Against All Odds

Author: tokyo_rabbit

Rated: PG13

Again, edited by the wonderful Loki! You rock my world!

Chapter 10

X

Self Sacrifice

"I still do not understand, where it is we are," Serenity stated, sitting at the end of the bed in the guest room Luna and she would be sharing.

"We are in the Glen. Not many people know about this place...." Her guardian replied; she was putting away some of her Princess's clothing into the simple armoire within the quaint room.

"Why is that? It is well hidden, but...."

"It is not uncommon for parts of the world to be secluded," a voice from the doorway answered, "Especially small villages such as ours."

"Oh," Serenity stood as the Queen Mother of Earth, Endymion's mother, walked in.

The Moon Princess was about to make a deep curtsy, but Luna stepped forward, bowing her head slightly, "Madelina, I presume. My Lady and I thank you for your generosity in letting us stay here in your fine home."

Madelina? Serenity took a closer look and realized that this was not in fact, Gaea. This woman was probably only a few years older than she was and had dark brown eyes, rather than the Queen's blue. That, and her belly swollen with child, something Serenity had not noticed at first glance either. But how alike they looked at a hasty glimpse... much like Matthias, the young mayor, and his cousin Endymion did.

"Think nothing of it. It is a great honor to house the friends of His Majesty," the young woman replied, then looked at the smiling Serenity, who had been gawking at her.

She blushed profusely and scrambled to explain herself, "I'm sorry, I did not mean to stare. It is just that you look so like someone I know...."

"Queen Gaea?" Madelina laughed a soft, merry laugh.

"Why, yes!"

"She is my Aunt."

"Queen Gaea was born in this little village. Loving it so, she bade her husband to keep it a secret, just as it had been for centuries," Luna supplied, "To keep it from being overrun by the complications of larger societies."

"Oh I see, and Matthias is your brother then?" Serenity asked, "You must forgive my ignorance. Endymion has kept much from me since we departed Elysian."

The Lunarian girl blanched at what she had just said. When had the King ever told her anything? Only recently, they had become somewhat friendly. She had given their new blossoming connection way too much credit, and hoped their hostess did not take note of the unintended implications.

Unfortunately, she did, for Madelina's umber eyes sparkled and gave the Princess a sly smile, "My cousin rarely divulges his intentions to anyone, especially if he should want to surprise someone with something so close to his heart as the Glen."

An uncomfortable silence befell the room; Luna looked positively furious -- though she tried to hide it -- Serenity's face was aflame, and Madelina just smiled warmly, unaware of the situation she helped create.

"Well," Endymion's cousin clapped her hands together, "Would you like to join us, Lady Sere, Lady Luna?"

"Join you?" Serenity asked.

"Why, preparing for the Festival of course!"

~*~

"She is beautiful," Matthias laughed, "One of the High Ladies of your Court?"

Endymion smirked, "Something like that...."

The two men were currently moving heavy wooden tables around in the vast village square. They sat the table down and looked in the direction of the subject at hand. Madelina was showing Luna and Serenity how to lace together colorful ribbons for decorations. The three were laughing as the Princess accidentally created a huge knot, instead of an intricate design.

"Special enough to warrant a visit to the Glen, however, do not deny it. You would not have brought her here otherwise, especially in time for the Festival of Lights."

The King sighed, wiping sweat from his handsome brow, "Honestly, I have not quite figured out what she is to me, Cousin."

The second man grunted in acknowledgment, "Well, know this. Tonight, many flowers will find their way to the doorstep of my sister's house, and they will not be intended for the married Madelina...."

Endymion frowned and knew what Matthias had said to be true. But what did that matter to him? Yet another question added to the dozens he'd already been asking himself.

~*~

"So what exactly is the Festival of Lights?" Serenity asked, trying for the umpteenth time to make a braid of ribbons.

"A long-time honored tradition," one of the older, plumper women sitting at the table of ribbons beamed, "A time for merry-making and reveling. And maybe even romance."

