Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Lady of Love ❯ Wartime Decisions ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Lady of Love

Author: Sailor Memory

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any related characters. They are property of Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation Co. No infringement intended.

Summary: With an ancient enemy coming, the King of Avalon decides that to protect his land, he will have his high general, Kunzite d'Ava, marry the heir to the Island of Erosa, Minako l'Eros. But as all arranged marriages are, those involved carry bitter resentment. But can a lady of love melt a heart frozen to stone?

***

Kunzite d'Ava stared out over the battlefield. The forces of Avalon had won, but at a great cost. They'd lost over three thousand good, loyal soldiers. Three thousand out of seven thousand men.

The King of Avalon, Endymion, sighed sadly from beside him. He felt the loss of those men as well. Kunzite knew that the other three generals felt it as well.

A messenger came running up on his horse. From the dirtied and bloodied look of him, he'd obviously come from the front lines.

"Your Majesty," he cried, "The enemy has been routed! They are retreating! Shall we pursue?"

Endymion replied, "No, Corporal. Let them go. We need to see to our wounded and take the men home."

"Yes sir!" The messenger saluted, turned his horse and took off.

When the young man was gone, Endymion told his retinue, "Come, we'll make for Avalonia. We should reach there by tonight if we push it."

*****

Indeed, the army did make it to Avalonia that night. After making sure that their men were being cared for, the four generals and their king made for their quarters.

Endymion entered and found his wife waiting for him. Serenity sat at her desk, wearing a silver robe over her white nightgown, going over some of the state papers that she had to deal with as Regent of Avalon. When he entered, she looked up and smiled.

"Endymion," she greeted as she rose from her seat. As she came closer, she fought the urge to wrinkle her nose at the smell that surrounded him.

He took no notice of her expression, so deep in his thoughts was he. As she began to help him remove his armor, he began to speak.

"We lost a great many men today, Serenity. If the battles are to continue this way, we will need help. We cannot have such costly victories."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Avalon has made alliances of marriages with the surrounding kingdoms. There is your home of Luna, Lady Rei's home of Marsa, Lady Makoto's home of Juna, and Lady Ami's home of Merca. The only remaining nearby country is the Island of Erosa."

Nodding, Serenity interjected what she knew, "The people of that island are like Luna's people, as well as those of Marsa, Juna, and Merca. We have knowledge of the Old Ways, while Avalon represents the New Ways. For the entire Known World to be united, Erosa must be brought into the fold. But how to go about that…"

"The million pounds of grain question of the day," Endymion muttered, "We've made alliances through marriage to present. You and I agreed to marry-"

Smiling mischievously at him, Serenity cut in, "An arrangement I did not object to one bit."

He grinned back, then continued, "Rei and Jadeite agreed, as did Makoto and Nephrite, as well as Ami and Zoisite. That leaves only Kunzite unmatched."

"Erosa has still not married off their heir, Minako l'Eros. I've heard that they call her the `Lady of Love.'"

"Perhaps so, but you know how Kunzite would take even the hint of marriage," Endymion reminded her with a sigh.

Serenity nodded, "He'll put up an icy front, as though we'd just insulted him. He'll remain that way until the idea of a marriage for him passes out of our minds. But, under the circumstances, can you truly blame him?"

Endymion said nothing to answer the question, as he already knew the answer. No, he didn't blame Kunzite's reaction to such an idea. He had already been married once, and had no wish to do so again.

"Perhaps that is so, Serenity, but we know that the people must come first. What is it that you told me when I was so opposed to our marriage? `The existence of the Royal Families is not to follow our own desires, but to-"

"-Do what we must for the good of our people. They must always come first,'" she finished softly.

By now, Endymion's armor was off completely. Moving behind him, Serenity began to massage his shoulders, trying to take out the tension.

At her touch, Endymion froze. After a moment, he turned to stare at her, but her hands did not leave his shoulders. Her silver eyes still held a sweet innocence in them; something Endymion hoped would never leave them.

But after almost two years of marriage, knowledge had taken its rightful place in those same eyes. She knew just how to get his attention when she wanted it.

Rising from his chair, he pulled her close and captured her lips in a fiercely passionate kiss. Serenity wrapped her arms around his neck to return it, the fiery teeth of desire taking hold of her.

Endymion abruptly broke the kiss and picked her up into his arms. As he made his way for their bedchamber, he whispered to her, "And sometimes, sometimes, things turn out for the best when Princes and Princesses marry."

Serenity merely smiled as Endymion kicked the door to their chamber shut.

*****

Minako l'Eros stared out at the waves that crashed onto the coast of Erosa. They were a beautiful sight to behold and one she never tired of watching. Here in the high priestess's sitting room was the best place to watch them.

Minako had no idea why she'd been summoned to meet the high priestess; an older woman called Setsuna. The woman had been around for as long as anyone could remember, thus why some called her the "Keeper of Time." Some thought she was an immortal left over from the Ancient Times.

Well, regardless of who she might be, she was the High Priestess of Erosa and she had asked that the Princess of Erosa meet with her.

`Perhaps she has finally deemed me ready to enter the Ancient Guardian Society!'

She hardly dared to hope for such an honor. Ever since Minako had heard of the Guardians, she had yearned to join them. She had trained herself in their ways and had constantly asked questions about them.

The door opened quietly, cutting Minako out of her thoughts. In stepped the high priestess. Nodding politely to her, the priestess moved to her desk.

Once she was seated, she spoke, "Please, Your Highness, sit down. We have much to discuss."

"Thank you, High Priestess," Minako dutifully replied. Settling herself into the offered chair, she arranged her skirts as comforting as she could.

When she was comfortable, Setsuna began to speak.

"I understand it that you are to turn eighteen soon, correct?"

Nodding, Minako said, "Yes. In two weeks."

