CHAPTER TWO SILENCE "Is she a good girl?" "The best and dearest in the world." "No, my liege!" Jade exploded. "You cannot take..." "Be quiet," he hissed back, voice just one more slash of black in the darkness. Serenity had turned moon white, eyes widening, yet she managed to fight back her brimming tears to ask, "Under what terms, m'lord?" "A permanent house guest. A companion. I have had no one but my four for the longest time." His voice smoothed to a melancholy note, though it was hard for something so deep to sound so blue. "You do not question my honor, do you?" "One must question, m'lord, in cases such as this," she replied, tone almost even. He felt rage and humor at the same time, and pushed down both. "I understand, Lady, yet let it be known that my intention are honorable." "Then why do you have need of me, my lord?" There was a shuffle, and the form of the Prince emerged ever so slightly from the dark above. "I am lonely, lady," came the dark, dark voice. "I have been without sight for so long." Jupiter thought with fists clenched. She checked Serenity, who was...seemed to be melting. Indeed, Serenity was losing ground. Finally, she pulled out her last argument. "But what of those I care about? My Ladies, and my Mother? They'll be lonely without me, too. And I feel I cannot bear to leave them. Please, m'lord, I beg of you, select something else for me to fulfill." The air immediately went dark and tense, portents of anger whirling within. "Lady,' came the voice, rumbling with the ominousness of a black thundercloud. "Your words were 'allow me to make this up to you. To compensate you...' Well, in return for you trespass upon my castle, I ask for you Lady. For your company. Yet you cannot even dignify me with that!" "I have important duties, m'lord!" "Don't tell me about important duties!" he roared, voice ferociously deep, and almost painful. "I have had duties which supersede every facet of my life. Yet, in that time, I never broke a promise or renigged on a loan given. I never asked for less or a delay. I did all that I could. Just because you're a noble woman, it does not mean you can skimp on your duties!" The force of his speech nearly tumbled Serenity over, but those mad--Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and now Mercury--those who knew how honorable their Lady was, boiled over. "How dare you!" Jupiter raged. "You who do not know...!" "You arrogant clod!" Mars followed. "Honor? Nobility? It's as shrouded as this room is!" Mercury added. "Loneliness becomes you!" Venus snapped. The currents of the room, the air and the emotion which had been dark before, now plunged even deeper into the night. The lit candelabras went out, and a crackle of thunder rumbled. Upon the balcony, the Prince's lips twisted into a sneer. It was not pleasant. There had been moments when he was going to settle on another boon to extract from her. Perhaps just request the lady's company for a fortnight. He knew his speech was abrasive, for it was a test. Had her guard not interfered and insulted him, he may have allowed her loose. Yet their outburst gave him insight into how much they cared. "Put them to the blade!" he cried out. "I was hoping not to do this," Zoisite said, voice sad, as he removed a dagger from his belt. Serenity felt a chill creep up her spine, and turned. Her Senshi had strung themselves out in a jagged line, just in case the time for an attack came. Now, each one suddenly stiffened, and then stood very still, eyes wide. Jupiter struggled briefly until a trickle of blood suddenly ran down her throat, and she froze as well. She now knew what he meant, and turned away. As such, she was unable to hear Kunzite's whispered apology, nor the others soft condolences. Even Nephrite offered his to Jupiter though she had tried to disable him, adding that she would be able to salvage her honor later. "Do not hurt them!" she cried out. "Please, have compassion!" "Keep your word, Lady. Stay with me." She froze, and quickly looked between the two. Tears poured out of her eyes as the darkness pressed in her. She dropped, a wilting blossom of the Moon. "Please," she whispered. "Is your heart so hard?" came back the reply. "Will you allow your ladies deaths because you want your freedom?" "No!" she yelled. "I will not let them be harmed!" "Then say it, Lady. Say it!" She wilted right to the floor, and began to sob. To her Guard, it was like a slash of pain right to the bones, and each quivered to comfort her. The sentiment intrigued their