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	      	         -*  T I T A N S  *-
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	   	      Written by Avanla Mireille 

Book Three, Chapter Eight - "Destruction"
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	"Your majesty, the new fifth brigade leader is here." Serena 
nodded, and a man was brought in. He was extremely tall, with silver 
hair and red eyes. His name was Raiden Benaric, a thirty year old
general, and now commander of the fifth brigade. Serena's army was 
divided into ten brigades, the first five brigades part of Serena's
High Council. The commander of the fifth brigade had fallen in the 
Ghaston Conflict, and Raiden was the next in line. He came up to Serena
and bowed respectfully.

	"Welcome to the team, Sir Raiden." She said. "This is my High
Command. Commander in Chief Broc Dunsterk, Prime Minister Artemis 
LaVeal, my first brigade leader, and standing in place for my Captain 
of the Guard Anthony Junao, Sir Laramus. And these three are Second 
Commander Eifion D'Anouheu, Third Commander Dradon Ashur, and Fourth 
Commander Marsi Duvoint." All the men bowed at the mention of their 
name, Raiden bowing at the end in respect.

	"I'll try everything in my power to win this war and win it
for the glory of Alvediaca." Raiden said, his voice almost hissing.
Serena sat up a little straighter, turning on her guard.

	"It's good to have you. I want you to send your troops to the
Circle Pass and await further instructions." Serena announced.

	"Yes, your highness." He bowed again, then left without another
word. Broc waited till he was outside the room to comment.

	"Interesting fellow." He grunted.

	"Keep an eye on him." Serena said, opening a letter she held in
her hand. She smiled, laughing in the back of her throat.

	"What's so funny?" Artemis asked.

	"In the mist of a troublesome war my Captain of the Guard
has found himself engaged." Serena smirked, holding up the letter. 
"Genevieve is gushing over it."

	"Amazing." Broc shook his head.

	Suddenly a soldier came bursting through the doors and bowed,
handing Broc a piece of paper. Broc read it over, his small eyes
growing large.

	"Broc?" Serena asked.

	"Endymion's destroyed the bridges between our countries." He
announced, the room at once erupting with surprised murmurs. However, 
Serena sat quietly, chewing on the tip of her nail. She laughed ironically,
getting the attention of her High Council. 

	"Serena?" Broc asked carefully. Serena stood up walking down the
steps, laughing all the while. They stared after her, as she left them
behind.

	As soon as she was out of the room she abruptly stopped her
laughing and ran through the palace, ending up in the cathedral. It was
a high domed sanctuary, with great oak pews going up to the high
platform. Serena ran to the front and collapsed in front of the pulpit,
behind it a great golden cross spanning the back of the cathedral. From
it hung a purple banner, draped over the arms, and covered with 
inscribed golden words of Hebrew. Serena looked up at it shortly, before
burrowing her heads in her hands.  

	"Why is this happening to me!" She cried loudly, her hair falling
out of place. "I don't want this anymore! I can't take it!"

	She had not dared cry since that day her parents had been
mercilessly disturbed from their graves. She hadn't willed to break. But
that was almost seven years ago, and now all her frustrations seemed 
just too much. 

	"I'm twenty-six, and already broken." She wiped away her tears
roughly, looking down at the stone ground. "I'm an empress, I'm a saint,
I'm a mother, but I forget who I really am. Who am I?!"

	"Mommy?" She turned around quickly, to see her six-year old
son standing behind her, a surprised expression on his small features.
"Why are you crying?"

	"Oh Cairan, come here." He bid to her request, and she enveloped
him in her arms. She kissed the top of his head, breathing in his sweet
smell. She pulled away shortly, wiping away the remaining tears. She
smiled at him, outlining his face.

	"Sometimes, you need to cry, even if it isn't the most manly
thing to do." She smirked and tickled him, his small laugh ringing
through the cathedral.

	"Are you crying about daddy?" He asked, and she shot her head
up.

	"Daddy?" She repeated, and after a moment shook her head. "No, 
just, mommy has been having a hard day." She said. He shook his head, 
looking down at the ground in contemplation.

