The people swayed to the music, and the orchestra played on.
Soon, women lined up eagerly to dance with Prince Endymion. But he said no to all their invitations. There was only one person he wanted to dance with, but she was in another man's arms.
Serena danced gracefully on the dance floor with Andrew. She smiled joyously and laughed heartily whenever he said anything funny. They looked almost the perfect couple in the room at that very minute. But Andrew was growing weary of dancing. He wanted to rest awhile. He felt Serena didn't want to stop, yet. So, hw glanced over the room to see if anyone could take his place for a second. Suddenly, a glass of port rose in a corner of the room.
Prince Endymion signaled that the Earl's drink was ready. Then, Andrew motioned for him to come over and give it to him. The prince walked over to the dancing couple. Andrew twirled Serena over to Prince Endymion's direction.
Serena twirled around until she bumped into someone. She gasped and said some apology. Then she realized who it was that she bumped into.
"Oh, your highness. I didn't see you there. Forgive me." She said.
"No, forgive me, really, it was my fault." Endymion told her.
Then Andrew cut into the conversation.
"Why thank you Prince Endymion for the port." he said to him taking the glass away. He gulped it greedily.
"Now if you excuse me, Serena I have to set this one out. Prince Endymion would you mind dancing with her for awhile? I'll be back as soon as possible." Andrew said.
"Andrew! You promised me!" Serena told him. But he raised his fingers to her lips. Then he turned to Endymion and said, "A warning though, she can wear you out." With that he disappeared into the crowds.
"Please. Prince Endymion you don't have to." she said to him.
"The pleasure is mine, princess." Endymion said giving his hand to her.
Then she smiled and accepted it. After a couple of steps, Endymion said, "You're fiance was right you are quite a dancer."
Then she returned the complement, "I could say the same thing about you, Prince Endymion."
"PLease, Endymion is fine." he said.
"Endymion. That is a funny name." she said.
"It's from a Greek story about a shepherd who fell in love with a goddess."
"Oh, really?...Well that's quite unusual. Shepherds and goddesses. What happened next?" she asked.
"The goddess wanted him to live eternally with her. So he was given a choice to choose whether he wanted to or not."
"Did he do it?"
"Yes...for her. But there was a catch."
"There's always a catch." she said frowning.
"He will become immortal, but he had to sleep forever."
"How said...but romantic." she said finally.
"They are together forever."
"Yes...forever." she repeated.
Then the party ended and they stopped dancing. He kissed her hand gently and thanked her for the dance. Then she asked him if he could see her again. He told her that he would.
"Well, then, goodnight, Serena." he said.
With a smile she answered, "Pleasant dreams, Endymion."
Serena woke up to the warm sunlight surrounding her face. Last night she dreamed of the handsome prince that danced with her. "He was very sincere..." she thought.
A quality she rarely saw in men. Then a sudden knock disturbed her thoughts.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It's me, Mina."
"Come in."
Princess Mina entered her chamber.
"So did you enjoy last night?" Mina asked Serena.
"Mina, I didn't know you were still here!" I though you already sailed home to Belgium." Serena said.
"Oh, Serena! You didn't answer my question.!" Mina insisted.
"It was okay." Serena anwered finally.
"So, what is he like?" Mina asked.
"Who?"
"Prince Endymion, of course! Who else, silly?" Mina said rolling her eyes.
"Please, Mina! You know I am engaged to Earl Andrew." Serena reminded her.
"Well, just tell me whether or not you think his eyes are dreamy?" she began.
"Okay. Okay. I have to admit his eyes are..." Serena began.
"Are...What?" Mina asked impatiently.
"They are vaguely familiar." Serena thought.
"Serena? Hello? Earth to Serena."
Serena was in deep thought, again starring off into space. Then Mina threw a pillow to her face.
It hit her back to reality. "Hn? what did you say again, Mina." She asked.
"You know what, Serena. In all these years of being sisters, you'd think you can trust me to tell you what's on your mind. But I guess you're not quite up, yet!" Mina remarked.
"Oh, sure." Serena said nodding her head. Then, as Mina got up, Serena said, "Hey, Mina?"
"What?" Mina answered.
Then, Serena threw the pillow back to her face.
"They looked average to me." Serena said with a smile.
With that Mina turned and closed the door.
Serena and Mina went horse back riding later that day. Along the trail, Mina asked Serena about her plans for the marriage.
"So have you decided on what gown to wear, yet?" Mina asked brightly.
"Oh, yes. I've decided to wear that one gown with the roses." she said plainly.
"Gee. You seem real excited about it." Mina commented.
Serena sighed. "I don't care, I guess. As long as Andrew loves me."
"I can tell you're really in love." Mina said wryly.
"He loves me, Mina." Serena said.
Mina began to laugh almost falling off her horse.
Serena looked at her puzzled.
"It's nothing," Mina cried wiping the last of her tears away.
Serena shrugged and said, "Race you back to the stables."
"But I can't right now, my horse just ate."
"Yah!" Serena shouted and started off.
"It's not fair! Why do I have to own the fat horse?" Mina bellowed. But the horse grunted almost as if understanding what she had said.
Mina smiled apoligetically and said, "Oh, uh...you're not fat. You're just a little advanced for your age."
The horse grunted again.
Serena got back to their castle, first. (As if Mina had a chance.) She rushed back inside to see if the Earl had come to call. She found the maid in the hallway dusting some paintings off.
"Did he come today?" Serena asked her.
"No, ma'am. No calls today." the maid replied.
"Oh, I see. Thank you, Miriam." Serena said turning away.
"But there was this note left for you this mornin'."