"Romance?" she squeaked.

Madelina laughed, "Bram, is correct. Long ago, as the legend goes, a poor farm boy fell in love with the mayor's daughter. Unable to woo her with his status, he began to pick the gardenias that grew in his yard, and left one every night on her door stoop."

"Gardenias?"

Bram chortled, "A beautiful white flower that grows in abundance in the Glen. In the language of flowers, they represent ‘secret love.'"

"Yes," the brunette continued, "For one Moon Cycle, he would secretly leave these flowers for her to find. Finally, one night she stayed up and watched the boy come and go. Smiling to herself, the next morning she took an ambrosia from her mother's garden, marched into the fields where he worked and handed it to him. The flower gave her answer of love reciprocated. Later he would prove his worth and wisdom and become her husband, the next mayor of the Glen."

Luna looked at Serenity and if it were at all possible, the girl would have had hearts in her eyes, "How romantic!"

"The Festival of Lights is a celebration of the summer harvest more than anything, but some of the ideals of the story are still implemented."

"Oh?" She was practically gushing by now.

"Tonight the single men will pick gardenias and lay them at the door stoop of the woman they've become infatuated with. Ribbons will be tied around them along with a small card with the girl's name on it and his as well."

"A gardenia I'd like to find,

With a silk ribbon tied,

From the boy who had me in mind,

Hoping I become his bride." Bram sang as others joined her in the verse.

Madelina carried on, just finishing her twentieth braid, "Tomorrow morning, before most of the food preparations have been completed, all the ladies will go to the fields and pluck the ambrosia growing nearby for the exchange in the evening."

Again, the women creating the final decorations sang,

"Ambrosias I shall gather for this boy,

To give if I agree,

In hopes that he shall bring me joy,

This boy that God sent me."

"Should the girl feel the same liking for the boy, a matching ribbon will be tied around the stem. Yellow if not, to denote a valued friendship not wanting to be lost. The exchange will happen at the start of the Festival, right before the dancing. Which I will be doing none of this year," Madelina laughed, patting her stomach.

"Will you get a gardenia from your husband?" Serenity asked, smiling.

The woman, a couple years her senior blushed and left Bram to answer, "A husband who doesn't give a gardenia has a death wish. But yes, William has been ever vigilant in giving his lovely wife here a gardenia every year, for many years."

"Since she was seven and I twelve of age, I believe," a man with flaming red hair answered from behind.

"Such a persistent thing," the very pregnant Madelina scoffed, smoothing her hands over her belly as the man, who apparently was her husband William, kissed the top of her head.

"'Persistence' has no bounds when it comes to these two," William declared, laughing, gesturing to the two identical, freckled girls latching onto their father's shins, "Take the hellions from me, for I can stand chasing them around no longer!"

His wife laughed, turning on the stool she sat upon and held out her arms, "Millie, Mabel, come here! Give your dear old father a rest!"

The twin girls ran on wobbly legs towards their mother, bright red curls bouncing with each step. Without any difficulty, as if she did it a thousand times a day and with the strength in her arms that only mothers had, Madelina leaned down and swung each girl up on a knee. Laughing she said, "Soon there will be no knee left to do this, girls!"

They giggled and gently patted their mother's stomach, knowing that they would be big sisters before the summer season was over.

"What a beautiful family you have," Serenity beamed, her heart warming at the loving sight.

"Indeed," Luna agreed entirely.

"Thank you, kind Ladies," William grinned and smoothed a hand over his wife's ebony hair, "Now, if you excuse me, I shall go and make myself useful."

Watching him go, Madelina sighed and clicked her tongue happily, "He would be more useful if he would take them for the rest of the day...."

One of the women snickered knowingly, "They would be so helpful, wouldn't they? Too convenient, don't you suppose?"

They all laughed and Serenity looked at the freckled cherubs, down at her ribbon knot, and then back at the girls, "I can watch them, if you do not mind? I am horrible at this ribbon weaving and may possibly be of more use doing something else!"