	"Will I ever get to see my dad?" He questioned, and Serena
sighed.

	"Someday I hope, when things calm down and you're a little bit
older." She replied, and he nodded. He was wise for a little boy, and
Serena saw how he would grow up to be a powerful emperor, and if she
could help it, a kind one as well.

	"There you are." Said a relieved voice. Serena turned around
to see her High Council, and she stood up, brushing off her cream dress.
"Are you alright?"

	"Yes Artemis, I'm fine." She sighed, running her hands through
Cairan's plush hair.

	"What should we do about the bridges?" Broc asked, and Serena
looked down to her son. 

	"Eifion, please take Cairan back to his room." Serena asked,
and Eifion nodded, taking Cairan's hand.

	"Let's go little prince." Eifion said, taking him out of the
cathedral.

	"Well?" Artemis pressed, as soon as Eifion shut the door behind
them. Serena walked around, her hands clasped together across her 
mouth.

	"Why do I have to think of everything? *You're* my High Council,
that's what you're for!" She exclaimed, and they looked at each other.

	"If it were up to me I'd just send a human wave into that
country and wipe everything out, like an out of control fire." Broc
announced, shaking his great beard.

	"That's it." Serena snapped her fingers. "We'll burn his crops,
and when the dry season comes around, we'll shut the dam so he doesn't
get any water."

	"Isn't that a little too much?" Drador commented.

	"It's never too much when you're at war." Serena shook her head,
walking past them. "Do it."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	"AH!" A chair went slamming into a wall, splintering to smaller
pieces, and crashing to the marble floor below. Endymion screamed again,
grabbing at his hair. His generals watched in fear, as their king 
rampaged through the room. 

	"Endymion-" Kunzite tried to speak.

	"She infuriates me!" He pushed over a table, the papers flying
in the air.

	"Endymion!" Kunzite grabbed him by the shoulders, yanking
him around. "Calm down!"

	"It's a little hard to calm down when over half of your crops
have been destroyed by someone you thought you were destined to be with
for the rest of your life!" He shouted, shrugging Kunzite's hands off 
violently. He sighed, shoving himself down on the only unbroken chair.

	An intense silence followed, as they all just watched Endymion
cradle his head in his hands. Kunzite kneeled before him, propping an 
elbow upon his knee.

	"Endymion." He said softly, getting an agitated sigh from 
Endymion. He looked up, pushing back his hair. "Your people need you,
you're the king."

	"I know, stop reminding me." He scowled, rubbing his eyes. "We
strike back, burn her fields, destroy as much land as we possibly can.
I want you to do whatever you can and cause as much mayhem in Alvediaca.
I don't care what you do, just do something."

	"Yes Sire." Nephlite nodded, tapping Kunzite on the shoulder.
Kunzite nodded, standing up.

	"Let's go." He said, and they filed out of the room. Endymion
looked out the window, seeing a burnt black field from his view.

	"It's too far to turn back now, you know that Serena, don't you?"
He whispered softly. "I'm sorry Serena, my love."



	"He's what?!"

	"He's burnt the harvest fields, and sixteen of our border
villages. Luckily most people moved out when the war was started." 
Artemis informed. "He's raising his armies, and it looks like they're
headed for the valley."

	"The valley's 13 miles from the palace." Laramus said.

	"Too close for comfort." Eifion shook his head.

	"I want my children out of here, on the next boat to Deline,
and when it returns I want Anthony standing on its deck. I don't want
Endymion in a ten mile radius of my children. Get a boat ready now."
Serena commanded. "I want the sixth and seventh brocades to confront
Endymion's men in the valley. If he wants to fight in my land, then
let's use it against him."

	"Yes, your highness." They bowed, setting to work. 

	"Your majesty, when do you want the boat to leave?" Artemis
asked, and she looked up at him.

	"Tonight."



	"Mama!" Caitriona cried, as they walked across the dock. "Mama
please don't make me go!"

