CHAPTER 3

 

Serena and Darien were married quietly in the Palace Celestial Rose Gardens, the following morning after the banquet. All that attended was the immediate Royal Moon Court and Earth's most trusted Royal Court.

Afterwards, hasty preparations to leave the palace was expedited due to the dire need to find the crystal. Sailor Venus or Princess Mina of Venus would accompany Serena as her personal body guard, even though Serena had protested that she also had participated in the same lessons as Venus had, in the art defending herself.

In the end, even Prince Darien had contended, it was better to have four people defending the crystal, especially since they had agreed to use no magic in locating the crystal. This would give them the advantage of not allowing the forces of Beryl to locate them by homing into their energies. He himself, had chosen his most trusted friend and warrior, Malachite, to accompany them.

Malachite, a prince in his own right, to the northern lands they called Europe, had been appraised of the situation. He had chuckled at his friend's current predicument. He never in his wildest imaging would have believed that Darien would be married. And to the Supreme Princess, no less! Darien was the last man on Earth, Malachite thought who would marry. In all their travelling, he had never witnessed a woman that had ever interested Darien for more than a couple of months, before he got bored with them. And everywhere they went, beautiful women practically threw themselves at his feet. There was just something about him, perhaps the devil may-care attitude he had, or that no woman could capture his heart. Malachite didn't know.

Malachite did know that where women were concerned, they were good for only one thing to Darien, but to Darien's rightful duties, Darien was loyal and thorough. His duties to serve his parent's kingdom and Earth's defenses were astonishing. He had in his own rights to his own lands, increased the coffers to all that lived there, and made them very wealthy. Prosper and happiness reigned supreme in Darien's domain. It was this evidence, that the rest of Earth looked forward to embracing Prince Darien's rulings in the future. His influences reached well into Malachite's domain as well, and improvements were being noticed by all there as well. Although, most of Earth's inhabitants were peasants, and there were few large cities around the world, technology was advances quickly. It was most prominent in Darien's domain.

The Supreme Princess had been a pleasant surprise as well to Malachite, not Darien's type at all. One of the most beautiful women that had ever graced the galaxy, in Malachite's opinion. He had never seen hair as hers before, almost the color of white, yet it was shimmering silver in the sun, and her eyes almost matched her hair! She almost seem to ooze sensuality, with her unbelievable figure, and yet, Darien had mentioned that she was nothing more than a virgin! The fire and intelligence that gleamed in her eyes, had told Malachite that Darien had finally met his match, he could understand why Darien was driven to want her, for she was untamed and unbroken.

Malachite had been surprised again, at the choice of the Supreme Princess's personal body guard, another woman! She was reputedly one of the best warriors of the Moon kingdom. Women on Earth were cherished and protected, they were not trained to be protectors. Sailor Venus, in Malachite's opinion could not be a warrior, she was far too beautiful. When they had been formally introduced, Malachite could do nothing but gape at her long shapely, golden legs that were revealed by her short warrior garb, while his friend, Darien laughed outright at Malachite's expression. Even Serena saw the humor, turning her face away to hide her grin. Earth women only wore long dresses, or right above their ankles as many of the peasant women wore. Sailor Venus had chuckled also, she also was a Princess, as was explained to Malachite.

The moon customs were strange to Malachite, as he was beginning to find out, along with many of the other Earth delegates. It was a pleasant surprise, though. To have your chosen mate equal in mind and almost in physical strength and agility. A partner in marriage to make decisions together. It had boundless possibilities, Malachite thought, glancing at Sailor Venus. Of course, there were marriages like that on Earth, but it was not very common, especially among the peasants. Even less, in his lands. By God, she was beautiful, too. She caught his appraising look, and winked, the friendly humor sparkling in her intelligent blue eyes. He hoped all the women on the moon were as friendly and beautiful as the Supreme Princess and Princess Venus.

