

  Beryl was about to snap at him when a knock on the door sounded. A head
popped in. It was Rei. She frowned at Beryl then turned her gaze towards
Endymion.
  "Endymion, the Queen wants us to join her for dinner. You too, Beryl.
Since you're here." said Rei frostily. Her red eyes gleaming. With that, she
closed the door.

  "We should not keep Her Majesty waiting." said Endymion quietly as he
buttoned his shirt and tucked it in. He crossed the room towards one of the
arm chairs placed by the fireplace and picked up his coat.
  Fury burned in Beryl's heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Minako, Nephrite, Zoycite and Ami strained at their bonds. They'd been
bolted to the wall with restraining bonds that kept their powers in check.

  "Struggle all you want. It's no use." came a feminine voice.

  Zoycite stopped his struggles and lifted his head to the owner of the
voice. "Iolite."
  The lavender haired woman stood in front of them, her green eyes shone 
with a suspicious sheen.

  "Are you crying, Iolite!??" snapped Zoycite. He always hated to see his
little sister cry. When they were younger, he'd always looked out for her 
and had beaten up any boy who had dared to tease or bully her.
  "No.." muttered Iolite.
  "Iolite..." growled Zoycite.
  "Alright!! So I am. I hate to see the Princess this way. She's miserable.
I can see it in her eyes." sighed Iolite. "The Queen is hurting her more
by bringing her back to the Palace by force."
  "We know. Serenity always hated it when we called her Princess." smiled
Minako mistily. "How is she?"
  "It's only been a few hours since she came home and she's already silent.
She doesn't even flinch at all when you touch her." 
  "Endymion's betrayal hit her hard." surmised Ami.
  "But I just can't believe it. Before Serenity, the rebellion was Endy's
life. Now, Serenity was supposed to be his life. He loved her!! How could
he just betray her??" asked Minako angrily.
  "Brainwash?" someone tried to joke.
  "I still don't believe Endymion is now with the monarchy. Beryl, I can
believe. But if I don't see it with my own eyes, I can't believe Endymion
would abandon us like this." muttered Nephrite.
  "Yes. She doesn't know it, but I saw her looking at a broken silver watch.
I gather it belongs to Endymion??" asked Iolite.
  "Yes."
  "I can't stay. I have to go to dinner. The Queen has ordered all the Royal
Guard to attend." sighed Iolite. "I'm sorry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Dimando entered the large dining area and smiled. He'd just had a 
pleasurable afternoon with his favourite concubine whom he'd brought over
to the Silver Kingdom under the pretense she was his guard. Esmeraude really
was a passionate and pleasurable little vixen. He'd left her asleep in his
bedchambers only awhile ago.

  He noted Queen Bruche was already seated and staring into oblivion. She 
had a frown on her face as her fingers tapped on the table.
  He sat down and waited. The Queen, Her Majesty had informed him her sister
would be appearing tonight. Finally, he was going to be able to see if her
beauty was as the portrait painted of her.
  One by one, the Royal Guard appeared and seated themselves. The last Royal
Guard was a new one with a lady on his arm. The lady wasn't too bad on the
eyes but he didn't like his women too buxom.
  He studied the new guard. He hadn't seen him before. His ebony bangs fell
into his hooded eyes that seemed almost black. He recognized an enchantment
when he saw one. This was an interesting bit of information.
  His attention fell away from the guard when Princess Serenity entered the
dining room. Her face held no emotion and her silver tresses were held up
in their usual hairstyle. She really was a beauty.

  Beryl moved closer to Endymion and glared at Serenity who looked up and
met her eyes. Pain flashed through them. A gleeful emotion ran through her.
Already the Princess was paying for all the pain she had put Beryl through
when she and Endymion had been together.
  *He's mine, Serenity...And you'll never get him back if I have anything
to say about it.* thought Beryl to herself.