	"Please Caitriona, you're not safe here." Serena said, kneeling
down on the ramp. "You have to go."

	"But-but I don't want to leave!" The young princess cried, her
blue eyes dripping with tears.

	"Sweetheart." Serena sniffed, enveloping her in a hug. "Everything
will be alright. You won't be gone forever, I promise." She turned to
Cairan, and wrapped her arm around him.

	"You take care of your sister, do you hear me?" She kissed their
foreheads, wiping away betraying tears.

	"No mama please!" Caitriona begged. Her brother took her hand, 
lightly tugging her up the ramp.

	"Come on Cat, it'll be like a little vacation." He said, and
Serena smiled at him. 

	"Goodbye my darlings." She blew them a kiss and stood up as they
jumped down onto the deck. From the dock Serena watched as the ship 
pulled away and into the murky darkness. She put a hand over her mouth,
stifling her cries.

	"It's time Endymion." She whispered to herself. "Let the pain 
begin." 

	"Your majesty." Eifion called. She nodded, following them
back to the carriage.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	The battle at the valley took place ten days later, and it was 
just the beginning. At the middle of the dry season, when the weather
was its hottest, Serena closed the dam to the river, and in three days
the river flowing into Ielaque was practically empty. With half of his
fields burnt, and his main water supply cut off, plus his allies no
longer his allies, Endymion had no where to turn.

	But the hate for Serena ran strong in the veins of the Ielaquians,
and they fought back Serena's forces for four more years. In that 
allotted time, Endymion destroyed the dam, flooding Serena's lands and
restoring his water supply, and managed to destroy twelve of Serena's
fighter ships with his power fleet. But Endymion knew he didn't have 
much time left, and Serena knew it too. 


	"Your ladyship." Setsuna looked up from feeding her son Lianar,
who was born a year ago. The servant bowed, then motioned towards the
door. "There's a man here, asking for Lady Mina."

	"Here, take Lianar." Setsuna handed him over, and walked towards
one of the exits. She opened the door, to find Kunzite shrouded in the 
blackness of night. "Kunzite, what are you doing here?"

	"I came to see Mina." He said, and she let him step inside.

	"You shouldn't be here, it's too dangerous now." She shook her
head.

	"I know, I just-I had to see her." He shook his head. "Please."

	"Wait here." Setsuna sighed, walking down the hall. Minutes later
Mina came running down the hall launched herself into his arms. They 
embraced for a long time, Mina silently crying into his chest.

	"You really shouldn't be here." She said, looking up at him.
"If someone finds you out, they'll kill you."

	"Well I won't let anyone find me." He smiled, kissing her. 

	"Daddy!" Diavian ran into his father's leg, his little sister
not far behind. Kunzite knelt down and embraced his two children, kissing
his daughter's forehead.

	"How much you've two have grown." Kunzite sighed. Serena watched
on from the shadows, a smile coming to her lips. She sighed happily,
melting farther into the darkness and disappearing.

	
	Later the next day, Mina walked into Serena's rooms, a smile 
beaming upon her face. Serena looked up, shaking her head.

	"I wonder what has got you walking in the clouds." Serena rolled
her eyes. "But seriously Mina, he could get killed, I want no more of
this sneaking around. If you want to see Kunzite come to me for help."

	"I know Serena." Mina said, sitting down on the bed. "But he
seems reckless when it comes to me." Serena laughed, throwing a pen at
her. 

	Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and at the consent of
Serena it opened to reveal Anthony, who had returned long ago.

	"Yes Anthony?" Serena asked, and he looked between them. He
approached Serena and bent down, whispering in her ear. Serena gasped,
her eyes becoming wide with shock. 



	"WHAT?!" Endymion whipped around, shock and pain rippling across
his features. He reached out blindly for his throne, and fell down upon
it. 

	"Kunzite's dead?" Nephlite shook his head. 

	"No.." Endymion moaned, running his hands throw his hair. "NO!
This isn't happening!"

	"He was killed by one of Serena's border patrols, returning
from Alvediaca." The soldier went on. 

