The Cavalier's Serenade

[Tomorrow]

??? Rising from the bed, she walked over to her closet at the far end of the room to retrieve her outfit for this morning's ceremony of homecoming in honor of the return of her brother from conflict along with his regiment, none of whom were killed or fatally wounded in battle. ?



??? Although her father looks upon such deeds as heinous crimes within themselves, he cannot help but look unto his son's victories and achievements as duties in need of approbation, for even though what his child did was amiss in the heart of his father, the intention was as moral as his father's love. ?Slipping into her dress of linen and accentuating lace, she descended the stairwell, unprepared for the chain of events that would be sparked by this one celebration.



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? "... And it enthralls me with the highest esteem that on this noon of joy, we celebrate my son's triumph with a grand festivity, and dare I now say, let the dance begin!" King Peacecraft proclaimed to the congregation--more or less the entire kingdom--, putting and end to the reception and initiating the embark of the solstice carnival.



??? However, the dear princess was not fascinated with the oratory of her father and his junction of interpretation, not indeed, but instead her concentration was vigilant solely on the man the accompanied her brother at the king's side--saying not a word or motioning upon some regarded scale either way. ?Never before had she been entranced with a man as she was this very day, her eyes not being able to tear from the ever-watchful glances of his own, and felt her cheeks flush with shame as she peeked at him amongst all of the other nobles--her crimson and maidenly righteousness appearing her to be of even more enticement than before. ?Her eyes were glazed with an awe that she could not lay to rest while not just peering at him, but thinking of him as well, she seeming ill as she clutched her heart while seated upon her throne in his magnanimity that perfumed the atmosphere. ?



??? What she didn't notice, however, was his constant stare at her also, studying her reactions and movements but not showing any hint of shock, pleasure, or seduction through her enchantment in beauty while doing so. ?



??? As he was dismissed by her brother to join in the gaiety, he disappeared into the shadows, wanting no part of this celebration that his duties had him tied and bound to attend, for people and gatherings were not a custom he was acquainted with very often.



??? "Daddy," Relena whispered to her father, providing her most commendable act of puppy-eyes that would deplore any infant canine to infamy, "may I too join in the dance?"



??? "Of course my sweet and precious child of all, it is my wish that thy shall make merry and find a match that thou may assume the family crown upon my death, for I am old and such an event will be soon, daughter," he replied, kissing both of her cheeks before releasing her unto the bustle. ?



??? As she sought the apprentice of her brethren, she was inundated with the former men who wished her their wife in matrimony and struggled to find her way from the crowd and to the solitude of the balcony where she may address the boy of her fancy. From all directions she was forced to politely turn down invitations of waltzes, serenades, and other romantic queries that she may find her squire, it striking upon the next hour by the time she reached him.



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? "Hello peasant boy," she called to the squire, boldly stepping beside him along the balcony to gander at the stars, which in their mystery and splendor provided a spectacle of glisten and shimmer of rivaled diamonds within their constellations. ?



??? Without even looking to her, he genuflected on his knee--keeping his head low as not to show his eyes and their passion play--and replied, "Evening m'lady."



??? "I have watched thou from my disposition and admired thee from afar. ?I have indeed heard from scandal of the servants who accompanied thee into battle that thou doth were notably the hero in combat with Anarchia," she whispered down to him, noting the tension in his shoulders--no doubt showing his discomfort being with her. ?"I believe, dear squire of my brother, that such bravery and sacrifice for thy princess deserves her weight in gratitude."



??? "Thou art too kind my lady, for I deserve nothing on behalf of obligation," he said quietly, dispassion reigning with dominance in his character.



??? "Oh but it does shy squire, it doth indeed deserve recompense," she insisted. Placing the back of her hand upon his cheek, she commanded, "Arise humble one, there is no need for thy to kneel at mine feet." ?



??? He didn't move from his current position, and only bowed even lower to her grace.



??? "Didst thou not hear me squire, I said arise... or must I believe that this is a direct assault against my integrity, " she rejoined slyly, smirking as she saw him rise to meet her gaze of naivety in compassion. ?"That's much better my darling squire, now I wish to know thy name."