  Dimando didn't miss the naked pain Princess Serenity's eyes expressed. 
They were such beautiful eyes. Pain didn't belong there. His mind was 
flooded with the desire to see those expressive sapphire eyes to be filled 
with desire. Nothing was more alluring than seeing a woman's eyes show her
desire. Especially if the desire was for him.
  He smiled to himself...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity poked at her food halfheartedly. She didn't dare to lift her 
gaze up in fear of the pain it brought when she saw Beryl sitting so closely
beside Endymion. She didn't want to look at her betrothed either. Dimando
was always a chauvinist and right now, she could sense his gaze on her. His
gaze frightened her. It reminded her of a hungry wolf.

  After dinner, things did not progress any better. Dimando seemed stuck to
her as a fly was to honey.

  "You have grown well, Princess. Filled out very nicely." grinned Dimando
as one hand reached up to caress a silver curl. Serenity slapped at his 
hand and glared at him.
  "We are NOT wed, SIR. I beg keep your hands to yourself." hissed Serenity.
  "Yes well, we will be. And I like your feisty spirit." smiled Dimando
mockingly. "Just like a spitting kitten."
  "Prince Dimando, my General and I were just discussing ways of disposing 
the rebels." broke in Queen Bruche. "Would you care to give us your opinion
on the matter??"
  Dimando turned his attention to the Queen and the General beside her. He
noticed the strong grip the Queen had him in. He merely nodded.
  "I'd be delighted, Your Majesty. After all, you have such a kind heart
you cannot bear to think of ways to torture them painfully but just send 
them to a quick death." he needled.

  Bruche frowned. She had seen Dimando pressing his suit on Serenity. She 
knew her sister hated him and truth be told, Bruche did not like him overly
well either. When he had invaded her sister's space, Bruche had decided to
rescue her sister by dragging Jadeite along.
  She knew they were supposed to be betrothed. But Bruche wasn't willing to
make her sister suffer any more than she had to before the wedding.
  His snide comment on her kindness had ruffled her feathers....
  *Kind heart indeed... Bah! What you mean is that women don't know how to
run a kingdom, buster.* thought Bruche to herself.

  Serenity flashed her sister a grateful look and promptly excused herself
from the group and headed towards the refreshments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As she got closer to the table, she winced. She realized Beryl had seen
her coming and had maneuvered Endymion next to the refreshment table to
play footsy. Tears threatened to overwhelm her. Beryl was standing in front
of Endymion with her back facing Serenity.
  Endymion caught sight of her but his face had no expression. That hurt her
worse than anything possibly could. Turning, she rushed out of the room, her
handkerchief crushed by her hand that was trying to stop the sobs coming 
from her mouth.
  On her way back to her room, she bumped into a woman.

  The woman was dressed in black and bright green hair cascaded down her
back. Her green eyes were filled with scorn and stared her nose down on 
Serenity.
  "So...you're the Silver Kingdom's Princess Serenity," said the woman with
a husky voice. "You're pretty."
  "Wh-who are you??"
  The woman smirked. "I'm Esmeraude. Prince Dimando's mistre- ahem - I mean
bodyguard."
  Serenity stared at the woman.
  Esmeraude stared back and frowned. "You're young. I hope you're not the
type that thinks a man will be loyal to only one woman because I can assure
you, the Diamond is not that type. Why are you marrying him anyway??" 
snapped the woman.
  "Diamond??" echoed Serenity confused.
  "Just a name we, in my homeland call the Prince." smiled Esmeraude
complacently. "As I asked earlier, why are you marrying him?"
  "It was arranged by my parents and my sister refuses to go against their
wishes. You can't be Prince Dimando's bodyguard...you have to be one of his
harem full of women." frowned Serenity, her tears forgotten and her 
curiousity piqued.
  Esmeraude smiled mockingly. "You're smart. What gave me away??"
  "Prince Dimando doesn't think women can do anything a man does. So it 
would stand that Dimando wouldn't have a FEMALE bodyguard." explained 
Serenity.
  Emseraude nodded. "Mm-hmm... yes, you're sharp, beautiful and young. How
disgusting. It's a shame you have to marry the Diamond. All that wit will 
have to go."
  "I will NOT marry the Prince. I don't love him." snapped Serenity angrily.
  "Darling, love has nothing to do with marriage. Trust me." called 
Esmeraude as she sauntered off.
  "I DO have somebody I love!!" exclaimed Serenity.
  "Ah, but does he reciprocate it?? I don't like you Princess, but you're
a charming little thing, so I'll give you warning. Life in the Diamond's 
Palace is not a walk in the park, darling." laughed Esmeraude, her hips 
swaying from side to side.

