Since that day, Sean had come home to their kingdom but not in the castle. He was just a boy who was 'honored' for a day by the town and the King for being supposedly one of the navies sons who survived the wreck by the Pirates.
Nobody had any idea he was a pirate. Only Emma- who still had that necklace.
The king told him his 'unnamed' father was a hero, and they rewarded Sean with some pennies. Hey! He gladly took it. It's what his real father had taught him. Always take the money, especailly from the greedy
Sean was taken in and offered a job by a kind man in the village who was a blacksmith. You'd wonder why Sean would stay, instead of stealing a boat and just sailing back to where he came from, but you see..there was one reason why he did not..
He stayed at first, just to heal his wounds and then he saw her, a few months later. He knew he just wanted to see her one last time before he went, but when he finally saw her again, he made the decision to stay.
Emma had already done a lot of growing up since the last time he saw her. She was coming into town with or without her father more, getting taller..more and more prettier.
She was not only just the girl who saved him and who he couldn't forget, but also the Kings daughter. Just his luck. He knew he had no chance, yet stayed.
As she got to her later teen years, she'd stay glued to the Kings side, as a princess should I guess. But Sean longed for the day she'd talk to him again.
Until then, it was just working hard as a Blacksmith and longing looks when they crossed paths.
And Before Emma knew it, Sean had arms of steal and she was another girl who swooned over them. They were getting older, she was now turning 15, Sean 16. He had now been around for almost 2 years. He seemed content on staying, since no one had even come to find him. He was like a lone wolf, to Emma.
She hadn't seen him since last winters ball. Rumor was he was dating a bunch of other girls in the village, using his good looks and charms as bait. Not like she cared.
Emma was very busy getting ready for her 15th birthday. It was very important. Her mother wasn't here to teach her how be a lady, but her Dad's servants daughter was some help, Manny. And they were getting ready tonight for a big ball, for something even more important.
Because Manny grew up in the castle, she wore only the best and beautiful clothes too, and she and Emma were sure to turn heads tonight.
Emma had been growing up beautifully, not quite a woman, but almost there. Her hair was much longer, and hard to resist for any young man who wanted to run their fingers through it. Manny on the other hand was a long haired brunette, and a little feisty. It came from being grown up as a peasant and now living in a castle. She never took it for granted. But she loved Emma like a sister. The two had been best friends since they met when younger.
Emma giggled in her long rose gold corset dress, being a hassle to Manny who was trying to do her up from behind as Emma held the dress to her cleavage, her hair tossed to one side as she hung her head and waited for Manny to finish.
"I'm sorry, it hurts! And I can't breath." Emma insisted, trying to cover her mouth from smiling.
"So you're laughing?" teased Manny, finally tying up the last bit and Emma turned, in her pretty ballgown, ready for her towns celebration for Joey coming back to town. With his son.
That meant Craig. Snake and Joey were obsessed with getting them together.
"I can't believe you meet him tonight." gushed Manny, wishing she was to be wed to a handsome young man like Craig. He was older, and already being made into a Knight.
Emma wrinkled her nose and didn't care, walking to the door and held it open, "Come on."
Manny snapped out of it. "Emma!" she scowled, "Usually Id say yes, but I'm putting my foot down on this one. Your Dad nearly hung me for the last time we snuck out."
"He'd never." Emma rolled her eyes, "He knows you're the only thing I love in this world." she went back to Manny, pinching her cheeks playfully.
Manny laughed and pushed her away, "If we go out to the town, we must be back before dark."
"Of course."
"What do you want to do?"
((((((((((*****))))))))))
Manny and Emma wore their black cloaks around their necks and it hung around their beautiful dresses. They picked the end of their dresses up as they walked through the village and some people greeted them.
"Apples, young ladies?" a townsman asked, standing at his small area of stored fruits. The sun beamed down on them.
Emma smiled warmly and went to take, until Manny held her back and whispered, "You have to pay."
Emma frowned. She didn't bring money. She was so use to people just handing things to her and she knew that was horrible. She tightened a smile and said, "No but thankyou."
The man frowned, but nodded and watched them go.
"Morning Manuala." a young man greeted, smirking as he walked with his friend towards the bridge as they passed the girls. He was tall, and sandy blonde.
Manny rolled her eyes smiling as Emma glanced between them and tried to keep up with Manny who walked a little faster until she grabbed her hand, giggling.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Manny sighed, smiling, "Just a boy."
"Just a boy?" Emma repeated.
"His name is Sully. We.." she looked around and stopped nearby a Blacksmith market. "Shared a kiss the other day. It was just a kiss."
"You're lying!" Emma knew it and Manny blushed harder.
"Emma!"
"You dirty wench." teased Emma, going to leave.
"HEY! You.. . brat!"
