MOONLIGHT MIDNIGHT GLORY

By: Lady M Harris

Editor: Sun Princess



 

Chapter 14

 



 

At their present pace, they would arrive at the Royal Palace shortly after nightfall, save for the man sent ahead to tell the others the good news. During that time, Darien held Serena spellbound as he told their story. He told her everything that he knew about her during their short time together and how they had met. Still, she had a feeling that he was glossing over certain parts of the story, preferring not to tell her all the sordid details and filing away parts of his feelings. It was as if he was shielding her and keeping himself guarded too.



The tale of how they accidentally met intrigued her immensely.

 

"You mistook me for a moon maiden?" she asked, curiously. The twins were asleep next her in a large bassinet that swayed gently with the motions of the carriage. From time to time, they would rouse to play and generally fuss. Serena was seated directly across from him in the carriage. Fascinated, she watched various emotions that would play across his face from time to time as he continued retelling the story of their past.

 

"Aye, Malachite said he would send one for a massage." He grinned at her in the cool darkness of the carriage.

 

"A massage? Is that all, m'lord?" she giggled, flushing as she tried conjuring up an image of herself in his chambers, proud, flustered and scandalized.

 

"Nay, but you made sure I didn't try anything else. Which of course, resulted in our 'hasten marriage'," he chuckled deeply, remembering the scene fondly.

 

"Do you regret it?" she asked him softly, then added, "After all, it was forced."

 

He reached across the small space between them and took her hand into his. Softly, he kissed each knuckle, one by one; her breath suddenly caught in her throat. He looked up to stare into her eyes, his hard, blue gaze, now the color of the deep, fathomless ocean. Serena could feel her body shiver in response to his bold and inquiring gaze. "Do I regret it?" he repeated to her thoughtfully. "There are a lot of things I regret doing in my life, but marrying you is not one of them," he said, releasing her hand slowly. "I think that buried deep inside, some part of me knew and would have done anything to have you after the first moment I laid my eyes on you, Serena," he finished as his gaze continued its intense and loving sweep of her profile.

 

She could feel the heat of his gaze as it roved slowly over her features. Instinctively, her body responded by trembling, a blush blossoming across her cheeks. "I'm glad-I mean, I'm glad you don't regret marrying me," she said quietly. "I-there's something . . . I can't place it, but I feel safe with you," she stuttered, nervously. Ah God, how could she explain her feelings to him? Especially, since she had known him for only eight hours, almost. But had she really? Her mind's eye had given her tantalizing glimpses of him, familiar flashes that would tease her mind and then skitter away like playful bunnies before she could get a firm grip on them. Somehow, she knew she was safe with him and that he would always be there to protect her and their babies at all cost. That much she could feel deep down in her gut. "I mean-I, oh I can't describe it . . . " she said, frustrated with herself and her own inability to express her feelings to him.

 

"That's okay. I know what you're trying to get at. It's going to take some time to get your memory back, but it'll come," he replied, soothing her. Changing the subject, he said, "We're almost there. The Sailor Senshi will be there to welcome you home. I hope that seeing familiar faces will aid in regaining your memory." She nodded her head, agreeing with him. "My parents will be very happy to finally meet their grandchildren," he continued as his gaze lovingly traced the silver and dark heads of their children. They were buried to the chin underneath their covers, sound asleep.

 

"Yes, a ready-made family," she laughed, softly.

 

Darien had told her about the scandal between his mother and King Damian that happened years ago. Apparently, Lily had been a lowborn, baron's daughter. They had met in the town hall that King Damian and his party had stopped in while traveling through Lily's village and an affair had elicited between the two. King Damian, unwilling to let Lily go, took her back to the palace and had set her up as his mistress. Unhappy, but in love with the king, Lily fled back home only to be thrown out by her angry father. King Damian had settled a handsome sum for Lily and her father had no intention on returning it to the king. Desperate, Lily disappeared, untraceable to King Damian who had returned to her father's house looking for her. It seemed as if Lily had vanished off the face of the earth. King Damian had sent out dozens of parties to look for her over the years, but each time, they returned empty-handed. As more and more time passed with no trace of her, his hopes of finding her waned and eventually evaporated altogether. King Damian married when Darien was no more than thirteen. He had only received news of Lily's passing shortly after the marriage as her final will was found and read years after her death. He had been astonished to find out he had a son living with what he considered vagabonds, the Cienna. He was shocked senseless as met his son for the first time and saw that he was the spitting image of his beloved so, so long ago. Darien, at the time, refused to accept that King Damian was his father and that he had come to take him away from the only family he knew and loved.

