title: Elusive Thoughts | Chapter 4 rating: PG author: Mir email: incandescence@juno.com website: http://cathedraldragon.tripod.com/sm/ disclaimer: Sailor Moon, et al. belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, etc., etc., and so on and so forth ^_^. The other characters belong to me...for whatever that's worth. I have no money to speak of, so suing me will not make you rich. Yes, and this story was inspired by Melanie Rawn's *Dragon Prince*. Kudos to her, it's an excellent novel. AN: Oh, I promised action, didn't I? Then I apologize, for there isn't overly much of that in this chapter either. I had a wonderful time writing it, though - I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic. So if you're looking for running and screaming, you may have to look elsewhere. Otherwise, please feel free to sit back and enjoy the show. ^_^ *Chapter 4* The Great Hall was a buzz with hushed conversation. At tables illuminated by soft yellow candlelight various Lords and vassals murmured low words of impatience. Their places had been set with immaculate care, the silverware polished until it gleamed, the china spotlessly white. At each setting sat a delicate wine goblet spun out of blue glass. Dark twilight in color and inlaid with tiny golden stars, they added a finishing touch of formality to the event, a formality fitting for a pre-coronation dinner. But the guests fidgeted restlessly in their chairs, and even Ariane was tapping her fingers against the table in irritation. For nothing could begin until the Prince arrived, and Darien was conspicuously absent. Serena wound a stray strand of hair around her finger nervously. She couldn't help but notice Lady Ariane's quiet impatience beside her, and she wondered why, of all people, she was sitting at the high table. As the strand brushed her lips she caught it with her tongue and chewed on the ends - until Ariane put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. Serena blushed in embarrassment and quickly swept her hair safely behind her ears. She'd felt so confident before the dinner, so sure that she could converse maturely with people who were so much more important than herself. But she hadn't counted on their prejudices against those of the Moonlight. She could feel their eyes following her as she walked beside Lady Ariane, sense their suspicion and, in some cases, fear. She couldn't help but notice when their conversations faded away at her passing, couldn't fail to sense their relief that she wasn't going to sit at their table. Only hours after meeting him she'd already taken Darien's acceptance for granted. 'He knew what I was, and he didn't care', she thought with thankful relief. She was beginning to become worried that he wasn't going to show up, and was about to turn to her companion and inquire if the Prince was often late, when the doors once again opened, and a familiar silhouette appeared in the doorway. He nodded politely to the doormen and paused at the entrance long enough for all conversation to fade into silent anticipation. Then, with lightly echoing footsteps he strode through the sea of tables, head high, eyes dancing over the faces of the guests with calm assurance. His attitude was one of complete ownership and absolute confidence - until he met her eyes. Serena's heart beat rapidly, and she quickly averted her eyes, not out of a feeling of inadequacy but rather in fear that she might cause Darien, her Darien, to lose the assured jauntiness to his step. He did falter, but only briefly, one foot raised hesitantly in the air. Then it descended with the sharp sound of boot against tile, and he continued along his path to the only empty seat in the hall. When he reached the table he stopped and for an instant appeared to be unsure of what to do. He looked down at his place setting, and Serena wished more than anything that she could dash over to stand by his side, take his hand in hers and reassure him that he looked absolutely stunning. Dressed from head to foot in black with hints of silver at collar and cuffs, he seemed to carry his new responsibility with an ease that she envied. Just when the silence was becoming noticeable Darien cleared his throat and, placing his hands firmly on the table, addressed the Hall. "My Lords and Ladies of the Desert, I welcome you to Crystal Castle...and only regret the reason for our gathering here tonight. By now the smoke from your fires will be visible in other lands, and perhaps those who could not be with us tonight are celebrating the life of our Princess Kerri as well. There will be ample opportunity for me to introduce my policies on another occasion. Tonight isn't the time for such matters. I only ask that you remember my sister, remember her for who she was and don't think that her passing was in vain." It seemed for a moment like he was going to continue, but then the Prince nodded his head and gestured expansively, a sign for the food to be brought out. Serena watched as he sat stiffly in his chair, unable to relax under the watchful eyes of his vassals. Not that she could blame him. - - - - - - - - - - Darien hadn't realized that he would be expected to address the hall and was berating himself for not planning out a speech beforehand. He'd been fine until he saw her, a shimmering cloud of white and gold, perched beside Ariane at the high table. Her eyes, the lightest of blue and sparkling with nervous excitement, met his, and his step faltered. 