Each night Endymion caught sight of Lana's dancing he sat longer in his cushioned chair, his eyes brightening as he watched. He delighted in the sight while trying to imagine the music of her song. 

 Occasionally, he sent another shining moth to settle on her shoulder to let her know he was still watching. When she would retreat into the small house on the beach to sleep, his heart would fall at the loss of her dance. Reluctantly, he would acknowledge her need for sleep before sending pleasant dreams to her and turning his thoughts to his duties.

Endymion tried to focus on the prayers and requests of the people, but his mind wandered. Instead of offering divine intervention, he used his powers to search the land, trying to learn more about the wonders of the surface beneath his home. There were always more wonders to be seen, always new things to learn. 

 At last he had found something to catch his attention. 

 Each day he grew more entranced, staying in his chair longer and longer into the day, concerning the people of the world as the Moon stayed in the sky later into the day. Usually, this was a portent of disaster, creating the beginnings of panic on the surface.

This continued night after night, through the night of the Full Moon, when Endymion's powers were the strongest, and continuing even as his power waned with the passing days. 

Whispers ran through the Court of Stars, speaking of how the Moon was spending his time dallying instead of paying attention to the prayers sent to his ears. The prayers for his healing light were starting to wane, while the prayers to the Stars for protection were increasing. Even the Sun's Flowers had begun to visit, bringing their concerns for what was to come.

That night, when the stars shone bright in the darkened sky, two of the most powerful Stars, Rigel and Aldebaran, had arranged to meet away from listening ears. 

They knew if word of what they were to discuss reached Endymion, he would have every right to take away their Lights and banish them from the skies. They would be doomed to wander the surface until the Stars fell and the light of the Sun and Moon were extinguished for eternity.

Their purpose was Treason.

The meeting was to take place in the corner of the sky furthest from the Moon Palace. There, tucked where few remembered its location, was a black hovel once used by dying stars. Now it was home to secretive meetings.

For safety, they did not arrive together, choosing to travel separately from the constellations they called home. 

 Rigel was first to arrive, immediately beginning to pace the small floor, hands moving to stroke the long white hair of his beard. Never in all his years had he seen their leader as distracted as the Moon was now. 

It did not bode well. If his actions continued as they had thus far, they were all heading toward disaster. The sun and moon being in the sky together when it was not near the New Moon would result in the moon swallowing his sister. With the Sun's absence would come dimmer daylight, cooler temperatures, failing crops. In short, a disaster.

Usually, the twin lights carefully kept to their own times in the sky. They kept to their schedules to avoid disasters as well as not wanting to actually see each other if it was not absolutely necessary. If only those habits had continued, Rigel would not have been considering so drastic measures.

After what felt like eternity, Aldebaran finally arrived to their meeting. Rigel had been gone long enough the meeting would have to be kept short, else his absence would be noticed.

An explosive breath left Aldebaran's mouth as he entered. "I almost though you would be gone already," he observed, closing the door behind him. In two long strides, he crossed the room to settle on the single chair that stayed in the hovel. 

"I know I am late, but Polaris wished to speak of the rumors he had heard. It took some work to convince him I had participated in no conversations concerning Endymion's waning attention. I don't know think he believed me. It seems he is suspicious of everyone. He knows something is going to happen, he's been around too long to think otherwise."

"Or there is something he knows, something that we don't," Rigel pointed out grumpily, continuing to pace about the small shack. The wheels in his head were obviously turning at the information Aldebaran had brought. 

"Nevertheless, we need to move forward with our plan. We owe it to the people of the surface to protect them from Endymion's whims. He is distracted. You know as well as I that he does not even pretend to pay attention to us any more. Even Polaris has to fight to keep his attention and they are thick as thieves most days. If he continues this way, everyone will face blight, famine, and disaster. We can't let this continue."

"I understand," Aldebaran said calmly, remaining in the chair and watching the almost erratic motions of his friend and elder. "But may I suggest an alternative to fully banishing him from the heavens? I fear that sort of action would bear far more repercussions than we are ready to face."

The frantic steps paused as Rigel turned to look at his friend. A spike of jealousy at the other's ability to remain calm ran through him even as he sighed. "I'm listening," he nearly spat with impatience.

"We bind his powers," Aldabaran said simply. 

 "It would not be much more difficult than banishment. We build in some condition for his full powers to return, and when he fulfills it, he can take his seat in the Palace once more. We would have to inform his sister so she will not interfere. It would not be in our best interest to have her just swoop in and be his hero. Who knows? Perhaps she will even support our actions. Helia has always shown far more common sense than Endymion ever has."

That was enough to startle a bit of a laugh from the normally stoic Rigel. "That is a fair point, and one all of us have thought at sometime," he admitted rather reluctantly. 

"But if we are going to have even a temporary binding, we will need Polaris. He is the strongest of us. Maybe Endymion will understand the true severity of his position if his best friend helps us. Besides, without Polaris, we would need everyone to band together behind us, otherwise we would not have the power to fulfill our purpose."

"We will never be able to convince Polaris of going along with this," Aldebaran denied flatly. Rigel was going to do nothing but get them both cast down in banishment, dooming them to exist as little more than the people they watched skittering about the surface.

"Endymion had the moon still high in the sky almost until Noon today. If it were nearer the night of the Full Moon, the World would be in complete darkness right now. As it is, if we act on the day of the New Moon, we can cast him down with the least amount of effort. 

"We can strike while he is sleeping. He will be at his weakest while we are at our strongest. Even if Polaris does not agree, we will have the power we need to bind him, it just would not be as strong. But I will speak to the North Star, he and I were close once," Rigel said soothingly, hoping the steadiness of his voice would help to calm the obviously frazzled nerves of his friend.

"Fine," Aldebaran agreed reluctantly, sighing deeply. "But if this ends with our exile, it is on your head, not mine. You speak to Polaris, and I will begin with the others."

Rigel nodded and immediately moved toward the door, knowing he desperately needed to return to his place in the sky. "Then I will see you soon. We will be able to speak in whispers at the back of the court come morning. It is not as though Endymion will pay us any mind anyway."

 He left the room without waiting to listen to any response his friend might have given.