Title: Moon Light Nights ~ Chapter 2 By: Moondreams16 ( Rating: G Notes: No notes. I doubt anyone ever looks at them. So enjoy. "She's an outlander," protested Rankin. "She's of noble blood and you know they never do anything but sit and have tea," spat Orion. "And she's a female," commented Adrian. Endymion looked at his guards not impressed. "I don't argue with the visions nor do I deny their existence," he replied. "She's going to have to wake up sooner or later," commented Orion. "Not with the powder I gave her she won't," said a female voice. A middle-aged woman rode up beside the guards. "And what was that comment I heard about females?" hissed Nadia as she glared at her younger brother, Adrian. Adrian turned red. "Ah nothing Nadia," he managed to say. "You did well, Nadia," said Endymion with a smile. "Thank you, Highness," she replied. "They are going to try to track us down once they find her missing," said Rankin who was always practical and thinking about consequences. "Not in the desert they won 't," grinned Orion wickedly. A soft sigh came from the girl whom Endymion had been carrying. "She's waking up," said Rankin. "And what were you saying about not waking up, Sister?" teased Adrian who received a glare from Nadia. The girl moved a bit and snuggled more deeply into Endymion's arms. The guards snickered and Endymion turned a bit red. "Oh hush, all of you," snapped Nadia. There was silence for a moment. The only sound was the horse's hoofs on the golden desert sand. "I have never seen hair that golden. Just like sunlight on the dunes," breathed Nadia. All of the Bedouin people had dark hair and skin tanned from the desert sun. "Such a treasure they are not going to give up so easily," said Rankin. "You don't have to continue to remind us of that," snapped Orion. "There's the camp in the distance," shouted Adrian. "Shh," snapped Endymion but it was too late. "Where am I?" asked a sleepy voice. The first person she saw was Nadia. "Andrew stomped it into the ground," said Serenity not quite awake. "I know," commented Nadia as she remembered the young man who had been with this girl. "What is she talking about?" asked a young man with dark brown eyes. Half of his face was covered with material. He was dressed in green. A curved sword gleamed wickedly from a patched belt. "Be quiet Adrian," snapped the woman. "Who are you?" asked Serenity trying her hardest to wake up completely. "I am Nadia," the woman said pleasantly. "That's nice," yawned Serenity and went back to sleep. Serenity woke up in a silken bed. She yawned and sat up. She frowned as she looked around. Where was she? This wasn't her room. The walls were a golden orange color and seemed to be made out of some sort of canvas. An oriental carpet adorned the floor. A low table was in the middle of the room. Silken pillows surrounded it. It was filled with strange look food. One wall was different from the rest. It was a heavy golden cloth. Serenity pulled it aside. A man in white sat at a low table studying some scrolls. It was the same man she had seen in the market. She was sure of it. "Who are you?" asked Serenity weakly. The man looked up in surprise. "I am King of the Bedouins. That is all you need to know," he said. "Why am I here? Why did you kidnap me?" asked Serenity a bit more fiercely. "That is my business," replied the King. "That is not a good enough answer," protested Serenity angrily. "Yes but that's the only one you are going to get," he said sternly. "My fiancee will come and get me and have your head as a trophy," spat Serenity. The king threw his head back and laughed. "Let me show you something," he said as he grabbed Serenity and drug her outside the tent. Serenity blinked as the bright sunlight flooded her eyes. "What?" she asked fiercely. "Watch your foot prints," he commanded. She glared at him but did so. A wind came and blew the footprints in the sand away. "The desert is a conqueror over many men who think they can conquer it. It is only certain people who know how to survive here. And so far I have met no Outlander who seemed to fit that description," said the King. Tears glistened in her eyes. "You are a hateful monster," yelled Serenity at the top of her lungs and stormed back into the tent. Endymion looked up to see his guards all smirking at him. "She has spirit," said Rankin with a grin. "Well at least she isn't wailing like most of them," retorted Orion. "Well how would you like it if someone took you from your home?" asked Nadia with her arms crossed. "Are you sure this was for the best?" asked Adrian. "I told you before. She is the chosen one. Without her, our people are going to be destroyed," said Endymion bitterly. "I think I will go and talk to her," said Nadia and entered the tent. Serenity cried softly into a silken pillow. "It was said that a woman speaks her mind is one of the most blessed on the earth," came a soft voice. Serenity looked up to see a woman. Serenity wiped her eyes so she could study this woman farther. She could have been anywhere from 25 to 40. The crinkles around her eyes were not from age but from laughter. She was the same woman who had given her the rose. Serenity suddenly remembered. "You're Nadia, right?" asked Serenity. "Yes," she said softly and started brushing Serenity's tangled hair with an ivory comb. "Tell that monster to take me back," commanded Serenity through more tears. "He's not bad. It was not his choice to take