	"What was Kunzite doing in Alvediaca?" Jedeite said, and Endymion
laughed harshly.

	"Visiting his family." He answered. "Serena has been allowing
him passage to see them."

	"Obviously not anymore." Jedeite scowled.

	"I want you to destroy Serena's home village, and kill as many
people in your path as you can." Endymion ordered, and the generals
stared at each other.

	"But Sire-"

	"DO IT!" He exclaimed, and without another word they bowed and
left. Endymion moaned, putting his head in his hands. 


	Serena exited Mina's room, wiping away her tears. Her High
Council stood waiting for her, and she looked up at them.

	"Who killed Kunzite?" She asked.

	"Our fifth border patrol, a lieutenant named Marcus." Laramus
answered. Serena crossed her arms, and massaged the bridge of her nose.

	"Strip him of his rank and send him home." Serena said. "Make
sure they know they're not allowed to mercilessly kill high commanders
anymore. It's against the conducts of war."

	"Personally, should there BE any conducts in war?" Raiden said.
"It is war."

	"And this is MY country." Serena snapped back. "Remember that."

	"Yes, your highness." He bowed his head.

	"Your majesty!" A guard came running down the hall, and stopped
to catch his breath.

	"What is it?" Serena asked.

	"Endymion's invaded near where the Golden Bridge once spanned.
I don't know how he got over the river but he's destroyed your home
village, and killed everyone there!"

	The world stood still for a moment, reality catching up with 
her. Broc cursed Endymion's name, throwing his fists against the wall.
Serena stood there, looking blindly in front of her.

	"That is it." She said, and they all looked at her. "I want all
ten brocades in Ielaque by tomorrow for a full counter attack. We end
this now."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	Serena stepped out of her bathroom, a dark green robe wrapped
around her, and her long hair wet, and almost touching the ground. Even
now her armies were advancing towards Ielaque, and no doubtedly 
Endymion was raising up his mighty army against her. Serena knew she
had him outnumbered, but it didn't matter. Ielaquians were stronger,
and no matter what skill her soldiers had, sometimes brute strength
won out. It was an even battle, and Serena knew the winning would come
slim. But she still had a card up her sleeve.

	She went to her vanity, and picked up a comb, running it through
her long hair. She looked in her reflection, her eyes reflecting red
by the light from her candles. 

	Suddenly someone grabbed her from behind, and with a gasp the
comb clattered to the floor. An arm wrapped around her throat, a knife
in the hand, and the cold barrel of a gun rested against her temple.

	"Scream, I'll kill you." A voice whispered in her ear, a very
familiar voice. It laughed, sending chills down her spin. 

	"Who are you?" Serena asked unsteadily. It moved, a shadow of
a profile appearing behind her. 

	"Don't you recognize my voice?" It chuckled. "How soon one can
forget the plagues of their pasts." A face melted half-way out of the
shadows, and Serena almost screamed, her heart beginning to beat fiercely.

	"R-Rosmund." She choked out, and he nodded, smirking evilly.
	
	"The one and only." He toyed.

	"Endymion told me you were dead." She said.

	"Endymion was lying." He shrugged. "Trying to protect you from
the awful truth."

	"So, it was you that night, it was you I saw." She stuttered,
and he nodded obligingly. "How did you get in my palace?"

	"Why, by the secret elevator of course. The one you must have
taken that night when I took over Alvediaca. The night I killed your
family right before your eyes." He whispered in her ear, and she clamped
her eyes shut. He put his gun away in its holster, and with his now free
hand combed through her hair.

	"You look just like her," He said. "Your mother that is. She
was beautiful, and I loved her."

	"Then you wouldn't have killed her."

	"That was out of my hands." He said, taking a piece of her hair
and smelling it. "But now, I have you."

	"You'll never have me." She sneered. He quickly turned her around
in his embrace, shoving her against the vanity. Serena saw his full
face, and let out a gasp.

