------------------- -- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-* -- -* T I T A N S *- -- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-* -- ------------------- Written by Avanla Mireille Book Three, Chapter Three - "Cloud's Tears" -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Through the cool, clear blue water she swam, cutting like a dolphin through the waves. Free she swam, her eyes closed peacefully, her face void of worry lines and a frown. The sun shone down upon the large pond, the mist from the waterfall casting a rainbow above her head. She turned on her back and cut through the water, raising her hands up towards the blue sky. Genevieve watched Serena from the shore, her toes dipped into the water. She held a leather bound book in one hand, and a pear in the other. She took a juicy bite, and closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Enjoying that pear?" Genevieve opened her eyes to see Serena in front of her, her hair pulled up in a high bun, and her head rested on her crossed arms. "Very." Genevieve smiled, reaching into her bag to pull out another. "Would you like one?" "Yes, please." Serena said, and grabbed it from her, taking a large bit. "Hmmm, yes, these are delicious." "How's the water?" Genevieve asked. "Wonderful." Serena answered, swimming away. "You should join me." "Oh no, I'm afraid I don't know how to swim." Genevieve said. "It's not like we have many lakes in Deline." "Oh, just come in Gennie, it's not like it's much deeper than a bath!" Serena splashed her, causing Genevieve to jump up. "Serena! She squealed, and Serena laughing playfully. "You'll pay for that!" "Oh yeah? What are you going to do?" Serena smirked, splashing her again. "That's it! You've convinced me!" Genevieve yelled, stripping down and jumping into the cool water. "AH!" She yelled as she surfaced, rubbing her arms. "It's cold!" "Just give it a few moments, and a few dunks!" Serena popped up behind her, dunking Genevieve under the surface. The two splashed each other, laughing like forest nymphs. The sound a horse's hoofs crashed through the forest, and in a moment Anthony and two guards emerged from the foliage. The two women looked to them and quickly sank beneath the water's surface. Anthony hopped off his horse and walked to the water's edge. He caught Genevieve's eyes, and the two blushed, turning away. Of course it didn't go unnoticed by Serena, but she just smiled and turned to Anthony. "Can I help you, Anthony?" Serena raised an eyebrow. "Um, I'm sorry to intrude on your, swim, but an urgent message has come from Deline for the princess." Anthony announced, and Genevieve looked up sharply, almost jumping out of the water. "What is it?" She asked. "I don't know, your majesty." He shook his head. "Well, please do turn around so we can take a look at this message." Serena said and looked up expectantly. "Oh, of course, your highness." He cleared his throat and turned around, as did the two guards on horseback. The two women quickly got dressed, holding back their laughter. Serena cleared her throat as she let her long hair fall out of its bun. "Well, hand it over." Serena said. Anthony fumbled for the letter and handed it over to Genevieve slowly, their eyes meeting as their hands touched. Serena chuckled quietly as Genevieve riped the letter opened. They all waited in patient silence as Genevieve quickly read over the context, her eyes growing wide with every passing sentence. "Well!" Serena exploded, not being able to take it anymore. "My brother finally found someone!" She squealed, jumping up and down. "He's asked us both to come to Deline for the ceremony!" "That's wonderful!" Serena laughed, giving her a hug. "Well, what are we waiting for?" -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- "Should you be doing this?" Artemis asked as they loaded Serena's things onto the wagon. "Why not, Artemis? It's a time of peace, Alvediaca is fine. I will not be gone forever, just for four months. Everything will be fine." She reassured him. "What about Mina? She shouldn't be traveling so far away from home in her pregnant state." "Oh please, I'm not taking Mina. She'll be eight months pregnant by the time I return, that would be insane. Mina's spending the next few months in Ielaque with Kunzite. He can deal with her in her most pregnant state, not me." Serena smiled. "You will be in charge Artemis, do not let me down." "Of course not, your highness." Artemis smirked, tapping his pen playfully upon his nose. "And take care of Setsuna for me." Serena winked, and he blushed. "You've noticed?" "How could one not?" Serena giggled, looking over to see Setsuna overseeing the packing. "She's been through a lot, just as much as I have. Take good care of her." "Don't worry, have no fear about that." Artemis said. Serena patted him on the chest and nodded. "Good man, now I must go and get ready!" Serena said and walked away. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- "You don't have many warm things, but that's alright, we have a lot of furs to go around in Deline." Genevieve said as they bumped along on their journey to the Northern Ocean. They would have to travel across the strait between their two countries, and it would take a week or more. "You could probably fit into some of my wardrobe." "Oh, not for long I won't." Serena shook her head. "What do you mean by that?" Genevieve raised a brow. "Well, oh what's it matter now?" Serena sighed. "I'm pregnant Gen, that's what was wrong with me that I didn't want to tell you." "But, that's wonderful! Isn't it?" Genevieve asked, confused. "The father is Endymion, Genevieve." Serena said. "Oh..does he know?" "I couldn't tell him after he told me about Rosmund." Serena shook her head. "But he'll know eventually, I can't hide it forever I'm afraid." "I'm afraid.." Serena repeated herself, raising her knees to her chest, and wrapping her arms around them tightly. She placed her chin on her crossed arms, sighing disheartenly. "I'm afraid of Endymion, I'm afraid of myself, I'm afraid of being a bad mother." "Oh don't worry so much Serena." Genevieve shook her head. "When the time comes, you'll be prepared. Just look at how you've come into power. You're the most respected, most feared, and most beautiful ruler on this side of the world, and maybe on the other. You have nothing to worry about." "I have everything to worry about!" Serena yelled through her teeth, wiping her bangs angrily from her forehead. "I just wish I could go back to the forest, and live that simple life once again." "But you were hiding, Serena." Genevieve pointed out, and Serena looked up at her, contemplating. "Yes, I suppose I was." She looked out the wagon window, watching the scenery flash by, one hurried moment after the next. "What do you suppose this life is for, Gen? I mean, it's so short, and then you die and spend eternity in the afterlife, forever. Why would someone even create something like this, if it was only so short-lived?" "I do believe this universe, this earth, was created for one soul purpose; for us to love. Do you think in the afterlife, we will be able to hold our loved one, to kiss them, to make love to them? I don't think so, so this must be what this world is about. Love is the most important thing, the love of a friend, the love of a lover, the love of your children." "I guess that is true. But I cannot love anyone, anyone I do love, they die." Serena sighed. "So, that's why I must stay away from Endymion, before I start to love him, and before I hurt him." "But you already do love him." Genevieve smirked. "And you'll hurt him indefinitely if you don't even tell him about his own child." "We shall see, Genevieve." Serena ended the conversation, resting her head down. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- A few days later, underneath the blanket of a thousand stars, the cruiser ship, Elfien, cut through the waters of the Northern Strait. Serena stood at the front of the ship, her hands wrapped around the railing. At first she had been sea sick, since it was her first time on a boat, but now she enjoyed the sensation. Genevieve and the captain approached her, Genevieve handing her a cup of tea. "Thank you, Gennie." Serena said, taking a cautious sip. "It's so amazing." "What is?" Genevieve asked. "The way it looks like we're floating in the midnight sky amongst the stars." They looked up to see the million upon millions of beautiful stars hanging in the vast expanse of space. "It really puts you into perspective. How we're nothing compared to everything else." "Yes, but maybe we're a bright shinning star to someone else, and without us the sky wouldn't look as beautiful to them." The captain pitched in. The two women looked at him questionably. "What? You never know." They both laughed, shaking their heads. "How much longer will it take for us to get there?" Serena asked. "Oh, by midday tomorrow, or today, whatever floats your boat." He smiled. They stayed up talking to whole rest of the night, and the captain pointed towards the horizon. "This is my favorite part of the day." He said, as they watched the sun come up out of the water, casting everything in magnificent colors. Dolphins jumped in the distance, causing the reflection of the sun to ripple. "It's beautiful." Genevieve breathed, as Serena looked on silently. To her dawn was a painful memory, and against her will drums began to beat inside her mind. "Serena?" She shook her head, turning to them with a shaky smile. "Sorry, just day dreaming." "Do you want to go inside?" Genevieve asked, and Serena slowly shook her head. "Yes, please." The captain watched as the two walked inside, their magnificent hair alit by the glowing sun. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- A jolt woke Serena up from her sleep, and slowly she crawled out of bed. She wrapped her forest green robe tightly around her, and went to open the door. As she reached for the handle the door opened suddenly, causing her to jump. Genevieve came in, and smiled quickly. "Good, you're awake. One less thing for me to do." She sighed, walking over to their belongings. "We need to find you something warm to wear." "You're sure in a hurry." Serena took notice, walking towards her. "We're here." Genevieve announced. "Really?" Serena turned to the door. "Really, really." Genevieve said, and heard the door click open. "No, I wouldn't go out there if-" She was cut off by the sound of the door closing. "I was you..oh dear." As soon as Serena exited her room, she was hit with a blast of cold hair, and squealed lightly. Serena ran back into the room and leaned against the