It was later that afternoon when they were ready to leave. They had to disguise themselves as peasants so that they wouldn't be easily recognized. Serena had been the most challenging, considering her silver hair and silver eyes, were a dead giveaway. With a toss of her head, she transformed her silver hair to a brilliant auburn red and blazing emerald eyes, stating she had always wanted to be a redhead. She almost bursted into laughter at the sight of Malachite's stunned face, while Darien threw up his hands in the air, disgusted. Then again, before his astonished eyes, Sailor Venus' gorgeous golden mane turned into the color of chocolate brown. And even more astonishing, his most trusted friend and comrade also had these strange powers, and that he never knew his friend possessed them. Darien's jet black hair turned into same color as Sailor Venus's just slightly lighter, and the color of his dark blue eyes, lightening also.

Queen Serenity had given Serena the Blue Millennium Crystal, a tiny gem that held no powers, except to help locate the Silver Millennium Crystal on their journey. The tiny dark blue gem, which was worn as necklace held together on a thin strand of silver, would emit a dark blue glow when it was within close distance of it's sister gem. The glow would become a more vibrant blue as they came closer to the other gem, until it was within a few feet of each other. There were other gems closer to the Silver Millennium Crystal, such as the White Millennium Crystal, but it would have given their location away, with it's brilliant show of colors and energy, it emits as it came closer to the Silver Millennium Crystal. Which is why Queen Serenity felt the the Blue Millennium Crystal was alot safer to carry than any of the other gems.

They left under the cover of the vendors arriving at the palace. Most of the royal visitors and some of the moon court were occupied in ballroom, as preparations were made for a lavish ball, given for the Moon Kingdom.

Serena had protested when Darien had reached over and placed a gossamer gauze of gold and hunter green cover over her brilliant auburn braid. Her breath caught at his close proxicimity, she became angry at herself, for not controlling her emotions around him. His lips had curled deviserly as he noticed her rapid pulse at the hollow of her exposed throat. Her enticing scent of mystery and a heady mix of light jasmine engulfed his senses as he roughly tied the gauze under her stubborn chin. Instead of a pair piercing silver eyes gazing back at him, he had to contend with her blazing emerald ones. He felt his body betray him, as he became uncomfortably aware of his lower anatomy responding to her burning gaze.

Christ, he thought. He didn't need this distraction. He should just take the damn girl and get her out of his mind. He didn't understand himself, even now. He would have already had her, and had her out of his mind, by now. She would then, have became demanding, and would bore him, like all the others had. The fact that she was his destined and that she was a virgin, was what had held him at bay. Did Lady Fate really believe she could tie him down to this slip of a girl? Granted she had spunk and intelligence, but then so did the other women, he had had.

Abruptly, he reined his horse away from her, as Serena continued to glare at him.

"For Moon sakes, Serena," Mina whispered into her ear, "at least you could control your lust for the man!" Serena could only glare at her friend as her face turned different shades of red.

"Mina! I despise the man," Serena reigned her horse, her mouth in a grim line as she trotted to keep up with their group leaving the gates of the palace.

Mina rolled her eyes heavenward, "Do you forget who I am, Serena?" she spoke under her breath, "I await your joining, for you surely are ready," she grinned, exasperating Serena.

"As if I didn't notice you fluttering your lashes at Malachite!" When Mina's ears turned a rosy hue, Serena knew she struck a nerve. "Ha! You sly wench!"

"Hush, you dolt! He'll hear you," Mina retorted, grinning back as her friend. She couldn't keep anything from her best friend. "He is a fine looking one, isn't he?" Ignoring Serena's snort, she continued,"I can't believe the moon lacks such manly men." Shivering as Mina continued to appraise Malachite, as he rode beside Darien a couple of paces ahead of Mina and Serena.

In Mina's opinion Malachite, was indeed a very fine looking male specimen. Serena's husband, it was hard to think in the terms that Serena was married, had also caught every woman's attention at the palace. He also, was one of the most handsome men she had ever met in her life, if you like the very hard nose type and very sexy type. Yet, it was Malachite, who in his own terms extruded the same qualities as Darien, who caught her attention from their very first meeting. He could laugh easily, than Darien. There was a sparkle in his pale blue eyes when their gazes met accidently. His hair was slightly long, color of pale white, curly slightly at the base of his neck. His body was as magnificent as Darien's, sinew and seasoned like a warrior.