  Serenity stared after the woman. She shuddered. "I'll never marry Dimando.
Not ever."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Beryl cursed. She paced alone in her room. Everything was not going to 
her liking. She was a lady, yes. But she did not have the power she craved.
Neither did she have Endymion's absolute attention. She knew it was wavering
and she could not allow that.
  She thought back to the near seduction and her temper flared. She glared
at the bottle of brandy sitting on the table behind her sofa. The bottle
shattered, it's contents flying in different directions of the room.
  The Palace wasn't such a wonderful place to live after all. The Princess
lived here and there were also plenty of her portraits. Sweet portraits.
Charming expressions and beautiful smiles in all her paintings. It was
disgusting.
  Her anger flared. Even now, the stupid chit still had some semblance of
control over Endymion. Well, she would not have it!! Endymion was hers now.
And if she had her way, he'd be hers forever."

  "You're Lady Beryl." came a deep cool voice.
   Beryl turned to see a man with white hair like Malachite's but with dark
purple eyes that gleamed coldly like hard amethysts.
  "You're that Prince."
  "Yes, I'm Prince Dimando. My people call me, Diamond." he grinned 
sardonically.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity lay on her bed....her heart aching. She missed him so much.
She just missed him so much. He'd hurt her. Unintentionally. Unknowingly.
But she did hurt nonetheless.

~FLASHBACK~ (Serenity's POV)

