Kanly Love

Mina’s Tales Part 3

The morning sun crept slowly over the windowsill into my room chasing away all the shadows of night. I grabbed my robe as I sprang out of my bed and hurried to Serena’s room. As I left my room, I looked to Nova’s door and wished that he standing before its wooden frame. I am going to marry Nova; not today we are still too young but one day I will be his wife. You may think that statement is strange because I’m six and a half years old … Nova has just turned seven just days ago but I knew, the first time that I saw him, deep down in my soul that I would be at his side as his bride in time. Nova wasn’t in his room because Kanly law forbade contact between the parties concerned in the articles of the contract, or at least until the contract was negotiated and sealed by the writers of the instrument. I wish he were here because I feel safe and warm when he was near me.

As I neared Serena’s door, it suddenly flew open and a double pony tailed girl pulled me quickly inside the room. This girl’s name is Serena; she is the Moon Princess and my best friend apart from Nova, who is my Prince Charming. I saw a white box on her dresser and she quickly ran to the package and started to unpack the box that was left in her care for me last night. I was so nervous last night that I fell asleep shortly after dinner and slept peacefully until the sunlight woke me this morning. Serena throw the packing material on the floor and pulled the gown from the box. The box slowly fell to the floor with a slight sound while she stood holding the gown up and looking at every seam. “Mina, it’s beautiful. If Nova doesn’t want to marry you after he sees you in this dress, … well he would have to be absolutely crazy.”

I turned away from Serena so she couldn’t see my blush as I heard Serena but inside I hoped and prayed that she was correct. I wanted Nova to marry me, of course I mean when we grow up. I mean, … what girl wouldn’t want to marry a royal prince but as Serena kept pointing out whenever I made my point that Nova was marrying a royal princess.

My father told me the night before that Queen Serenity insisted on having the contract signed by my father and Nova at the hour after the first rays of dawn so we had better start getting ready. Serena and I was dressing in her room, we were both excited about today since today is not one of those normal days. I know that Serena loves Nova like a brother. The Queen raised Nova after their parents were killed in an accident at the hospital. I was excited for a totally different reason. Not many girls are able to know what man they would spend the rest of their life with at such an early age.

Mother came in a few minutes to escort Serena and me to the Queen’s chamber. Father was already with the Queen going over some small details but nothing that would prevent the signing. I was glad since I was so nervous thinking about what could go wrong that I held my mother and Serena’s hands all the way to the room. Before we entered the room, my mother reached into her right sleeve and handed me a blue silk kerchief. I looked at my mother as I took it from her, “It wouldn’t be right for a princess to have sweaty hands.” I realized that she was right and I dried my hands and both of theirs. I keep the kerchief because I had a feeling that I was going to use it before the morning was over.

My mother nodded and the doorman opened the door to the Queen’s sitting room. As we entered the room, I saw the Queen, my father, and Nova seated in the area in front of the fire. I slowly walked across the room to the fire. I kissed my father and the Queen and sat down by Nova on the sofa across from them. Mother and Serena took the place on the sofa in front of the fire. I was so nervous as the Queen read the contract, I could only stare at the flickering fire not really hearing every word. I felt Nova nudge me with his elbow and I knew that he wanted me to pay attention to this part of the contract. Nova was right when he said in his letter that he wouldn’t break my father. Aside for some general support, my dowry would consist of the ruler ship of Venus, as my prince-consort, several minor holdings including my favorite manor located near our home on Venus, and a promise that my hair would be maintained at its current length unless both parties agree to a change. I leaned over and whispered to Nova, “ Why my hair?” Nova placed his arm around my back and pulled me towards him. My heart was racing so much I almost missed his answer. He simply said, “ I love that way your hair moves against your body and I wanted to experience that joy whenever I see you.”

Suddenly, I felt Nova’s hand work its way in mine and I spread my fingers to intertwine ours together. When the Queen had finished reading the contract, my father went to the table, looked at me nod my head and signed the final page of the document as my guardian. The Queen turned to Nova. As he started to rise, I came off the sofa with him, our fingers still interlocked together with no chance of them separating until I was ready. Nova had a puzzled look on his face as he looked down at my face and more of a mask of shock when I took his arms and wrapped them around me. I looked up at Nova’s face and straining my lips to his, I kissed him like I have never kissed anyone in my life. I guess practicing in front of the mirror paid off. I must have caught Nova off guard but soon I felt his lips responding and his head tilting itself down to me. I looked at Nova and glimpsed our future in the bottomless depth his green eyes. I knew in that moment that he loved me with all his soul but I had to let everyone know how I felt about him, “ Nova, with all my heart, I will love you forever and make you the best wife that you can imagine.”

