Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me. It belongs to Naoko Takeuchi and a great many wonderful people who, if they were so inclined, could make things very unpleasant for me. (However, they are all MUCH too generous and benevolent to do any such thing.) This is a work of fiction and while the original idea does not belong to me, this story does. Remember that, because if you don't, I'm sending the Senshi after you . . . . Castles and Kingdoms by Fushigi Kismet Chapter Two: ~New Arrivals~ As Serenity hurried away (to where, she had no idea, her thoughts completely and utterly taken up with her charming new companion), the rose held firmly in her hand, its sweet scent wafting up to her, a riotous racket caught the attention of her ears. Deciding to investigate, she altered her course and headed to the main courtyard. As she passed through the stone passage between the courtyard that she was currently in and the other one, a familiar voice drifted through the air to her direction, stopping her in her tracks. "No, no, NO! Take *THAT* trunk down first! The other ones are just luggage, that contains my *belongings*!" "Lady, do you want to do this?" a man asked, bent over, his arms full of an *ENORMOUS* trunk, that he had obviously just taken down from atop the carriage that rested in the courtyard, the seven black horses pulling it, pawing and snorting anxiously. She frowned. "That is Lady Artana M'erla Naava Adora D'amour of the Second House of Reyre." "Yeah, okay. Sorry." He set the trunk down, and the resulting sound resounded like a cannonshot (which none present had ever heard, seeing as only *pirates* possessed any cannons) throughout the courtyard. Serenity jumped, then self consciously composed herself, smoothing out her dress and patting her hair to make sure that it was behaving itself. Then she rushed forward without regard for protocol, yelling, "TANA!" The woman whirled, blonde hair whirling about her form, sky blue eyes filling with affection and excitement. "Eren!" Serenity zoomed past the man who was taking down an even LARGER trunk and asking, "This one?" As the princess brushed past him, he nearly fell over, but recovered his balance just in time. "Tana!" Serenity screamed again. "Eren!" the woman responded in equal joy as they embraced happily, the older woman good-naturedly mussing up the younger princess's hair. "Arrgh! My hair! Tana!" Serenity shrieked, frantically trying to smooth down the mess. The other woman laughed. "Nice to see that thou hast not changed, Eren." "I'm sorry I can't say the same for thee!" Serenity stuck out her tongue. "Careful. Thou might bite it off," the blonde said lightly. "Hmmph! Ow!" Artana threw her head back and laughed. Serenity fumed. Then she took in her cousin's appearance. She had grown a good two inches since last she had seen her, and her hair was longer as well. She wore it loose but for the bit of hair gathered from each side and braided together. A blue ribbon tied the braid off. It matched her sky-blue silk dress. She wore long pearl- drop earrings and an emerald pendant around her neck. She looked every inch a lady but for the wicked sparkle in her eyes. "What hast become of thee, Tana?" Serenity asked in wonder. "Thou hast grown up!" Her cousin looked at her sadly. "If thou truly believest that, then thou needs more help than I can give thee!" "Tana!" Serenity said sharply, only partly reassured by her cousin's levity. Looking off to one side, her eyes lit open the largest trunk and she piped up excitedly, "What didst thou bring me, Tana? Tell me, tell me!" "Thou art a child at Gift Day!" The woman clucked her tongue. "What makes thee think that I brought thee anything at all?" "'Tis almost my Nameday! Thou didst not forget, didst thou?" she asked anxiously. Artana hesitated an instant before winking. "Didst thou think that I could *forget*?!" Serenity debated whether or not she could beat up on her friend, but decided that if she did then she would most likely not receive her Nameday present. "So . . ." she began sweetly. "May I see my gift, Tana? Please?" "No," Artana responded quickly. "Don't try to sway me, Princess, I know *all* the tricks. I invented them!" "PLEASE?" "No. But . . . mayhap I'll give thou one of the trinkets I got thee. All right?" Serenity jumped up and down like a child in her excitement. "Yes!" Artana smiled, then went over to the carriage and pulled open the door. A short, blue-haired woman tumbled out and into Artana's arms. Serenity stared aghast at the scene. "Marayr! What happened?!" "Oh, there thou art!" Artana said blithely, smiling cheerfully. "I was wondering what had happened to thee!" A blush rose to Marayr's cheeks. "The door latch got stuck . . ." Serenity broke into a fit of giggles. Artana ignored the whole matter. "Oh, then. See, Serenity? Now thou dost know who chose my clothes! I am not so grown as thou might believe. Look, we even match." Her tone was good-natured as she