Married Life

Mina’s Tale Part 5

It was the day of my wedding. I was still sad over the deaths of my parents but Serenity, she insists that I call her by her first name, said that life goes on. Serena spent the night before with me in my room. She teased me about our soon to be relationship by calling me Aunt Mina. She cheered me up and we settled into the task of finishing my wedding gown. Thankfully, I had not grown since I started working on my gown, two weeks ago. It still fitted perfectly. I only need to trim out my outfit. For something old, Serenity gave me her mother’s bracelet. It is gold with the nine stones representing the nine planets of the Moon Kingdom. It’s over a thousand years old, having been given by the first king to his queen on their wedding. Serenity insisted that I wear the bracelet for my wedding and after to remind me that the Sailors represented all the planets.

For something new, Serena gave me a new hairpiece. It is red and a combination of a ribbon and barrette. She designed it herself so that my hair would be pulled from my face but still allow me to wear my customary ribbon. I started to wear the red ribbon because of Kanly customs but now it seems part of me. Something borrowed came from an unexpected source. General Jadeite presented me with his ceremonial cape for my bridal train. White, gold and reaching a foot below my heels, it was perfect. Nova sent me something blue. It was a gold and orange wand similar to Serena and his and on the top was a star sapphire as the crystal.

I was ready for the ceremony. I was still nervous but Serena held my hand and kept telling me that she knew that Nova would make me a good husband. I already knew that fact but I also knew that most Kanly marriages ended before the parties were eighteen and no children came from the union. I wanted Nova’s children. I would feed them from my breast and love them with all my heart because they would be part of Nova. I had talked to Nova and we agreed that we wouldn’t start a family until we both had grown up a bit more.

I was so nervous with the loss of my parents and the rebel forces quickly approaching the palace. I was now part of the royal family; I knew that I would be part of this family even if I weren’t marrying Nova. Serena was my most stalwart supporter as she walked me down the aisle and lent me the support that I required on this day.

The music started to begin the ceremony and the doors to the hall opened. I took a deep breath and held Serena’s hand. Hand in hand, we walked down the aisle towards the dais at the other end of the hall. I saw Serenity in her royal gown standing in the middle of the dais. Nova and Jadeite were to my right as we approached the wedding party. Nova looked so handsome in his royal uniform, all blue and gold with a scimitar hanging from his left hip. This figure standing before me was Nova, Grand Duke and Field Marshall of the Realm. He stands before me, the most powerful man in the Realm, wealthy, brave, loving, qualities that would appear to any woman. As we closed the distance to my family, I realized how lucky I was to have someone like Nova as my husband. To help matters, I knew that Nova loved me with all his heart.

We approached Nova and Serena placed my hand in his and moved to stand next to Jadeite. Nova’s hand was warm in mine and I looked up and saw him smile. That moment I knew that everything was going to be all right. I mean what could go wrong when the man who would defend me with his life was by my side.

Serenity started the ceremony, “Family, Friends and well wishers, I have the pleasure to united my brother and god daughter in a Kanly contract. Both parties have agreed to the contract and it has been signed by each.” Serenity talked for a few more minutes but I was looking into Nova’s eyes so intensely that she could have been saying anything. Suddenly, I snapped out of my trance by Nova’s pressure on my hand. “Do you, Princess Mina, bind yourself by contract to Prince Nova?”

“With all my heart, I do.”

“Do you, Prince Nova,” said Serenity as she turn to me, “bind yourself by contract to Princess Mina?”

My heart seemed to stop beating, as the few seconds it took Nova to answer seemed like a lifetime. “She is my soul, I do.”

“By the powers of Kanly, I pronounce the contract valid and binding, you may kiss your Kanly wife.” Nova lifted my veil and brought his lips to mine. The kiss was so special because it was the first kiss as a married woman. My senses were running away with themselves, Nova was my husband and I was his bride. Everything was changing but I knew that if we stood together, we could face anything.

Nova decided that we would not have any celebrations until I was safe on the Moon. Considering the state we were in, it was a good thing that we waited. The rebel army was thirty miles away and the only troops we had were the palace guards, the High Guard cohort, and the house troops of my cousin, Vena. He had marched to the palace and pledged himself to protect the throne. He was given control over the palace and Nova had asked him to be my personal bodyguard.

