Call It Destiny
Co-written by Elysia
Chapter 11
 

After several months of being chased about foreign lands by enemy soldiers, filthy bandits, a disgruntled knight, and the doubts of a fleeting heart, Selenity discovered how much she had taken the word 'home' for granted. 

Just over the swell of green hills where she and Endymion now stood, the castle of Avaria magnificently stood its ground, as if to ward off any evil thoughts of those who even dared to think of waging war upon it. 

Avaria was not a country to be trifled with. 

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Endymion stood stiffly next to the princess, trying not to focus on the breeze rustling through her hair or how the shadows of the glen danced upon her flawless face...

He kicked himself mentally. Why couldn't he free himself of her? This was never meant to be, he had told himself a hundred times during the last leg of their journey. His mind knew that for a fact.

But his body and his heart said something very different.

"I forgot how beautiful the countryside of Avaria is this time of year," Selenity spoke suddenly, jerking Endymion out of his endless inner struggle. "I haven't ever seen it from this side of the castle." She raised her arms above her head, dancing about in the cool breeze. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"I suppose so," he replied woodenly, trying to strike out the angelic image before him but having no luck. This girl really had no idea what she did to him with just the slightest action. Even now, after all they had been through, he couldn't bear to lock his heart up.

Was it really too late for him? For them?

Truthfully, only two things stood between them: their stubborn feelings and the blessing of her brother, the king.

The former was more like a brick wall. 

Selenity, deciding not to wait for Endymion to take the lead, danced gleefully down the front of the grassy knoll towards the home she had missed for so long. The noonday sun glanced off her hair, making it shine like gold. 

"Hurry up, Endymion!" she called back to him. "You've been so slow lately!"

He started after her, wanting to protect her from the outside world, but knowing now that task was all too impossible. 

He couldn't even protect her from the dangers of his own emotions; how could he stand a chance to do otherwise?

He knew what he had to do. Endymion made a vow to himself at that moment, that he would let nothing, within his power, hurt Selenity again. 

With just a few strides, he caught up to the princess and took her hand in his. Surprised at this gesture, Selenity looked down at their intertwined hands, then back at him curiously.

"It's time to behave more like a princess, Selenity. We can't let your brother know about all of our adventures, now can we?" He gave her a slight smile. 

Selenity blushed and looked away.

"I don't think my brother would mind that much, he always let me have free reign to do as I please," she responded, "Although I think that some of the things that had happen breached beyond the distance of freedom he had let me have. But this was not my fault. I didn't ask to be kidnapped."

"Not your fault you say? How about when you made that mistake and took the path where the bandits were?" Endymion scolded her. 

Selenity rolled her eyes. "Even you said you were going to take that same path. Therefore, it wasn't my fault. It was destiny. It's always destiny's fault." 

Destiny, Selenity realized, was exactly what it had been from the very start when she first looked into his eyes. 

Destiny was what she had seen that day, and destiny was what followed them like a shadow as they ran through the trials and distraught. It was destiny that made it so that they were marrie-

But that wasn't true. They weren't. They didn't believe so in their hearts. That stupid declaration meant nothing to him except away to protect her. Endymion was nothing more than her brother's friend who had promised to return. He wasn't someone sent by destiny, but someone sent by the orders of her
brother.

He didn't really care about her. 

But, that didn't matter anymore. She was home, once she came back to the palace, she could part her ways with him, never having to see him again, never having to listen to him lecture about how unprincesslike she was and how she was just that. A princess, a trinket for the kingdom, something pretty and special, but not really.

"Selenity," his deep voice called out to her, as Selenity broke from her perplexing thoughts. "I thought you were in a rush? Come on, let's go. Only a few more miles and we'll be there."

"I was just thinking of how wonderful it would be to finally be parted from you," she responded, attempting to speak defiantly. But her attempt fell short as a dark silence shaped itself between the two as they resumed walking towards the castle together, with less mirth. 

Unbeknownst to either of them, a shadow stealthily trailed behind them as they approached the center of Avaria.

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Endymion couldn't help but feel the reality of her words sink in. Once they got into the palace, they'd be on their separate ways. She will go back to doing her princess duties, marry some prince and move to some distant kingdom where she would pester and annoy him with her immature ways, whereas he would be
gone, fighting rebellions, slaying suspicious men, and then settling down with some country bumpkin that would always greet him as a smile when he returned, ask him about his day, and make promoting comments about how wonderful that was. 