 

Serena smiled softly in the darkness of the carriage as she recalled how Darien told the story. The way he told it, his words halting, his tone of voice carefully neutral, told her it was not a pleasant memory and a hard subject to talk about. She could easily see that he was keeping his feelings buried and protected, but he's also making a valiant effort to finally release his pent up anger, grief, and loss. She had a feeling that the wall between his father and him was to be beginning to crumble. She hoped that somehow, the twins and she could finally topple it over completely.

 

She sighed softly, laid her head back against the cushions and closed her eyes. She suddenly felt very tired. Serena kept her eyes closed even though she could feel Darien's gaze on her. After while she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

 

Darien lifted his gaze from Serena and smiled warily as he heard her softly snore. He felt almost lightheaded, as if telling Serena his whole life story had lifted this heavy and painful weight, one that he didn't even know that he was carrying, completely off of his shoulders. He watched the rolling passage of the scenery for some time, not thinking about anything in particular before his eyes drifted closed and he joined his family in a deep, peaceful sleep.

 



 



 



 

Serena awoke drowsily when Darien gently shook her shoulders and announced that they had arrived at the palace. Lights throughout the palace were ablaze, filtering softly through the embroidered window curtains into the carriage. The twins had been roused by the commotion outside, wide-eyed and frowning, disorientated from their journey. Darien picked up Ruark in his arms and helped Serena and Rini down from the carriage.

 

There was a small, very excited crowd of people waiting for them as they stepped out of the carriage.

 

"Serena!" a blond girl, heavy with child, exclaimed loudly as she flung her arms around Serena and Rini. Darien and Malachite exchanged smiles as they gazed at the women. Serena gazed at the woman, smiling in response. She somehow seemed familiar to her. . . .

 

"Serena, my wife, Mina, the princess of Venus, Sailor Venus and--" Malachite began before he was cut off by Mina.

 

"And your dear, dear friend!" she laughed as she stared at Serena and Rini. "Oh my goodness, Serena! She looks just like you; she's absolutely adorable!" Mina breathed, smiling as she continued to stare at Rini.

 

"Thank you, Mina. This is Rini and her brother, Ruark," Serena said nodding toward the little toddler in Darien's arms.

 

"Twins! Oh they're precious, Serena!" Raye exclaimed from behind Mina. "I know you don't remember me, Serena. I'm Raye of Mars," she said looking at Serena and smiling at Ruark, who frowned back at her.

 

"And I'm Lita of Jupiter." Lita piped up, stepping forward and smiling at Serena. Serena smiled back at all the women, trying hard to remember something, anything about them.

 

"It's so strange introducing ourselves to you, Serena, especially since we've been friends forever!" Amy said as she clasped Serena's hand in hers. "By the way, I'm Amy of Mercury."

 

"And these quiet guys over here, are my Elite Ambassadors: Jadeite, Nephrite, Zosicite, and you've already met Malachite." Darien said, pointing to each general in turn as he introduced them to Serena. They bowed their heads respectfully to Serena, who suppressed a giggle in response to all the formality.

 

"And last, but not the least, my parents, Augusta and Damian," Darien replied as the two monarchs came forward. The Sailor Senshi and the Ambassadors stepped back to let the grandparents through.

 

"I'm just grateful that Darien found you and the--babies!" Queen Augusta exclaimed the last word as she gazed at Ruark and Rini in wonderment. Rini smiled back at Queen Augusta as Ruark continued to frown at all these strangers surrounding them.

 

"They're beautiful, Serena," King Damian uttered hoarsely as his eyes began to water slightly. "I never thought I would see this day, my grandchildren!" He laughed as he stared at his own son. Darien nodded his head in understanding toward his father.

 

Queen Augusta felt her eyes also moisten in response to watching her husband. "Well, come on! Let's not stand outside all night! We've got to get you settled into your chambers and you're probably all starving!" Queen Augusta said as she started shuffling everyone back into the palace. She called out crisp orders to the servants who had been hovering in the background, also watching the heartwarming reunion with tears in their eyes. At last, the search was over and their princess was home.

 



 



 

Serena stared in awe at all the lavish furnishings in the palace while Darien guided them into their chambers. The twins had a smaller chamber adjoining their parents' room with a wet nurse and nanny to help Serena and to attend the babies' needs when Serena could not. Serena gazed at their chambers in astonishment. You could probably fit the Moore's entire house in these rooms. The floors were done in white marble as was the rest of the chamber. Tall, white, Roman columns graced the room's décor. Large, oil paintings of exotic and breathtaking scenes from all over Earth livened up the white walls with their splashes of color. Large, airy, French doors opened to a balcony overlooking the palace's courtyard and gardens. White, sheer curtains adorned the large windows and billowed gently in the breeze. One side of the room sported a large chaise and elegant chairs on top of thick, white rugs etched with exotic patterns that faced a large, white column fireplace, a warm fire burning cheerily in the grate. Near the center of the chamber and against a wall sat an elegant, large, four-poster pedestal bed. A thick, white, fluffy comforter and huge pillows adorned the bed. More sheer, white curtains surrounded the bed in opulent elegance.