captors, whose cold steel was by now flattened against their necks. It wasn't a particularly comfortable position, nor strategically sound, but it had been an attempt to remove some of the danger. They wondered how close these five were, and sadly, if they'd ever been that close to the Prince. she thought. Swiftly came her response, as Endymion watched from above. Her crescent moon, camouflaged (as usual) under a magical seal, briefly peeked through this cover-up, giving off a defuse golden glow. Though to those behind it seemed as if a shaft of light had struck her, he saw the glow come from her. Suddenly, he wondered if he had gone too far. Yet, the voice was not of revenge. *Serenity.* *Mother? Oh, Mother, help me!* *My dearest, you are old enough now to make a decision on your own.* *But mother, it's my life or my Senshi's? How could I ever choose?* Silence crossed the golden gap, and then came softly, *Do not think of us, dearest. Think of what is best.* *Yes, Mother.* The defuse glow fell away, leaving Serenity dry eyed and calm. She took a moment to regain her lost poise, and then stood. "Yes, m'lord," she said calmly. "I will stay." "NO!" Mars cried out. "You can't, my..." "It is settled," boomed out his voice. "Now, to your rude guard..." "Wait, m'lord! Before you pronounce judgment over them, grant me this: their company for a fortnight, so that I will be able to accommodate myself to this place. Also, if I may, I'd like to send messages to my mother and kingdom, explaining my delay. It would pacify any misunderstanding, I am sure," she called out. "Can you release us yet?" Mercury asked softly. "Unfortunately not, m'lady." She shivered. "I fear we will all catch our deaths in this place." "A chill will not infect you, m'lady. It is an old myth." "I am perfectly aware of that," she replied. "It's just that we're wet and cold, and I'm afraid of lowered immune system response." She could feel his mouth drop behind her. "Did I hurt you?" Jadeite asked quietly. "Will he say yes?" she whispered back. "And not as much as you could have, for which I am thankful." "Heartening, Lady. But I do not know." "I hate when someone takes this long to think," Jupiter grumbled. "I do not want to hold this blade against you much longer, Lady," Neph replied. "If you knew me, you would," she replied shortly. "Please let us stay. Please. We need to, please." "He will, Lady. At least, I hope so." "Seems unlikely." "Must I apologize a thousand more times?" he questioned softly. "Orders are orders. I am sure you understand." Serenity looked up in hope and prayer for so long her neck began to hurt, and she began to wonder if he had died. However, she also knew that one must mull over important decisions, especially in this case. "Yes, I permit it. For the fortnight only, Lady. Then, they MUST go." "I agree and understand, m'lord." "Sheath your blades." Each of the Generals did with relish. Well, except Nephrite, for the minute the metal touched sheath Jupiter whirled about and decked him. "Hey!" he yelled, falling to the ground. "My honor is regained," she replied, and then, softly, "Are you all right?" "Fine," he replied, and she offered her hand to him. He took it, and stood. For a moment, warrior stared at warrior, hands still held until Jupiter dropped it, eyes blushing. He continued to stare at her for awhile after. Moments later, they all surrounded the Princess, who hugged and reassured them all. Quietly, though, so the four who moved about the room relighting lamps and candle holders would not hear. Though the men probably would've done the same, they still felt a little snubbed. About five minutes later, when the Four had joined their Master in the balcony, that Zoisite suddenly realized something. "We don't know their names," he whispered. They all cast him a curious eye so he added, "We never got their names. Nor their ranks. We have just caught five women, and we have no clue who they are!" The others mulled for a few moments, but it wasn't until Jupiter called up, "Do we have to find our own rooms?" that they reacted. "My guard will lead you by light to them, but we first need to ask you something. Your names, if you please," called down the Prince. Before anyone could reply, Mercury dashed forward and called up, "My lord, we request Silence." "What?" the Prince asked. "It's a tradition of concealment, m'lord, adopted when Sanctuary was a rule. Those who wanted protection from the law could ask for Sanctuary and claim Silence, giving false names. It worked