It would be just like he had wanted. 

Why was it then that something inside of him broke?

Endymion contemplated this, oblivious of the group that followed him.

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Several feet away from the castle's entrance, Selenity got a second wind and took off running. Endymion didn't bother to keep up with her this time because he knew she was finally home, safe and sound. As for him, that was another matter...

Selenity burst through the castle doors in a very unladylike manner, as if the last month and a half had no effect on her whatsoever. "I'm home!" she called out cheerfully, skipping down the stone steps like a child.

"My Lady? Lady Selenity, is that really you?" A maid appeared from another room, hearing the voice of her young mistress but scarcely able to believe that it was truly her.

"Miranda!" Selenity squealed, rushing towards the woman. The woman enveloped the princess in a warm embrace. 

"Glory be, child! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you again! Everyone in the castle has been anxiously awaiting your return."

Selenity smiled happily. "I can't tell you how happy I am to be home." She suddenly noticed Endymion still standing several feet away at the top of the stairs. "It's all thanks to him, you know," she said to Miranda. "If my brother hadn't sent him out after me, who knows what Sylathia would have done with me?"

Miranda bowed toward Endymion, a look of deep gratitude evident in her expression. "My thanks go to you, gracious sir, for bringing our princess back home. If it pleases you, sir, the King can be found in the main hall. I am sure he'll want to be notified of your arrival and hear your report." 

She turned back to Selenity and gave her a once over. "And as for you, my lady, you are in serious need of a proper bath. I can't allow the court to see you looking like this! Your dress is in pieces and your hair! Oh, your beautiful hair has so many rats and tangles in it!" 

Endymion nodded his head and set off in the direction of the main hall. As he passed by Selenity and Miranda, who were deep in conversation, Selenity stopped him with her hand. "You won't leave without saying goodbye, will you?"

He couldn't help but look into her eyes once again and recall the hundreds of emotions that dwelt within. "Of course not, Princess. You have my word on that."

She gave him a simple smile and let Miranda lead her away to her chambers.

'If only I could say something more,' he thought to himself. 

But there was nothing he could say now. Not here.

They were no longer within the world they created on their journey.

Besides, what would he say?

'Something to reassure my own worries.'

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After such a warm homecoming, Selenity couldn't help but still feel a looming emotion within her beneath this façade of happiness. She recalled Endymion presenting her to her brother shortly before his own departure. She remembered the moments their eyes touched, before departing, and she remembered how his broad back was before he walked away, right out the double doors.

Oh, she knew she would be able to see him again. But she knew that it would never be the same as the time they were spending traveling back with one another. He could no longer treat her like before, with his teasing, his brash behavior, and his swift actions.

Their relationship was never going to be the same again.

Suddenly, she heard a racket outside of her window. She looked down from it then, as she moved away from the mirror where Miranda was conveniently brushing her long hair, only to see a crowd of men. As she squinted to see more clearly, she saw one of the men look up and wave to her. 

It was Syphis.

She stared at the crowd as they were pushed into the large doors by the palace guards.

For some reason, she didn't think things were settled down just yet. 

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Endymion heard the commotion as he spoke to the King about several of the events that occurred when he had escorted Selenity back to Avaria. Andrew looked more or less pleased. "So you're telling me that Selenity knows something that Sylathia wants? Did she tell you much about it?"

"Not really," Endymion responded. "She didn't tell me much about what it was. I just know it's a crystal that holds the key to determine the kingship of Sylathia."

"Damn." Andrew muttered, pacing the distance of the room. "That's not good, that means she'll still be in danger. She should have just told them where it was and then returned. That way they'll leave her alone after this." 

Andrew sighed and looked up then, "Thank you though Endymion, for saving her. I know that she may be a handful sometimes, but thank you for bringing her back all in one piece. If there is anything you want, anything at all, you must name it and it shall be yours." 

'Selenity.'

It was the first and last thing on his mind. It was the only thing he truly wanted. But he knew it was the only thing he could not have. Endymion shook his head. "No, it was my obligation and duty to do this task for my King and friend, therefore receiving anything for doing it would be an insult."

Andrew gave a loud laugh and hit Endymion's back. "You're a loy-"

They were then interrupted by the opening of the doors and the sight of a crowd
pushed by servants.

Endymion stared in disbelief at the band of bandits that followed them.

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"What is going on here?" Andrew whirled around from his place at the window as a gathering of unfamiliar people entered the room. Selenity, who had slipped into the room at the last moment, pressed herself against the wall in order to watch the proceedings without being noticed.