"Whore." the blonde tossed over and giggled madly at Manny's gasped
Manny laughed, "I can't believe you just called me-" she gasped, and Emma did too this time, the smiles wiped from their faces when Emma turned into a hard body and stared up into the piercing eyes of Sean Cameron who gazed down at her back.
It took her a moment to remember him, struck by his charms. They barely saw another nor actually spoke and he was growing into a man day by day.
But how could she forget him? His eyes set her back, plus the old tiny scar you could barely see still on his cheekbone unless you were this close to him.
"Sean." Emma said, breathlessly.. (She blamed the dress).
He gazed from her, to Manny who stood behind Emma, quite a few feet away and she choked on her words, catching the dark look from him. "And does the King know his daughter is out from her cage?"
"I'm not some pet bird." Emma snapped and he looked back at her, raising a dark eyebrow.
Manny gazed between them, feeling more guilty now that she came out with Emma despite what the King would of wanted. Snake didn't like Emma coming to town alone-and it seemed Sean didn't either.
"Sean!" a voice called, and old man Harry dragged his feet out of the blacksmith market, with his tool in hand. "Could you help me with some things?"
Emma had glanced back at the old man, even as Sean didn't even blink as he kept an eye on her, gazing over her and stopping when he noticed something around her neck. Definitely a necklace, but the chain was all to familiar to him- only thing was, she hid whatever amulet was on the end of the necklace, tucked under.
Sean had wondered for a long time where his skull chain had gone. He wondered if the King or kings men took it, but no. They'd of killed him if they found it. He was sure maybe it got lost in the ocean then.
Now, he wondered if Emma had kept it, and his dark secret, all along.
"Hello Mr Black." she greeted, waving a bit. Harry Black was known for his good iron swords; but nobody knew that it was really Sean making them.
Harry Black had to squint his eyes to notice whom was speaking for his mouth to then drop. The princess.
"Go home." Emma jumped from Sean's words, but noticed his eyes locked on something around her- oh no, her neck. Emma gasped silently and remembered what she had hidden around her neck, and under her corset. Luckily, he couldn't see what necklace it was but she had a feeling he was recognizing it.
Harry came up from behind, quickly for an old man, and tried to pull Sean back and apologize for him but Sean barely moved a muscle. "He doesn't mean that princess."
Emma glared at Sean. "I think he does."
"I do."
Sean kept his eyes narrowed back on her while Harry continued to defend him. Maybe Sean had gotten..cold hearted, since left behind from his father here in this dumb kingdom, and the fact that the girl he wanted, was untouchable and forbidden. Not to forget, brave, and kind of stupid to be walking freely around here. Any man who hated the king (Which there were many) could just snatch her up, or hurt her.
Emma got angry only for a second at Sean, before she softened, watching him pick up a barrel for Mr Black and carry it inside, disappearing.
"I'm sure he just meant it'd be safer for you at home." Harry tried to explain to the girls.
"Yea.."
Emma didn't get Sean. She thought he was just misunderstood, but he never even tried to reach out to anybody to show them different.
"Good day, girls." Harry nodded and left after Sean. He cared for the boy, kind of like a son, even if the two didn't act like it. Before Sean, Harry was the kingdoms 'lone wolf' since his family had all died. Maybe him and Sean connected on that level.
Manny and Emma watched him go, and they saw Sean from a far getting to work in the shop.
"He freaks me out." whispered Manny, stepping beside Emma. Silence overcome them. "And turns me on at the same time." she smirked.
Emma teased her back, "I hope you don't mean Mr Black.."
"Ew!" Manny swatted her, knowing Emma knew she meant Sean. "and what about you?" Manny mocked Emma on their way back to the castle, "Sean!" she gasped and did her best imitation of when Emma bumped into him.
Emma blushed and laughed, choosing to ignore the fact her best friend knew all too much.
They walked back to the castle, and back to Emma's chambers to take care of some last few touches before the Ball.
That night, she'd meet Craig Mannings, who wouldn't leave an impression on her like Sean did. Their fathers would introduce them and try to leave them alone way too much. Craig told her of many stories and adventures he had seen with his father, but not any that interested her. He flaunted himself like he was Mr Perfect. All the young girls at the ball fell for it, but not Emma. She was kind of now fearing the day she turned 17 and they'd wed.
A week after that ball, Emma had gone into town with her father to go to the market. It was when she passed Harry Black's Blacksmith market that she saw it closed, then heard the rumors he had died from old age in his sleep two days prior.
Nobody had seen Sean since the funeral, and even then, not much people showed up. Emma got a little teary eyed, wishing she had went and knew, but I guess the past was in the past now. But Harry was such a nice man.. .
And Sean? Where had he gone to?
..She hadn't seen him again after that. Sean Cameron was just another mysterious part of her past, now a blurry vision as she got older.
She wouldn't see or be ready to see Sean Cameron again for another 3 years..