Nova gave me a little kiss on the lips and held me tight to his body for a second then he walked to the table and signed the engagement contract. He turned and walked around the table and stood before the Queen, “Sis, it’s now time for them to know. They will be family and Mina will be part of our royal family soon and they need to know why everything is coming together at this point in time”. The Queen nodded her head and as Nova leaned towards her she kissed Nova and then Serena and gave her a nod of approval. Nova and Serena stood off from the group before the fire. I was anxious to see what he was talking about but soon the pair raised their hand to the ceiling and I heard “Moon Prism Power, Makeup” and then, “Nova Prism Power, Makeup”. A surge of energy filled the room causing the fire to blaze more brightly and suddenly a bright light exploded around the pair. I was frightened for their safety and stood to rush to my love’s side but the light slowly dissolved away and soon I saw two figures emerge from the fading light. “I am Sailor Nova, the Sailor of Light.” “I am Sailor Moon, the Agent of Love and Justice.” Nova and Serena told the assembled group about the power of the Silver and Nova Crystals and then Nova related the story of them and how they affected his family.

“It happened on the day that Serena and I was born. The Negaverse found out that my mother and Serenity were pregnant and due to give birth on the same day. My brother-in-law was killed in a Negaverse attack two months before we were born and Serenity was heart broken but she knew that she had to control herself so she could bring forth the proof of their love, Serena, into this world. I have never found out how the Negaverse learned of our mother’s condition or the means by which they obtained the information.” Nova held Serena’s hand and brought the young girl to her mother’s side. I could tell that the young girl was affected by the story and I could see the start of tears in her eyes. Serenity put her arms around Serena and placed her head on firmly on the Queen’s chest. Nova settled down by me on the sofa and I reached for his hand and held it on my lap.

Nova continued the tale, “Most of the story I learned from my sister and other part through mind contacts with the Negaverse monsters that I have defeated.” Nova paused and I placed my other hand over his and he placed his free hand over mine. I felt the warmth of his hands in and on mine and I knew that it right, I mean, Nova was my fiancé and we needed to get use to touching each other, well, at least in private. “My mother and Serenity went into labor within minutes of each other. My mother was not a young woman, she was in her early forties, and not being of royal blood, she was not immune to the aging process like the rest of us.”

I never thought about it before Nova mentioned the fact of aging in our family but both my grandfather and great grandfather on my mother side were over five hundred years old when they died and they died in accidents. Even my mother, who was five years older than my father, appeared as a teenage girl instead of a woman of thirty-five years. I wondered if I haven’t signed myself into a very long-term marriage with Nova. A thousand years as his bride began to sound appealing to me.

“My mother’s labor was not going as expected so they moved her into the operating room to deliver me by surgery. It was then that the Negaverse sent the full power of the Nova Crystal, a counterpart of the Silver Crystal, into my newborn body. The energy released destroyed the entire operating wing of the hospital and everyone in the wing, including my parents. The energy released the Dark Queen, a Negaverse being of supreme power. A creature whose single thought could rip the fabric of the universe.”

Nova released his hand from the top of mine and placed it upon the two crystals mounted in a brooch on his necklace. Serenity placed her hand on the symbol of power, the Silver Crystal. I noticed for the first time that Nova’s brooch contained a similar crystal and a black crystal as deep as space. I noticed a slight tremor from Nova and I slipped my arm around Nova’s waist and laid my hand on his arm. Nova released my hand and placed his arm around my shoulder and whispered, “Thank you.” in my ear. I laid my head on Nova’s shoulder and looked at the others in the room. From the corner of my eye, I could see my mother smiling at me.

“I was the Dark Queen, a being of such awesome power that my body could barely contain the raw, primal energy. I knew that I had powers beyond understanding and could lay waste to all the planets with just a single wave of my hand. Serenity must have felt something was wrong because I saw her blocking my way out of the rubble. She was in labor but willing to sacrifice herself and her unborn child to protect the Empire from the greatest foe that it could possibly face.”

“Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared between us and a crystal flew from each of us into that light. In the light floated the two crystals, silver and black, light and darkness, good and evil, and a voice spoke, ‘Nova, Prince of the Empire, choose your destiny.’ I was outside my body, seeing my sister, who I never met, giving birth to my niece and I knew my choice. Good cannot exist with evil so I accepted both concepts. The light balanced the crystals and sent two to me and the remainder to the silver crystal held by Serenity. It was not as powerful as before because it had balanced its good with my crystal’s evil to reform the Nova Crystal. I awoke warmed by my sister’s breasts. She also had to make a decision and she chose life for her brother even at the cost of harboring a being of light and dark.”