Nova refused to allow anyone to face the rebel army except himself. He did not want to risk anyone else in the fight. I told him that he was my husband and he was not going into battle alone even if I had to take the field with him. He finally allowed Vena and Jadeite to accompany him. I spent that night in Nova’s arms, we slept nervously and several times during the night, I felt Nova shaking against me.

I awake the next morning with Nova’s body providing me warmth against the morning cold. Even though I was still seven years old, my mind and body was that of a teenager. How I love to have Nova’s arms around me, it still sends shivers down my spine when I think of him after being married after so many years. I’m am regressing; the story needs to be written for you to understand when you have grown.

Nova awoke and kissed the back of my neck. “Mina, I could get to enjoy this relationship.” Nova drew me closer to him and I could feel his heart beating against my back. I had decided, during the night, that I was to be at Nova’s side. No matter what happened, I would be with him to suffer the same fate as him. I love Nova and I don’t know if I could go on living without him. He was the only foothold I had after my parents died and I was not going to lose him so soon.

Nova must have realized that I wouldn’t back down so as we dress, he dictated a will naming Serena as his heir if something happened to the both of us. We finally decided upon military clothing that represented the Duchy and the High Guard. The four of us walked hand in hand, Vena on my right and Jadeite on Nova’s left. The rebel army sent a person from each group to meet us as equals.

Nova took the lead as the parties approached each other. “Go home, Mina is the princess and the rightful ruler.” A murmur arose from the crowd and a lone figure, Baron Salan of the East, spoke, “We recognize her as the princess but she is too young to rule, so we will rule for her.”

Nova transformed into Sailor Nova and I took my cue and changed into sailor Venus. Nova turned to the rebel force, “I will defend that which is mine.” Salan looked at Nova, “You will withdraw your forces and yourself. Please take the princess with you because I don’t want to see her harmed by this mob.”

“I thank you for your offer, Salan, bit I believe that my wife and I will be staying.” Announced Nova to the crowd. I came forward, wrapped my right arm around Nova and extended my left hand bearing my wedding ring. “Oh, did I forget to mention that we were married under Kanly law yesterday.”

The rebels reacted to the news with silence. They realized that Nova had a reason to be here and oppose them in their quest. Salan looked at me, “Princess, no, My Grace, please forgive the intrusion but you still should not take the throne until you are grown.”

I looked at Nova and whispered in his ear. After he agreed to my plan, I began to speak to the crowd. “My people, I am your princess but I have urgent business that I must attend to in the next few years. Since I cannot rule you full time, as you deserve, I have appointed a reagent in my stead. My cousin, Vena, will rule a council of nobles to make the daily decisions of the planet. I hope that all of you will support the council.”

A cry rang from the crowd, “Long live our princess.” Slowly, Nova and I walked back to the palace while Vena and Salan began the task of ruling the planet. Nova squeezed my hand, “You were very brave, my love.”

I nuzzled closer to Nova and placed his arm around my shoulder, “I had to be brave, I knew what you could do if they push the issue.” Nova nodded and with my head resting on his shoulder, we arrived at the palace to be greeted by Serenity and Serena.

The crisis was over and the council petitioned the Queen to dissolve Nova and mine marriage because the rebels were satisfied with the reagent council. I threw a fit when I heard about their petition and changed into Sailor Venus and strode to the new council chamber.

I sheer anger, I reached out with my power and split the council table in half. “Who are you to petition that my marriage be dissolved? I am Princess Mina, Sailor Venus, Imperial General, and the Grand Duchess. I will remain married to Nova until the Moon Kingdom falls from the sky. Anyone who tries to hurt Nova, in any way, will answer to me. I am his wife, his love, and one day, the mother of his children, I will not allow anyone to take Nova from me.” With that final outburst, I blow a hole in the back wall and then blasted the doors of the chamber into splinters as I left. I began to walk back to our chamber when I saw Nova. He must have heard because I saw the anger in his eyes. They were red with fury and he grasped a sword in his hand. If this was the Nova that destroyed the traitors that killed my parents, I pray that he never send his fury towards me.