righted the shorter woman and placed her on her feet. Serenity looked and saw that, indeed, they were both wearing blue gowns, though Marayr's was paler and she wore pearl clips in her hair and a string of them about her neck. Her gown was also more modestly cut and her earrings were sapphire studs to go with the blue sapphire set in the ring she wore on her right hand. Artana turned to Marayr who still looked embarrassed. "I wast looking for where I placed Serenity's "trinket." Didst thou happen to see it whilst thou wast trapped inside?" Marayr looked a bit put out, but, sighing, she pointed into the carriage. "'Tis over there . . . under thy coat, by thy spare pair of shoes, amidst thy other armful of "trinkets," and placed in the gold-colored box." "Oh, thank thee!" Artana got into the carriage and began rummaging around. Serenity and Marayr stared for a moment as things began to fly out of the carriage. First the coat, then the shoes, then one by one the other "trinkets". "I'm *so* glad those things art not the breakables," Marayr sighed. "Thou traveled all the way here with her?" Serenity asked, disbelieving. Marayr sighed again. "Regrettably, yes. And when she sleeps, thou wouldst not *believe* the things she says." "She talks in her sleep?" "Quite." "Of what?" "Men, mostly." Marayr then realized who she was speaking to and came to herself. Taking Serenity's hands in hers, she smiled warmly and said, "'Tis good to see thee again, Princess." "'Tis good to see thee too. I have missed Artana and thee, this last year." "Well, thou shalt not be missing us for long! Before thou knowst it, thou wilt be scheming to get rid of us!" "Never-" "Here, look, I found it!" Artana called, bounding up to them, happily, her face flushed from the exertion of looking. The gaze of all three of them shifted to the pile of things that she had thrown out of the carriage. It was a small *mountain* of items. Without saying a word, the three of them mutually agreed to focus on the trinket at hand. Serenity looked up for permission, and Artana readily handed over the gold box, smiling encouragingly. Opening it, Serenity let out a gasp. Within, nestled on black satin, lay a pair of jeweled hair combs. Their glitter was enough to dazzle Serenity's eyes. "Thank you, Artana!" She handed the box to Marayr and flung her arms around her friend. "Well, I'm glad thou approves of my little "trinkets!"" "Thou callst these *trinkets*?!" "Of course! Thou shalt look absolutely stunning tonight and surprise whomever it is that hast captured thy heart!" Serenity pulled away. "What dost thou mean, "whomever hast captured my heart"?" "That's the second time that thou hast stabbed me in the neck with that blasted rose!" "Ooops." Serenity flushed a lovely shade of crimson. Marayr and Artana exchanged a look, then burst into gentle laughter. "Come, come let us make haste and surprise Immara!" Serenity begged, grabbing her two friends by the hands, which was rather difficult since she held the rose in one hand and the box in the other. Marayr smiled indulgently and Artana sighed. "Very well, my little cousin-" Serenity started to run, dragging the two girls behind her. "What about my LUGGAGE?!!!" Artana cried in dismay. "It'll keep!" Serenity shouted. "Of course it will," Marayr said absently, running along after Serenity, "'tis *luggage* not a cake." Serenity giggled. * * * "Art thou all right, Prince Endymion?" Endymion turned, gazing calmly at his "Guardian" who stood, a hand on the nose of his horse. Unruffled blue eyes gazed back out of a youthful face. The prince sighed, brushing a hand back over his dark hair. "Fine. Why dost thou ask, Jadyrn?" The blonde ignored him, turning away. "Thou seemst troubled." He gently pulled the reins of Ravius and the horse obediently turned about and followed him, his hooves clicking against the cobblestone underfoot. "Ravius needed a bit of exercise," he said deliberately. "The lands about here art quite nice. Perhaps thou wouldst exercise Darius later?" "Perhaps," Endymion answered absently. "The young princess is quite lovely, is she not, Your Majesty?" Endymion felt a flash of jealousy. A slight smile formed on Jadyrn's lips, unseen by Endymion. "Do not feel so, my prince. I have no designs on the princess." The feeling subsided and curiousity replaced it. "Jadyrn, how canst thou know what I dare not tell thee?" "I was young once . . . as thee. Dost thou think that I am foreign to the desires and feelings of the young?" "Thou speakst as though, thou wast a thousand years old! Thou art not so old." "No. Nor am I so young as thee. Feelings no longer trouble me. I have learned not to feel so the world can no longer hurt me. As for thee, my prince . . . Well, thou art young yet. I think the princess wilt find favor in thee. Enjoy thy happiness . . . I fear it may be fleeting." "What dost thou say to me? What omens art thou tossing my way? I am bewildered by this talk." "Thou art so young . . ." Jadyrn