I reached up with my hand and lightly touched the two crystals in Nova’s brooch. The sheer power of the crystals thrilled my body, such power that I knew would be used for the greater good of everyone. Nova leaned back on the sofa and motioned for me to stand. I stood and he maneuvered me around so that I sat in his lap with my legs to his right and my head on his shoulder. I felt his warmth, it has always surprised me but he always seemed warmer that most people. I like to think that it is the warmth of his heart that I felt. I had my arms around his neck and he embraced me around the waist. He kissed me and whispered that he loved me in my ear.

“I was a babe but I had an intelligence that was beyond understanding. My sister took her daughter, Serena, and me and left the hospital area. That night, Serenity was crowned the Queen of the Silver Empire and I was given my father’s duchy and estates as his will indicated. My sister and I are very close because she raised me as her own child. Often she referred to Serena and myself as her twins and for the first few years, dressed us in similar outfits. I loved Serena like a sister but her inability to communicate with me was disturbing, so I began to telepathically train her until she was able to speak to me with her mind. Serenity was surprised when both of her children started talking to each other in what most people would think of as normal conversations.”

It took me a second but I realized what Nova had said and blurted out, “Nova, can you teach me to talk to you with my mind?”

Nova must have been taken by surprise, “I’m sorry that I have talked so much.” Nova kissed my ear and said, “Mina, you are my love and my future, of course I will teach you.” I snuggled close to Nova and put my cheek against the side of his face. I didn’t care at that moment who disapproved of our behavior and snuggling. Nova was my fiancé and I will prove to him that I love him every chance I get from this moment to my last day.

“Mina, I forgot to bring something that I meant to give you.” Nova began to rise and nudge me off his lap when Serena said, “I know what you want. Just stay there and I will get it for you.” Serena literally bounced off the sofa by her mother and gracefully ran from the room. I looked at my father and realized that he did not fully disapprove of Nova and mine behavior but, in public, we need to stick to holding hands and “friendly” embraces so we won’t bring any disgrace to our families.

Serena returned with a small box that she handed to her mother. The Queen rose and with Serena following, she crossed the space to my parents. The Queen handed the small box to my mother and she opened it with a gasp. I heard my mother say, “Serenity, Nova can’t be thinking about giving this to Mina?” The Queen closed the box and brought it to Nova. Serena hugged me and helped me off Nova’s lap and then sat me down beside him on the sofa. I didn’t release Nova’s hand as I moved from his lap but he raised my hand to his lips and kissed it as he moved his hands to the box. Nova opened the box, rose from the sofa, and went to one knee in front of me. “Mina, the princess of my heart and my future bride. I know that I don’t need to do this ceremony but I felt that you need to make the final decision and not someone else.” Nova presented the open box to me and I saw the ring inside. “The ring is known as the King’s ring as it was presented to the Queen on her engagement to the King. Since Serenity and Serena will have no use for the ring, I thought we could use it ourselves to seal our promise. Princess Mina of Venus, will you the great honor of marrying me?”

I looked at Nova and into those dark pools that I call his eyes, “Yes, Nova, I will marry you.” Nova removed the ring from the box and placed it on my finger. I had to hold the ring in place because it was at least four sizes too large. “Don’t worry, honey,” said my mother, “we’ll get it resize for you.”

Nova laughed and placed his hand over mine. “Mina, will you promise to love me forever?” I looked into Nova’s eyes, “Nova, I promise to love you beyond forever.” Nova leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. It seemed that the kiss lasted an entire day but it was probably more like fifteen seconds until he broke our embrace. I think that if this was what kissing was like that I would continue this tradition whenever we got a chance to practice. I could easily fall into this habit with Nova.

I felt a slight pressure on my finger and noticed that the ring had shrunken to perfectly fit my finger. “Don’t worry my love, it will grow as you grow.” I reached up and gently held Nova’s face in my hands and suddenly the deep yellow stone in the ring became crystal clear and shone with an inner light like a ray of sunshine. The Queen looked at my parents, “If you needed any extra proof of their love and commitment, the ring proves that Mina is Nova’s true princess or the stone would not have become a diamond.”

The gathering broke up with everyone going back to our rooms. I walked hand in hand with Nova but when we left my parents at their room, I pulled his arm around my shoulder and I hugged his waist. If I was his fiancée then I was going to be held close to him at any time that we were alone. I saw a small smile steal across Nova’s face and I smiled back at him. We were still young but I knew that just his touch thrilled my soul more than anything in the universe and I was going to be as close as possible to him with the remaining days that my family was spending on the moon.