	"My dear little princess, you've been playing into my hands
since before this war started. Who do you think was sabotaging your
villages, and who do you think had Elaina killed, and had your family 
dug up from the ground? That was all me, I started this war. Tomorrow
you and Endymion will have your final battle, and whoever wins will be 
the victor of all. I've been having you closely watched by my spy
Raiden, I know your little secret."

	"My little secret?" Serena said, after registering what he had
just said to her.

	"Your two little secrets actually." He breathed against her
skin. "Endymion knows about his children now, and more rage fills his
heart. He will not stop until you are destroyed." Serena pulled in his
grip, but he just held her tighter.

	"Rosmund, this isn't over between us." Serena said through her
teeth. He smirked, laughing in the back of his throat. Slowly he brought
his hand to her chest, outlining the V the robe made. She squirmed,
trying to back out of his reach, but he just pulled her closer.

	"Of course not." Roughly he crashed his lips against hers, and
she squealed. He pulled away, smirking. "Tomorrow when you two are done
destroying each other, I will finish you both. Goodnight, little princess."

	He hit her over the head with the end of his knife, and she
fell limp in his arms. He carried her over to the bed, and for a few
moments outlined the contours of her face. He brought his lips down
upon hers for a short kiss, before vanishing again into the shadows of
the night.
	
	"Goodnight."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	A deep mist covered the battlefield, the sun barely shinning
through. The whole atmosphere was filled with tension, as more than
500 yards away from each other the line of the two mightiest armies on 
the earth waited in stillness. The horses neighed, and the swords and
armor clanked, but other than that it was virtually quiet. On the
Ielaquian side Endymion sat on his high stallion, looking across the
field. Nephlite, Zoycite, and Jedeite spanned down the line of his men,
and he looked at each other them briefly.

	On the Alvediacian side, Broc, Anthony, and the brocade leaders
awaited silently. Broc looked over to Anthony, who smiled nervously.

	"I've just been engaged, what if I don't return to her?" Anthony
said.
	
	"The same thing happened to Serena and my son." Broc said. "He
went to war and didn't come back. But she remembers him, she loves him
deep inside somewhere. He's very much a part of her, and always will be."

	"But that's the thing, I don't want her to hurt because I'm gone."
Anthony said, and Broc looked over at him.

	"Then don't go anywhere." He patted him on the shoulder, as
Laramus galloped up.

	"Everything's ready sir." He announced, and Broc nodded.

		
	"This is it Sire, no turning back." Nephlite said.

	"I know dear friend." Endymion nodded. "This is how it must end.
For Kunzite, for our pride, and for my children, who I will win."

	"How do we know that's the truth? How can we trust Rosmund?"
Nephlite asked.

	"For once in his life I know he's not lying. We've had a spy
watching Alvediaca from inside, a man named Raiden. He's the fifth
brigade leader of her army, and will be a very big help to us. He brought
this, a portrait of them." Endymion handed him the drawing, and Nephlite
looked between the two twins and their father. 

	"So it is true. She's been keeping something like this a secret
for this long? Do you know their names?" Nephlite asked, and Endymion
was quiet for a moment.

	"No, but I intend to find out."


	Serena raced on her horse, a trail of guards trying to keep up.
She was many, many miles from the fighting area, and prayed with all 
her might she would get there in time.

	'I must stop this.' She thought, pushing Claudissa harder.

	She arrived in the midst of the fighting, when it was at its
worst. The field was covered in black and silver, the men looking like
a swarm of locusts from where she sat. She couldn't tell who was
winning, but many men were fallen from both sides.

	'I must get down there.' She kicked her horse, and against the
protests of her guards flew down towards the battle. Serena pulled out
her sword and with the help of her guards cut through the crowd, and
finally set eyes upon Broc.

	"Broc!" She called out with all her might, and he turned around,
surprise reaching over his features.

	"Serena what are you doing here?! It's too dangerous!" He
yelled at her, and she jumped down from her horse.

	"We have to stop fighting! It's a trap, this whole war is a trap!"
She said, and he cupped his ear.

	"What!" He yelled.
	