"I will help also, if you would like?" Luna supplemented, knowing Serenity had no idea how rambunctious two year-olds could be. Her hidden tail ached at the memory of a particular little Moon Princess and her fascination with her kitty's swaying appendage. The guardian had to suppress her mirth at the fond memories.

Madelina jumped at the chance, "Oh would you?"

The two girls grinned at Serenity, obviously fascinated by her. Again, Luna smiled. How naive her ward was....

Two hours later, Serenity, supposed heir of the universe, had given up all hope of surviving. She had met her match and it came in the form of two toddlers. Luna, however, seemed like she could go all day-- chasing the squealing girls, lifting them up into the air, and making wishes with dandelions-- only to do it all over again.

Earlier, Madelina, as if she had somehow known, took them back to the house after the offer to watch the children. She packed a large basket for a picnic within five minutes and had them marching down the road towards a field full of wildflowers almost immediately after.

Serenity plopped down on the blanket they had spread out, panting. They had just finished their fifth game of tag. Luna sat down next to her and called to the girls as she pulled strawberries from the basket and a water-skin.

"I don't know how you do it."

Her guardian smiled as she handed the twins strawberries and made them drink water to stay hydrated, "You were quite the handful yourself, and I was a cat then. Imagine babysitting when your charge is bigger than you are and has opposable thumbs."

Serenity laughed and Millie scooted closer, settling herself in the Princess's lap, "I guess you have a point. You are a professional, but how is that you look so young?"

Again, a burst of laughter came forth as she received a ‘look' from the Mauian. She had treaded into dangerous territory, but she didn't care. This was the most fun they had since they had left the Moon, and maybe even longer than that....

The look in Luna's eyes had become distant and there was a faint smile on her lips, "Have you not noticed? The people on the Moon stay younger for a much longer period than with those inhabitants of other planets... especially Earth as it is such a precious, fledgling star. Time slows down for us, Sere." Maroon eyes met cornflower, "But you had never left home, before now. Studies can only teach you so much, but seeing something for yourself, that is different -- more valuable."

By now, each twin had taken a lap and quieted down considerably. Their eyes had become heavy, coupled with the warm sun with the constant cool, comforting breeze beckoning them to the land of slumber. Serenity looked down and stroked Millie's red, curly hair, smiling at her strawberry covered face.

"Maybe some day, our children will grow up together Luna," the Princess said wistfully.

Her red-faced guardian was about to ask whose children was she suppose to be having, and who in the hell did Serenity have in mind for her own, but decided against it. She just let the gentle wind carry their troubles away. She too, had been thinking about how this was the most she and her Princess had gotten along in months. Maybe she was being too hard on Serenity, but she worried as much as any mother would, if not more. Her darling ward had such a difficult life ahead of her, and no clue as to what being High Queen would bring.

So instead of admonishing her, Luna replied, "Maybe...."

Time slipped slowly into the late afternoon as Millie and Mabel slept in the women's laps, looking something like fairy sprites with all of the wildflowers in their hair. Serenity accompanied the singing cicadas with a light melody she hummed, leaning back on the palms of her hands.

"Such peace...." The Princess sighed happily, "I see why this planet is so worth protecting."

Luna's heart swelled with pride, but she couldn't respond to tell her so because no sooner had she spoken, someone said while approaching, "There you are."

Serenity looked up as a shadow came to block the sun and slowly Endymion's face came into view. She smiled up at him, "Is it time to come back already?"

He laughed a low, gentle laugh, "Yes. I'll help you pack."

They carefully moved the girls to the blanket, careful not to wake them. As they put away all of the remaining food and water-skins, they looked down at the slumbering children.

Serenity smirked, unable to resist, saying, "So angelic looking; and to think, they had me about ready to run for the hills."

