Title: An Unsuitable Match Part: 1 Author: W.bymeeh Rating: PG E-mail: jhyunl@aol.com Website: http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/ *Author's Note: Let me know if you like this series... please...accckkkkk.... *Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, so don't sue me! I have nothing worth suing for anyways. Also, the story in this form is mine, so please don't take it without permission! Thanks. Chapter 1 "Argh! I'm going to be late, and Raye's going to kill me!" Serena frantically looked through her threadbare wardrobe for a decent skirt to wear. "A ha! Got it!" Serena dove for the skirt in the corner, its edge just barely noticeable in the darkness of her closet. Eleanor appeared in the doorframe to smile affectionately at her daughter, who was frantically yanking the skirt on in exchange for the patched up trousers she wore when she was helping her father, Keith, in the royal gardens. "Sorry I made such a mess, Mom! I'll clean it up later! Got to go, love you!" Serena dashed by, giving her mom a quick kiss on her cheek before rushing out. Eleanor sighed. Serena was growing up so fast...twelve years old, already! It seemed like only yesterday that she had showed up in a wicker basket on their doorstep, an abandoned child and the answer to their prayers for a child. And now, she had her own friends, who were fellow children of servants on the vast royal grounds, and was rapidly ascending the ladder to adulthood. Serena was happy, and her parents were delighted that they had such a precious daughter. However, Eleanor and Keith both knew that the life of serving in the royal gardens was not good enough for their daughter. They both wished they could give her more. However, at that moment, there was nothing Serena wanted more than to escape Raye's teasing as she was late for the billionth time. The others had already gathered by the stables near the royal garden, and they looked up as Serena ran frantically into the area, her two blond braids streaming behind her. "Look who finally decided to show up! I TOLD you she'd be late!" Raye's teasing voice rose above the rest, and her eyes flashed with fire as she tossed her long black hair over her shoulder The daughter of the woodcutter who provided firewood for the palace, she had grown up bickering with Serena. "Oh, Raye, give it a rest! She had to help her dad out today with the new expansion in the gardens!" Lita sent Raye a pleading look, her eyes big in a face framed by her brown curls. As daughter of the royal cook who loved to gossip, she heard about all the doings of everyone in the palace. "So, shouldn't we map out where we're going to go today?" Ever practical, the royal governess' daughter, Amy, changed the subject swiftly and concentrated on their picnic with a simple toss of her shoulder-length blue hair. Serena lit up. "I was thinking about this new spot I found in the royal gardens. It's sheltered from view of the palace, so no one can see that we're there, but it's got the most beautiful flowers and a wonderful brook so we can go wading!" The other girls squealed with delight at the thought of being able to dip into cold water in the sweltering summer heat. "Are you sure it's okay, Serena? The royal gardens are only for the enjoyment of the royal family..." Amy asked in a worried manner. "Oh psh! Of course it's okay! This place is deserted anyways; it's been allowed to grow on its own, and it obviously hasn't been disturbed. No one will care if a couple of servant's kids are there having some fun! C'mon, let's go!" Serena bounced up and down in excitement, and she started to skip on the path toward the gardens. Laughing, the other young girls followed her. But unknown to them, they were being followed by a figure in the shadows of the building behind them, who had been present for their entire conversation. "Isn't this something like paradise?" Lita yawned peacefully underneath the shade of a weeping willow. "I'd say that your food has got to be the closest things to that," Serena smiled as she nibbled on the cake that Lita had smuggled out. Raye, for once, refrained from teasing Serena about her eating habits, as she waded through the water in contented silence, keeping her skirt high above the water. Amy was reading a book as her toes dangled over the edge of the brook, and there was a smile of tranquility over her usually serious face. The girls had spent the afternoon at Serena's secret garden, and had enjoyed it throughly. They didn't usually get time off at the same time, as they always had to help their families with odd jobs to supplement their income. None of the girls were well off, having grown up with families that served the king and queen. Although each girl longed for something more, they knew that reality would force them into servitude for a lifetime. However, on an afternoon like this, they could forget about the chores waiting for them at home. Serena was licking her fingers for cake crumbs when she thought she heard a noise. She looked up, and she saw a shadowy figure in the trees behind Amy. When the figure noticed Serena looking toward her, she started to retreat. "Hey! Who are you? Come on out, we won't bite!", Serena called out in a friendly voice, trusting her instinct that this person wasn't here to harm four servant girls. The figure hesitantly stopped her retreat, and stepped forward into the sunlight. Serena had attracted the attention of the other girls, who now looked in shock at the young girl who stood before them. A girl their own age, but so different! "Princess Mina!" Immediately, the four