Of Love and Duty
-by: the Yarnspinner-
the_yarnspinner@yahoo.com
A Sekkushiaru Roman
featuring characters from the anime "Sailor Moon"> Chapter 19 - In the Hands of the Gods <
A large fire burned on the high altar of the grand temple. A lone trumpet blew a plaintive call, bringing the assembled crowd to its feet. A single torchbearer marched down the broad aisle, followed by a flagbearer carrying the royal banner of Venus bordered in gray. Four members of the Royal Guard in ceremonial uniforms wheeled in the royal casket, which bore King Philos' seal imprinted on the polished black exterior. Immediately behind the casket marched the regent, Princess Mina, dressed in gray. Following Mina was Queen Ardora, also in gray. The queen was walking, but a Royal Guard walked with her, providing a supporting hand. Leaders of the parliament and senior members of the royal household brought up the rear of the procession.
Seated at the front, just below the altar, were visiting dignitaries, including royalty from most of the worlds. Mina and Ardora took their seats, while the casket stopped at the base of the steps to the altar. The torchbearer and flagbearer stood on either side.
"Who approaches?" the chief priest called, standing at the top of the steps.
"His royal majesty, the co-regent of Venus!" the ranking guard answered.
"We know him not!" the priest responded. "Who approaches?"
"A noble son of the house of Temon!" the guard answered.
"We know him not!" the chief priest declared again. "Who approaches?"
"Philos, a poor sinner who begs the gods' mercy for passage to the next life," the guard said.
Silence hung over the chamber for long moments.
The chief priest motioned to the guards. "Bring him here that we and all here assembled may join in pleading for him."
The casket was raised to the altar level, where the priests placed torches around it.
The chief priest stepped forward. "We gather here to send this man on his way to the next life, for existence is but a series of progressions under the watchful eyes of the gods. Though our brother is no longer with us, we should not mourn, but celebrate his progression, and join in asking the gods that his next life be better and happier than his last one."
The trumpets sounded and a muted, largely perfunctory cheer filled the room. The priests moved the casket closer to the great fire.
"Into the hands of the gods!" the chief priest cried.
Energy from the fire flared around the casket, which glowed brightly, then vanished.
"Receive our brother, we pray, with mercy!" the chief priest called.
"Receive him with mercy," the crowd repeated.
"Look not upon his mortal failings, we pray!" the chief priest said.
"Receive him with mercy," the crowd intoned again.
"See in him, we pray, those talents still to be realized!"
"Receive him with mercy."
"And guide him into the next life to find true happiness and fulfillment!"
"Receive him with mercy."
The chief priest stepped away from the fire and turned to face the crowd. "Our brother Philos is in the hands of the gods. It is for them, and not for us, to judge the failings to which all we mortals are subject. Let those of us who remain, having seen our brother on his journey, each consider our own lives and take a moment to pray for guidance. Let us go in peace."
A lone trumpeter resumed the plaintive tune that began the service, while the priests stepped down from the altar. As a group, they bowed to Ardora and Mina, then stepped closer to express personal condolences. Behind them, Queen Serenity of the Moon moved over, giving both Ardora and Mina a hug. Serenity was followed by the king of Mars, the king and queen of Jupiter, the queen of Mercury and her consort, and King Darius and Queen Julianna of Earth. The rulers of Uranus and Neptune had sent their regrets, and were represented by their daughters, Princess Haruka of Uranus and Princess Michiru of Neptune. The ambassador from Pluto represented his planet. Princess Serenity followed with Prince Endymion and the Sailor Soldiers.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later that evening, an exhausted Mina finished dinner and sat back with a glass of wine. Geoffrey sat beside her. Queen Ardora had retired for rest after the funeral service at the instruction of her healers, while Mina spent the rest of the day in official functions, including a luncheon for herself and the visiting royalty put on by the parliament, and the receiving of delegations from each of the provinces of Venus, expressing the support and good wishes of the Venusian people.
"Good news, Mina," Serenity said. "Your official duties for today are complete."
"That's good," Mina said. "I think I've been run ragged."
"You don't care for being regent?" Makoto asked.
"Oh, I didn't say that," Mina replied. "Some of it's rather tedious, but I loved meeting all the people and hearing all their good wishes for Mother and me. That was really nice... for the most part."
"For the most part?" Rei asked.
Mina nodded. "Well... This young girl came up to me. She said she'd overheard her parents saying the king had tried to 'steal the government', and she asked if that was why he died."
"Oh, gods!" Ami exclaimed. "How did you answer her?"
