Chapter 3 Continued:

It was late into the night, when they reached the beginning of the forest. Within the edges of the forest, they decided it was safe to make camp. They had left the main road late in the evening, and the city of Velorous was no longer in sight. There was not many towns or villages between the cities, because, the cities usually provided safety with its warriors. Earth was not reputely an evil place to leave, but there were theives and some murders about, late at night, especially outside the city limits. Powerful or not, they all still bleed when stabbed.

Although, the moon had it's share of forests and woods, most of them were scattered and very dense. The forest of Velorous was immense and very dense. It wasn't uncommon for a traveller to become lost within its vastness, only to perish from the freezing night tempetures. Many had in the past died within this forest. Darien and Malachite had grown up within this forest and many others of this planet, so they set up camp comfortably, with Darien taking the first watch. Precautions was still esstenial with spies from the forces of Beryl roaming around the country. Mina and Serena had worked silently preparing the camp for them to settle into the night.

The night passed uncommonly quiet, with Serena almost hiding her emotions behind a mask of coldness. She didn't want a repeat of what had happened between Darien and herself. It also would give her some time to examine some of her feelings towards this stranger, her husband. Mina and Malachite sat quietly talking around the blazing campfire, while Serena settled for the night within her blankets. The low tone of their conversion lulled Serena into a deep, yet disturbing sleep.

Sometime, during the early morning, she felt Darien gather her into his arms. The warmth of his body was a welcome, since she was beginning to shiver under her covers. Shushing her quietly, when she protested groggily, telling her to go back to sleep. Her protests died weakly as his body heat began to penetrate her, snugging further into his warmth, she fell back asleep. Darien, on the other hand, was left battling his own demons.

When Serena awoke the next morning, she was alone under her covers. Darien's blanket roll was already packed. For a moment, she thought that it been nothing more than a dream. The morning brought the warm sun, peaking through the forest leaves. Though, it was notably cooler in the forest. The men had already gathered most of the gear together, while Serena helped Mina prepared "Coffee", as Malachite had remarked grumpily. Mina pulled a face at him, asking what was so great about it. Taste it, he barked back.

Serena didn't think it tasted good at all, but drank it anyways. It didn't take long for her and Mina to figure out why coffee was so cherished on Earth. Pretty soon, Serena and Mina were feeling perky and alert. Darien grinned warily at the girls, as they exclaimed later on, as they were leaving the encampment about the effects of coffee on their moods. Their perkiness enlightened the moods of men, as they began their journey again.

They travelled throughout the day through the dark woods, while Malachite and Darien explained some history of the forest of Velorous. Serena was amazed at how much of Earth was still considered uncivilized. Alot of the villages, as Malachite explained still didn't have flushing toliets or running water. She wondered how she would ever fare in such limited conditions. The travel was uneventful and tiresome. Sometimes, they would come across some spooked animal, and Malachite, being the accomplished huntsman, didn't miss the opportunity to have fresh meat for dinner.

For the most part, Serena was wary and tired from sitting on her mount for so long. She didn't want to complain, as Mina had been holding up as if she was born on a horse. They had only stopped once during the day for the horses to drink, only to continue on.

The Blue Millennium Crystal around her neck stayed dark, and she was beginning to wonder if it would ever show a faint glow.

Occassionally, she would catch Darien watching her with an intensity that would make her breath catch, before he would turn away. The look would make her think of the night before, and wondering if he had really held her in his arms. What was he like, she thought. What if they had met under different circumstances? Would things be any different between them? She really didn't know. Yet, this man, was destined by the Legends for her. Her husband, in name only. She didn't want to follow that track of thought, it only got her confused and frustrated. Her husband had the uncanny knack of knowing when she was thinking in that direction. If she had been really honest with herself, and admit that was the direction she wanted to go. Yet, she didn't want to make love to a stranger.

It wasn't until that evening, when trouble came. A group of bandits hiding deep within the forests, was spotted by Darien, when he came back from scouting the area. Wary and tired, they had decided to stop, instead of going on to the next village, which was several miles ahead of them and out of the forest. Malachite had argued with Mina that they should continue, while Mina insisted it was safe eoungh to stop. The horses and the women were ready to drop.

"It doesn't matter now, the horses are stopped, and they won't go any further until they've rested." Darien stated solemnly. "We might as well take the risk, and set up camp. They're an unriley group, hard-worn, and know these woods as well as I do." At this point, Darien started issuing orders, stating that there would be no campfire. "It would attract the theives." He had stated. Malachite and he then starting setting up the camp, just in case they were attacked. Handing Serena a contraption, that he explained was a rifle and that it would kill or maim an individual if it was fired. Although, the theieves were spotted with only swords, they decided not to take the chance. He then proceeded to show her how it worked, then instructed her she wouldn't actually be shooting it, but just in case something should happen to him. Her job and Mina's would be to just to reload the rifles. Mina and her were then shown how to reload, and then instructed to practice.