girls scrambled to their feet; Amy threw down her book, Lita jumped up from her lounging, Raye splashed herself in her haste to get out of the brook, and Serena stepped on the remainder of the cake nearby. "Oh, please, don't do that! I just wanted to join you, seeing as all four of you looked so happy to be here. And the royal palace can be so lonely...no one my own age to be with, have picnics with...", Mina spoke, a tremor running through her voice. The others looked at each other. It was clear that the princess was lonely...could they help her? But for heaven's sake, this was the princess and they were four servant girls! Serena decided to make the decision for everyone. "Okay, Mina, sit right down and have some of Lita's great cooking! She's the daughter of the palace cook, y'know! I'm Serena, my dad is the gardener and I love helping him with the flowers. That's Amy", Serena gestured to the frozen girl, "who's the smartest one of us all, being the daughter of your governness. And that's Raye, she's the daughter of the woodcutter and she has a temper to boot!" Serena stuck out her tongue at Raye in return to Raye's annoyed look. "Have some food, we just finished our picnic but there's plenty of food left. Err...you might not want the cake though, I think I took care of that!" Serena lifted her cake-sticky foot as the rest of the girls stared. And all of a sudden, the girls started to giggle, which turned into loud, riotous laughter. Mina laughed happily, as she looked around at her new friends. Unlike the horribly boring royal gatherings where she never had anyone to talk to, especially when her brother Darien was off with his guards planning pranks, this felt so right and wonderful to be with these people. Although her parents would not be pleased to find that she was conversing with servants, she knew that this was what she wanted to do. Smiling, the other girls accepted Mina into their group wholeheartedly...a welcome friend, although the royal princess was certainly an unusual aquaintence to have. "Mother, I was wondering...", Mina grasped at her flailing courage to continue her proposal. "Yes, dear?" Queen Helen of the Earth looked at her daughter with an indulgent smile. "Since I've just turned twelve, I was thinking that it was about time that I had some ladies-in-waiting." There. It was out. Mina breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the hardest part was over. She lifted her eyes to her mother's. Oops. Not out in the clear yet. "Do you feel that you're ready to have a court of your own?", Queen looked hard at her daughter, testing her to see if she was mature to have her own personal companions. "Yes, I feel that I've reached a point where I need companions of my own, to begin my journey into...uh...womanhood." Mina choked the last few words out. An amused look came into the Queen's eyes. Maybe not quite a woman yet, but Mina certainly was growing up. "Mina, you may have your ladies-in-waiting. Did you have anyone in mind? The Beryl family is coming, and their daughter is your age. They're accompanied by a great number of servants, and some might do well as your companions." The Queen smiled at Mina. Mina was in shock. Her mother agreed, and so quickly? However, such an opportunity was not to be missed. "Well, mother, actually there are a few girls my own age who would do most admirably..." Mina tried speaking in her most grown-up manner as her mother smothered a laugh. Serena was so excited, she could barely keep the grin off her face. She whirled around the room, dancing and spinning in circles. "Mother, Father, can you believe it? Min- her royal highness wants me to become one of her ladies-in-waiting. Can you believe it? I can't!" Serena stopped spinning around, and smiled at her parents. To her surprise, they looked sad, although they were smiling. "What's wrong?" Eleanor and Keith looked at each other. With an unspoken glance, they acknowledged that they would let Serena go with no guilt, no matter how much it would hurt. "We're just so proud of our little girl. It's amazing how much you've grown up!" And Serena's parents hid their grief, as they beamed down at the girl they loved as their daughter. Serena's smile reappeared. "I'm so glad that you're proud of me," she said as she ran to them for a hug. "Mother, father, I'd like to introduce you to my new ladies-in-waiting," Mina looked proudly at her friends in their new gowns. Amy was dressed primly in a gown of light blue, while Lita looked out of place, tall as she was, in her dress of forest green. Raye squirmed uncomfortably in the unfamiliar outfit of red silk, while Serena couldn't keep still in her dress of white satin. The four of them looked as if they all wished to be anywhere else wearing anything but the fine dresses they had been forced into. The girls were in the palace library, a place lacking in formality but suitable for the royal couple to meet their daughter's companions. Present also, was Lady Beryl, who was a few years older than Mina, and was accompanying them during their stay. She terrorized Mina's new friends, especially Amy, who couldn't speak up in her own defense, and she held herself in an arrogant and proud way. Fitting to a lady of such royal blood, she was condescending and snooty to those below her, although to Mina she shot icy looks while maintaining a polite demeanor in front of the adults. "They're very nice dear, I'm sure you'll do well with these young ladies as your companions...but Mina dear, they are four girls here. Which three are your ladies-in- waiting?" The Queen gave Mina a firm but kind