Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Happily ever after? ❯ Just the start of it ( Chapter 1 )

"Ugh, more rain. Not good for your Japanese silks, Serenity." Serena's nurse was piddling over her clothes again.

"Peace be you, nurse. I have but many dresses." Serena sniped back. Her Nurse was being difficult about her clothes for the guest about to arrive. The duke of Galas is expected this very day. Serena wasn't very exited for this has her thirteenth suitor this year; she had had scores more in the past.

She didn't think much of the men who threw them selves at her, maybe acted like they had no interest. Some gave her gifts of plenty; some expected the presents from her. She was looking for the suitor that would speak to her as an equal, not a woman under his will; not a queen to be admired from a far either. Her mother constantly reminded her of the rule she created.

"If you are not married by your twentieth year, I shall choose your husband for you." She needn't reminding. It had begun to sound like a threat on her fifteenth birthday.

"The Duke, he arrives!" The repetitious cry echoed from the gates to her doorway sounded. Her nurse ushered her down stairs, scolding her unconventional hairstyle. She had barely any time to pin it in her usual buns with trailing braids.

"Not even on top of your head. Daft girl. To think, you'll be queen of all England in a few years, unless your sister Atara marries first!

"Let her marry the duke of Galas! I don't want another suitor four years to my senior Nurse!"

"Peace be you Serenity. Silence for he enters." The nurse proceeded to pull her body straight and shove her into the entry hall. Serena stood silently for a moment waiting for her mother to bring the duke in. She couldn't help gasp when her mother ushered him in. His eyes captivated her. They were the colour of the ocean at night. His hair was the colour of the blackest onyx gem. His face was pale and pointed. His lips thin and curved in a permanent half smile. His blouse was black silk, and a black rabbit and wolverine cloak along with black canvas riding breeches. He came alone, she noticed. His stature was a tall, 6'4".

"Please put my horse in the stables." He commanded genteelly. His voice was respective sounding, even to a servant. "Good marrow to ye, Princess Serenity." Hearing her name come from his lips gave her a chill down her spine.

"G-G-Good marrow, Duke of Galas." Serena stuttered out "How be your journey to our fair castle?"

"Please, Good Princess, Call Me Sir Darien. Your roads are fair in England. Not the best weather I'm afraid." He answered smoothly. " Tell me princess," he began after the servants came with tea and left with the queen and nurse. "Do you enjoy horse back riding?"

"Oh. Um. Yes. I do, but mother has forbade me from it while I have suitors in." Serena replied to her feet, for every time she looked up he was staring directly into his stormy eyes.

"That's a pity. I would love for you to show me the fields and the moors on the property. English moors are fascinating, to me anyway. I'm sure your board with them."

"Oh no! I love them!" she outburst without thinking. Then she blushed. "I'd take you but, as I said, mother hates that I horse back ride. She says it's a boy sport, and I look ridiculous in riding breeches."

"Must you follow your mothers word so much? Get changed. We'll go riding in half of an hour. You don't have to ride in breeches."

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Half of an hour

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"I do hope he wasn't forgotten about me." Serena thought as she checked the horses bridle once more after a dozen checks.

"My princess," Serena whipped around to she Sir Darien in a white cotton blouse and tan riding breeches. "You look marvelous in your riding outfit. You put mine to shame." Serena started to blush since they were wearing identical riding outfits, besides her canvas skirt.

"Are you to ride your horse," Serena said gesturing to his sleeping quietly in her stall "or will you ride one of mine?" She then gestured to the four dozen awake horses. "Artemis," She said gesturing to a white horse with a special mark on his forehead "is for a experienced rider, I'll ride Luna. Come on girl." They started their ride to the south and around to the moors.

"They're so mysterious. So dark." Darien commented as they passed them.

"You should see the lake, we have a creek running through it and a giant oak ring around it too, it `tis the most beautiful sight." Serena finished as they sped up to a trot. Moments later they were both sitting at the edge of the lake looking out at the sunset. "It's beautiful, isn't it Darien? The most beautiful sight ever."

"Not quite." He said. Serena glance over and saw him looking at her. Just at the sun the horizon he held Serena's hand. "Your more beautiful than a hundred sunsets combined. Princess, I have found my love in your eyes. Please say the same."

"I know not what to say sir! I have just met you. I see such love, intelligence, caring, and sincerity, I love you, Darien." They sealed their love with a kiss.

* One week and a dozen kisses later *

"The wedding shall happen!" The queen exclaimed.

"What wedding mother? Shall it be mine?" Atara asked in her parents' chamber a few days later. She hadn't noticed the looks Darien had been giving Serena. All she noticed was he himself. For the past week the queen insisted that Darien spend all his time equally between the girls. "Tell Me when my wedding is! Please Mother let it be in winter!"

" Atara, The Duke choose serenity over you, he called you clingy."

"What?!" Atara cried in surprise and anger. "The Knave dare defy the princess. Why did he choose serenity? Is it her blonde hair?!" Atara ranted "Why did he not prefer my dark flax colour to her corn silk locks? Did he not like my stormy green eyes to her light sapphires?!" Atara was unstoppable. "What about my cream colored skin? Did he think I was too weak for him? Did he want the soft tan colored skin of Serena?" She finished huffing.

"Atara. If you yell like that once more, I will send message to the duke of Cranston of your acceptance to be his bride!" The queen screeched to her eldest daughter.

"You wouldn't dare!" Atara spat.

"What is this about, mother?" Serena entered and stood after her question.

"Well Serena, The duke gave me his choice of you to and he chose-"

"Me!" Atara shouted the lie. "He chose me, Serena. He gave me a declaration of his love by moon light last night!" Atara continued the lie. "Isn't it lovely! I'll have the winter wedding I always dreamed of!"

"Atara! You lie!" The queen shouted

"I know mother," Serena said with and evil glare towards Atara. "The duke told me of his true choice this morn. I was about to ask you if you agreed to our union. We wanted the rites to be preformed to-morrow." Serena finished happily.

"NO! No, no, no, no! I am the eldest! I get to marry him!" Atara raved.

"To bad, Atara, Seeing as how the duke loves me. We will be wed to-morrow. I will be A duchess, And I will be packing my belongings and this time next week, I will be heading to galas!"

"He is mine!" she screamed for hours on end until she sunk to muttering then sleep. By the night she was tame and respectable. "I am truly sorry for my completely unnecessary outburst. May I attend the wedding?" She asked sweetly.

"Well, I guess if you behave and mind your manners, yes you may." The queen contemplated. Serena was shocked later to see the short guest list included Atara.

"She mustn't come! Please don't let her. She is a lunatic! Darien you must protest. She was screaming for hours unto hours into the darkness of the night! She screamed for you, my love! She dared to declare you as her lover! Please don't allow her to bare witness. She is a succubus of-" Serena Screeched until Darien silenced her with a kiss.

"My darling serenity. Your sister is sane as sane can be. I am sure she will behave at the ceremony, if she doesn't, they lock her in tower and throw away the key." Darien reassured her, making Serena giggle with delight.