It was late at night. The stars were not out, and darkness filled the sky. All was dark except for the mere image of the moon light, hidden every now and then because of the flowing dark clouds. The forest was calm and quiet, and the lake was still. Princess Serenity found herself at the edge of the lake, leaning against a willow tree.

She had bright, golden, long hair. It was brushed into what seemed like two balls of sunlight, one on each side of her head, the rest flowed down to her back of her shins. She had light colored skin which seemed to glow a little in the moonlight. Her eyes were a shade of light blue, almost as the daylight sky. She had a small golden cresent moon in the middle of her forehead, the mark of her royal blood and kingdom. She wore a shimmering pearl- white gown, which flowed down, touching the ground. It had a lace ribbon tied at her bottom back, and flowed with the rest of her dress. Her chest was not too revealing, but showed she was of teen age. Her sleeves were at the sides of her shoulders, looked like a small ball, swirling into gold, covering only her shoulders, and letting her arms show her skin. The chest of the dress had small swirling circles of gold, which swirled around her breast, going down to the ribbon on her back. The dress was tight at her breast and the rest flowed down to the ground.

She breathed heavily and clenched her dress tightly at the sides. At her left wrist, she had a gold beaded bracelet, which hung loosely. She seemed lost in thought. Her mind raced back and forth with panic. Without moving her head too much, she slightly glanced to the right, then to the left. She took a deep breath and stared at the moon above her, she blinked with confusement. Was she about to do the right thing? She closed her eyes, and took calm, tranquil breaths.

"If I am to go through this, I will be a disgrace to my kingdom, and be an abolishment to my mother's well known reputation. If anyone were to find out....."

Terrified at the thought, she took a big gulp and breathed in and out slowly. She tried not to think about it, then started to wonder if this was the right thing to do, for herself. Then a calm, cool wind flowed through, as if someone had just gotten there. Scared to look, she closed her eyes and faced down, as if ashamed of something. All of sudden, very slowly and gently, soft fingertips raised her chin upwards. The princess inhaled her breath, slowly and unnoticing, exhaled. She looked up only to see a dark figure looking down at her. The figure was about arm's length away from her. Keeping her chin raised, the figure stepped closer, little by little until it stepped in the moonlight. She was in total awe.

The way he was staring at her, made her feel a little uneasy, and trembled her lips. He walked closer to her until he was looking right down at her, they were practically two inches away, chest to chest. She stared at him top to bottom. His dark ebony hair, so dark she could probably notice it in shadows. His deep, dark, navy blue eyes, which looked like a raging river in the darkness. His light color of skin, only his didn't glow like her's did. His dark colored armor and cape, as if he was going into battle. His arms were of strong muscle, but not too much. And his waist looked to good to hug. His long, steel sword at his left side, and his tall strong legs. She hadn't noticed how much taller he was than her. Her face was at his chest, if she looked directly straight. There he was, the man who had stolen her heart, the one whom she thought of every day and especially at night. The man let her chin go and let his hand slide down her neck, towards her shoulders, and then down her arm, in a slow motion. She felt as if a drop of water was pouring down her shoulders. She paid close attention to his hand sliding down. He felt the warm and softness of her skin.

"Soft as a feather...",he whispered to himself.

The princess slowly looked up at him, and gave a look of sadness. He stopped sliding his hand and put it at his side. He already knew her reason of look. They stared for a moment, then he decided to break the ice.

"So... you came after all. I know I asked much by you meeting me here, in the forest, all by yourself.", he spoke with a voice of power.

She looked down nervously, biting her bottom lip.

"It is what you wished me to do. The forest does not frighten me...it is my decision.", she spoke with a soft and quiet voice.

He cleared his throat, took a step back, and looked at her with firm eyes.

"You have a decision? I take...that you did not think properly of this outcome".

Hearing this, she immediately looked at him with a concerned face.

"This...? Why must you be cold with me? I have done no wrong, but everything you have asked me to do, I have granted.", her eyes began to shine with water.