Her heart fluttered as Endymion chuckled and slowly lifted Mabel into his arms. Luna moved the basket off the blanket as Serenity took up Millie, allowing her friend to pick up the plaid spread and fold it. They walked like this back to Williams and Madelina's home, King and Princess carrying a precious child in their arms, and the Guardian walking behind them, swinging the basket along, eying how closely the other two were walking together. Such trouble brewing on the horizon....

~*~

Endymion took a long swig of ale. He was in a sour mood, at best, Mathias could tell.

It was evening time, and the younger men were coming in from their excursions from the stoops of the women of the village. Each boasted about how they surely wouldn't be denied and how they couldn't wait to see the ambrosias they would get in return. Some came to ask Mathias if he had finally chosen a woman this year to which he would give his affections.

"No, no. Not this time, fellas," the mayor would laugh, "Maybe next year."

The men would laugh and then elbow the King in a humorous fashion, "We know who His Majesty will be giving a flower to though!"

The men would walk away laughing at their jokes, leaving Endymion in a much more dower mood than he had been in two moments beforehand. Nephrite, however, had been the last straw. His General came waltzing in with a group of courters and sat next to the two cousins, signaling to the barkeep for his own pint.

"My, coming in late are you not, Nephrite?" Mathias quipped, "Found a lass to woo?"

Nephrite's green eyes twinkled as he evasively said, "Perhaps."

This one word sent forth a flood of images within Endymion's mind. Images of Serenity at her birthday celebration, the first time he had seen why her beauty was so talked about amongst all the socialites of every court; of when she was so angry with him, covered in mud, that she could have killed him without a second thought. Then images of Nephrite spending every free moment entertaining the Moon Princess, and of how she smiled at everything he had to say to her... much different from the glares he himself received.

Again Nephrite held Serenity in front of mind's eye, as he had the night before, tenderly. Endymion's thoughts shifted pleasantly as he then recalled the deed he preformed for her also... but one last imagining came to plague him. Serenity wearing Nephrite's gardenia, and he her ambrosia. A love reciprocated....

Endymion stood suddenly, startling his drinking companions. Without a word, he stormed out of the bar and left Nephrite and Mathias looking after him with puzzled expressions.

The King's mind was a blur. Could Serenity and Nephrite have fallen in love in front of his eyes without his knowing? It was no secret that Endymion had been harsh and distant until recently, and he wouldn't blame Serenity for becoming infatuated with a friendly face in a foreign land... but could it be possible? Naturally, they could never get married, but those high in status had been known to take on a lover or two... but Serenity and Nephrite?

Endymion stopped his mad trek and looked up at a window still lit with candlelight. Funny how he found himself here, in front of William and Madelina's home... staring up at Serenity's window. How long he stood there in the shadows wishing for unknown things, he didn't know. Only until the light was snuffed out did he look down and saw instantly a basket full of gardenias on the door stoop. His heart hammered within his ears as something akin to panic came rushing over him.

Endymion took a shaky step forward... but stopped himself. Did he really want to know if Nephrite's gardenia was in there or not? A realization dawned on him. Suddenly, laughter came upon the King's lips. He was acting like a jealous child! He was actually jealous of Nephrite!

Taking a quivering, calming breath, he ran a frustrated hand through his raven-black hair. Serenity was destined to be High Queen, his Queen who he would pledge the Earth's allegiance to. He could no sooner marry her as Nephrite, this much was certain. An affair with her wasn't something he was sure he wanted to invest in due to the difficulty of the situation. His General had a better standing as far as he was concerned, not having a whole planet to run and all.

Serenity, was continuing to grow on him considerably, and he would find it all but impossible to deny her every wish for much longer. His Generals were also subject to her spell, and if she desired Nephrite, then Endymion wouldn't stand in their way, no matter how sick it made his heart. Her wishes, wants, and needs, he realized, were more important to him than were his own.

"God help me," he chuckled and stalked off into the night. The best option at this point was to retire within his bed at Mathias' home.