??? "Heero, Heero Yuy, but your majesty you do not have to..."



??? "Hush now," she murmured, placing her fingertip upon his lips to seal them shut, "my charming knight. ?I wish for thee to dance with me and hold me close, join in my passion as I will yours."



??? Pulling her into protective embrace, he began to sway her gently to the flow of the melody which the royal entertainers, Duo Maxwell and Hilde Shierbeker, would evoke upon their instruments of string and woodwind, and she lay her head on his shoulder--sighing in content as he moaned from her breath warming the nape of his neck.



??? They danced in such coils as the sun took his rest behind the chilling shade of cumulus that his sibling may compete for the sovereignty of the night and contest with silver gown in luminescence rather than his golden cloak, and their hug in endearment grew more intimate as twilight and her children began to reign across the Earth, Heero taking the princess into his arms and carrying her to her bed where she may slumber in the quiet of his presence. ?



??? But what these two lovers could not know was that Relena's faithful maid and brother's newly-wed companion, Lucretzia, watched them prance upon the beams of the moon, love shining through both of their elegance and adding glitter to the stars of heaven--looking upon this scene with fear that the princess would earn affection from anyone other than a lord.



??? *Her father will not approve of this,* Lucretzia thought to herself, *and if seen together it will mean his death... and her heart shalt then break without his to comfort her in time of despair. ?I must not tell my husband, but consult the rest of the castle servants to seek their advice on this matter, for with the coming of the night the promise of the dawn may be broken...*



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? "What shall we do my friends? ?If the king sees his only and sweetened daughter with that squire, he will surely kill him, and such a tragedy would break our lady's heart," Lucretzia conveyed to the rest of the trusted servants in the secrecy of the tower. There was a worried edge in her voice, she kneading her palms with her fingers as she accounted for her specter. ?



??? "There isn't much we can do, Countess," the royal cook, Wufei Chang, said as he sat on the wooden bench formerly beside him. ?"We have no influence over her majesty, and when we do, her rebellious nature takes heed."



??? "Besides," the king's jester, Catherine Bloom, said in turn, "it would hurt her even more to part with her love, why cannot we let them be?"



??? "Because Good Cathy," the royal physician, Sally Po, interrupted, "their love means their death as separated, and there is no way we may avoid such confrontation with her father eventually finding of their rendezvous, for what if they would elope?"



??? "Still, wouldn't it be better for them to die in each other's arms rather than being severed for many a year?" the Champion of the Hall, Sir Winner, replied, taking Lucy's hand in an effort to assuage her fears. ?



??? "I must agree with Quatre," Hilde said, "for love is so precious, and she would rather die than marry another out of her father's will, don't you agree Duo?"



??? "Yes my darling, for this has been the only time when actually have I seen her ladyship so full of vigor and spirit. ?He seems though as not to cause harm to the princess, so we should leave them as they are."



??? "How foolish are you both," Trowa spoke among the gathered. ?"Their love must be struck at the sake of our lady, for her life and authority is of more importance than love between another." ? ?



??? "How foolish YOU are master Trowa of the arts," Dorothy, the royal weaver of garments, hissed to the minstrel in disdain. ?"Love is what every woman dreams of, and I would rather die myself than see it taken from my princess."



??? "So be it!" Lucy cried out amidst the discussion. ?"We shall help them conceal their affection, for I know I would not be able to live with my soul any other way." Taking one last breath, she asked meekly, "Will you help or hinder me on such an endeavor?"



??? For a few moments the chamber was silent, not a word spoken amongst them, but as the time passed, Hilde finally came forth, saying, "I'll help you."



??? "As will I," Duo joined after her, nodding his head in conformation.



??? "I cannot help but assist you upon this venture, and I'm sure Quatre will be delighted to offer his services as well," Dorothy replied, Quatre smiling with his consent. ?



??? "Though my brother may think differently, we'll help you as well," Cathy said, glaring dangerously at Trowa that he would comply. ?