While they practiced reloading the rifles, the men proceeded to baracade the camp. Mina, mumbled under her breath as to why they had to go through the trouble, when they had her and Serena's magic. Not to mention, Darien's.

"Darien explained to you, why, Princess," Malachite retorted. "No magic."

"Mina, you know why, we don't want to give ourselves away to the forces of Beryl," Turning away from Mina, Serena gripped the rifle tightly. She didn't want to admit that she was actually frighten. She also didn't want to admit that she would, if she had to, use magic in the end.

"Oh no you won't, Serena," Darien broke into her thoughts, causing her to gasp at the intrusion. "You won't risk the entire galaxy's survival just to save yourself, no magic, period." Serena opened her mouth to retort, then thought better of it. The whole entire situation seemed ridulous to her, considering Darien and her were one the most powerful beings in the galaxy, not to mention, Mina had certain powers of her own, being a princess from Venus. The tension at the encampment seem to being taking a toll on her.

Later, that evening, Mina had decided to wait it out. Yet, when Serena checked on her, Mina had fallen into a deep sleep. Malachite had taken the first watch, and was busy scouting the outer parts of their encampment. The cool brisk air, did nothing to relieve the tension that was flowing in Serena's veins. There was no breeze and Serena could not discern the slight sounds of any night animals. She didn't even hear the hauting hooting of the night owl, that Serena had heard the night before last.

With no fire going, Serena lit up their gas can she had brought from home. It was smokeless and served the purpose of getting fresh hot coffee. She was crouched down by the little gas can reaching for the pot of coffee, when she felt his hands in her hair. She couldn't remember or recall afterwards if she known or sensed that it would happen.

"You shouldn't be out here."

"I know. I couldn't sleep. And you?"

"I'm a light sleeper. And nights like this-"

She felt his hands run down slowly from her neck, lifting the heavy coil of her hair away from her neck. She shivered at the warm caressing fingers.

"I'd rather be out riding-no running, in no particular direction, like the wolves. Then again, I know when nights like this are so still, I know we'll be in for a fight and I'm in no mood to sleep."

She turned around quickly, trying to read his features, but it was obscured by the moonlight, his eyes were obstructed in darkness.

"But, here, on Earth men can do anything. Where, I on the other hand must conform to your Earthly traditions, by being stiffled and confined. Why don't you just go then? Do as you please. Do you view us moon ladies the same as yours? We are equal on the moon. And I am equal to you."

They were both crouching on the ground, looking into each other's eyes.

"Was that why you couldn't sleep? Are feeling restless?"

Her fingers plucked at her skirt, nervously, until he covered them with his own.

"Why-why can't we ever talk, instead of quarrelling or arguing?"

"This isn't the time or place for talking, Serena. I have no time to play the perfect gentleman, you're expecting." Grasping her hands tightly, Darien pulled them up. "And if you're smart, you'll pick up your skirts, and head tails back to Mina, to dream your virgin dreams. Otherwise, if you stay out here with me, there's no going back. I'm taking you tonight, Serena, you know that, don't you?"

He was too close, she thought with panic, yet when he pulled her to him, she came. Mute, she looked up wordlessly at him, but his face was still hidden before the moon so she couldn't read what was there.

It warm and dark under his lean-to, enclosing them both from any eyes. Serena layed stiffly, like a board as he layed next to her. She thought she would break in half when he took her into his arms. After awhile, when he did nothing else but hold her, Serena felt her body relax, her limbs loosening their stiffness to a slight trembling of anticipation.

"I-I don't even know what to do. How am I-" she began, until he shushed her.

"Relax, it'll come, slowly, Serena." he pressed a kiss at her temples, feeling her body tremble. Unconsiously, undetecting to their enemies, his delicate calming coils of energy soothed her fears. Slowly and lightly his hands drifted over her hollows and curves, exploring. She felt energy coils lightly caressing her thighs, then the curve of her back, and underneath the roundness of her breast. The pit of her belly began to warm, her limbs becoming liquid.

"Serena, turn your face to me." he whispered quietly into the night.

Mindlessly, she complied, offering her lips to his. Gently he took her lips, kissing her deeply, yet slowly. Gone were her fears, and slowly began her quest for exploration, as his warmth penetrated her, until she was kissing him back. Wounding her trembling arms around his neck she drew him towards her, aching to feel the rest of him against her.

An aura began to emit from her, the aura was sheilded again, by Darien's unconcious need to sheild her. The glowing aura produced a silvery cast upon their bodies, though they were unaware of it, so wrapped up in each other. With the lower part of his body covering her to keep her still, his hands easily pulled her peasant blouse down to expose her burgoening nipple. Rolling the end between his thumb and index, he forced her to arch forward, gasping as she became aware of the exploding feeling boiling deep within her. He could not ignore the offered hard pebble, taking it into his mouth and suckling it, while she whimpered in response.