door, breathless. "It's freezing!" She yelled, and Genevieve just shook her head. "I tried to warn you. Come, put some warmer clothes on." Genevieve motioned, flipping open her trunk. "Later today we can go shopping!" Twenty minutes later the two emerged from their quarters, into the snowy world that was Deline. Serena blinked around at the bright, white world, the sun causing the snow to shimmer. Serena walked off the boat in awe. "It's so, so...breath taking." She said, Genevieve smirking. "And cold!" "This is our winter, my lady." Genevieve explained. "It's cold, but it does get a little warmer in our summer. Come, we shall reach the capital in an hour if we hurry. We don't want to get stuck in a blizzard." "What is that?" Serena pointed. "It's a sled." Genevieve explained. It was a white covered sled, pulled by four strong Clydesdales. "Come on Serena, it's the only way to get around here." "Alright." Serena sighed, hopping in. They arrived at the capital an hour and fifteen minutes later, the sled rolling into the courtyard. It pulled up to the gray steps and the two emerged from the sled laughing. Serena looked up at the magnificent stone castle blanketed in white snow and gasped. "Oh, it's beautiful Gen!" She exclaimed. They walked up the steps and into the castle, immediately greeted by Genevieve's brother, and Deline's ruler, Prince Solan. He bowed before Serena, and in turn she made a curtsy. He took her hand and kissed it, smiling up at her. "It's an honor your majesty, to have my wedding blessed by your presence." He said. He was a medium sized man of thirty-four, with light reddish brown hair and humble green eyes. He wore heavy furs, and a large golden medallion hung across his chest, the symbol of Deline carved into it. "And I would like to introduce the soon to be queen of Deline, my fiancée, Lady Isabella." He held out his hand and a graceful woman with white-blonde hair and eyes that seemed violet-blue took his hand. She wore a simple blue dress that accented her figure, and to Serena looked like what a true queen was supposed to be. The three women curtsied to each other, then Genevieve grasped the other woman's hands. "It shall be an honor to have you in my family, Isabella. I always thought you and my brother had something in the making." She smiled, causing Isabella to blush. "Come, let's get the Empress' rooms in order." Solan said, turning back to Serena. "Where are your ladies?" "Oh, I gave them time off to visit their families. They shall be joining us in two months, however." Serena said. "I am quite capable of taking care of myself in the meantime." "Nonsense." He waved his hand. "That's no way for an Empress to live." "Well, you see, that's why I came up here." She said. "Oh, and of course to see you wed. But I just wanted to get away from everything for awhile and relax." "I understand." He nodded, smiling. "But please, let some of my sister's ladies assist you in getting settled, and then it shall be up to you." "Alright, I grant you that." She nodded. Solan held out a hand to her and she accepted it. "Now, would her highness like a tour of my castle?" "Her highness would be thrilled." Serena smiled. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- The days moved on not slowly, but not with sped either. To Serena it was a perfect vacation, and she had so far enjoyed her week in Deline. The people were kind and startled Serena with their tolerance of this land. She could never live here, not in such cold weather. Prince Solan and Lady Isabella's wedding was in two days, and the whole palace was decorated in pretty florescent flags and banners. Serena put on one of the magnificent cloaks she and Genevieve had purchased on a little market spree, and ventured out onto the balcony. It was a pleasant day, the wind not blowing harshly, the sky blanketed out by gray clouds. Serena breathed out, and smiled at the cloud her breath left. She looked over the white land, seeing the capital city down the hill from the castle, clouds of smoke coming out of chimneys. Suddenly however, Serena felt something cold and wet touch her nose, and reached a hand up to it. She looked up into the sky, seeing white flakes of lace falling from the clouds. She gasped, reaching out a hand to see them melt into her warm skin. She giggled childishly, rushing back into her room. She emerged at an exist, and ran onto the field close to the castle. It came down more heavily now, large puffy white flakes falling slowly to the ground. She twirled around, lifting her face up and closing her eyes. 'It's very beautiful, like the white clouds have been broken apart.' She heard Diamond's voice whispering to her and smiled, for once not feeling pain at the sound of his voice. Here she was at peace, neutral, and free from her life miles and miles south. Here she was just Serena, and that's the way she wished it to be. Footfalls crunched in the light snow, but Serena did not hear them, for she was giggling happily. The dark figure stopped mere feet away from her, silently watching. "Hello Serena." Serena was startled and stopped spinning, turning around to face the voice. As soon as she set her eyes upon the figure, they immediately flew open with surprise, and a frightened gasp escaped her lips. "You!?" -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-