??? "I guess that means Sally and I have but no other choice than to aid you upon this deed," Wufei said, getting up from his recline and heading towards the door that he may continue his work to have dinner prepared for the eve. ?



??? "Bless you all, and I will forever be indebted to you," Lucretzia whispered as she watched them exit the room and carry on with tasks as usual.



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? "Heero my beloved, it is in peril that thy be near my side on this night, for my father has gotten hold of rumor to our devotion and has increased the number of guard ten fold," Relena whispered to her lover as he entered her chamber from the balcony, hurriedly rushing into his arms for comfort and his shield of warmth in fortification.



??? "My dearest Relena, thou knowest that a mere accumulation of men cannot keep me from thy bosom," he murmured into the recesses of her ear, nibbling at her lobe and holding her taut as he felt the shutter she elicited from the touch. ?



??? "But my darling, if my father would come to know that it is thee who is the peasant of my love, he will execute thee without any mercy of even a testimony on thy behalf," she pleaded with him, trying to sway them to the balcony again. ?



??? "Then we shall elope tonight, be together always and worry not about thy family."



??? "I... I cannot leave my people, Heero," she said quietly, he feeling the tears seep along his mail and instantaneously turn the steel that glared in the moonlight into a rust of hot fire against his breast, welcoming the cries that came with her love in such conflict.



??? "But I must have thee with me, or I will not last long my princess," he pleaded, kissing the gliding tears from reddening the blush of her cheeks more than already done.



??? "If not for the servants and my sister, Heero, we would have been apart from the beginning my love, I cannot just abandon them."



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? It was in the dining room a few days before, and Relena along with her father, brother, and Heero sat at the table, talking and discussing various political matters over their veal--she and Heero merely stirring the contents on their plates and gazing with such pent up desire at their lover.



??? "How is the peace treaty coming along with the prince of Anarchia mine son?" the king inquired just before taking another bite of his meal.



??? "Matters are commencing without quarrel, Father, and it will not be long before his kingdom becomes an abundant trading province of ours," Milliardo answered back, sipping some wine from his goblet adorned with priceless ruby and sapphire along its trim.



??? "Excellent, and I trust that my authority will not be needed to intervene upon the convention."



??? "Of course not, Sir, it is unnecessary that thee be involved in this clause," he replied, setting his fork aside in frustration at his father's incessant lack of trust towards his aptitude to handle responsibility. ?



??? "Perfect my child. ?Relena," the king looked over to question her, disrupting the mood of earlier premises, "it has come to my attention that thou hast a lover. ?Be this true my sweet image of mine deceased wife?"



??? "Where didst thou come with such hearsay, daddy?" Relena asked, slightly caught off guard by his inquire--trying in her best interest to revert the subject back to more pleasant matters.



??? "Nowhere particularly, my daughter, but I am greatly distressed if this rumor has a ring of truth within its hide of falsity," he answered back, rising from his seat to stare her straight in the irises, knowing her ability to lie while looking onto the soul of another became heavily impaired.



??? "I... I..." she quivered, looking to Heero for any guidance that she may overcome her father's forbearance and answer without truth, for the sake of her beloved.



??? "Pay no heed to such words sire," Lucretzia stepped in, curtsying before her father to win his approval to go on. ?"These accounts that you speak of I have heard as well, from condemned prisoners. ?They shall say anything as to cause hell in hope of a revolt freeing them from their damnation."



??? "Even so my dear," the king continued, "I shall increase the number of guards stationed around the castle, and if such a man be found that comes for her love, I rebuke him to immediate death without plea for mercy."



??? "Don't despair highness," Wufei came in, "not a man will be found in heat with thy daughter, I promise thee this my king."



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? "I care not of their generosity, but of thy love for me. ?I beg thee, come away with me and live forever as my wife," Heero retorted, crushing her to his chest and kissing each of her fingers with a reverence of the divine, shushing her controversy before it parted from her lips. ?

????