Serena opened the letter and it said:
Dearest Princess,
I am going on a boat ride this afternoon. I wondered if you would like to join me. If you decide to go, please meet me at the fountain in the old park. I really enjoy your company.
Till we meet again,
Endymion
With a loud thud, Mina stepped in the room. She gave a deep breath and said, "I...I dislike that horse!" she began. "I mean I really, really dislike that horse!" then she noticed the letter in Serena's hand. "What's that?"
"Oh, this? It's nothing." Serena answered, but without warning she snatched the paper away from Serena. Mina read it quickly before her sister could grab it away.
"Oh_My_Good_ness! Serena, you lucky girl. Prince Endymion wants you!" Mina bursted out.
"What do you mean he wants me? It's just a friendly invitation to go sight-seeing." Serena said.
"You, my dear, did not read it between the lines. Ahem..ahem...ahem.... I _Really_ enjoy your company and Till we_meet_again." He really likes you!" Mina told her.
"He doesn't even know me!" Serena said getting a little aggrevated.
Mina shook her head and said, "You'll see."
"And just when were you such an expert at these things?" Serena asked. "You can't even keep a boyfriend."
"Yes, that is a fact, but that's just cause I haven't found the right one, yet. Besides I've got a feeling about this one."
"Yeah, I've got a feeling about this, too. And if my feeling is right, this whole thing is going to eventually blow up in my face." Serena said.
"You mean you're not going?" Mina asked.
"Oh, I'm going!" Serena answered.
"Oh, goody!" Mina said.
"To tell him that I am not going with him." Serena continued.
"Fine. But you're going to regret it." Mina snapped.
Serena waited by the fountain in the park. The minutes seemed like hours to her as she waited for the prince. She looked at the sky and thought it was especially beautiful today, except for some gray clouds beyong the trees. Suddenly, she heard someone coming up.
"Princess Serena." Endymion said.
Serena looked down to earth and saw the prince with a smile.
"I didn't think you'd make it." His eyes beamed with joy.
"Those eyes, again." Serena thought.
"Are you ready to go?" Endymion asked.
Suddenly, Serena forgot about what she had planned to tell him. "I can't turn him down now. He looks too happy." she said to herself.
"Did you say something?" Endymion asked.
"No. I was just...eh, never mind." Serena told him.
"Let's go, then." Endymion said. So Serena followed him down to the docks where the boats were.
Soon, Endymion asked her about Andrew.
"So when did you two meet?"
"Um, actually. We met a long time ago. We were bethrothed."
"Oh, I see." Endymion said. 'Funny how Andrew never told him about this.' he thought.
"Yes. We haven't set a date, yet."
Endymion smiled and said, "Really?"
"But I'm sure it's soon."
Endymion frowned and replied, "Oh."
"So when you first saw Andrew. You knew he was the_one?"
"Actually. I don't know what I thought. I thought he was very good looking, but that was all." she answered.
"Oh, so what do you look for in a... er.. person."
"Well..." she began,"I don't really know. I haven't been around 'peoples' that much in my life. So I don't know what to say."
"I know what you mean." he said.
"No, you don't. I'm sure you've had many girlfriends and courtiers."
"Oh, yes. Of course." he said turning away from her gaze.
"I'm sure you will find the right one for you, also." Serena told him.
Just then it started to drizzle.
Endymion rememberd that terrible day when the crowd turned against him.
Flashes of the scene began to torment his mind. His face showed an expression she had never seen before.
"What's the matter?" she asked him.
"I'm fine really. Let's get out of here." he told her.
She turned and reached for the paddles when the ring on her finger dropped in the lake. She gasped and tried to grab it before it went in farther, but she missed. Serena stood up and tried to think what to do.
"No! Don't stand up, Princess!" Endymion cried.
"Oh, don't worry Endymion. It's alright. Seeeee...." But the boat began to wobble and Serena fell in the lake.
"Princess!" Endymion shouted.
Splash! The prince immediately went in after her. Serena went underwater trying to shove her skirts away so she could see. Then, she felt a hand on her waist. It startled her and she swung her arms around to break free. She came loose and swam to the surface. Then she looked for the boat and saw it was empty. "Oh, no." she thought.
Then a head emurged in front of her.
"Thanks for the elbow in the stomach." he said as he gasped for air.
"Omigoodness! That was you?" She said.
Endymion nodded and splashed water on her just as she was about to say, "I'm sorry." Then she dunked his head back under. Then she headed back to the boat. But he beat her to it. Soon the rain started pouring harder.
"Come on." he said. "Let's head back."
"Okay." she answered.
Serena tried to pull herself back on the boat, but couldn't. She felt too heavy f rom her clothes. "I can't." she said giggling. "Save yourself. Go on without me."
"No, I can't leave you here." Endymion said dramatically.
"Why not?" she asked him.
"Because I'll get lost."
They both started laughing.
Endymion climbed back on board and grabbed both her arms and helped her up. But her arms kept slipping from the giggles.
"Whoops!" she said.
"Okay, on three... One, two,.."
"Three." she said as she tugged him back to the water. Endymion gave a yelp and Serena got back on board the boat.
"Endymion? Endymion? Where are you?" she asked.
"Over here." said Endymion splashing water on her again.
She shrieked. Then she motioned him to stop. "Okay! I surrender." Then Endymion climbed back on board. He grabbed the paddles then said, "Where to princess?" he asked her.
"To drier lands." she replied. "Endymion?"
Endymion looked back at her and said, "Yes?"
"Call me, Serena." she said giving him a smile.
YEs! Chapter four is done. I'm so happy of myself. Thanks for reading it.
stay tuned for chapter five