turned around to face his prince and looked at him for a long, still moment. Endymion blinked and broke the stillness between them. When he looked again, his aide-de- camp was gone. "What manner of riddles-" Endymion began muttering to himself, when Nephrayn sauntered into the courtyard. "Hey! Nephrayn!" "My prince." He paused and sketched a quick, informal bow, then kept walking towards him, looking pleased with himself. "Good news! The king and queen instructed me that everything is set for the Nameday announcement! All thou must do is win the princess over." "Good God, her Nameday is but a fortnight away!" Endymion looked troubled. Nephrayn laughed. "Is that so much trouble for a charmer such as thee? Courage, Endymion!" He slapped him hard on the back. Endymion glared. * * * Immara walked down an empty hallway, idly wondering where Serenity had gone. She had finished up with her errands and had gone looking for the princess, only to discover that no one had seen her. "Serenity," she muttered under her breath, "wherefore art thou?" "Boo!" the princess yelled, popping out of a corridor that intersected the one Immara was walking down. Immara was so startled that stepping backward, she tripped on the hem of the back of her green dress and fell down. From her position on the floor, she glared at the younger girl. "Serenity!" "I'm sorry," Serenity apologized sheepishly. "Art thou all right?" "Fine," Immara muttered, getting to her feet and dusting herself off with her hands. It was then that she noticed that her fall had jarred her more than she thought. Her necklace's always faulty clasp had broken in the fall and the piece of jewelry had fallen to the ground. She picked it up and sighed. "Well, so much for our surprise," Artana's voice rang out dryly. "Tana?" Immara asked incredulously as Artana stepped around the corner. "Immie," Tana said matter-of-factly. The brunette noblewoman stepped forward and hugged the blonde who had almost been a sister to the princess and her. Tana hugged her back. "Silly girl, thou acts as though a *year* had passed since last we saw each other!" "It has!" "Oh, yes, there is that," Artana mused. "And is there to be no greeting for me?" a quiet voice asked. Immara looked up to see the blue-haired girl. "Marayr!" Marayr smiled. "Art thou glad to see me too?" Immara gave her a hug then turned to look at Serenity accusingly. "Princess, thou art wicked to spring them both on me at once!" Serenity simply smiled and said nothing. "It took us awhile to find thee," Artana complained. "Serenity had to put away her things in her rooms first. Then we had no idea where to find thee." "How canst I be hard to find? I was seeking Serenity! Now, shall we walk out to the gardens?" Immara suggested. The girls agreed and the four of them went outside, drinking in the golden sunshine. * * * Kunzyn rode his white stallion Marcus along the woodland trails and through the fields that the princess of Reyre favored. He jumped him over low-lying hedges and half-rotted logs in the path and only when a sheen of sweat covered them both did he stop and let his horse rest. They ambled slowly back along the way they had come and Kunzyn patted the horse's side gently. As he neared the forest gate he saw Zoyzer up ahead, walking his chestnut steed, Zane. Urging the tired steed into a slow gallop, he quickly caught up with Zoyzer who nodded at him. They both halted at the gate. Kunzyn dismounted and they both looped their horses' reins about the iron bars covered in green growth and let them rest. For a long moment the two men were silent, drinking in the beauty of the forest. "Why dost thou not ride?" Kunzyn asked, pushing back his sweaty bangs. "To exhaust myself like thee?" Zoyzer looked away, leaning against the gate. "I think not, Kunzyn. I have other things to occupy my time." Kunzyn snorted. "Like what?" "The trouble brewing might prove worrisome, but that is yet to be seen. I assure thee," Zoyzer smiled, "that worrying over nothing wilt not get us one whit closer to solving it, and certainly now is not the time to spend doing nothing. The prince's marriage is all but final. Now is a time of celebration! Before the battles and the wars, we must enjoy ourselves, lest we die unsatisfied." "Thy point being?" "Here there be women," Zoyzer grinned. "And here there be I." Kunzyn looked at him blankly for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Aye, and thou wilt make full use of thy time." Zoyzer looked away, chuckling quietly to himself and his eyes lit upon the gate which towered over the two of them, standing about eight feet tall. "Why dost this gate stand here, in the middle of no road, leading to nowhere?" Kunzyn glanced at it. "'Tis the forest gate, or so I have heard it called. It originally blocked a road leading to the castle." "And while the castle still stands, the road is no more," his companion finished. Kunzyn frowned. "Nay, neither stand. The castle that harbored us this last night was not the one that stood behind this gate. Both burned . . . the castle and the road." "How can that be?" "Invaders came and took these lands . . . and more. Dalayne and Reyre both . . . 