"I was certainly a bit taken aback by the question," Mina said. "And her mother stepped in quite quickly, apologizing for her question."
"So you didn't answer her?" Rei asked.
"No, I answered her," Mina said. "I told her no one really deserves to die, but that it sometimes just happens."
Makoto shook her head in amazement. "That's a hell of a way to begin your regency."
"Definitely," Mina agreed emphatically.
Geoffrey stood up and moved behind her, beginning to massage her shoulders.
"Ooohhh, that feels good," she sighed.
He bent down. "I was thinking of making you feel much better," he whispered. "Completely relaxed."
"I think I could handle that," Mina said softly. She rose to her feet and looked at the others. "I believe we are retiring for the night."
"Good night," Rei said. "Sleep well."
The others said their 'good nights' as Mina and Geoffrey headed for the door.
"I'm sure each of you will have a good night too," Mina said with a wink.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mina lay naked on their bed. Geoffrey sat down alongside her and started massaging her back, sweeping the long golden strands of her hair off to the side. She sighed happily as the tension began to melt away under his hands.
"I'm so glad you're here," she said. "You've been my stability through this."
"I'm glad of that," he said. "I feel out of my depth with all this royalty business, but I'm glad I'm able to help in some way, honey."
"You help just by being here, and in more ways than you can imagine," she said.
He ran one hand down and squeezed his fingers into her bottom. Leaning over her, he kissed the side of her neck. She sighed happily. He sat back up and resumed caressing her back and shoulders.
She closed her eyes, feeling his strong hands running over her and soothing tense muscles. Along with relaxation, a warm wetness began to grow within her as her arousal increased. She reached back with a hand and gently took hold of his slowly swelling manhood.
He responded by slipping a hand between her legs and sliding it up along the inside of her thigh. As a slight tremor swept through her, he stroked his fingertip over her nether lips, feeling her wetness.
"Ooohhhh," she sighed.
His finger continued to caress her lips, first running over the outer folds, then slipping just inside. She groaned as his soft, gentle, yet teasing stroke only fueled her desire. Her legs pressed together around his arm, while his probing finger slipped deeper into her channel. She squeezed her inner muscles around him. His finger slid in and out, caressing her. She gasped as intense waves of pleasure swept through her. He now probed into her with two fingers, rubbing across the ring of her muscles. Her insides ran warm and wet as her blood came to full boil.
"Oh, gods!" she groaned.
He grinned as she squirmed on the bed, and sank the fingers of his free hand into her bottom. Turning his hand, he continued to stroke deep inside her channel, sweeping her ever higher.
She lay there, her entire body on fire, and completely at the mercy of his invading fingers. Gasping breathlessly, she was seized by increasingly powerful spasms. His fingers plunged into her harder and faster, only adding to the intensity of her body's reaction. Suddenly, her muscles locked up in orgasm, wiping away all other awareness and flooding her with an intense ecstasy.
"You liked that?" he asked.
"Oh, gods. Yes!" she gasped.
He flexed his fingers within her channel, bringing a soft groan from her, then slipped out of her. Gently rolling her over onto her back, he kissed the arousal swollen tips of her nipples, licking them repeatedly.
"Oh, yes!" she groaned.
His lips seized her nipple and he sucked fiercely. She felt raw fire coursing through her from her hyper-sensitive nipple. His tongue rasped over it, then circled her aureole. Her hands ran over his back as he continued to go ravenously over her breast, flooding her with pleasure.
He moved down over her and drew her legs apart. His tongue brushed the smooth flesh of her pubic mound, then ran down over her dripping wet lips. He swept his tongue over her lips again and again, lapping up her honey.
"Oh, gods!... Oh, yes!" she gasped.
He pressed his mouth to her opening and slipped his tongue in through her lips, first sweeping over the inside edge of her lips, then reaching deeper into her.
Her head rolled back and she gasped repeatedly as her lover once more flooded her with such exquisite pleasure. His tongue probed within her, then slipped back and rubbed over her jewel, making her feel like an electric shock had hit her every nerve. A wordless cry of raw ecstasy burst from her.
He stroked her jewel again and again, before sweeping his tongue deep into her, bringing a flood of her honey into his mouth. She shook in a powerful spasm as he returned his attention to her pleasure point.
"Oh, yes!... Oh!... Oh!... Oh, gods!... Please!... Oh, yes!... OOOHHH, YYEESSSS!!!" she cried, finally soaring to climax.
He gulped down the flood that poured out of her. After taking a breath, he kissed her pubic mound, then moved up over her, planting soft kisses as he went.
"I love you... so much," she gasped, her voice thick with desire.