Yet, he wasn't done there. Oh no, she thought, immerse in the spiraling desire that was consuming her. Nothing had prepared her for this. Even when her tutors had taught her the physical aspects of joining with a man. Not even, when Queen Venus, as a special tutoring into the rituals of Venus' culture had prepared her for this. Queen Venus had described her own joining with her mate to the very minute detail, which was part of the history training in all the planets' culture and rituals. It had fired the imagnations of the princes and princesses in attendance, many of them returning to their chambers discerted and highly strung.

He gently unwound her arms from around his neck to pull her blouse over her head. Serena could do nothing but comply, it was like someone else was obeying. Instinctively, her arms came up to sheild her breasts. He gently removed them.

"Don't ever hide your body, you have nothing to be ashamed of, you're so beautiful..." the infliction in his voice as he gaze at her magnificience made her less hesitant. He then kissed her eyes, her hair and the hollow of her throat, then last molding her breasts in his hands and kissing them, until she was shaking and tembling.

With the blouse gone, her skirt followed suit. Trembling, yet now anticipating with a new degree wonder, Serena felt Darien's energy coils wrap around her inner thighs, his hand following, finding her inner moist folds, stroking. She gave an instinctive, incoherent cry, that he muffled against his mouth.

"Gently, love--be still now--" And, yet again she felt the gentle coils, stroke the curve of her buttocks, while his fingers played magic upon her. Whispering and coaxing her into a response as she strained, her body writhing and aching for something she didn't understand. Until, closer, closer as she arched against his hands, straining until she came floating, floating and shuddering into reality, her eyes finally opening with wonder.

She was aware, without seeing, the blazing blueness of his piercing gaze in the dark of the lean-to, as he tenderly kissed her lips, his arms holding her gently.

"I--I didn't know," she began, "It's so amazing..."

"You don't know, only a part of it. That's only the beginning, Serena," he told her, quietly, "We're not finished, there's far more," and with that he divested himself of his clothes, while Serena lay almost languishly.

Her limbs felt heavy, and between her thighs were moist. She watched with increasing awareness as each piece of his clothing disappeared. That familiar awakened part of her began to respond again to sight of Darien's hard body. She began to comprehend his meaning when he had stated that they had only begun, when she gazed upon that part of him that was straining, and unfulfilled.

"A man's body isn't half as mysterious as a woman's, " he teased her, when she pulled away from him, although, she couldn't help peeking up through her lashes to gaze at his member in wonder.

He then put her hand on him.

"Ohh!" she cried out, jerking her hand away, half-afriad, when she felt him move beneath her hand.

Chuckling, "Is that all you can say, you were alot more vocal a moment ago," he grinned.

"I-I've never touched a man, before," she stammered, then added, as her hand curled around his shaft, "You're all velvety and soft, yet hard," she whispered softly, again she felt him jerk within her hands.

"Oh, God, Serena!" he half-groaned, when she would have pulled away, "No, not yet, let me show you--when you have it," he showed her the motion with her hands. When she felt him tighten and groan, she was amazed that her untaught hands could excite him so. The responding pooling in her inner thighs caused her to be bolder, until he had to halt her hands.

Pushing her back into the blankets, he began to kiss her fiercely, almost brutally. She felt him molding his body against hers. Nudging her thighs apart, he settled his body between them, bringing her into contact with his swollen member. He was leaving a trail of firey kisses along her throat, yet they both seem tired of waiting.

"Please, Darien," she begged, "I want to know--"

"Alright, love--"

With their hands entwinning, and holding her thighs apart by his kness, his body poised, she felt his body began to penetrated her slowly, his mouth covering her moans. She felt his body tighten and stop as he came upon her barrier. Looking into her face, he covered her mouth with his, then without warning, he surged suddenly and deeply into her. The pain was there, causing her to arch into him, bringing him even deeper into her. She lay under him, panting, the pain already easing away as he told her to put her arms around him.

"You hurt me!" she accused, she had known it would hurt, yet she still had to tell him even as she was obeying him, her arms already clinging to his shoulders.

"I know, Love--it'll never hurt again, I promise, it only gets better...!" and with that he surged into her again, causing her to gasp and clutch his shoulders.

His energy coils were bold then, caressing and molding her breasts, or stroking her inner thighs, causing her to keen. Muffling her cries with his kisses, her body responding and matching his thrusting and rythem that was as old and as ancient as the sea itself. Lying there with him, the only thing that mattered was the driving motion of his body, and the need to be consumed by him, as he took her with him.

When she reached that pinnacle of no turning back, Darien raised above her, surging deeply within her. Unconciously, her fiery red hair returned to its silvery mane and her emerald eyes blazed back into its smoldering gray, the silvery glow emulanting them blazed brightly, yet was again sheilded by Darien, even as they reached that forgetfulness and fulfillment together and back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it for now, Chapter 4 is coming, for those of you who like my piece. Well, let me know what you think, good or bad comments are welcome. Lady M. Harris