look. "I'm afraid you're only limited to three companions...protocol demands it so." Next to the Queen, King Alexander nodded his agreement. A look of horror came across Mina's face. She was shocked at the idea of having to give up even one of her friends. She stared at them in desperation...she would have to choose! Which one would she condemn to a life of servitude? How could she do that? She knew, as they did, that a life as a lady-in-waiting would be infinitely preferable to that as a servant. It was part of the reason that she had seized upon the chance to help her friends. "Your highness, I believe that I can help Mina out. I'm in need of a single companion, and my parents were looking for a suitable one back at home before we left for the trip to the palace. However, I'd like to take on...Amy as a lady-in-waiting," Beryl smiled brightly at Mina's parents. Serena felt her blood boil at Beryl. She simply couldn't allow this to happen to Amy. She glanced surreptiously at her, and saw the tortured look in her eyes. No, she couldn't let this happen to her best friend...she would be ripped to shreds by Beryl, who had ill-concealed her true nature to them in the past few days. "Your highness, I believe that I'm better suited for that task. I would love the chance to see different parts of this planet, and Lady Beryl is a charming person that I would adore being a lady-in-waiting to." Serena plastered on a smile as fake as the one that sat on Beryl's face. The Queen looked at Serena, and admiration sparked in her gaze at her as she realized what this young girl was doing. She nodded in aquiescence, and Beryl had no choice but to accept. The Queen and King then left the girls to themselves. Serena turned to look at her friends. Mina looked guiltily at her, Amy was looking at her begging for forgiveness, Lita looked sad, and Raye had an outraged expression on her face. Serena smiled, and held out her arms. The four rushed to hug her, leaving Beryl to look at them in disgust and storm out of the room. "It'll be okay you guys...I'm strong, I can make it...I'll be able to visit, you know...and travel anywhere I want," Serena whispered, more to comfort herself as she felt her heart ache at the idea of leaving her dearest friends and her family. Late that night, after much heartfelt confessions of caring and tears at Serena's impending departure, the girls went to bed. Serena, however, tossed and turned. She had already said goodbye to her parents when she had left for the palace, knowing that they wouldn't be able to see each other often anyway. There was no need to hurt them further with the knowledge that she would be farther than the palace. Was she really strong enough to live apart from her dearest friends? Lita, Raye, and Amy had always been there, whenever times had been rough on them. At age five, Serena had been crying by herself near the stables because some older servants had pushed her around, when she discovered Raye, who comforted her and helped her plot revenge. Serena bumped her way into Amy, who made her laugh at the prince and princess' ineptness in history, just like Serena. Serena had followed her nose to Lita, who had been learning how to make a cake. That one had been burnt on the outside, but Serena alleviated Lita's despair by swallowing a piece whole and declaring it the best thing she ever tasted. And Mina had turned from a princess into a very dear and treasured friend, ever since she spied on them at their picnic and revealed how alone she was. Serena sighed. It hurt too much, but she had to keep up a brave front for Mina, who felt guilty over forgetting that she was only allowed three ladies-in-waiting. Mina had turned out to be a true, loyal friend, completely lacking in snobishness and was a carefree soul like them. She stood up, still clad in the white gown she had worn to meet the King and Queen. Its lines were plain, with few embellishments, but couldn't hide the grace of her growing figure that she was still as yet unaware of. It was chilly out, but she didn't feel the cold night air. For some unknown reason, Serena knew that none of the servants were still wandering the halls, and she opened the door to walk out to her favorite gardens for the very last time. Darien, crown prince of the Earth, wandered through the gardens, restless. At sixteen years old, he was still unsettled by the crowds of annoying girls who literally threw themselves at his head. Unfortunately for them, he felt not a flicker of emotion for any of them. He sighed. Duty. Honor. Power. These were his destiny, with the power of the Earth at his fingertips. To be King of the Earth one day, ruling even more powerfully than his father before him. This was what the prophecy had foretold when he was born. And, of course, most conveniently it had also predicted who his life's mate was to be. Darien lifted his head and stared at the moon, the birthplace of the girl who would have been his soul mate, his life's guiding light, his wife. Would have been. His midnight-blue eyes darkened in anger at the moon. Why was it his fate to live life alone? Ever since he was a young boy, he had been alone. Disturbed by nightmares that he could never quite remember when he woke up, he only knew the feeling of fear of being alone. So much power and prestige, and yet he didn't give a damn about it when he knew that his days would forever be spent in ruling a country sitting in a throne that was next to an empty one. Oh, he knew there were plenty of women out there. But none of them could fill the hole in his heart. He felt as if there was a part of