“Nova, please put away the sword, for me.” Nova looked me in the eyes and softened. He slides the sword in the scabbard. “You don’t have to go to the council chamber, I already had a talk to them.” Nova placed his hands on my temples and I felt him in my mind. He laughed, kissed me and placed both his hands behind my back. Playfully, he gave my bottom a squeeze and then a double handed slap.

“You have been a bad girl, Mina, scaring all those old men. In the name of the Moon, I will have to punish you.” With that he gave me a pat on my bottom. We didn’t consummate our marriage, we still agreed not to try to have a child until our bodies developed, but we did almost anything else.

The past two weeks have been wonderful, learning about Nova’s body and him learning all about mine. But all good things have to come to an end. Serenity had to get back to the Moon. Nova had arranged to have the third bedroom in Serena and his suite converted for my use. Even though I sleep in the same bed with him, he does keep some unusual hours. I never had to worry about him straying from me, we do keep in contact with each other at all times, but he tends to wake early and do research and he’s always worried about my sleep.

Nova explained why we shouldn’t consummate our marriage. He is afraid that something would happen to me if I get pregnant because of the sudden growth that my crystal forced upon my body. I understand and agree with him, our child could be harmed if the crystal decided to perform another growth spurt while I was carrying my child. One day though, when he’s not expecting, well, I will be expecting but I abide by he’s wish for now.

After we arrived at the Moon, we settled down to a fairly domestic routine with Serena. Nova devoted his time training Serena and me. He was training us in the arts of war and giving us knowledge beyond most people understanding. Serenity was the head of the family and Serena treated me as a sister. We were together almost every waking moment of the day and with Nova, most times all day including the night. I never realized what being a part of the royal family involved. Being a Grand Duchess, the first in over a thousand years, meant that every civil matter, charity, or group wanted my presence at his or her meeting. Every week, I had two or three meetings to speak or ask to attend but the social events that I enjoyed the most were the ones that I attended with Nova. I loved these events because I could show him to the crowd. Nova was considered the prized catch in the solar system when it came to eligible bachelors and I had him all to myself.

At one of these events I noticed a small blue haired girl from the planet Mercury. I found out her name was Amy and she was a princess of the ruling house and their youngest daughter. I had a feeling about this young girl and invited her to dine with my family. She is so pretty, eight years old and as smart as she could be for her age or even a teenager.

Her parents could not believe their fortune; their daughter had received a private invitation to dine with the royal family. Amy was nervous as I cam e to their chambers and picked her up for the dinner. Amy was dressed in a light blue gown with only a pair of pale blue earrings as her jewelry. Amy sat besides me in the skimmer looking extremely nervous so I leaned over and asked, “Amy. Is everything all right?”

“I’m sorry, your highness, but I never been close to anyone in the royal family. This trip was the first by my family to the court since I was born and I have a dreadful feeling that I am going to do something that will disgrace my family.”

I patter the girl’s hand, “First off Amy, you must learn that when we are alone, including with Serena and Nova, you should call us by our first name. Nova hates when we mention his titles in private.”

“I’ll try to remember, Princess, excuse me, Mina, but I don’t know if I can call the Grand Duke by his first name especially since House Mercury is one of his vassal houses. I mean, to us, he would be the same as Queen Serenity to House Venus”, explained Amy. I did notice that the young girl was still holding my hand, as it was a lifeline to her would.

“Amy, just remember that Nova is still just a little boy in his heart. We may look thirteen but we are the same age as you. We are different but we are still children and children always call each other by their first name.”

Amy must have been thinking but she finally looked at me and said, “I will, Mina, even Nova.”

I had contacted Nova and Serena, by mind contact, and told them to expect Amy to call them by their first name. When we arrived, Nova came out to greet us. I thought that Amy was going drop to her knees to honor Nova but she didn’t. Nova reached for Amy’s hand and brought it to his lips. I could see that the little girl was blushing by his attention. He extended his arms to us and escorted us into the palace. Looking at Amy’s response, I could see what young girls saw in my husband but I also knew he would be faithful to me because we were one soul, only when we were together.