"Good. Then the time has come."

Hope swelled once again in Minako's heart, but she pushed it down as she inquired, "The time has come for what, honored one?"

Setsuna didn't respond right away, just stared at, no, through her. It was as if she could read every thought, every desire, in Minako's mind. She fought the urge to flinch.

Finally, the priestess spoke, "As you know, the Kingdom of Avalon is being attacked by the forces of Malagent the Sorcerer. It is his plan to defeat the forces of King Endymion, kill him and his four high generals, and rule all of Avalon and its allies with Endymion's queen, Serenity, by his side. The ultimate betrayal, as some call it. Where you aware of this?"

The Princess of Erosa nodded seriously, "Yes. From what I have been told, Endymion's forces are winning many battles, but at a high cost. He has even had to request soldiers from his wife's country, as that of the countries of the wives of three of his generals."

"Precisely. If this keeps up, Malagent will sooner or later, win the war and get exactly what he wants. We cannot allow that."

Minako raised an eyebrow, "Forgive me, Priestess, but what does any of what is happening in Avalon have to do with us?"

"Everything, young one. If Malagent wins, he will take over everything in Avalon, as well as everything that surrounds it. Once he has control of them, he will turn to the last place that civilized people live: Erosa. We have striven to remain neutral in the many wars outside of our island, but that is no longer an option."

She could feel her stomach sinking, as if a part of her knew what was going to be said next.

Setsuna paused, noting Minako's reaction, then continued, "That is why the Council of Elders has agreed with King Endymion's proposal. You and his high General, Kunzite d'Ava, are to be married. It will bring Erosa into the war, but we have much to teach them."

Minako stared at Setsuna in total shock. How arrogant she'd been, thinking that she was to be inducted into the Guardians. How presumptuous!

`Marry? Marry a man I have never even seen!? What was the Council thinking!! Of course! They'd merely say, `Tis the lot of Princesses. They must do what is good for her people.''

Somehow finding her voice, Minako asked about the man who was to be her lord and husband.

Setsuna nodded, secretly approving of the way the girl before her was trying to get through the shock.

"He is known for his abilities and cunning in battle. Some call him the `Warrior of Ice,' for he shows no emotion. He has not for almost eight years, when his wife, Lilly suSedio, died. The woman died trying to bear him a son, who followed her into death merely a day after her own," the priestess informed Minako.

Minako said nothing at first, going over what had just been revealed.

`The poor man! Losing his wife and child in such a way. How could he have survived such a tragedy? I hope I never go through such pain of losing a child.'

"Minako," Setsuna cut into her thoughts, "I must now tell you something that only a few people know. Actually, besides me, only two other people know of this. It is a prophecy, dating back to the time of the Ancient Terran Kingdom. Near its end, one of the oracles gave the King a prophecy. It goes:

In the days of evil

Long after the fall of Terra

Four of Five mighty Kingdoms have united

Against an evil magic-maker

But the unification is not complete without the fifth

Only through a General with a warrior's heart

And a Princess with Love in her soul

Can the uniting be completed.

Through them, the five kingdoms united

Five children created

With them, each a point of a hopeful star,

Can the evil magic-maker be gone

Never to destroy again

And thus the peace of the Ancients

Will be known again

For a time…"

Minako closed her eyes, trying to decide on the prophecy's meaning, when Setsuna gave one last comment.

"At first, the King of Terra thought that the prophecy referred to his son, his four guards, and a group of five princesses that they were courting. However, things did not go by the way of the prophecy, and all ten of them perished in a great battle. But in light of present circumstances, we believe that you are the one to complete the unification. Through you, the five children will start to be born."

"How do you know that I am the one that the prophecy refers to," Minako demanded, "The King of Terra was wrong, so could those that believe that I am the one."

"It is called faith, young one. Now, you must prepare. King Endymion will be dispatching a ship to escort you to Avalon once he receives the consent of the Council of Elders. I would estimate that they will arrive in three weeks. You should begin packing now," Setsuna finished, indicating that the meaning was over.

Minako stood and curtsied, then walked out the door. As she moved down the halls, tears threatened to burst out of her.

`No. I will not show weakness. `Tis not the way of a Princess. I will be strong. This is my fate, and I will follow it.

I have no choice.'

Once she had arrived in her rooms, she informed her maids that she had become betrothed and would be leaving for Avalon.

As the servants moved to begin packing, Minako could see the tears flowing silently down their cheeks.

Minako's face was dry. She was resigned to her fate.

*****

Kunzite stared at the faces of his King and Queen. He could hardly believe what he had just been told. Endymion and Serenity were asking him to marry a woman he didn't even know.

It wasn't the fact that he had to marry a woman he had never seen. The same had happened with Lily. It was the fact that they were asking him to marry at all. He'd lived without the woman he loved for almost eight years now, and he'd planned to do so for the rest of his days.

Endymion started to continue when Kunzite merely stood there in silence, but Serenity placed a hand on his arm. After a moment, she spoke.

"Kunzite, I know that this is unexpected. We would never ask you of such a thing unless we had no other choice. And as you can see, we have no other choice. Malagent's forces are barely being held back right now. We need the abilities of Erosa and Minako l'Eros is the key. You are the only one with high enough rank that is unmarried. Please, Kunzite. We need you to do this."

My Queen, how can I betray Lily's memory? Well, the odds are that this will remain a paper marriage, a marriage of convenience. I probably won't even have to touch her. And it will help save Avalon.

"Your Majesties, for you, for Avalon, I shall do as you ask and marry this Minako l'Eros," was his simple comment.

Endymion and Serenity's posture relaxed as they sighed with relief.

"Thank you, Kunzite. We truly appreciate this," Endymion said.

The General nodded, bowed, and walked out of the study.

*****