I know that we had to be apart for a while but I couldn’t stand being apart from him too long. I looked into his eyes, “Nova, we will be leaving soon but I don’t really want to leave you but I must be with my father on Venus for at least a little while.” I squeezed closer to him so he couldn’t see the tears forming in my eyes. He cleared his throat, “Mina, my love, I have been thinking the same thing and I could suggest a royal visit in May and I could bring some of my troops to train with your father’s in some exercises. I think that would suffice for a reason for me to be on Venus for a few months.”

My heart soared with his words, a military exercise with Nova there on Venus would be perfect and a royal visit would bring the Queen and Serena to my side. I looked up and kissed Nova on the cheek but he turned and our lips met instead. WE must have continued the kiss for more than acceptable because Serena’s clearing of her throat broke our embrace. We continued to our room but tears of joy had replaced the sorrow in the expected long absence of my love. I was satisfied and I could feel the love that Nova had for me so I was the luckiest girl in the entire universe.

The Queen had called a meeting of the noble houses to announce our engagement in the following month. When the day came around, Serena came to my room to get dressed for the occasion. Serena was just like a little girl, giggling and calling me, “Aunt Mina”. I quickly corrected her by asking if she called Nova, “Uncle Nova”. “Nova is more like a brother than my uncle.” I looked at Serena and said, “If Nova is your brother than I am your sister.” We both started laughing and didn’t stop until my mother told us to quiet down and get dressed.

We quickly dressed, Serena insisted that I wear Nova’s necklace; the same one that I wore to the Birthday Ball just two months ago. How time flies, I came to the Moon as a very young princess of a mid-size noble house and now, I’m a princess of a noble house that is associated to the royal family by an engagement to a grand duke. Yes, Nova is actually the son of a king but more importantly, he is someone that I feel safe around. I looked at Serena, a beautiful and smart young lady. I use the word lady because I can’t think of her as a girl; she seems so grownup but I think that’s more of Nova’s doing.

I suddenly got a thought and rushed to Nova’s room. I barged into the room because I knew he was dressed. “Nova, have you been in contact with my mind?” Nova sank into his chair and I could see clearly that he had a look of worry on his face. “Nova, I’ll still love you but I need to know the truth.”

“Mina, I have been in contact with you since the day you were born.” I knew that this contact was the reason that I seem older, at least mentally. I went to Nova and lifted up his face. “You are beautiful, Mina.” Those simple words combined with “I have loved you since before you were born”, created an understanding in me that I have been missing. I realized why I thought of myself as part of the royal family. Nova and I had made an unconscious decision years ago that we would find each other and be together forever. I sat down in Nova’s lap and rested my head against him. I think I would still be there if Serena hadn’t come for us to join our family at the ceremony.

Our family, united by Nova and mine engagement, now had a totally different meaning. I knew that I would grow to love Serena like a sister and though the Queen was Nova’s sister, I thought of her more as his mother. I just knew in my heart that they would always be my friends and family. Father could have the son he always wanted; No, don’t get me wrong, he would never trade me for a hundred sons but I realized that the pressure of placing a woman on the throne was worrying him. He knew that unless the nobles of the planet had someone that would be able to lead them into battle, they would never accept that person as their Prince. With Nova as my prince, and co-ruler, no noble would dispute my claim to the throne.

As we were walking together, I slipped my hand inside Nova’s arm. This position seemed so right, me at Nova’s side with Serena on his other side. I felt that we could take on the whole universe and win. We came to the antechamber of the main hall and my mother told Nova and me to wait there until the time for our appearance.

I sat down on the sofa next to Nova. He reached around me and draped his arm across my shoulders. “You are so beautiful, my love.” Nova leaned over to kiss me; he took me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. “Careful Nova, don’t muss my hair”, I scolded him. He pulled back from me, “No, your hair’s fine.” I looked at him and said, “Next time, you need to try harder.” Nova laughed, for the first time I heard his laughter. It warmed me inside, it was pleasing to my ears and at the same time, it felt as the universe itself was laughing with him.

