The knock came at the most inopportune time.

	"Who is it?!" Nathan bellowed, hoping that if it was one of his
roommates, they would know by his tone that now was not a good time to
decide to sleep, change, whatever.

	"Prince Nathan? I must speak with you."

	Althea giggled under him as he cursed, then rolled off the bed grabbing
a sheet as he went. He cursed again as he tripped as his feet got
tangled in one end of it as he wrapped it around his waist.

	"What!" He snarled at the slender official that blinked at him wide
eyed as he flung open the door.

	The man bowed. "Queen Serenity summons you to the throne room. It is
important."

	He glanced around Nathan's form as a movement inside caught his
attention. He lowered his eyes quickly.

	"If you happen to see the Princess Althea, would you tell her that the
Queen summons her also?"

	"Yes. Fine. I will tell her. Thank you," he resisted the urge to slam
the door in the mans face and bowed politely, then stepped back and shut
the door.

	"It's a plot. They're all in on it," he grumbled as he came back to the
bed.

	Althea, already back in her shift, handed him his pants. She just
laughed as she slid on her dress and turned her back for him to do up
the laces.

	"How would anyone know yet, Nathan?"

	"Oh, they'd now. One of the pages probably saw us come in together.
Rumor flies faster here than hawks hunting," he patted her on the rear
as he finished tying the laces, then shrugged into his shirt as she
fished one of his boots from under the bed and put it with the other in
easy reach.

	"I think you're exaggerating, just a little," she teased as went to the
mirror and tucked a few wild wisps of hair back into her braids. "I
wonder what's going on?"

	"Shall we find out, Mi'lady?" he offered his left arm, his right hand
still busy with the buttons of his jacket.


	The throne room was crowded but people made way for them. Althea felt
the first fluttering of alarm as she saw the tense expression on the
Queen's face. Nathan guided her to stand beside Endymion, Julian at his
other side.

	"Where's Malikai and Zuriel?" Julian hissed at Nathan.

	"How should I know?" Nathan hissed back just before the Queen's
seneschal banged his staff on the floor, demanding silence.

	"Where are the Princes Malikai and Zuriel?" She asked the official who
had come to summon Nathan.

	"They could not be found, my Queen," the man apologized as he bowed
low.

	The Queen looked down at her cats for a moment, then focused on the
gathered Princes of Earth.

	"We can not wait on them any longer. News has come. Doran has fallen,
as has Mathwyny and Justanian. The fate of the other kings is unknown,
but we hold little hope for them. The Earth has been taken by the
Darkness. I am sorry."

	Murmurs of dismay and disbelief rose from the assembled court around
them. Althea reached out and took her brother's hand as he let out a
little stunned gasp as tears rose in both of their eyes. Julian lowered
his head with a whispered curse. Nathan took her hand on the other side
and squeezed it fiercely.

	*Father was dead. And Mathwyny. Where was Malikai? And Justanian. Oh,
poor Julian. Father was dead,*  that just keep circling in her mind.

	"I would like to give you time to be alone with your grief, but I need
to speak with you all in my chambers, please. The rest of you, finish
your preparations. The Darkness will be upon us soon," the Queen rose,
turned and headed for her private exit.

	People started to flow out of the throne room, many bowing as they
passed, but left enough space around the four to give them some small
measure of privacy. Endymion turned and wrapped his sister in a fierce
hug as he buried his face against her shoulder. She could feel the fine
tremor shaking him. Nathan went to Julian and draped his arm across his
shoulders and spoke softly to him. She couldn't hear what he said, but
knew that Julian would take comfort from him as he would from Julian.

	"'Mion," she hugged her brother back.

	The bond between him and Father had been so much different than her
own. He had doted on Endymion while he kept her at arms length. She had
understood why at an early age. If he came to love her, he wouldn't be
able to use her as he would need to. The news of his death to her was a
shock, to him it was like a physical blow.

	"Endymion, you must keep your grief for another time," she told him
firmly. "You are King now! And a Queen needs you!"

	He nodded against her shoulder then stepped back, his head still down.
Then he raised his head, his face full of anger and determination. The
Prince had been replaced by a King. He took her hand and placed it on
his arm then led them all toward Queen Serenity's chambers. The Queen
rose as they entered. 'Mion flushed beside her as this courtesy reminded
him again of his new position.

