9 Months Later
The sweat which had gathered on her forehead, started to track down into her eyes. It must have been the middle of the day, the blonde pondered. Being inside the old, unused stables was becoming unbearable. It was all part of a training regime that William had invented. Apparently it was to condition the squires to harsh environments. In all honesty, the blonde hadn't heard of any other squire completing this training. Somehow, she wasn't surprised. She wiped her brow once more.
At least three days in total had passed. By the time night came around again, the stables finally cooler, a slightly intoxicated Head Knight unlocked and staggered through the door. A water skin was grasped firmly in his left hand. The blonde let out a small sigh of relief as she caught the skin that had been thrown at her.
To say she was thirsty was an understatement. Ripping the stopper off, Emma threw her head back, only to gulp down stale air. She stared up at the raised skin, brows slowly creasing into a frown. The obnoxious laughter from the heavy set man to her right caused her to drop the skin amongst the straw.
"Did you really think I'd bring you water?" the man sneered.
"What kind of real knight needs a drink after three measly days in a stable?" he asked with disgust.
"You barely last until the drink's been poured," the blonde stated flatly as she quirked an eyebrow.
Unfortunately, the sheen of sweat she had been standing in all day, mixed with the lack of food and water, left the squire slightly weary on her feet.
William may have been Head Knight but he knew Emma was the better fighter out of the two. He took the opportunity to manoeuvre a well-placed jab to Emma's gut, effectively doubling the blonde over for a knee to her face. The blonde groaned as she tried to gain traction with her boots on the loose straw she'd fallen onto. Just as she pushed up from her knee, a fist swung, connecting with the side of her head.
Emma spat out the blood which had pooled in her mouth.
Without missing a beat, she looked up with her cocky grin in place, "So, is this part of the training too?"
The bottom of a large boot knocked her back down from the crouching position she had managed to get into.
"Yes this is part of the training!" William spoke angrily.
After a quick visual self-examination, the blonde continued, "Why was I assigned to you? I've seen no other squire be put through this."
"It's the training that is putting you in your place, you fucking street rat," the Head Knight spat on the blonde.
Thick phlegm slowly slid down her cheek. The man glared, his blue eyes darkening, challenging her to get up, to do something. Unfortunately, she knew she was in no state to win this fight; no matter how much she wanted to rip his throat out. Besides, the repercussions weren't worth it.
Hanging her head with a frustrated sigh, Emma asked, "What did I do this time?"
She could already list twenty things. Every one of them included the princess. The smallest upturn at the corners of her lips occurred.
"You know fucking well what you did," the man seethed.
A brief look of panic flashed in the blonde's eyes before it quickly vanished. No, they had been careful, Emma thought to herself. She looked to the Head Knight with a look of utter confusion. If it's not to do with Regina, what could it possibly be, she wondered. The open palm of his right hand whipped across her left cheek, turning her head to the side with its force.
"Don't treat me like a fool, girl. I know it was your idea that the princess should go outside the castle with less guards."
He began to pace furiously in front of her.
"I know it was you who put the idea of having the guards dress as common folk, in the princess' head. The princess being able to walk freely amongst the people indeed."
He stopped.
"I also, fucking know, it was your suggestion to not have me with the princess. Apparently my face is too familiar to those common folk," the man growled as he hovered dangerously above the blonde who was still situated on the ground.
Emma didn't really understand or see the problem but tried to defuse the situation by retelling the facts calmly.
"The princess wanted to see the kingdom, interact with the people but without an army. The Queen agreed she should see the kingdom without the flare that comes with being royalty. It would enhance her daughter's knowledge for when she becomes a Queen. Her majesty trusts her knights to keep her daughter safe…"
William couldn't stand it anymore. His intake of mead had tampered with his reasoning. A large hand gripped the front of Emma's grubby shirt, drawing it tight before yanking her into the air; the tips of her boots barely touched the ground.
"You are a mere squire, barely ranked high enough to clean the muck from my boots. And yet their majesties listen to your ideas and send incompetent foot soldiers to escort the princess, to protect the princess."
His voice rose with every word as his face closed in on Emma's.
"To protect my princess from those worthless peasants!"
Emma met his hardened gaze, "Regardless of rank, I care about the safety of our monarchs, just like you. Those foot soldiers will protect the princess or any member of the royal family with their life. So would I. It is a part of our oath to …"
The words finally sunk in, 'my princess', that's what this was all about. The grip on her shirt tightened, and the shaking of his hand was felt.
"You love her," Emma stated barely above a whisper.
"Yes! But something, or you, keeps getting in my way!"
Before the blonde could respond, her body connected with the side of the stable before she crumpled to the floor unconscious.
AN: Chapter 2, complete. All reviews, faves and follows are greatly appreciated :)