  "No!! Endymion, why are you doing this, what have they done to you??!"
I exclaimed.
  "They have done nothing. And you, Princess, how can you betray Her Majesty
this way by joining the rebels??!"
  "Because my sister's reign is cruel!! Please, Endy...you're hurting me."
I whispered, wincing.
  "Hardly." spat Endymion as he glared at me in contempt.
  "Endy, please...I love you. Don't do this.." I muttered through tears that
were streaming down my face.
  Endymion snorted. "Well, I don't love you. My love is Beryl."

~~~

  Beryl pushed past and threw herself into Endymion's arms. Beryl pulled 
his head down and kissed him. Pain welled up.
  "Welcome home...PRINCESS." said Beryl nastily. A triumphant gleam in her
eye. Beryl laid her head on Endymion's chest and stared at me through hooded
eyes.

~END FLASHBACK~

  A tear slid down her cheek and was absorbed into the pillow. Serenity
shut her eyes tightly, holding the broken watch to her chest.
  *I have to forget...have to forget him. I have to. I know I can. I know
I can forget him. Forget everything.*
  
  Another tear slid from her eyes, disappearing into the pillow. She 
clutched the covers closer to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Three days passed...it made no difference to Serenity. None at all.
She clutched her cloak tighter around her as she stepped into the open.
  It was windy. Serenity looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were forming as
a sign of a thunderstorm. She stood over a bridge and stared down at her
sad tired reflection.

  She continued to stare at her reflection for awhile. 
  "Why can't Bruche see that a princess, is only part of who I am??" she
asked her reflection in the water.

  "I thought I'd find you out here." came a silky voice.

  Serenity turned. "Dimando."

  "At your service, Princess Serenity." bowed Dimando in a sardonic gesture.
He moved closer to her. Taking one step at a time.
  Serenity tried to back away, only succeeding in trapping herself between
the railing and Dimando.

  "What do you want!?" she snapped as she pulled the cloak tighter than
ever, trying to avoid his prying eyes.
  One gloved hand reached out to caress her smooth cheek. She lifted her
chin away and glared at him.
  "Why so hostile, my dear? We are betrothed after all. You're going to be
my Queen soon." he said seductively.
  "I don't like you. And I'd rather not spend any time with you if 
necessary. So leave me alone." hissed Serenity coldly.
  "Come now. Is that anyway to treat your future husband and master??" 
  "You're NOT my master and if I can help it, NEVER my husband." exploded
Serenity angrily. "Now LEAVE!"

  Dimando's lips curled into a parody of a smile. He loved her eyes when
she was angry. They were so intense and mesmerizing.
  "That attitude will have to go, you know." said Dimando patronizingly.
  "I don't give a dam-" began Serenity before she was snatched into his 
arms and a hard mouth came down across hers. She struggled to get free. His
lips revolted her. She pushed at him but he didn't budge.
  His lips moved down her throat. She hit him with her fists and swore.
He caught both her wrists in one hand and held them, his free hand held her
head in place. Anger surging throughout her, she tried to gather her energy.
  It was no use. She was too tired. She hadn't been eating or sleeping very
well which left her tired. She gave a sob. His lips, his disgusting lips
on her neck. Only Endymion had had a right to touch her that way. And even
then, Endymion had always been the gentlemen. Never degrading her as this
'prince' was doing now.
  Dimando suckled her neck slightly.

  "Get off me!!" she screamed but was muffled by his mouth on hers suddenly.

  Suddenly, someone jerked Dimando roughly off her and shoved him towards
the opposite railing of the bridge and swept her into a warm embrace, using
a heavy cape to shield her to him from Dimando.
  Serenity glanced up and saw Endymion's hard features glaring at Dimando.
His eyes were frigid and piercing. Serenity shivered.

  "I believe, Her Highness, asked you to get off??" stated Endymion coldly.

  Dimando straightened and stood at his full height. He stared eye to eye
with Endymion. Both glaring at one another.
  "It is NONE of YOUR concern." hissed Dimando. "She is MY betrothed."
  "Also MY charge as one of the Royal Guard. She isn't married to you yet,
therefore in my eyes, you were assaulting her. Her Majesty would not be
pleased if she knew." said Endymion coolly as his gaze spoke volumes.
  "Are you threatening me?!" 
  "Of course not, I wouldn't dream of it. Just say, I'm reminding you of
the repercussions of your actions." Endymion replied smoothly.
  Dimando's purple gaze turned as sharp and as cold as a purple diamond.
"You'll rue this day, you commoner." spat Dimando as he left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity heard the cold bite in Endymion's voice and the hard anger in 
Dimando's. She tugged her cloak around her under Endymion's cape that he had
thrown about her like a shield. The cape slowly slid off her shoulders to
once again hang behind Endymion reaching to his ankles.
  Serenity couldn't find the courage to look Endymion in the face. Instead,
she stared at their feet.
  "Your Highness, are you alright??" asked Endymion hesitantly.