 

Serena stared at the bed; it was large enough for four people to sleep in comfortably. She would share this bed with Darien, her husband.

 

He came up behind her quietly and gently placed his warm hand on her shoulder as he noticed her preoccupied gaze on the bed. "I promise, Serena, I won't touch you until you feel you're ready," he said to her, his voice deep, sending delicious shivers down her back.

 

But she wanted him to touch her, to make love to her, her mind yelled out to her. Everything she sensed about him screamed at her to love him. She couldn't remember anything about him, yet she saw fleeting images of him, hidden thoughts surfacing ever so briefly, something glorious that she wanted to grasp onto and hold tight with her mental hands. She sensed kindness, a noble heart, compassion and a deep sense of love within him. It was hidden underneath the surface of his hard facade, but she knew it was there. She turned around unexpectedly and startled him as she reached out to softly trace the contours of his face. She watched his mouth part slightly and her eyes roamed over his features, committing them to memory. She was sure he could hear her heart pounding away like a hammer as she found herself within such close proximity to him. Her nostrils flared, suddenly aware of each other. Her fingers trembled slightly as they traced the curve of his lips, her lids slowly covering over her bright, green eyes.

 

"I . . ." she began, stopping as she looked up into his eyes. She felt her heart melting to liquid beneath his burning gaze, her legs suddenly having the stability of jelly.

 

"Your eyes, Serena . . . " Darien breathed in as he watched them change slowly from emerald green to their natural, smoky gray. He reached out and grasped her loose tresses as they also slowly transformed back to its original silver-white.

 

In a flash of memory, Serena saw Darien in the palace throwing his hands up in disgust as she transformed her silver hair to the color of an auburn sunset with a toss of her head. And then the memory was gone, leaving in its wake a steady throbbing at her temples.

 

"Oh!" she gasped out.

 

"What is it?" Darien asked in concern, grabbing her about the waist and leading her to one of the chairs.

 

"I think . . . I'm starting to remember more things," she replied, a tiny frown marring her brow as Darien settled her into the chair.

 

"That's good, but take it slowly. I don't need you fainting every time a memory overwhelms you." Darien chuckled, looking down into her face. "Are sure you're okay?" he asked.

 

"I'm fine," she replied, as more memories, dimmer than the first, flashed across her mind's eye.

 

"Our dinner will arrive soon and after that I want you to go straight to bed," he told her sternly, then added, "I'll see to the twins, too."

 

Dinner arrived shortly after that. Serena didn't realize that she was that hungry until she started eating. After satiating her hunger, she undressed and got into the wonderful looking bed when Darien left their chambers to check up on the twins.

 

She was still awake when he returned to room.

 

"Just for your information, Serena, " Darien began as he broke into the silence of the room and started to disrobe. "I don't plan on sleeping on the chaise," he said as he watched her under the cover of the dark room, the only light in the chambers coming from the fire. The flames danced and flickered, casting a warm glow on her lovely skin and turning her moonlight hair a soft, orange hue.

 

"Oh," she said as a blush blossomed across her cheeks. She felt rooted to her spot, unable to turn her face away as he continued to undress before her.

 

"The bed is more than big enough for the two of us," he finished, still watching her. Her eyes seemed riveted on the broad expanse of his chest. He laughed softly when her eyes seemed to be on the verge of popping out of her head as he stepped out of his breeches.

 

Serena could feel her whole body flushing red as she suddenly felt hot all over. Her husband slept in the nude! Ah, that she had to learn his habits all over again. What a wicked tease he could be, she thought suddenly. She had always thought that nobility slept in confining clothing. She did remember always sleeping in a nightgown herself. She felt him slip into bed next to her and her breath exploded from her parted lips. She didn't realize that she had been holding it all this time as she watched him. For some odd reason, she wondered how long it had been since she had slept with him. More tantalizing shivers swept down her spine as she tried to picture them together in a passionate embrace. Oh, she was just getting herself all hot and bothered, she thought with dismay.

 

"Ah, Serena," Darien began as he gathered her stiff body into his arms. "you've always been an open book to me."

 

She flushed again, wondering if he could read her mind. He completely surprised her by answering her unspoken query.

 

"I can now. The door is open partway, my love and if you wait a while longer, you'll be able to hear my thoughts also. It is part of your power as it is mine," he said quietly as he kissed her forehead. She could feel herself relaxing as the subject changed to her powers that everyone seemed to know about.

 

"Yes, your power. It'll come back before you know it," he whispered into her hair. For some time she stayed awake until her throbbing temples became too much for her to bear and she drifted wearily to sleep.