"I love you," he replied, before pressing his lips to one of her nipples.
She groaned as fiery waves of passion swept through her. "Oh, please!... I need you... I need you now!"
He kissed her deeply, his tongue dancing with hers, as she pulled his body against her own and clung to him desperately. His tip slid through her nether lips, spreading her open. He paused for just a moment, then plunged himself forward, burying his bulging manhood deep within her warm, moist, loving embrace.
"Oh, yes!" she groaned in delight, thrilling to the feel of his member filling her up so exquisitely.
He kissed her again as their conjoined bodies fell into a slow, easy pace. The sensation of being made one with this woman who was his soul mate still thrilled and excited him just as much as it had the very first time. His member throbbed within her, where she held him snugly, and their every move flooded them both with waves of purest delight.
She gasped again, clinging to him with her inner muscles. As they moved, she pulled on him with her arms and legs, feeling his shaft moving within her. Her heart swelled with an exquisite warmth as she shared herself with her lover in such a beautiful way, joining their two bodies as one in a fantastic physical expression of their love.
Their lips came together and their tongues danced slowly and sensuously. Moving together as one, they continued to thrust his member deep within her, filling them both with incredible waves of raw delight.
"Oh, yes!" she groaned. "Oh!... Oh, gods!... Oh, yes!"
"Oh, Mina!" he gasped softly.
Passion and love swelled still higher within both of them, driving them on. She felt herself climbing rapidly toward her peak as each new thrust plunged his bulging, throbbing member into her, flooding her with overwhelming pleasure.
"Oh, yes!... Geoffrey!... Oh!... So good!... Oh!... Yes!... OOOHHH, YYEESSSS!!" she cried, soaring to climax.
He held still for moment, lightly kissing her face. With a groan of delight, he pushed back into her once more, resuming their timeless rhythm. Pleasure and love washed over him in equal measure as his member slid across her tightly grasping inner muscles.
She gasped with joy, clinging to him as their motions grew faster and harder. Her fingers stroked across his back, feeling the contour of his muscles and his shoulder blades. She pulled on him as he drove forward, shifting his beautiful warm mass inside her.
He felt her own motions growing stronger as she once more soared toward her peak. Rocking back, he nearly pulled out of her, feeling her embrace tightening. He then thrust forward, burying himself inside her once again.
"Oh, yes!" she cried. "Oh, gods!"
She pushed up through her hips to meet his next thrust, gasping as his shaft plunged into her. Hardly able to think straight, she just clung to him, letting their bodies move together as she soared ever higher into realms of raw carnal pleasure.
He felt a spasm building deep within himself, driving him forward. His shaft quivered wildly within her warm embrace, even as it swelled toward climax. His body locked up, plunging him into her once more. At the height of his thrust, as she cried out in her own orgasm, his member erupted, flooding her womanhood with his seed. He groaned in raw ecstasy as he slowly poured himself into her.
She lay back on their bed, reveling in the feel of his warmth spreading within her. He slowly went limp, relaxing over her. She kissed his cheek softly as she held him close.
"I love you," she sighed.
"I love you," he said. "More than anything."
They lay together quietly, just enjoying each other's presence. Finally, he withdrew himself from her and lay alongside. They kissed again, snuggling together happily, and fading off to sleep.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mina and Geoffrey had just finished a late breakfast with Serenity, Endymion, the other sailors, and their companions, when the butler entered the dining room.
"Your royal highness," he addressed Mina. "Her most royal and serene majesty, Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, requests the honor of an interview."
"Certainly," Mina said, jumping to her feet. "I am at her service."
"Mina," Princess Serenity said quietly, motioning to her.
"What is it?" Mina asked.
Serenity drew her aside. "Your response is entirely appropriate for a Sailor Soldier to the Queen of the Moon, but in this case you are not a Sailor Soldier, but regent of Venus. Thus, you stand on almost equal footing as a world ruler."
Mina nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Serenity." She turned back to the butler. "Please inform her majesty that I am delighted to receive her in the audience hall."
"Certain, ma'am," the butler replied.
Minutes later, Mina entered the audience hall, reminding herself repeatedly not to drop into the normal deep curtsey. Instead, as she approached Queen Serenity, she took her offered hand and bowed her head slightly as a mark of the deference due the queen of the Moon in the order of the Silver Millennium.
"Your most royal majesty, it is an honor to meet you again," Mina said.
"Thank you, your royal highness. The honor is mine," Queen Serenity said, answering the customary greeting.
"I am pleased that you were able to come," Mina said. "Have you had a chance to meet with my mother?"