Amy was a shy girl but soon she was chatting and giggling like the rest of us. I excused myself after dinner and asked Nova if he could come see something in the bedroom. “Nova, what do you think?”

Nova seemed puzzled but then must have realized what I was asking, “Oh, you are correct my love, Amy is Sailor Mercury.”

I was so happy that I had helped Nova that I jumped into his arms. Unfortunately, Nova wasn’t prepared for this action and we collapsed onto the bed. Suddenly, his arms embraced me and he kissed me. “Honey, … Mina, we have a guest for dinner. Don’t you think that we should get back and tell Amy and Serena the news.”

Amy was shocked by the news, as were her parents. Nova arranged for Amy to have a suite in the same wing as us. In fact, Serena didn’t believe that Amy should be alone the first few months, when her body was undergoing changes that she moved into a bedroom in the suite.

With Serena moving into a suite with Amy left nova and me alone in the original suite. We maintained separate bedrooms, Nova has such strange hours, but he managed to sleep in our bed most of the time. Nova was a devoted husband, don’t get me wrong, he had his faults but whenever I needed him, he made time to talk with me. The best thing about Nova was the feeling of safety that I had around him when he held me in his arms as we went to sleep. Whenever Nova was away with the High Guard, I never slept well, I never felt safe when he was gone.

The years past as they tend to do, it seemed like yesterday that we met Amy but before we realized it, four years had passed. The four of us had grown in those years; we treated each other as siblings. Amy matured into a lovely young lady, she didn’t possess the powers like the rest of us but she was brilliant and Nova continued to reinforce her natural intelligence.

It also seemed that we were catching up to our actual ages as we started to enter puberty. It’s scary when it first happened in the last few months but I had my “sisters” and Serenity to support me. Nova also happened to notice that my breasts were starting to develop. This fact seemed to trouble Nova because he had to spend a small fortune on us for new clothes; you can’t live by transformation pens all the time. I do wonder about him. He promised that we would start our family after our biological clock started up but he refused to consummate the marriage. I will grant his wish for the present but one day I will show him what he has been missing.

Nova developed a desire to live apart from the Queen. He told me that the power of the sailor warriors would one day present her a problem and if we separate ourselves from the palace, she would be safe. Amy helped him with the plans for his fortress, when Serena and I looked over the plans. I don’t know much about architecture but it was impressive. It had a central common area with ten spokes radiating from it. I knew that Serena represented both the Moon and the Earth. Shouldn’t there have been only nine wings.

I asked Nova to explain what we were missing. He said, “Well, there are ten wings, one for each sailor. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, the Moon, your suites and my rooms.”

I am not proud of what happened next but it had been building inside of me for months. I simply told Nova, “If we aren’t going to be living together in the same rooms then you better only have nine wings because I refuse to set foot in a place that is not the home to myself and my husband.” I stormed out of the room with Serena at my heels leaving Amy with a confused Nova.

Serena grabbed me in the hall, “Mina, have you lost your mind, what are you doing?”

I stopped and looked at her, “Serena, Nova and I have a good marriage but we hadn’t, well, you know – man and wife. I’m afraid that if I hadn’t raised my voice and let him separate us, he won’t take our marriage seriously.”

Serena nodded her head and we walked back to her room. When it was time for dinner, I went back to my room to eat with Nova. I love him deeply but he made me mad. When I entered the room, Nova had lit some candles and prepared my favorite meal. As he seated me, I noticed that my napkin was a revised plan for the fortress with nine wings with one labeled “Venus and Nova forever”. I hugged Nova, kissed him and began to eat knowing that my husband loved me; now and forever.

I gave up all pretenses of maintaining a separate bedroom from Nova. I moved into his bedroom and Serena and Amy back to our suite. We were friends, no, a family. Nova was our leader because we follow his vision but Serena was our emotional strength. We needed each other but we soon realized that we were missing part of our family and Amy and Serena had spent their time apart talking about finding those parts.

Mina’s Tale continues in “Two New Sailors”, where our little family gain two new members and we meet a young man from Earth.