both way; the criminal had a length's Sanctuary, and the lord could not be blamed for sheltering someone unhealthy. It has fallen into some disuse, of course, for its obvious negative aspects," Zoisite recited. Down below, Mercury finished a similar recitation. "Great, we need new names," Jupiter said. "Wonderful--new names," Neph snapped, still nursing his pain. "Not necessarily for us, just them. It depends on what the Prince says, actually." "I leave it to you, my Guard. From now on, though, call me Prince while in their presence. It presents a noble front without revealing much." "I had a dog named Prince once," Jade said absentmindedly. The Prince growled. "Greatest pet I ever had," he added quickly. "But, anyways, I'll just call myself Jade. What will they know?" "Know me in public as Kishi," Nephrite said. At Jade's look, he sighed and added, "Don't you know anything? It means 'knight'." "Call me Ryu," Kunzite said. "How clever," Zoisite drawled. "Easy enough to remember." He paused for a moment. "I'll get back to you on mine." "Are you ready, ladies?" Nephrite called down. "Of course," came back the reply. "Look down, so I may present ourselves." The voice was the blond, the Prince realized. The all leaned over to watch as she stepped away. "I wonder what tongue they'll choose," Zoi murmured to himself. Both what were generally called "Diarth" and "Doorh" were spoken widely and freely; bilingualism was a way of life. Sometimes even children were named in both tongues, just to start their language lessons early. "May I introduce Aisuno Kiri," she started, and the blue haired woman stepped forward, and bowed. Jade thought. "This is Kageno Hiko," and with it came the raven haired lady. He looked to Neph, unable to figure it out, yet Neph was looking at Zoi. "Shadow Fire," the man said without even looking at them. Jade and Neph tossed each other looks. "Ikarino Arashi," was the brunette. It made Nephrite smile, and touch his jaw, remembering the definite storm within her. A storm of anger, a fury untouchable. "I am Akarino Aiko," she added. "Love of Light? By God, this sounds like.." The two looked at Zoi. "The crossword," they said in unison. "And, it is my honor to present our Lady, the Lady Serin," she finished, and they all bowed lowly as the Lady stepped out and curtseyed. Quickly, the men followed with their intros, Zoi finally choosing for himself the name of "Naosu," which Kunzite found amusing. "We know each other now," called up Mars, or rather, Hiko. "Can we please get baths and clothes?" "Take them to the Hall of Flowers. Room them suitably." He looked between them, animal eyes able to discern the slight wavering in the air that signaled them. "Jadeite and Zoisite..." "My liege, Jade and Naosu," Ryu reminded him quickly. There was a faint curl to his mouth, which could've been a smile or a snarl. "Well then, Jade and Naosu, you will be responsible for their care. If anything is needed, they will be directed to you." The two bowed. "Yes, m'liege," they said in unison. "We hear and obey." "Then go, and disturb me no longer," he said. The two bowed again and flew over the balcony, touching down lightly near the group. Above, they faintly heard, "Please come this way," followed by the lifting of a candelabra. The ladies squelched away after that, door closing after them. "Since we are alone now, I will address you by your given names," the Prince quietly said, a hint of ice in his voice. "Come with me." The two remaining Generals exchanged a small glance, then followed their lord through the doorway. It shut with a click, and most of the light was extinguished. The Prince's eyes glowed faintly blue as they gestured to follow. Then, the sound of quick footsteps, and the men floated after. The Shadows brightened and darkened depending on the rooms they passed, but they did not come into true light until the Prince stopped, clicked on a tiny latch, and they entered his chamber. It was just a little lighter than the passageway, and made gloomier by the hunter green and black the room had been decorated in. It was essentially bare, except for the large wardrobe where he kept his cloaks, gloves, and riding gear. Due to his composition, clothes were no longer necessary; his cloak shielded him from the elements his fur could not keep out. The rug and walls had no decoration aside from one dark tapestry of a wolf in the reeds, his amber eyes a sign that you were too late. Yet he did not stop in his room, but moved onto his solarium. The moonlight