"Yes, I did. It was very nice to see her again, especially after this unpleasant business. She seems to be doing very well," Queen Serenity said.
Mina nodded. "I am told that she should be able to resume her duties within a few days at the most."
"That is good news indeed," Queen Serenity said. "But now, I would ask a favor of courtesy."
Mina was slightly taken aback, but again reminded herself that Queen Serenity was following the dictates of royal etiquette. "How may I assist?"
"I should like to meet privately with my daughter and Prince Endymion," Queen Serenity said.
"Certainly," Mina said. "The sitting room is at your disposal. I shall have your request relayed to them."
"Thank you, your royal highness," Queen Serenity said with a slight bow.
"My pleasure, your most royal majesty," Mina answered.
Queen Serenity smiled. "You are doing very well, Mina. You will make a good queen when the time comes."
"Thank you, your majesty. But I trust that time will not come for some years yet," Mina said.
Serenity nodded, shook Mina's hand, then stepped back and turned for the door.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Mother!" Princess Serenity exclaimed, entering the room. She curtsied, then gave her mother a hug.
Endymion stood back several steps and bowed.
"Your highness," Queen Serenity greeted him.
"Your most royal majesty," Endymion said in reply.
Queen Serenity turned to her daughter. "I am very happy to see you both." Her eyes lingered on her daughter's left hand, where the Princess' engagement ring glistened. "I understand you might have something to tell me."
Princess Serenity glanced at Endymion, who stepped closer, placing a hand on Serenity's shoulder.
"Yes, your majesty," Endymion said. "I have asked Serenity to marry me. She agreed, and we now request your consent and your blessing."
Queen Serenity smiled at them, embracing her daughter in one arm, while taking hold of Endymion's hand with the other. "I am very happy for you both," she said. "And of course you have both my consent and my blessing. I wish you all the best."
"Thank you, Mother," Serenity said, tears of joy forming in her eyes as she hugged her mother, then embraced Endymion.
"Thank you, your majesty," Endymion said. "I promise I will make your daughter happy."
"I know you already have, Endymion," Queen Serenity replied. "And I am proud to have my daughter marry such a fine young man."
Princess Serenity kissed him. "He's absolutely the most wonderful man in all the worlds... and he's all mine!"
Queen Serenity smiled at them, pleased to see her daughter so happy. "Endymion, I do hope you will arrange a visit to the Moon. I want to be able to hold a proper celebration in honor of your engagement."
Endymion nodded. "I will have to consult with my parents on when I could make such a visit, but I am certain something can be worked out."
"Excellent," said Queen Serenity, stepping forward to embrace both of them.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That evening, a messenger arrived for Mina.
"I hope that's not bad news," Serenity said, as Mina read the message.
"No, not at all," Mina said. "In fact, it's good news. Mother is doing much better. She says if the results of her physical examination in the morning are as positive as she expects, she should be ready to resume her duties perhaps as early as that afternoon."
"That's wonderful," Rei said.
Mina nodded. "Yes. I'll be very happy to turn the regency back over to her."
"So, what are you going to do until then?" Makoto asked.
Mina leaned over and kissed Geoffrey. "Well, I was thinking of going to bed early."
"It is my pleasure to assist, your highness," Geoffrey said, with a grin.
Ryo stepped up behind Ami and slipped his arms around her waist. "That does sound like a good idea, my love."
Ami nodded, leaning back against him.
Makoto glanced over at Shinozaki, who smiled and nodded.
Rei slipped her hand in Atana's. "Shall we, my love?"
Atana leaned over and kissed the side of her neck. "Certainly, my darling."
Endymion placed his hand on Serenity's shoulder and kissed her cheek. 'I think we could do the same,' he whispered in her mind.
She glanced up at him in surprise, then smiled. 'Oh, yes,' she replied, feeling her arousal rising within her.
Geoffrey took Mina's hand and led her toward the door. "Good night all. We'll see you in the morning."
"Good night," Endymion said, as he and Serenity followed them to the door.< To be continued >
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE: The exchange between the priest and the royal guard at the start of the funeral is borrowed very closely from the actual ceremony used when the body of an Austrian emperor was brought to the imperial crypt. Still more to come.You can now find all my yarns at http://strands-of-moonlight.my3gb.com and http://strands-of-moonlight.6te.net.
Always remember, good gentles, that a yarnspinner works from and within existing legends and stories. The characters of "Sailor Moon" belong to others. In spinning my yarns, I do not seek to infringe on their rights of ownership, but merely to join with other fans to spread the legend still further. "The moonlight carries a message of love." Enjoy.
-12.31.2000