The man in front gave a slight bow. "Your Majesty, I am known as Syphis, and I reside in the neighboring country. I have a problem plaguing me that I can no longer control on my own. My men and I have come to ask for your assistance."

Andrew looked at Syphis skeptically. "What sort of problem?"

Syphis took a deep breath. "To make it perfectly simple, I seek to gain the throne of Sylathia."

Gasps of shock and surprise echoed from the people who were unfamiliar with the situation. 

"You want to claim the throne of Sylathia? That is no simple task." There was a note of scorn in Andrew's voice. 

"Your Grace, please let me finish," Syphis responded. "The man who currently rules over Sylathia has no blood ties to the royal family. He is an illegitimate child, a half-brother to myself. However, he was born before me, and mistakenly recieved the birthright of the crown before I could come of age."

"That's quite a story you've concocted," Andrew replied, amused. "How can you prove yourself, sir?"

Syphis stood tall now, ready to state his case. "There was once a story, passed down through the ages in Sylathia, Your Majesty. This story claimed that the royal family can wield an ancient magic so strong that it can either create peace and prosperity, or great havoc throughout the land and its surrounding allies. This magic is contained within a crystal that has been lost for many years."

Andrew's eyes were full of mirth as he stared at Syphis. "I have heard rumors of this so-called story of yours. Which brings us back to your first request. Why have you come here seeking my help?"

"Actually, it is not your help I request, Your Grace," Syphis said. "I am here to ask for the help of of your sister, Princess Selenity, for she is the only one with the knowledge of the crystal's location. We discussed the possibility of joining forces when she and her companion were in my camp several weeks ago." He held up his hand to avoid any interruption. "After much consideration, I have decided on a much stronger alliance that would benefit both of our countries."

"And that would be?"

"I seek the hand of Princess Selenity in marriage, Your Majesty," Syphis said triumphantly.

Shock registered throughout the crowd; only Endymion remained silent.

"What do you say, Your Majesty? Do you agree on such a proposal?" Syphis questioned the King, who looked at him with a contemplative expression. 

Andrew shook his head. "I cannot respond to you, it is not my decision. You're asking my sister to marry you; it's her you must go to for a response." He gestured toward the back of the throne room.

The crowd suddenly parted down the middle to reveal Selenity at the back of the room. How had her brother known she was present? She looked through the crowd to familiar faces; at her brother, who looked at her with a questionable expression on his face; she looked at Syphis who waved at her, and at Endymion,
who once again had an unreadable expression.

She closed her eyes to breathe for a moment.

This was the answer that their kingdom had been searching for the longest time. They always had contemplated how to get in good terms with this long lasting enemy, and by her marriage to Syphis and his ascent to the throne, this would have solved it all. It was already a lot for Andrew to let her make this decision up for herself.

But her heart... it didn't want...

She looked at Endymion again.

'Do you have something to say? Anything at all? Tell me, what should I do?'

She still couldn't tell what he was thinking.

'Endymion.'

He looked away from her.

She made up her mind.

"I agr-"

It was then that Endymion's loud voice boomed out into the room forcefully. "She can't. She can't marry Syphis."

"And why is that, Endymion?" Andrew asked, undoubtedly puzzled.

He was silent for a moment, ready to give his answer but not sure how it would be received.

On the other side of the room, Selenity stared wordlessly at Endymion. And it was at that moment that the wall between them crumbled away. She realized what he was about to say.

But would there be any feeling behind his words?

Could she believe him this time?

The fateful words left Endymion's lips. "She's already married to me."

Gasps of shock filled the court. Even Andrew had a skeptical look marring his brow. After several moments of mulling over this sudden revelation, he turned to his younger sister in hopes for an answer.

"Selenity?"

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EA: I must admit that I have forgotten a large part of this plot. I don't even know if what I wrote is even relevant to previous chapters. But being as this is said and done, I'm still happy we finally got this going and would like to apologize for any inaccuracies. My motivation to write has been somewhat shot lately and I'm slowly trying to get my groove back. I do hope you enjoy this installment and thank you very much for all the wonderful emails that we have been getting! Hopefully another one or two chapters before the end. Yay for us!


Ely: Thanks to cherii's persistence, I too was able to get my writing back up to speed. It's been so long! Please let us know what you think of this story. Comments and suggestions mean a lot to us. Thanks!