	"It's a tr-" She stopped short, hearing something above all the
fighting. "What is that humming noise?" They both looked up, to see
a swarm of arrows descending upon them all.

	"Empress! COVER!" Broc yelled, and with his shield protected
them both. They rained down upon both armies, killing hundreds of men
in one wave. Another one cascaded down upon them, followed by another.
Broc peaked his head from under the shield, just in time to see a wave
of fighters coming over the hill. "What is this!"

	Endymion looked up, seeing his cousin's uniformed men coming
upon both his and Serena's armies. There were more of them then what was
left of Serena and his armies.

	"ROSMUND!" He shouted, enraged.

	Serena heard Endymion shout Rosmund's name, and looked over
the crowd to finally spot him. 

	"Endymion.." She said under her breath.

	Rosmund's men came down upon them hard, slashing through their
tired armies with ease. It wasn't long before Rosmund and Endymion stood
face to face.

	"I told you, you wouldn't see me alive, again." Rosmund sneered.
Their swords clashed, Endymion fighting with all his rage. But he was
fatigued, and soon was on his knees before his cousin, staring at the
end of his sword. Rosmund laughed, shaking his head. "And like I told 
the Empress, I started this war, and I shall end it." 

	"You killed her, didn't you? You killed Elaina!"

	"Not without the help of Lord General Jedeite."

	"Jedeite?! Endymion exclaimed, unbelieving.

	"Oh he did it with reasonable cause. He wanted you to be
happy with your one true love, I just took it a step farther with
the sword." Rosmund chuckled.

	"I will own this whole entire continent, no one can stop me 
now." He raised his sword to deliver the death blow, and Endymion 
turned his head away. "Ah!"

	Endymion looked up to see a sword coming through Rosmund's
chest, blood pouring onto his gray uniform. It pulled out with a 
disgusting sound, and Rosmund staggered around, to find blue eyes 
blazing into his. Serena smirked, dropping the red colored sword.

	"Now it's over Rosmund." She said, and watched as he fell to
the ground. Endymion looked up at Serena, their eyes locking, words
being sent without sound. A horn blew in the distance, and they watched
as another wave of men in light blue uniforms attacked Rosmund's men.

	"Ovcredai." Serena said, turning back towards Endymion. "I 
always have a back up plan." She held out her hand to him, and he let
her help him up. They watched as the remainder of their two armies
fought together with Ovcredai, and beat Rosmund's men back.
	
	"He did it all, he started this war, this bloody war." Serena
shook her head.

	"I should've saw it coming." Endymion sighed. "I could've
stopped this."

	"We'll never know now." They looked at each other, as the 
victory horn echoed through the air.

	"What are their names?"

	"Who?"

	"Our children." Serena gulped, looking down at the ground for
a second. She looked back into his eyes, sighing.

	"Cairan and Caitriona." She replied, and he nodded, dropping
his head.

	"Your highness, Rosmund's men are defeated." Anthony came up,
an arrow wound to his arm.

	"Are you all right Anthony?" Serena asked, and he nodded.

	"Yes, I'm fine. We lost our seventh, and ninth brocade leaders,
plus Raiden." He said.

	"Doesn't matter." Serena shook her head, looking up at Endymion.
"He was a traitor."

	Jedeite came up, along with Nephlite, Zoycite, and Broc. Endymion
looked at Jedeite, hurt filled in his eyes.

	"It seems we have a lot of traitors walking around." He said,
and Jedeite hung his head in shame.

	"What do we do next?" Broc asked, looking between Serena and
Endymion. The two looked at each other, wanting inside to run into each
other's arms and never let go. But reality and circumstance stood in
the way, and always would.

	"We walk away." Serena finally said. Endymion looked at her a 
moment longer, different emotions churning through his body. After a 
long quiet moment he nodded, and Serena and her men started to
walk away. But she stopped, turning around to look at Endymion once
more. Her eyes begged him, pleaded with him to stop her, but when he
just stood there she sighed, letting one tear escaped her eye. 

	So with that, the two countries walked away from each other,
into the mist from where they sprung.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-