you," said Nadia. "You talk in riddles," said Serenity. "Yes I know. Here take off that dress. Its not appropriate for this weather," said Nadia. Serenity looked down at her nightgown. It was heavy and she was very hot. "Here try this on," said Nadia as she handed a light white dress that looked more like a robe. Then she handed Serenity a pair of loose pants. "I can't wear these," protested Serenity. Nadia looked at her strangely. "Why not? Every woman here wears them," said Nadia as she lifted her dress to reveal them underneath. Nadia helped Serenity into the pants. Then she wrapped around a golden sash around her waist. Never had Serenity ever worn anything so light and airy. "Andrew where are you?" whispered Serenity. New tears streaked her face. "She is the most stubborn creature on this earth. She called me a boar! I have no idea what to do!" exclaimed Endymion. His guards grinned. They had heard more then one of their fights. "I like her," grinned Orion. "And Adrian I prefer you not to teach her any insults in our tongue. It's bad enough that I have to be subjected to it in Outlander. But not Bedouin where everyone one of my subjects in this camp can hear her," stormed Endymion. Adrian grinned sheepishly. "She's quick with our language," said Nadia. "And Rankin have you heard from Jeriah?" asked Endymion. "Why you want to get rid of her this soon?" asked Rankin, his golden eyes sparkled with mischief. "I think you've been around Adrian too long," laughed Orion. Rankin was always the serious one. Orion loved teasing but had a hot temper at times. Adrian was the clown in the bunch. "Well?" asked Endymion shortly. "He will be arriving in a few days," said Rankin turning serious. Serenity took a bite of apple as she studied the chart. "What are you doing?" asked a male voice. "Reading so go away," remarked Serenity shortly. Endymion stared furiously at her. "I will not have you going through my things without permission," he said and grabbed the scroll away from her. "Well what do you want me to do? Twiddle my thumbs?" asked Serenity sarcastically. "I thought the Outlanders raised soft spoken ladies," commented Endymion angrily. As fast as lightning Serenity brought up her hand and slapped him. The cloth that covered the lower half of his face fell away. Serenity gasped as she stared into he most handsome face she had ever seen. Endymion brought up his hand and touched the red mark on his cheek. He looked down at Serenity who was shaking. "I am sorry," she said quietly and turned to leave. "Wait, are you interested in the stars?" asked Endymion as he noticed she had been examining a star chart. Serenity turned to look at him in surprise. "Yes," was all she managed to say. "Come with me," he said and led her out of the tent. "Look up there," he said and pointed to the night sky. "There is Leo," said Serenity as she pointed to a group of stars. Endymion said nothing but watched her search the stars. Her skin was very pale in the moonlight. Her blonde hair looked silvery as if she was from the moon itself. "Look there are the lovers," said Endymion. "I have never heard of them," said Serenity. "Once a young man was riding across the dunes and saw a rider in the distance. As he approached he noticed the rider was riding down moonbeams. The horse was the purest silver. The rider was an angel with light silver hair and light blue eyes. The young man fell in love with her instantly and she with him. He promised to meet her the next night and they would run away together. But a girl from the young man's clan saw this and got very jealous. So she murdered him while he slept. The moon angel found out and started weeping. Her tears became a small lake. She laid down and died of a broken heart. The clan found a bed of white roses where the angel had died. They looked to the heavens to see the spirits of the young man and the angel joined in the heavens. Now they are locked in each others embrace for eternity." There was silence for a moment. "That is a very beautiful story," said Serenity as she found herself getting lost in his deep blue eyes. He took Serenity's dainty hands into his. "You are the most stubborn irritating female," he said. "And you are the most arrogant boar," said Serenity softly. "What's happening? What are you doing to me?" he asked softly. Serenity shivered at his closeness. "What are you doing to me?" she asked. He gently cupped her face in his hands. The world stopped still suddenly as he drew closer. Suddenly he was kissing her. Surges of happiness swelled inside of her. The kiss became more passionate and intense. She suddenly pulled away from him. "Endymion no. I can't. I am engaged," protested Serenity as she held up her hand to show the ring. "Are you in love with him?" he asked. Serenity looked at him in shock. "You shouldn't be asking that!" protested Serenity. "Well?" he demanded. "It's a good match," said Serenity. No body had ever asked her if she was in love with him. "You outlanders are truly fools," remarked Endymion sourly and turned to leave. "I had no choice," protested Serenity. "Everyone has a choice. I have seen you in a fine fury Serenity. You have a choice and all you need is courage to back it up with. Something that you seem to be lacking," said Endymion and walked off. Serenity's heart was racing as she watched him. It was true. Every word. To be continued... So how did you like it? E-mail me and tell me. Smile more =o).