Nova took my hand in his, looked into my eyes, “Mina, whatever happens in the future, I want you to know that I will always be with you.” He reached into his pocket and took out a necklace. The necklace was gold with a heart pendant attached. The heart pendant had the symbols of House Venus, the Royal House of Nuelin, the symbol for the planet Venus, and a starburst. Nova placed the necklace around my neck, kissed my neck and hooked the ends together. “Mina, we will always be together, always talk to each other no matter the distance.” I leaned back against Nova’s chest, “Nova, you know that I have to live with my parents in a few months but we’ll be together until then.” Nova came to face me, “No, Mina, we will be together forever.” I realized, as I look at Nova, that he wasn’t using his voice to speak but his mind. I think I would have crushed Nova to my chest for giving me this gift but the doors opened and a trumpet flared. Nova extended his arm and I laid my hand on top. He took my hand and passed it under his arm, “We must always walk arm in arm, you will be my wife one day and all the universe should know our love.”

When we entered the hall, I didn’t hear any sound, not a whisper. I thought to Nova, “Why is everyone so quiet?” “Love, the answer is easy. They are enraptured with your beauty.” I gave Nova’s arm a squeeze as a form of thanks, “Nova, really why aren’t they talking.”

Without a pause in his step, “An unusual event is happening. It is extremely unusual for two members of the royal house, even distantly related, to be engaged to marry. We, the royal family, have taken great care to marry outside our bloodlines. We are third cousins, fairly close in relation, and direct descendants of the first king. Also, you have to remember that you are a royal princess and I am a royal prince. There has never been a marriage between those two groups.”

We continued to walk down the center aisle and I began to hear voices. Nova continued to think; “There is also the engagement of a royal duke. As you know, the Duchy of the Moon was the original House of the Empire, the founding house. When the Grand Duke was engaged, it was a special occasion on the Moon. No Grand Duke has been engaged in almost a thousand years because after the first one, they were the Kings of the Empire.”

We approached where the royal family had been seated, “… and my Love, I still go back to my first observation. You are the most beautiful girl here or anywhere in the Silver Kingdom.” As we approached the Queen, she extended her arms to us in greeting. We grasped her hands and she put Nova’s hand on top of mine. “Princess Mina of Venus and His Grace, Prince Nova, Grand Duke of the Moon, has agreed to a Kanly contract of engagement. The contract has been approved by all parties, signed, and delivered to the Royal Archives as required by law. Let it be known throughout the Empire of the future marriage of House Venus and House Moon. May God shine his blessing on the Houses and the two young ones that appear before me. Let the contract be realized and the engagement begun.”

The Queen released our hands and we turn to face the assembled nobles. Serenity placed her hands on our heads and I could hear her say a prayer that our union would be a joyful one. When she finished, uproars of approval sounded from the masses assembled in the Great Hall. I didn’t realize it at the time but when the yells frightened me, I grabbed Nova’s hand for comfort. Even today, almost ten years later, when I am scared I hold Nova’s hand for comfort. One by one, my parents and Serena came forward to place their hands on our heads and give us their blessing. After our families, Nova’s generals came and pledged their undying protection for me. At the end of the ceremony, the assembled nobles came to us and wished us happiness. We spent the remainder of the day with the nobles of the houses. I looked in their eyes as I held Nova’s hand in mine and I saw the relief that appeared in their eyes. They realized that the young boy that they thought was their enemy was marrying one of their own so he would be bounded by contract not to assault them with his weapons of war.

The afternoon turned to night as the festivities started to wound down and I grew tried and leaned more heavily on Nova’s arm. He turned to me and with a small smile, “Honey, I think it is time to withdraw from the crowds.” With those simple words, he lead me to where Serena was resting against her mother and gently touched her on the arm. Serena’s eyes opened and she quickly covered her yawn. Nova kissed his sister on the cheek, “Serenity, I think it’s time for the younger generation to retire from the day. It’s been a long day for us and we need to get an early start tomorrow.”

Serenity shook her head in agreement and helped Serena to her feet. She leaned on Nova’s other side as greatly as I leaned on him but he held up his burden without a single misstep. On the way back to our suite, I felt the strength that held him up slowly dissolve. I took his arm and placed it over my shoulder and grasped his waist with mine. “Nova. Please let me help you. I know that you will always give me your strength and you can always count on mine. I love you.” Those three small words dominated my thoughts at the moment. I realized that they were true. I love Nova with all my soul. I loved him before but that seemed a different type of love. My love now was of … I can’t think of the correct word but it was more of a mature love of a woman for her only man. A love that would survive no matter the time or circumstances even past the threshold of death itself when it comes to claim us in the distant future. I leaned my head on his shoulder and looked down. If he could look at my face, Nova would have seen the largest smile that he could imagine cross my lips. Yes, he is mine and mine forever.

So ends the third part of Mina’s Tale. In the next part, the royal family suffers their greatest loss but from the loss arises the foundation of the Sailors Warriors and a new relationship for Nova and Mina.