himself missing, a large void that threatened to take over completely if he hadn't learned how to push the despairing part of himself down. There was a need in him, only he didn't know how to fulfill it. He saw his parents, so in love with each other. His sister, Mina, was thrilled with her new ladies-in-waiting. Of course, she was only 12, but she was still so satisfied with simply being surrounded by her friends. She was not alone, nor was she condemned to be. Darien's closest friends, his bodyguards...even they couldn't understand. None of them could. He tried to remember when was the first time he had felt such despair. He had been only five years old, happily running amok through the palace halls, when his parents had called him in. Thrilled that his parents were making some time for him, he ran eagerly to their chamber. There, he listened to his parents tell him a story that he already knew by heart. He had been bethrothed to a girl. But this was no ordinary girl...she was a princess of the moon. Darien remember looking up at the moon in awe. He saw how happy his parents were together, and knew that they had been betrothed to each other at birth too. The girl he would one day marry was still a little baby, but he was happy, because he knew that one day they would be together and he wouldn't be lonely anymore. A little girl waiting for him, somewhere out there. That was what made him happy, even though he had no one to have fun with during the day at the palace. The royal practioners in the magical arts foretold that she would be his soul mate. Far from being resentful at having his future made up, little Darien was thrilled that he would have someone to love and take care of. Be taken care of in return. Just like how Daddy takes care of Mommy, and how she looked after him. But his little childish dreams had soon been shattered. By some evil force named Metalia. Darien still remembered himself at five years old, tears streaming down his face as his parents told him that Queen Serenity of the Moon was dead, and her daughter had disappeared during the attack by Metalia. She was most certainly dead. Darien knew what that meant. He had often asked the practioners if there was only one for him, and was it really this girl on the moon. And they had told him yes. And if she was gone, then there was no one for him. And he would always go through life alone. He knew this without anyone telling it to him. He had accepted it, and locked away his emotions and his sense of loss in his heart. This was what tore away at him inside, while he was going through all the motions and actions of being the Crown Prince. He angrily stalked through the garden lit by the hated moon, which served to remind him of all that he had lost. After walking off some of anger in a desperate mission to leave his ghosts, Darien's angry stalking slowed to a more peaceful walk. He wondered where he was now, and wondered at himself for wandering around the royal grounds at such an hour. He saw a clearing up ahead, and he decided to take a minute to rest. As he walked underneath the shadows of the trees overhead, he suddenly saw a vision of loveliness and vulnerability. A woman...no, a girl, he amended, was standing in the middle of the clearing with her face lifted to the moon. A single tear had made its way down her cheek, leaving a shiny trail on her face reflecting the moonlight. Her sky blue eyes expressed her deep sadness, and although Darien had never seen her before in his life, he knew that those eyes could dazzle someone with their light when she was happy. She was dressed in a simple white dress with a sky-blue sash tied around her waist; her body was slender and youthful. Two shining braids of golden hair trailed down her back. She was as young as his sister, he realized, and yet how could she be such a picture of beauty and innocence? He knew at once that this girl would grow up to be a stunning women as much as she was a touching child. It was strange, but he had an unaccountable urge to wipe the tear from her cheek and keep her close to him in an embrace. All thoughts of his lost princess flew from his mind as he lost himself staring at the young girl before him. Perhaps he had moved, or made some noise in his throat, because in an instant the girl turned her head toward him with a look of shock. She made a motion to run, and Darien panicked. 'Such a child...' "Wait, I'm sorry to disturb you. Please, I won't hurt you...I was just wondering if you um...needed someone to listen to you." Darien could have smacked himself on the head for saying something so stupid. Here could this child, most likely no more eleven and twelve years old, make him feel like a figure of jello? The young girl smiled, relief etched across her tiny face, and her enormous blue eyes lit up. It was just as Darien had thought. He felt dazzled by her life's light. For once, he didn't think about being lonely or unhappy. All of his thoughts were focused on the little girl in front of him, and how to keep her smiling. "Thank you...I'll be all right. It's just scary because I've just become a lady-in-waiting to a nobleborn lady, and I'm worried about doing my job right." Serena smiled as her gut twisted in turmoil. She didn't like telling lies, especially when faced with the most handsome boy she had ever seen. His rumpled black hair fell charmingly across his forehead, while eyes of the darkest blue stared at her with such...need it frightened her. "My name is Serena." Serena gave her best, let's-be-friends look, touching him with her shining innocence. "I'm...Darien. Here," he