'Twas many years before . . . There wast a war and much confusion. Eventually, King Lucent and Endymion's ancestors drove out the invaders from their lands. The king of Reyre built a new castle from which he would rule the land. The gate is the only thing remaining from those times, overgrown and forgotten . . . as the war itself is." Zoyzer stared at the gate and shuddered as his friend continued, his low voice never rising, a fierce, driving anger behind each word. "In time, the people forgot the wars . . . forgot that their land had ever been anything but peaceful . . . 'Tis not wise to forget the old lessons, for then the old punishments will come again, a hundredfold along with the centuries . . ." "Thou fears the same," Zoyzer said, his eyes wide. "Reyre and Dalayne. Thou fear the same . . . that history wilt repeat itself . . ." "I know it wilt. It always does." Kunzyn touched the iron bars of the gate. "Only united might we survive. Everything hinges on Endymion's marriage. *Everything* . . ." * * * Serenity let out a sigh. "It looks like we're all here." "But one," Marayr interjected. "But one," Immara agreed. "And where is Raslym?!" Artana demanded, an edge to her voice. "Here!" Four heads turned to see a girl stride into the courtyard, dressed in red velvet, with her black hair plaited and put up, pretty pearls threading their way through her hair and the netting that kept it in place. She wore a necklace with a ruby dangling on the end around her neck and out of the five of them managed to be the only one wearing gloves. The other four immediately hid their hands behind their backs, feeling guilty at having forgotten, especially Marayr who was usually sensible about such things. Raslym halted in front of them and looked at them haughtily. "Forgot thy gloves, did thee?" she asked, addressing no one in particular. They fidgeted. The smile spreading across her face ruined the arrogant effect that she was trying to convey. "Sillies! 'Tis just like thee to forget!" They all broke into smiles, then laughter, since the last of their close-knit group had arrived. After some quick catching up, where Raslym railed about how there had been no one to meet her and Artana had retorted that everyone had been too busy see to her and Marayr's comfort to be bothered with Raslym, Serenity remarked on Raslym's appearance. "I thought that Artana had turned into a lady, but I find that I am wrong." Artana made a face. "But it seemst as though thou hast acquired the mannerisms of one." Serenity looked at Raslym's hair. "And since when hast thou put thy hair *up*?" Raslym smiled mysteriously. "That, thou shalt never know." "I knew it! 'Twas this morning, wasn't it?!" Artana crowned. Raslym's smile faded and she advanced on Artana. "Thou art impossible!" As Raslym began to chase the fleeing Artana, Serenity smiled to herself. "'Tis good to know that no one hast changed *that* much." "LADIES!" The girls turned to the voice. A petite, dark-haired, blue-eyed woman stood before them, hands on her hips. "Art thou *quite* finished?!" "Monica!" they all cried, remembering well the slightly older governess who had taken care of them all as young children whenever they visited Serenity. "'Twill be a *long* day," Serenity whispered as the woman ushered them all inside and demanded that they behave like "proper young ladies." * * * Immara walked down the hallway and outside, having managed to escape Monica by uttering some excuses. She held the bracelet tightly in her hand and headed towards the goldsmith shop in the main courtyard near the stables and the other smith shops. Perhaps one of the goldsmith would be in . . . despite it being a restday. As she neared the area she saw to her disappointment that no one was around . . . the area was all but deserted. Sighing, she headed over to the stables to look at the horses. Hers knickered and she stroked her nose gently. "Hello, Ako," she whispered gently. "How hast thou been?" She rested her cheek against the horse's head and shut her eyes. "Oh, 'tis hard . . . so hard . . ." * * * Nephrayn finished brushing his horse at the far end of the stable and unlatched the door of his stall. He strode out and relatched the door. It was then that he caught sight of a woman walking towards a stall. Being the only human being around, he decided that she wouldn't mind a bit of conversation. As he neared her, he heard her whispering, "Oh, 'tis hard . . . so hard . . ." He paused then continued forward, concerned now. "Art thou all right?" he asked. She whirled about, seeing him for the first time, a frightened look on her face. "I didn't mean to startle thee," he said awkwardly. Her expression softened and the fear went away. He noticed that she was quite lovely, with large green eyes