Emilie's Secret

by soccerfied

Gunther and Michael run away from the German army. Emilie finds the brothers, promising to keep them a secret.Emilie starts falling for Gunther as Michael falls for Emilie. But when Emilie's grandfather finds out will he help the boys or turn them in?

Emilie's Secret - Prologue

It was never an easy decision, but it was the only decision Gunther could think of when he was faced with the truth. Michael was being sent to the front lines. Michael was being sent to his execution, blinded so much by the dreams of making his father proud that even he couldn't see it.

Gunther rode the horses as fast as he could, snatching his brother up and riding far away until they reached a windmill. Praying for their safety Gunther fell asleep uneasily next to his brother, only to be awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of footsteps crunching on dry grass outside the doors.

Emilie was startled awake as she heard strange noises coming from outside her window. She walked slowly over to the window, her eyes scanning the familiar view of her grandfather's land until her eyes fell on the windmill. Funny, she thought looking at the door. She could have sworn she'd put the latch on. Curiously she tugged on her boots and overcoat, braving the cold weather as she crept out of the house so she wouldn't wake her overprotective grandfather.

Approaching the windmill Emilie didn't even bother to think of the dangers she might face if there actually was something in the windmill. Maybe that was why her grandfather worried sick about her; she was so much like her mother had been. As she threw the doors to the windmill open, Emilie got more than she could have guessed; two large horses standing next to each other. Emilie stepped closer, wondering how they'd gotten there.

Suddenly, the crash of crates and cups sounded out, making Emilie jump back and the horses throw their heads in the direction where the sounds came from.

"Who's there!" Emilie demanded, it was the first time the hair on her neck stood up. From behind stacks of crates and bags, two boys emerged in army uniforms, their eyes wide in panic.

"We're sorry, we were just looking for a place to hide." The older one explained quickly. "We'll leave right away."

Emilie studied the boys closely, seeing the fear in their eyes and they shook visibly. Curiosity overwhelmed Emilie as usual as she wondered what the story behind these boys was and why they were hiding here in the windmill. She couldn't help but feel a desire to keep them both out of harm's way, like her grandfather had always done for her.

"No." Emilie said quickly. "Stay here. I promise you'll be safe."