	"I am truly sorry to have to bring you such news and I know your grief
is heavy and hard, but these are difficult times and we must counsel."

	She turned her attention to Althea. "Lady Althea, your Uncle wishes to
see you. He is in the Healer's Hall. And then would you find your
husband and send him to me?"

	"I will, Queen Serenity," Althea dropped a low curtsey as she gave
'Mion's arm a final reassuring squeeze then made sure she passed close
enough by Nathan to brush her fingertips against the back of his hand as
she left.

	*Where is Malikai and Zuriel?* she frowned as she closed the doors to
the Queen's rooms behind her.

	The six boys they had brought with them to act as pages where huddled
in a tight group farther down the hallway, waiting. They rushed up to
her as she headed for them, their faces full of distress. Aedon, the
youngest, was crying.

	"Is it true, Princess? The Kings are dead and the Earth has fallen?"
They asked as a group.

	She nodded as she pulled Aedon against her with one arm and let him cry
against her waist. They all muttered shocked words of disbelief. She
could tell that most of them where fighting against tears. Tears that
threatened her also. But she knew that her grief would only frighten
them more so she forced herself to give them a brave smile.

	"I know you are upset, but I need you all to run a task for me. Can you
do that?" She asked in a coaxing tone and turned Aedon's face up to her.

	They all focused on her as they gave little nods, wiping at their eyes
with the backs of their hands or sleeves.

	"I need you to go and find Pri..." she stumbled on the word.

	Malikai, like Endymion, was a Prince no more. "...King Malikai and tell
him the news, if he had not already heard it. And tell him that Queen
Serenity needs to see him, now! If you see Prince Zuriel as you search,
tell him also. I want you to check all the palace and grounds,
especially the secret and secluded spots where the lover's go. When you
have found them, come and tell me. I will be in the Healer's Hall or my
or my brother's room. Corey, you make the assignments of who checks
where. Do you understand?"

	"Yes, Princess Althea," Corey answered and stood straighter. "Come on
Aedon," he told the littlest of them firmly.

	Aedon pushed himself away from her waist.

	"It should be Queen Althea now, shouldn't it?" He asked with a sniffle
as he looked up at her.

	That question, and all that it implied, seemed to focus all of the
emotions she had pushed aside earlier. She went light-headed.

	*I can't let them see me faint!* she willed her knees to support her,
her smile only wavering for a moment. She forced herself to answer as
she reached down and ruffled his brown hair.

	"Yes, I guess it should be. Now, off with you."

	She waited until they were out of her sight before she sagged against
the wall as her knees and hands trembled violently.

	*Stop it, Althea!* she told herself fiercely. *So, you are a Queen.
It's no different from being a Princess!*

	But it was. If something should happen to Malikai, then she would have
to rule in his stead until the babe she carried, if it was a boy, came
of age. She made herself take slower, deeper breaths and ran through the
Guardian's exercise that cleared and calmed the mind.

	*Nothing will happen to Malikai,* she told herself firmly. *This is not
the time to worry over what might be's. Uncle needs me.*

	She pushed her herself upright and headed for the Healing Hall.

	
	Mara came up to her as she paused at the entrance to take in the chaos
that reigned inside. She was filthy and covered in blood, her uniform
torn in many places, but Althea was relieved to see that little of the
blood appeared to be her own and she seemed relatively unhurt. So many
of the other Guardians in the Hall before her had not come through the
battle so well.

	"Uncle Innish?" She was almost afraid to ask.

	Mara took her arm and led her through the harried Healer's and the
wounded.

	"None of his wounds are grievous, Lady Althea. But he is exhausted and
being... uncooperative," she warned as they closed on the pallet where
her Uncle lay.

	He turned his face towards them as they came. One hand pressed a blood
stained cloth to the side of his face. His chest had been wrapped in
bandages and the forearm of the hand he held out to her was bound from
wrist to elbow.

	"Althea!" His voice was nothing more than a hoarse croak from shouting
commands on the field, but she could still hear the relief under it.

	She took her hand into both of her own as she settled beside him.

	"It's all right, Uncle. I'm here," she soothed, concerned by the
strange, far away look in his eyes.