"You're the married one, Serena," Mina grinned, at Serena questioned look, "yet, if you don't hurry and lose your virginity, you won't be the first in our group to lose it, cause I'll beat you to it," she laughed, at Serena outraged gasp.

"Mina, you better not! You know the rules of princesses." Serena almost shouted.

"Why not, Serena!" she whispered back, furiously, " I am the Princess of Love! and I have the right to give myself to whomever I please, married or not!" she tossed her head, at Serena incredible visage, "Really, Serena, it is written in the ancient language of Venus, that the Queen or Princess of Venus, need not be married to surrender to lust or love." She lowered her voice even more, "My mother was not a virgin on her wedding night, Serena,"

Serena was shocked, Mina had never disclosed this much information on the rituals of the women of Venus. It was sacred. She had never thought that theVenus practices were any different than the rest of the planets. Something tugged at the edge of her mind, remembering that her mother did mention some of the differences that each planet owned to each princess or prince. I should have paid more attention to my history lessons, Serena thought.

"Perhaps, if he proves worthy," Mina leaned into Serena's ears, whispering,"I will give myself to him,"

Serena snorted, "It's far too early, Mina, to be thinking about worthiness, right now, when you are only thinking about what is going on between your legs," Mina burst out laughing, her face a becoming pink flush. Darien and Malachite looked back at the women, puzzled.

"Your right, of course, Serena, " Mina continued to chuckle as Serena joined her, "Leave it up to you, to be practical, " Continuing, Mina said, "Of course, you won't admit it, but you'd liked to have him,"Mina nodded towards the back of Darien's dark head before them, "and he, with all the tension between the two of you, will no doubt have you soon." Serena sighed, she was getting tired of all this talk of innuendo sex, between her and Darien, her husband. Before her eyes blazed the scene of him above her, and she with her arms open, embracing him as he took her. Serena breath caught, and she felt her knees weaken like jelly, thank God, she sitting on a horse. Her body flushed and she was warm all over.

In tune, with his destined, Darien looked over his shoulder gazing deeply into Merissa's. Curling his lips, slightly, the lids lowering over his eyes, he flashed back another corresponding image, that Serena had displayed in her mind so innocently to him an image of them together, had almost boiled him over, not knowing she had been thinking of them together. It was time to let her think of him in these terms, and that this would happen very soon.

The image was so was real, for a moment, she could see nothing else, as her breathing seem to stop. Before her, blazed the scene as she had seen, only now, with more glorious, vivid details. There was a dark cave, and on the cave wall, the shadow of the flames of the fire danced, the orange glow of the fire casting a warm gleam over their entwinned bodies. It was her and Darien, in the throes of lovemaking. She was arching towards him, offering her engorged breast to his lips, her hair was spread about them the silvery sheen was orange in the light of the fire. And Darien, his hands were everywhere on her, illicting moans from her. The lower of part of their bodies were joined, and when Darien raised himself above, looking deep into her eyes, with desire ladden slumber, she felt his long slick member glide smoothly into her awaiting body.

Serena cried out, startling Mina and Malachite. She was going to cry, frustrated, that he should do this to her! Damn him! What was he trying to prove to her? Mina was asking what was wrong, even as Serena was denying anything was wrong, he was there. His energy coils swirling around her, covering her in a blanket of comfort, lifting the frustration from her and suddenly, blinking her eyes, she was calm.

Even with all her powers, although they were in such an infant stage, she could not do what he had just done. She saw something in his eyes, before it was gone in an instance. She was sure she had seen the look of something quizzal come across his face.

Mina caught Malachite's gaze, they both knew what was happening. The sly goat, Malachite thought. He was seducing his wife with those strange powers that only her and him had. Right under their noses!