'Please don't let anyone notice that I can't even look at her without melting' he though to himself, concerned with how he was going to maintain the charade at the Caucus. He barely noticed the food before him, and afterward couldn't have told anyone what it was that he'd put into his mouth. For all his outward show of confidence he was dreading the actual ceremony, dreading having to sit in the seat his sister had occupied only days before. Nonetheless, he gradually relaxed into the evening with a certain natural ease that comes as second nature to those born into the spotlight of attention. He avoided turning in her direction, questioning Andrew on the status of his horse breeding program instead. His brother-in-law was not of noble birth and so had been forbidden by Desert law to take the title of "Prince" beside Kerri, but he'd been a co-monarch in all but the title. 'I can't imagine ever losing her now' Darien thought, giving into impulse to steel a glance across the table. Her head was bent over her dinner plate, wisps of hair just barely missing the gravy as she pushed the food around with her fork. He'd had been selfish when he'd asked a place be set for her at the high table. He'd needed to have her near, wished she were beside him. 'At least she has Ariane. Andrew's nothing but a mental wreck...not that I can blame him'. He was startled when she suddenly jumped to her feet, chair tipping over behind her and landing with a crash on the ground. She was staring at a point somewhere over his left shoulder, eyes wide in fright, arms stretched out before her. The entire hall seemed to let out a collective gasp, and Darien was suddenly reluctant to discover what was behind him. But as Serena began to tremble, and he threw aside hesitation and pivoted sharply, drawing his sword in readiness. Whatever he was expecting, whatever he'd imagined - was not was he saw. A man, heavyset with dark hair, was less than two feet behind the table, knife clutched in his right hand. But more amazing, a wall of pure light, a shimmering transparency of silver moonlight, surrounded the attacker, blinding him with its brilliance. Behind him, Serena leaned against the table, and the wall faltered, then fell, its energy sinking soundlessly into the ground. Darien prepared himself to fend off an attack, but the man collapsed into a ball, curling up on the ground and holding his head. "Darien!" It was Andrew who appeared by his side first; the rest of the hall seemed to be paralyzed by the turn of events. "What the Hell happened?" He strode over to the man and poked at him with the toe of his boot. The attacker didn't stir. "I...I don't know," Darien replied, still frozen where he stood. He looked from Andrew to the man, then back over his shoulder to where Serena was trying, without great success, to right her chair. His sword fell to the ground, forgotten, and he was by her side in an instant. - - - - - - - - - - She didn't know what had made her look up at that instant, and she couldn't remember how she knew what to do. 'Never use the Moonlight to kill' - the ancient creed flashed across her mind, and she stilled her hand, not letting the circle of light contract further. It was the only thing that mattered, sustain the energy until Darien turned around. But then he turned, and she grabbed onto the table to stop from falling, unsteady with exhaustion. Her fingers trembled, unwilling to cooperate, and she knocked over her blue goblet, crystal splintering as it collided with the floor. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down, squatting and groping to her left and right for the chair she vaguely remembered tipping over. But instead of a wooden object, her hands found someone's leg, and her eyes flew open in wide surprise. She let him pull her into his arms, resting her head against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. They were silent, blissfully unaware of the dozens of eyes squinting in their direction. Then Lady Ariane cleared her throat and appeared at Darien's side. "Errumph...if you two have finished drooling over one another, I have a feeling that the rest of the guests might like it if you rejoined them." Serena blushed crimson, consoled only by the fact that Darien's face was the same shade, if not darker. "Yes, Lady Ariane," she replied quietly and began to slip from the Prince's arms back towards the table. But Darien only gripped her tighter. "Wait - are you sure