	"I tried to reach him, Althea! But there where too many between us. The
Darkness overcame many of our forces, turning them against each other. I
tried, Althea. But he fell and I couldn't reach him...I had no choice. I
had to leave, take the wounded. To stay would have been to die for
nothing. And I have a task to do yet," he closed his eyes as his voice
failed him for a moment, brought her right hand to his cheek and pressed
it there.

	He was raving as if in fever but his skin was cool against her palm.
"I'll tend to him for a while, Mara. You go get cleaned up, have you
injuries seen to."

	Mara nodded at her. "There is a potion."

	She pointed to the cup that rested beside the pallet. "The Healer's
brought it to help with the pain, but he'll have none of it. Maybe
you'll have better luck getting it down him than I've had," her tone was
hard but her eye's reflected the worry she held for him.

	"I'll get it down him," Althea promised, then turned her attention back
to her Uncle as Mara left them.

	"You won't," he growled, his eyes still closed and her hand still
pressed to his cheek.

	"But Uncle, why? You are obviously in pain and it will help you sleep.
You'll be no use to us this way," she said it gently but firmly.

	"All pain has it's purpose, Althea. At the moment, mine is keeping me
awake and focused. It is letting me know I am still alive."

	"Uncle Innish, you're not making sense," she tried to keep the fear out
of her voice as she reached over and moved his hand from the bandage he
pressed against his face.

	She checked under it to see if the wound under it had stopped bleeding,
worried that the blow that had opened the gash from temple to the angle
of his jaw had been more sever that the Healer's had assumed.

	"It's not as bad as it looks, though it's going to leave a terrible
scar," he gave her a weak smile.

	She frowned at him, her uncertainty reflected on her face. She decided
to try to turn his thoughts to happier things.

	"I'm pregnant, Uncle," she whispered to him with a secret smile.

	"I know," there was something in the tone of his rough whisper, a
deeper vibration that chilled her to the bone.

	She suddenly knew, understood why he clung to her hand so fiercely.
"You have seen my death, haven't you Uncle?" 

	He opened his eye's slowly and focused on her pale face. "No, Althea. I
have seen your life."

	She blinked at him, confused. "I don't understand, Uncle."

	Her free hand went without her conscious thought to cover the small
life in her womb.

	He shook his head side to side. "It doesn't matter. I want you to
promise me something, Althea."

	"It depends on what it is Uncle," she answered cautiously back.

	She was truly alarmed now. She feared that the sendings of his Gift and
the shocks of the battle had finally tipped him over the edge into
madness.

	"I want you here when the Darkness comes. Will you come and stand with
the other Guardian's and defend the Healing Hall?"

	"Yes," it was what she had planned on doing, anyway.

	"Swear it," he locked his fever bright gaze on her.

	"I swear to it, Uncle. You have my oath."

	"Thank-you," he tightened the pressure of his fingers around her hand
one last time, then released her. 

	"It's all right, Uncle," she put as much soothing into her words as she
could. She could only figure that he was in shock.

	"Now, will you drink this, if only to soothe your throat?" She offered
the cup to him.

	He shook her head at it and her. "No. But I promise I will sleep,
Althea. Now go. You have other things that need your attention. I will
see you tonight."

	"All right Uncle," she patted his hand as his eyes closed with
exhaustion.

	She waited until Mara came back, clean and in a fresh uniform.

	"Did he drink it?" She asked.

	Althea shook her head no. "But he's asleep anyway. I need to go. Will
you stay with him?"

	Mara nodded and offered her hand and helped her up, then settled into
the spot Althea had just vacated.

	"Call me if you need me. I'll station one of the pages here," she told
her and then hurried from the hall.


	She stood in their room with her hands on her hips as she tried to
figure this puzzle out. Corey had meet her in the hallway on her way to
her room with the news that they couldn't find Malikai or Zuriel
anywhere and that no one had seen either of them since this morning. She
had thanked him with a smile and told him to send one of the boys to
stay in the Healer's Hall under Mara's orders and no other. She wanted
to know where all of the household would be, didn't want any of them
sent on errands not of her or the others making.

	Then she walked in on the puzzle she now faced. Malikai's clothes from
this morning where draped neatly over the back of one of the chairs with
his boots together under them. She had checked the wardrobe to make sure
that he hadn't changed. His sword was still in it's sheath and in it's
accustomed place.

	*Did he just walk off naked?* she fumed to herself.