He turned his face away immediately. He couldn't stand looking at her like this. Now, he was lost in thought. He didn't know what to say. The princess took a small step forward and brought her hands together towards her chest, as if she were about to pray.

"Why will you not face me? Am I not of worth? Are you displeased with me?", she looked at him with a pleading look.

He took another step back, this time it was a larger one. Then he looked at her, eye to eye. He saw her face, and he felt his body sink.

"I...don't think I can go through with this." he got a hold of his cloak at the side and clenched it with a fist.

The princess didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She put her hand on her mouth, not covering it all the way. She clenched a fist at her chest with her other hand. She threw her arms down and bowed her head. She silently started to weep. She felt her throat bulge up with pain as she tried to speak. Trying not to show her weakness, she cleared her throat and gave a small sigh of sadness.

"Well...if it is what you wish. I shall grant it...for you."

He began to see her tears flow from her cheek to the ground. He even heard a silent sniff.

He grinded his teeth together and whispered with anger.

"If you could only see why..! This cannot be! I...can't do this...not to you."

The princess shook her head. She took a deep breath and looked up at him. This time she had sorrow and pain written all over. She straightened herself up, held her head high, and walked towards him, with tears streaming down her face.

They were chest to chest again. And the young princess looked at him with anger and tears. She wanted to slap him so bad, but she knew that it would only make matters worse. She placed her fragile hands on his chest and tried to grab it, but couldn't because of all the armor.

"Do you not see what you have done to me already!? Look at me!! Can you honestly stand there without a care in the world and say that you cannot do THIS to me!!??!" She was crying a little louder now, no longer whispering anymore.

He looked away and grabbed her hands. She looked in surprise. He got them off his chest and slowly placed them at the sides of her dress. She looked at him with her mouth slightly open, and now a flow of tears coming down her face. She began to breathe faster, as if silently hyper- ventilating.

"Yes...I can. And I am sorry to have put you through this." he looked to the ground at a side way.

Deep inside he felt so much pain. He had never felt so hurt, so much that he had hurt the one being that he treasured most. He swallowed his pain and tried to keep a sturdy face.

The princess placed her hands on her head and shook it for a brief moment. Then she let go and took a long deep breath, and exhaled it slowly. Out of nowhere she started hitting him on his chest and trying to punch him with all her might.

" HOW COULD YOU DO THIS!? I HATE YOU!!"

He tried to calm her down but couldn't.

" DON'T TOUCH ME!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

She cried in pain while he tried to get a hold of her fists that were hitting him. She wiggled her small arms out his hands, and with one good shot, slapped him across face. The slap was loud and it echoed through out the forest.

His face was still turned until the echoing went away. Then he slowly turned his face towards her. Her face had red streaks where her tears were flowing. She was breathing as if she was tired, and her hands were in fists.

"I'm glad...you hate me. Now, I know I can go my way without feeling the slightest bit of pity for you."

"Pity...?", serenity looked down in surprised confusement.

With that he turned around, his back facing the princess.

"Goodbye."

He started to walk off, when about ten feet away, he heard the ground leaves crunch, as if someone had fallen. He slowly turned around and saw the princess sitting on her knees with her back slouched. Her left hand was holding her from falling to the side, and her right hand was clenching her chest, as if she was in grave pain. She was crying out loud,practically screaming. She looked down as her river of tears fell to the moist soil. Never in his life, had he seen someone in so much pain and agony. He wanted to run up to her and hug her tightly, to tell her that everything was going to be okay. But he didn't. Instead, he just watched, looking as helpless as could be.

The princess looked up and saw him standing there. She unclenched her fist and extended her arm and hand towards him.

"Don't leave me! PLEASE!!! I need you....I love you..."

He didn't waste a single second after he heard that. He harshly walked up to her. He stood over her and took out his sword. He picked it up high, as if to stab her on the back of her neck. The princess looked up and saw the blade, ready to come at her with full force. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. Then, with all his might, he brought the sword down. He stayed still, gripping his sword with both hands. He breathed deeply for only a moment. Then he knelt down and lifted her head with both of his hands.