"May I introduce Prince Endymion of Earth." The words echoed through her mind with horrible clarity. Taking another step back, she felt herself slam against the heated chest of the guard behind her. She couldn’t take her attention from the Prince though, his startlingly blue eyes just stared at her. Looking into them, she felt something within her cry out in fear. There was something so cruel in those sapphire depths.

"I see you are a priestess of Selene." The words snapped her from the whirl pool of his eyes, but the commander’s words brought little comfort. "And as such cannot be harmed." The Prince finished for his commander. Now these words truly startled her. Could he actually still hold the old sacred ways? Many Earthlings had abandoned Selene as their goddess, and instead turned to a new faith of harvest saints with only a great spirit to pray to.

Priests and temples flourished, but now the evening devotions were directed to the green fields about them rather than to the moon glittering in the sky. When Selene still dwelled in the hearts of all men, her priestesses were above mortal men and their troubles. To harm a priestess of Selene was to challenge the goddess herself, but as her power here faded, she was unsure if the old ways would hold true. For the first time since the battle had begun and she was forced to hide, she felt hope appear in her heart, but then she remembered her friends and her sudden twist back to look at them gave the prince all the leverage against her he needed. Following her gaze, he saw her look at her friends with apprehension and fear.

"They on the other hand," he said waving a hand to indicate the four girls still held by guards, "are fair game."

"Wh-what are you going to do with them?" she asked, her voice hoarse with emotion. He gave her a measuring look.

"That depends more on you than me."

"How do you mean?" She would do anything to save her friends, and somehow she felt he knew that.

"I cannot hold you against your will and are free to go as is the law of Selene..... which I will honor," he added as if to remind her he had but raise his hand for her death. "But these fair young girls are not priestesses, and on the contrary they wield a weapon like warriors and will thus be treated as such. They will be interrogated and then executed before the sun rises." His words were calm and not a flicker of emotion played across his face. She had no doubt that he meant every word. He would kill them without a second thought.

"And how can I stop this?" She asked, tears falling openly now. Though she felt his icy eyes upon her, she continued to stare at her mute friends. They each had a dagger at their throat drawn by guards loyal to this torturous man.

"Simple. Take their place." Now she turned and stared at him with an incredulous look on her face.

"Is that all?" She couldn’t believe it was so simple. She would gladly trade her life for theirs.

"Give me your pledge that you will not leave or try to escape until the day I release you from your pledge."

"No Serena!" Rei managed before a blade bit into her throat to silence her.

"Serena? So that’s your name." he said with a smile. "Lovely." Her name sounded deplorable on his lips and she cringed as he smiled at her.

"If I give my pledge, will you release them and offer them safe passage to any destination?"

"Naturally," he said with easy assurance.

"How do I know you’ll keep your word just because I will?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"I will swear on anything you wish. Selene perhaps?"

"No. You will swear on what you hold holy. You swear on your gods, your life and the lives of your men." She stated this sternly and watched as his fists tightened in anger.

"My prince," the commander said, finally finding his voice, "let me kill her. I hold no goddess supreme against the great spirit. Damn the old ways." Even as the words left his mouth, he stepped forward, unsheathing his sword.

"No. I am a man of my word." When the commander didn’t stop his advance, a sword was drawn to meet his, held by a fiery eyed prince. "Stop commander if you value your life." Turning back to Serena, he eyed her critically. "Very well I will swear on the great spirit, creator of all and my life but I will make no bargain with my men."

"Agreed." They both knew that an oath made in the divine’s name was eternally binding. Should he break his word, everything he swore upon would be forfeit. His life and his god would be lost to him. Equally entrapped was Serena. Should she ever escape without his release, she would lose Selene forever.

"I swear upon the creator of all, the great spirit that I Endymion, prince of the kingdom of earth will offer safe release and passage to these prisoners in return for your pledge. So it is said so it is pledged." Nodding Serena turned away from her friend’s horrified stares and with tears falling past her tightly shut eye lids she began her oath.

"I Serena, priestess of Selene, swear to remain until such time when I am released from this binding. I will neither leave by will nor force. I swear upon Selene the goddess of all. So it is said so it is pledged." Nodding in approval, Endymion motioned to the guards.

"Take them. Give them horses and an honor guard to any destination they desire. No harm is to come to them under penalty of my personal punishment." Serena turned to see them dragging her friends out of the tent and as she ran towards them she found two very foreign but strong arms blocking her way. Looking up, she saw the prince staring back at her. "You cannot leave. Your life for theirs. Remember your oath priestess."

Rei was the last to be taken and Serena could only mouth ‘I’m sorry’ to her as the guard dragged her outside. She heard them yelling to her but couldn’t listen. Disentangling herself from Endymion’s arms, she turned her back on him and walked to the far end of the room.

Why did you do this?" When only silence answered her, she turned around and stared at him. "Why in the goddess’s name did you do this? What is so special about me that I was worth four others. Now I can’t leave. Selene deliver me."

"Gods you don’t even know how beautiful you are, do you?"

"Beauty is vanity in waiting." Serena remarked absent mindedly, quoting the temple teachings. "Only the goddess is beauty."

"Well whatever you believe, you are beauty." Walking towards her, Endymion felt the irresistible need to caress her, hold her in his arms and so much more. Stepping forward, he began to walk towards her, quickly crossing the small distance afforded in the tent. Suddenly, he was upon her and she turned at the feeling of his breath upon her neck. He was just standing there, looming behind her.

"I’m tired. where can I sleep?" she asked stepping forward out of his reach.

"Well since I was not expecting this to happen, no arrangements were made so I guess we get to share a bed." he said with a half smile.

"Very well. But I might remind you that I pledged only to stay here. I am still protected by Selene. Touching one of her virgins is not a wise thing to do.” So she was sacred virgin? It only added to her purity as he looked at her lithe form as she walked past him. He watched her silently and smiled slightly to himself. Let the games begin.