	She was getting worried. She went to Endymion's room hoping to find
Malikai and Zuriel there and laughing at the fuss they'd caused. She
walked in on Nathan, Julian and 'Mion's tense discussion.

	"Did you find him?" 'Mion all but snapped.

	"No," she snapped back.

	Nathan came up behind her and putting a soothing hand on her shoulder.
She took a deep breath, they were all on edge.

	"All of Malikai's clothes are in the room. And his boots. And his
sword.

	"Then he has been taken," Julian stated.

	" But there was no sign of a struggle Julian," Althea frowned at him.

	Then the pieces fell together. "Zuriel took him? But how? And why?"

	"I don't know," Julian frowned back as he traded troubled looks with
his friends.

	"Maybe he took him back to Earth," Nathan offered from behind her, "to
take him out of harms way." He gave an amused snort.

	"He can't call the Gates," Endymion shook his head. "And none of the
Gate casters opened one for him. I asked."

	They all fell silent for a few moments, thinking. Then Julian spoke
again.

	"Then someone else had to open a Gate for him. Someone or something
powerful enough to do it without the other Caster's noticing," he gave
voice to the thing they did not want to accept.

	"I refuse to believe that," Endymion whispered. "I won't believe it."

	Nathan and Julian exchanged knowing looks.

	"However it happened, it has happened. We must accept that both of them
are gone, probably taken by the Darkness and with the knowledge of our
plans. Endymion, come with me. We need to inform the Queen of this."

	Her brother followed Julian out of the room, still shaking his head
'no'. Nathan turned her around in his arms and pressed her close to his
chest.

	"We'll be gone to our positions within the hour, I imagine," his voice
rumbled through his chest under her ear.

	She gave him a fierce hug. "Come with me now, Nathan. I would be with
you one time before the Darkness falls on us."

	He nodded as he took her hand and hurried with her towards her room.



	The knock came as they cuddled together on the bed, their passion
spent.
	
	"Nathan. It's time," Julian called from the hallway.

	"I'll be there," Nathan called back.

	They helped each other dress in silence. Althea unable to speak because
she knew she would cry, Nathan thinking that this might be the last time
he saw her, touched her, heard her sweet voice. He kept her pressed
tight against his side as they walked to the main courtyard where his
comrades waited. Endymion was off to one side, both of Princess
Serenity's hands in his own as she and Nathan moved into the knot of
people. Althea watched her brother pull the chain and locket over his
head, then averted her eyes, wanting to give them what privacy they
could take in the crowded, noisy place.

	Julian walked towards them as he blew a playful kiss over his shoulder
to the Princess Jupiter who was standing with the other Senshi close to
their Princess and Endymion. His expression was totally serious and
focused when he stopped before them. Althea gave up Nathan's embrace and
stepped forwards to wrap her arms around him in a loose hug.

	"Be careful."

	He looked down at her and gave her that devil-may-care smile of his as
he hugged her back gently. "Always, Lady Althea. Don't worry. I'll bring
them both back to you safe and whole."

	"And yourself," she commanded.

	"Yes, my Queen," he grinned back.

	"Endymion, come on!" He yelled as she stepped back from him.

	Endymion kissed Serenity one last time, then hurried to them, keeping
his back to his Princess and her tears.

	"'Thea," he held out his arms and returned the hard pressure of her
hug.

	"Don't do anything stupid, 'Mion," she leaned back and gave him her
best brave smile. She'd had a lot of practice at it today.

	"Is that any way to address a King, 'Thea?" He teased her gently.

	"When that King is my brother, yes," she teased back.

	He hugged her against him again. "Guard Serenity for me until I get
back."

	"I'm going to be at the Healer's Hall with the rest of the Guardian's
'Mion. You know that," she reminded him.

	"No, you're not," Nathan said from behind her.

	"What?" She turned to him but kept hold of her brother's hand, not
willing to let him go just yet.

	"Althea, you are a Queen pregnant with the heir to a missing King. You
are too precious to risk in battle now."

	She stared at him, shocked. "But..."

	"No argument Althea. I command it!" 'Mion said firmly beside her.

	He sounded so much like Father she almost giggled. Thankfully her shock
and good sense overrode it.

	"You will go and stay with Princess Serenity during the attack."

	"But..."

	"Promise me, 'Thea," Nathan eye's pleaded with her. "Please."

	"I will," she told him as she lowered her eyes.