you're alright? How did you do...make that wall - " She struggled, and he, not one to leave bruises on other people's arms, let her go. "Later...I promise. But your guests are growing impatient," she insisted, eager to get out of the spotlight. "No." His reply startled her; she hadn't been expecting it. Her eyes flashed dangerously, angered by the fact that he'd just brushed her off. But Darien took no regard. Instead, he took her hand, straightened his shoulders, and turned to face the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for the disturbance that you were just witness to. Believe me, I had no intention of letting such an event transpire tonight. As some of you may have seen, I own my life to the fair Lady Serena who is now by my side." He smiled, ignoring her attempts to free her hand. "And on behalf of the Desert and my family, I'd like to, in thanks, bestow upon her this gift." It was a small locket, star-shaped and glittering with tiny diamonds, that he pulled out of his pocket and fastened around her neck. Her gaze changed from irritation to wonder, and he whispered in her ear, "It was Kerri's, but I'd like you to have it." She brushed the top with her fingers and heard the faint hum of music. "Thank you...you shouldn't have." Darien glanced over his shoulder at Ariane, reassuring her that he wouldn't forget about his guests again. "Nonsense, I wanted to." He grinned, then left her, jauntily saluting to the hall and returning to his place. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of color and sound. She'd watched him alight to the throne after coronation ceremony and couldn't help but notice the empty seat beside him. She couldn't recall which of her friends had led her back to her room afterwards...Ami...that's who it was, always there when she needed help. Then she'd sat on the edge of the bed, bare feet swinging off the side, locket pressed next to her ear. She hummed along softly to the tune, memorizing the intonations. A rap on the door disturbed her. "Lady Serena?" The speaker was a boy, no more than fourteen, with bright red hair and excited green eyes. She nodded. "Milord Darien sent me to see if you could join him in the garden tonight." It was clear from his clothes that he was the Prince's squire, and Serena couldn't help but smile at the eager go-between. "Yes, yes of course. Tell him I'd love to...but that I don't know the way." And Justin nodded, "That's what I'm here for Milady. Are you ready to go? He's by the pond." - - - - - - - - - - Darien stood in the calm darkness of the gardens, hands clasped nervously behind his back. Andrew was forever berating him for pacing back and forth, but there was no brother-in-law to stop him tonight. His boots rasped against the pebbled walkway, polluting the tranquility with noise. He didn't notice the soft approach of a presence behind him, the presence he'd been waiting for. "Darien." He pivoted quickly, smile spreading across his face. "I knew you'd come." The moonlight illuminated his hair, glittered off of his silver trim. "I'm sorry about tonight." She was the one to close the gap between him. "I think you owe me an explanation." And he wondered where his timid sprite had vanished to, wondered but appreciated her confidence more. "I know, you deserve no less." She raised an eyebrow, unwilling to be sated by flattering words and caring eyes. "Tell me what you plan." Darien sighed, gesturing to a nearby bench and taking a seat beside her. "Do you know about the Caucus of Princes?" She nodded. "It's this summer..." And as he explained, as he had to Ariane, she squinted, forehead wrinkling. "I...I don't know," she replied, at the same time leaning against his side. "I want to trust you, so much, but I'm just not sure." Darien reached down, arm slipping around her protectively. "I can only promise that I'll never hurt you purposefully, but I that promise with all my heart." She snuggled closer, smiling quietly to herself. "The I guess that'll have to do, don't you think?" He nodded. "We'll have to do this sometimes when we're married." "But what'll your people think when they know that their Prince has to sneak around at night to spend time with his wife?" she asked, giggling. "Oh, Justin's discreet enough - he's nice, isn't he?" he replied, evasive, as usual. Serena look up, eyes glowing, "I bet you were cuter when you were a squire." Then before he had realized what happened her lips brushed his cheek and her shadow disappeared into the night. He brought his fingers up to feel the spot she'd touched, and he whispered softly to himself, 'I love you'. *end of Chapter 4* Sorry this part's taken me so long...I meant to get it out fairly expeditiously, but then vacation began...You know, spending an entire day on an airplane isn't too fun, that with layovers and all. Anyway, my apologies, and I'll start on the next chapter right away. I've also got a shorter work in progress - Happy holidays! - Mir 12.20.00