??? "Forgive me my weakness my dear, but I should have never approached thee. ?I let my sentiment take heed of my obligation, and in my mistake has come our strife. I must banish thee from my side and demand that thy stay away from mine heart, for with our love follows only sorrow and hopelessness," she sobbed into his bosom, resting his hand against her tear-stricken cheek of rouge that burned with a lassitude towards jubilation. ?



??? "No, thou art mine, I won't let them take thee from me! ?Thou art my heart, my soul, my reason for existence in a world that had plagued me with desperation! Come with me!"



??? "I cannot..." she choked onto his hand, "I cannot..."



??? As she shook her head in conformation of her earlier decision, the blood within Heero's veins began to simmer in resentment and the heat rise past the agony that speared his essence of ardor, changing his emotion of sorrow and disconsolation into that of wanting... yearning. ?A low growl escaped his throat as she stood there in tears, and at that moment he became resolute to take her as his own, his and only his no matter what the cost may be, for his love of her surpassed the bounds of human intrigue and into the realms of a purity in need of perpetual expression and union--his angel determined to show her hope.



??? Grasping her at the shoulders, causing her to whimper in pain and a newly found dread, he pushed her upon the bed--her body dropping ruthlessly and hitting the placid down of gander's feather--and covered her lips with his own, forcing her into surrender with his weight upon hers. ?Hungrily the starved wolf licked at his fondling deer in trembling beauty through infancy submissive as his prey--caught within the beast's claws--and kissed her with all of his lust that he could render to shroud all apprehension screaming in his thoughts, thrusting his tongue into her orifice to taste the sweet waters of her soul. ?Soon his hands worked their way to her breasts, kneading them as the dough of a luscious cake, the nipple as the cherry to top the dessert with a sugary splendor and embellishment, his palms devouring what his tongue could only dream of such sweetness in ecstasy. ?He buried her deeper into the pillows, tearing at her gown and plunging the shreds to the floor, holding her maiden fidelity and virginity as the fair prize not within her reach anymore, but as his own desire of unity... which he would take from her, forever and always...



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? She lay there in the darkness, tears flowing down her cheeks and just listening to the song of the eve--the nightingale's descant in perfect harmony with the baritone of the cricket's violin resounding in her ears, becoming more prevalent with each chord. She was soiled and dirty, the mucus of their bodies' sexual passion glossing her legs in a licentious coat which perfumed the air with sweat and roses of her delicious fragrance, the sheets that acted as the garments for the bed doing nothing to clothe her from his want. ?



??? Her hand extended to the balcony where the curtains were tossed among the winds, the route of his escape, and she whispered to the stars that threatened the night, "I'll love thee, always, but I will forever remember what thou hast done. ?I am thou's, but yet another's will I be soon, and this encounter will be held sacred to my apparition in virtue that thy could never comprehend. ?Thou caught me in thy love, thou enslaved me with it, and now thy hast murdered me through it... my love..."



~*~*~*~*~*~*



??? Outside, under the terrace of her balcony lay the young Heero, dead by a broken neck. ?As he had begun to descend her trellis, the necklace that he was going to give her this very night as a symbol of his love fell from his pocket and tangled among the roses transfigured into petite doves of whose morning dew that would stain the flora turned to tears by God's hand, so it seemed. ?



??? As the wind cried in horror at his deed, the doves fluttered their wings in hopes to call into his heart the intimacy of their love, but in dismal premonition wrapped the chain around his foot, and as he dismounted, stumbled by his chain and plummeted to his fate of death by his own curse of love.



??? Escaping from the stable nearby was his stallion, black as the night that surrounded them, leading a mare whose hue put to shame the milk of the roses into the forest, retreating from their world of bondage that kept them in misery--only to emerge into freedom. ?Perhaps if our lovers knew such simplicity as these two horses, they too would be singing in bliss this eve, just as the stallion's neigh and mare's whinny echoed through the twilight with a melody all their own. ?

</p>
<p>


AN: Oh, very morbid, and pretty long as well. ?Please tell me what you think, because I really wasn't sure how this one turned out. ? ? ? ? ?

</p>
</BODY>
</HTML>


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tomorrow on 2002-06-06 17:10 ]</font>