flooded the room, as it somehow always managed to do, casting it's silver onto the three relics within: a crystal table with a golden gem in the middle, an ageless hunting bird with eyes as blue as its Master's, and upon the table, the reddest of red roses, barely opened. They were the Hider's Gifts, the peoples that lived within the forests and rivers and seas, the people of Nature and the Earth. The Terra family Prince was always given three gifts at the age of seven, for it was about then that they decided what could be accorded to the young man. After his enchantment, the items had been left outside the gates, following which most of the trails were allowed to grow over. "My Guardians, we have been here for many years," the Prince began. "In that time, no one has come to us. No family, no friends." He thought Nephrite may have winced, but wasn't sure. "Yet suddenly, on the eve of the Topaz coronation, five women show up." His blue eyes bored into them. "Why?" "It is difficult to say, my lord," Kunzite said. "After all, the paths were hidden, and the gates sealed." "Yet the Lady claims to have opened them, and I would bet she could," Nephrite stepped in. "They all have great power." "Yes, I felt that," he replied with an odd air. "I want you two to keep a careful eye on them. Be charming. Be nice. Offer to show them anywhere except those areas forbidden. And keep your eyes constantly on them. Understand?" "Yes, m'lord," they said. Kunzite added, "My lord, permit me a question." "You may speak." "When will you see the lady?" The Prince did not whirl as he feared he would, but instead picked up the rose on the table. "I am not sure, my friend," he said softly. "I will decide by myself, though, when the time is right. Understood?" "Yes, m'lord." "Good. Dismissed," he ordered roughly, and they vanished. * * * * "This place is incredible. Have I mentioned that yet? In-cred- ible," Venus, a.k.a. Akari, said as she walked into Serenity's room. Her blond hair was still a little damp from the cleaning it had undergone, but she looked spectacularly better than before. "Yes, you said that, Mina," Mars shot back. "Shush, both of you," Serenity said worriedly. "This palace has eyes." "Invisible ones, mostly," Jupiter said, entering. She wore a jade nightdress, and her hair was down; for once, she looked very feminine. She smiled, a little painfully, at their gasps and smiles. "Which is why we should be careful," Mercury said. "We've requested Silence, which is a serious thing. A very serious thing. We cannot go around breaking it just because we're alone. At least, not without permission." "It's a good thing we used to call each other those silly names while we were training," Mars said. "They're life savers." "And not so silly," Serenity added. "They fit very well to the Four of you." She sighed, rather musically and softly. "I will miss you all." "Serin, you know we can't let you stay," Jupiter said. "She's right, Serin," Venus added. "As your guard, we have the duty to protect you. It is what we were trained to do, ordered to do. For us to leave you..." "You must. It is apart of the deal made," she replied evenly. "Serin, you can't stay here with those...those men! They tried to kill us," Jupiter protested. "They were following their Master's orders," Mars said quietly. "She's right," Venus chimed in. Mars looked at her for a second, surprised, but the woman's face was serious and blank. "Then their Master tried to kill us," she said firmly. "That's not right, and this is no such place for a woman of your rank." "Arashi," Serenity said, rolling the name about her tongue as if it were a new taste sensation. "Calm yourself. You must remember that a woman of my rank can no more break a promise than stay in a dwelling below her status. And this dwelling is hardly below my rank. It's, as Aiko said, incredible." "Well, I guess this is like talking to a brick wall," Jupiter snapped quietly. "I'm turning in. Night all." She waved perfunctionarily and headed to her room, a forest grove. "I agree and follow," Mars added, slipping off to her own room, a tropical garden. One by one the ladies slipped to their rooms, Mercury to a cheery tundra, Venus to a bright field. Serenity watched them go quietly, and then turned to the window. She kneeled before the sill and prayed for awhile. Two soft tears slipped down her cheeks, and ever so quietly she whispered, "Mother." From his table, the Prince watched the scene unfold in gold. Sighing, he shook his head, and turned away.