  "I-I'm fine. Thank you." Serenity whispered, her head still turned down.

  Serenity was startled, and her gaze flew to the hand when it landed on her
shoulder. She stared at it in confusion.
  "Serenity..."

  Her gaze flew to his in shock. His eyes were still black with a slight
hint of blue. He was staring down at her with the oddest expression in his
eyes. An emotion she didn't quite understand.

  She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, but instead she said
something else.
  "I should hate you, you know."

  His eyes darkened.

  "But I don't. I can't." finished Serenity.
  "Why??" asked Endymion.
  "Because I loved you so much. I still do. But you don't remember..." 
Serenity whispered sadly turning her head away.

  "You say you love me. I love Beryl, yet...for some reason, you always
seem to pop up. But I don't even remember the scenes. You said I betrayed
the rebellion, but I don't recall even being in the rebellion," said 
Endymion.
  "Not even your cousin??" asked Serenity.
  "Cousin?" repeated Endymion blankly.
  "Seiya. In the dungeons?? One of the many captured rebels?" she prompted.
"He's your mother's nephew."
  Endymion shook his head.
  
  "I have to go.." said Serenity as she pushed past him. Endymion caught
her wrist. "Wait."
  "No...I have to go."
  "Why are you running away??" asked Endymion.
  She turned sad eyes at him. Her sad eyes locking with his confused ones.
  "Because it hurts too much to look at you..." answered Serenity as she
placed a kiss on his cheek and left...her hand sliding from his unresisting 
grip. He stared after her confused.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Endymion stared after the white ghostly form in confusion. He hadn't 
wanted her to go and he was also stunned by her revelations. He had a cousin
in the dungeons.
  He turned again to look where she had disappeared. A slight twinge of 
guilt made him wince. She had looked so sad. And before when she was being 
'assaulted' by Dimando, a strange rage had fogged his senses.
  This made his head spin. Obviously, the strange dreams and images that
flashed through his mind's eye was beginning to get to him...

  As he turned to walk away, a silver glint caught his eye. Bending to pick
up the object, Endymion realized it was a silver watch with 6 points making
it look like a star. It had a gold rim round the face. It was a beautiful
piece. Except the glass surface was cracked.
  The watch somehow seemed eerie and familiar. He knew it could only belong
to the Princess. But some strange impulse made him put it into his pocket.
He walked away, determined to understand the strange and brief flashes he
had in his dreams and waking moments. He needed to see his cousin...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Minako was dozing lightly when something touched her face softly. Her
golden eyes opened and widened at the sight as she met ice blue eyes.

  "Malachite! What-?"
  "You're still the same little girl I've known, Minako. Always demanding
answers to your questions, aren't you??" teased Malachite.
  "You rotten, no good-"
  "Such a way to greet your old betrothed. Just like that time on the road.
I fear rebel life has made you uncouth, Minako." sighed Malachite 
dramatically.
  "And you're beginning to sound like a sissy who should have worked for a
drama theater. Stop boring me to death with your crap and tell what have
you done to the REAL Malachite." snapped Minako.
  His lips turned up in a smile.
  "Still in fighting stance, eh?? I worried that you'd lost all that fire
down here. You look so thin. Dungeon food must stink. No?"
  "It's going to take a little more than bad food and a dark dank musty
place to kill my spirit. I can't say the same about you though, and once I 
get my hands on your throat, you little worm, you're going to regret it." 
hissed Minako.
  "Temper, temper. I was just making conversation."
  "Just get to why you're down here already!!" exclaimed Minako exasperated.
  "I came to see you." he answered calmly.
  "What for??" asked Minako warily.
  "No reason. It could have been different, you know." sighed Malachite.
  "No. Our views are just different. Besides, you've done pretty well with
your cold and tough image." sneered Minako.
  "Helps keep the troops in line. Being cold and tough is an important 
thing. Which is why, I came to inform you, Her Majesty will sentence you in 
three weeks." said Malachite.
  Minako nodded and Malachite straightened. He turned and walked out the
dungeon without looking back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Seiya's head drooped slightly as he began to doze. His mouth was so damned
parched. Angry whispers woke him from his lethargic sleep and dull-witted
mind.
  His eyes blurry, he focused them on the face in front of his despite the
dim lighting.
  "Endymion..."

  Seiya watched as his cousin scrutinized him. Endymion seemed confused and
his eyes were almost black with only a slight blue showing. An enchantment.
But the one thing that stood out was, his expression that bespoke of a
world of confusion and uncertainty coupled with cold hard emotion.
  "The Princess says you're my cousin." came his voice.
  "Yes." answered Seiya.
  Endymion's dark eyes clouded, why couldn't he remember?? It was so strange
to see the man. The Princess said he was his cousin. Yet, he couldn't
remember any such thing.