said, pulling out a handkerchief. He came closer to Serena and gently wiped away the traces of the tears that had fallen on her cheek. He then enclosed his kerchief in her hand. He had the distinct feeling that she wasn't telling him the whole truth, but he didn't rush her. Don't scare her, he told himself. He just wanted to help her. Serena looked down at the handkerchief in her hand, and lifted her head to stare at Darien, now in such close proximity to her. She was puzzled. In his presence, her fears about having to serve Beryl disappeared. She felt...safe. She smiled, a look of peace coming into her eyes as she looked at Darien. Darien smiled hesitantly back, afraid she'd disappear. This child, girl...she's special. He knew it. "Do...you want your handkerchief back?", Serena asked, a question in her luminous blue eyes. Darien caught his breath. He was losing his mind. "No, keep it, of course." Serena frowned. "Well, then I have to give you something of mine...Hmmm." She untied her sash and grinned at the thought that came into her head. "Here, you can be my knight in shining armor...at least, for tonight." She laughed to let him know that she was kidding, and she handed her sash over to him. Darien couldn't refuse the young girl in front of him. "Thank you, m'lady." He bowed deeply over the hand that held the sash out to him. And then, in a move that surprised them both, he turned her hand over and kissed her palm. Their faces lifted to look at each other, caught in a spell woven by the moonlight and the garden. They could have stood there forever, looking at each other... A rustling in the tree branches was heard, and an owl started to hoot, breaking the spell. Serena averted her gaze and realized how late it really was. It would never do to start her first day as lady-in-waiting to Beryl by sleeping in late. "Thank you for your help Darien...it is good to know that I have a friend who would listen to me." Serena smiled endearingly at him before she darted off into the woods. In shock, Darien looked as she ran away from him. "Wait!" He didn't want her to leave him, and he quickly followed in the direction in which she disappeared. Damn, he thought. Where could she be? He held her sash in the garden, looking at the intricate moon design embroidered on the fabric. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel resentment at seeing the symbol. His thoughts were on Serena. She had said she was to begin service as a lady-in-waiting to a high noblewoman...Suddenly, he remember that Mina was just starting a court of her own. Serena must be one of them, he realized. The worry that had begun to rise when he thought that he wouldn't see her again began to subside when he realized that he could see her everyday...He decided not to follow the urgent feeling inside of him. She probably needed some time to herself, and there would be plenty of opportunities to talk later. He walked back to the palace, holding her sash, and feeling oddly content. Serena took a last look at the palace as the horses pulled the carriage forward. She kept her gaze fixated on the palace even as Beryl started complaining about their long trip home. Beryl soon jumped on Serena's lack of inattentiveness. It was, as Serena was to learn, just the beginning of many complaints that Serena would have to put up with. Her eyes started to brim over with tears, but she dropped her right hand to pocket that held the handkerchief of the boy she had met last night...and would never see again. She hadn't been thinking coherently at the time, obviously, or she would've realized that the only one named Darien was his royal highness, the Crown Prince. She must've seemed like an idiot. She gritted her teeth, determined not to let the tears fall, and turned to Lady Beryl. "Mina, who did you say your new ladies-in-waiting were?", Darien questioned his sister with an urgency that surprised her. "My court," Mina paused, "is made up of Lita, Amy, and Raye. They're such great friends, that I feel very lucky to have them all with me in the palace." She smiled at her big brother, and was puzzled when an expression of pain quickly flashed across his face. She continued slowly, remembering her friend that wasn't with her any longer. "I had another friend who was supposed to become my lady-in-waiting for me, but...she's become the lady-in-waiting to Lady Beryl instead. You know, part of the family that just came, except you were too busy playing hide-and-go-seek with your friends to even meet them. Mother and Father are not too pleased with you, which you would also know if you ever came to a single royal function." Mina spoke casually, not wanting to relay the guilt she felt at Serena's leaving them. Frowning, Darien asked, "Mina, who was your fourth friend?" Mina's eyes turned sad. "Her name was Serena...she was the gardener's daughter. I miss her already." She sniffled and looked down. Darien turned away, his heart aching. So strange, that little girl...for one night, he had not thought of anything but her. He hadn't been afraid of being alone... and now, all his fears came back and the emptiness in his heart was as big as ever. But who was he kidding? He had known, before, that he was destined to be alone...so it made sense that the young girl he had met last night would not remain with him. He left the room with determination in his eyes...he would never lose his heart to anyone...He had his work as prince to do...enough to make a man forget. Almost. ****************** To be continued... w. bymeeh jhyunl@aol.com http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/