and delicate features. Turning back to her horse, she said, "'Tis all right. I should've noticed thee coming." "My Lady . . . ?" "Immara," she supplied. "My Lady Immara, I could not but overhear . . . Art thou troubled?" She looked at him grimly. "Troubled? Nay." His lips quirked in a half smile. His words were kind. "Then why can I not believe thee?" Immara turned about again and stared at him boldly, leaning back against the stall door, not trying in the least to be demure. She uttered each word precisely, "Perhaps due to the fact that thou art a bone-headed brute?" His smile widened. "Thy words are harsh, Lady Immara. Yet, I cannot see thee as being quite so cruel." "Thou knowst me not! How canst thou make judgments?" "If thou wouldst allow me to make thy acquaintance more intimately, then perhaps thou wouldst allow me to make such judgments?" "Intimately?" she repeated, looking at him skeptically. "Surely thou canst not judge *me* without learning my character?" "I could start with learning thy *name*," she bit out. "Nephrayn," he bowed more deeply then he had to Endymion earlier. "One of Prince Endymion's Guardians," he lied calmly. "Indeed?" She looked anything but impressed. "I am Immara K'irta Hann'yl Jrrynya D'oak of the Fourth House of Reyre. Thou hast nothing that will impress me. Hast thou even a House name?" she asked idly. Nephrayn bit back his ready reply. He *was* after all a lord and had gone along with Endymion and the rest as a jaunt. But, Endymion had cautioned him on revealing his true identity, lest the Royalty of Reyre felt themselves lied to or betrayed by their deception. Mentally he groaned, he was from the Third House of Dalayne, himself, which certainly outranked *her*, but he was to pretend to be a lowly Guardian. Gritting his teeth, he growled out. "No." She smiled at him kindly all of a sudden. "I am sorry. That was petty of me. I am not that low . . ." "Neither am I," he snarled. He didn't need her pity. He was insulted by the implication that since he *said* he had no House that he was worthless in her eyes. Her face closed against him. "Then I shall leave thee." She moved away but he caught her by the wrist, suddenly penitent. How else was she to treat him? A lady of high rank? "Nay, Lady, I . . . have wronged thee." "Art thou not satisfied with what thou hast wrought?!" she cried, wrenching her arm away. "Please . . ." he whispered. "I have acted like a fool and I can only beg thy forgiveness." She stared at him hard for an instant. "I cannot judge what I do not know." He looked down. "Thou must have come for a reason . . ." Immara held out her hand and something metallic glittered in the light. "I was searching for a goldsmith . . . The clasp is broken." He reached out and took it, examining it carefully. "'Tis a valuable piece. An heirloom?" "A gift . . . from my father." "Rich girl's gifts," he muttered without thinking. "Before he died!" she screamed at him, her eyes filling with tears. "His last gift to me! A deathgift!" Then she ran off, sobbing and he could only look after her with wide eyes, the delicate necklace in his hand. He pulled his hand down his face. "A deathgift. How *stupid* canst thou be, Nephrayn?!" he addressed himself, staring at the bit of jewelry. "How insensitive a cad art thou?" * * * Immara leaned against a wall, her back pressed to the cold stone, her breath heaving in and out. "Thou art a *fool*, Immara!" she berated herself, her hand. "How canst thou have left thy father's deathgift in the hands of a *Guardian*? How wilt I ever get it back?" "Indeed," a velvety voice asked. "How wilt thou?" She looked up and her eyes met two red ones gazing intently at her out of the darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand covering her mouth cut her off. Someone laughed. "Should we cut off her ears or her tongue?" "Nay, her eyes first . . ." a third voice answered. Oooh, three mysterious people . . . Okay, okay, so the plot's a little *slow* so far . . . It'll be better soon, I promise! The action will start next time, I'm pretty sure. And it may not be quite what you expect . . . Let me just say that this might be a romance (Have I written anything that isn't?) but it's also an adventure story . . . and sitting around the castle and riding horses are *not* going to be the only things that the characters will be doing for long. Well, as long as it takes me to get the next part out. ^^;;; And yes, I *am* working on the next part of "IAL:TLB." Look for lots of new stuff to be out sometime soon. On another little happy note, I *finally* took the plunge and got a webpage at: Not much is up yet, only a few links and things, but once I learn some HTML and set up my page the way I want it, expect my 'fics to appear there (definitely the current ones, maybe the others), and previews of new ones. There, that's incentive to visit, isn't it? I'll try to work on the page in my spare time. (What's that? ^^;;;) Arigato for reading, minna!