  "You don't remember me, do you?" asked Seiya.
  "No." answered Endymion curtly.
  "You don't even remember the rebellion or the times you spent around a 
campfire with these people?"
  "No."
  "You don't even remember Serenity.." whispered Seiya which came out more
of a statement than a question.
  Endymion frowned at the mention of the Princess's name but remained 
silent as he watched his 'cousin' bow his head sadly then bring it back up
to stare at him straight in the eye.

  Endymion stepped back as an image assailed him. 

~FLASHBACK~ (Endymion's POV)

  "Endymion, I know you don't think I should go and eveything, but I'm
GOING on this mission with you." bit out Seiya.
  "No. I need someone to be here for Serenity if something happens."
  "Zoycite and the others are here!!" exclaimed Seiya angrily.
  "They'd be too busy with the rebellion! I need someone I can trust with
Serenity and that is a limited number of people."
  "Endy, I'm going..."

~END FLASHBACK~

  Endymion shook his head and winced, pinching the bridge of his nose. He
blinked and turned to look down at Seiya.
  "Tell me..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity held her face in her hands and cried. It was so painful looking
at Endymion. He'd looked so confused at her words. It hurt....hurt so 
badly.
  Now, on top of it, she had lost Endymion's watch and had to watch against
the advances of Dimando.
  When had her life become so painful?? It was strange, but she wouldn't
have traded in the pain if it meant not having met Endymion and the rebels.

  "Your Highness," 
  "Rei??"
  The woman bowed, her ruby coloured hair cascading over her shoulders.
"Her Majesty has requested your presence in the Private Library." informed
Rei.
  "Thank you, Rei..."
  "You're welcome, Princess." smiled Rei slightly as she walked off.

  Serenity headed towards her sister's library, wiping her eyes as she
went. She didn't want Bruche to know she'd been crying.

  Entering the Private Library, Serenity saw Bruche sitting in a chair 
reading. Closing the doors, Bruche looked up and smiled at her sister.

  "Serenity."
  "Bruche."
  "Come, sit down. I want to tell you something."
  "Just tell me. I don't want to sit down." said Serenity wearily.

  Bruche closed her book and sighed.
  "Alright. I've already decided when you're to be married. Three and a half
weeks from now."
  Serenity clasped her hands tightly behind her back and stood strong. She
couldn't break down now. She couldn't...
  "You've decided on a sentence for the rebels, three weeks from now??"
asked Serenity.
  "Yes," sighed Bruche.
  "What is it?" breathed Serenity, her voice starting to wobble.
  "Imprisonment and slavery to the commoners. Death to the descendents."
  "C-Could a few of them wa-watch my wedding??" asked Serenity unable to
hold in the sobs, now.
  "Yes.." answered Bruche as she walked up to her sister and smoothed her
curls away from her forehead. "I'm sorry, little sister."
  "I know...you do what you must." whispered Serenity as she turned to exit
the room.
  "Endymion also informed me of a little disturbing news, awhile ago." said 
Bruche calmly as she saw her sister freeze in mid-step.
  "Wh-what news?"
  "He said Prince Dimando assaulted you. Is that true??" asked Bruche as her
temper flared.
  "He-he is to be my husband soon. What can I say?? I don't want to marry
him, but you would not go against our parents wishes." snapped Serenity
harshly. "I don't see why it should upset you if he assaulted me, or not."
  Bruche flinched.
  "That is harsh, little sister. I care for you and what I do, is the best
for you."
  "What right do you have, to know if this is right for me?? How do you
know you aren't condemning me to a life of-of whoring for this 'Prince'!?
How do you know this is the best for me!!?? You aren't even me!!! This whole
marriage was arranged so it would unite the two kingdoms!! It wasn't made
in MY best interest!!!" shouted Serenity as crystalline tears fell from her 
sapphire blue eyes. "It wasn't made in my best interest.." sobbed Serenity
as she slid to the floor and rocked herself.
  Bruche felt pain in her heart. She kneeled to her sister's eye level. 

  "Serenity..."
  "Please, just let me be.." she choked.
  "Serenity, Endymion volunteered to be your personal guard. I accepted."
whispered Bruche as she touched her sister's silver curls.
  "You-you what??"
  "Endymion is to be your personal guard until you are married to Dimando."
  "No...please, get someone else. I couldn't bear to look at him...it hurts
too much, Bru. It hurts.." sobbed Serenity as she buried her head in 
Bruche's shoulder.
  "I know, love. But I can't. The rest have duties and Endymion is new and
has not a schedule yet."
  "Assign him to the duties of the other who would look after me, then." 
pleaded Serenity.
  "No...he doesn't have the experience of the other Royal Guards. I'm sorry,
little one. But it will have to be this way..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To be continued...

Oh yeah! I finally ended this chapter thanks to my beta-reader's (RosyK)
suggestions. :)) Okay I know I'm sorry. :p But I'm trying my hardest to
finish all the stories I started. *whew* I wonder how profesional writers
do this?? Anyway, email and review me, please!!?? Especially the stories
you want to read more of. Cya!!
20/12/01