(((((((((((((((*********))))))))))))
THREE YEARS LATER...
"He's coming back!" squealed Manny Santos, now in her wonder years. She was 17 now, just like Emma, and my she was gorgeous. Her half lace, and half white corset dress hugged tightly around her hips and flared out to the ground. Her long brown hair was swept in a side thick braid.
She giggled with her other friend, Darcy, who was a Princess from Arindale. She wore a tiara and laughed with Manny as she was having a fun time with them, as she usually did when she visited.
Manny went to the corner of the room, where a window was. "Oh Emma, do you think he'll ask your hand in marriage this time? He said after he came back from the war he would!"
He had said that. He said he wouldn't deserve her until he was a 'man' like that.
Emma turned from standing from the window, her beauty memorizing, and sweet smile hesitant. "I don't know.." she looked down and shrugged her left shoulder, wearing a red dress that swelled her blossomed breasts and hour glass hips. She was a woman now, but still pure and young. Her hair was still long and blonde, but curled and waved naturally. She was a sight for sore eyes.
Darcy had to sigh romantically, "You're marrying a real Knight in Shining armor."
Emma paused and looked out the window, seeing a carriage making it's way to the castle, "We'll have to see."
Tonight was the Ball where Craig returned, and Snake would probably make the announcement of their engagement. Kings and queens, governors, and anyone important were making their way here for the massive Ball. The villagers were doing anything to get an invite. It was a big Masquerade.
"I wonder what your ring will look like." Manny said in wonder with a grumble, "Haven't gotten mine yet."
Emma gave her an assuring glance, "He'll give it to you the day of."
Manny was marrying Sully, who was now a soldier. You know the boy who she messed around with since young? They had been very on and off for years, especially when he went away to other countries.. sometimes he'd end up with other women, so she would meet someone else, but then he always came back for her. So Manny thought that was love.
Emma didn't know what to tell her.
(((***)))
"Hes here!" cheered Snake, running to Emma in the garden just an hourlater
Emma looked up from glaring at her favorite roses since a young girl, as if it were their fault she was getting married.
"I know." she mumbled.
He waited anxiously, "Well come on! Get ready! The Ball will start soon."
Emma looked up, seeing the sun go down. Oh. Wow.
This was all moving too quickly. She put her hand on her stomach, even feeling it turn.
Was she ready for this?
(((((***)))
Emma played with her masquerade mask for that evening of the ball, gazing down at it unsurely as she sat on her bed. Sure it was beautiful, a white Cinderella diamond mask, white feathers on the one side. But that wasn't what she was unsure of.
But what choice did she have? This was an arranged marriage. Maybe Craig would be a good husband..he wasn't unattractive or anything like that. He wasn't mean either. It could be worse.
Who was she to think she was better than him or marrying him? It's just..she wanted to see the world still. That was all. And this didn't feel right.
Emma got up, putting the mask down on her bed and went out of her room, swinging the door open and crashing into someone as she walked out.
She should of looked where she was going! Or maybe it was fate.
"Careful." the mysterious figure who had caught her, told her.
She had gasped but nodded, using his strong arms to balance herself and he helped her do so. She looked up, barely seeing his face since the hall so dark other than the fire that burned on a torch. But it was too far away to light up his face. His voice though, it was smooth and husky. His arms so buff.
"Thankyou." she blushed and smiled, embarrassed.
Another figure with the mysterious man stood a few feet behind, carrying a bag, and watching the scene in amusement.
The mysterious figure was quiet, before her hands slowly dropped from his arms and he cleared his throat.
He finally spoke, "Maybe you should get going to your engagement party." she could feel the slice in his tone.
Emma squinted her eyes, wishing she could see more of his face. His voice sounded so familiar. He made shivers run up her spine though. She glanced at his friend behind him and nodded. She turned, walking away but not before glancing back before she turned the corner.
Who the hell was that?
The friend of his chuckled when she was gone and noted, "One of the hottest princess' I've ever seen. Dumb girl though. Didn't even notice we were stealing right from their castle." Jay adjusted his bag of stolen goods from the Kings Den.
"Not her fault." Sean said, turning from where Emma disappeared to, the light from the torch behind Jay finally lighting up Seans charming features . He was handsome, devilishly, and wearing a smirk. "They've never had thieves inside their castle before."
He was a man now, and a-
"Not Theif, Pirate." corrected Jay. Sean chuckled.
"Lets get this shit back to the ship and go." Jay told Sean, about to leave but Sean wasn't moving. "You coming?" Jay raised an eyebrow.
Sean had noticed a mask hanging off a guest rooms door. It was white, and like the phantom of the opera's mask.
He glanced where Emma once stood. "I think I'll stay for the party.."
"Come on." growled Jay, watching him go but followed him.
Author note: Stopping here until I get some reviews!
