Disclaimer: I own everything part from Snow White (Which isn't so obvious at this stage of the story, buh)
Chapter 4
How could someone seem so remarkable? So marvelous yet you have only known them an instant?
Emma wondered the exact same thing as she lay cradled in Jared's arms. However she was instantly aware how improper it was for her to be in contact with anyone (royal persons must maintain a suitable distance from others at all times), let alone a man. She smiled to herself as she imagined Laurels face if he could see her now. Tonight she wasn't a Princess, she was normal. Her dream of escaping the palace was finally a reality. She wasn't about to let Laurel ruin what promised to be a wonderful evening.
Even as she thought these things, Emma paused for an instant before wondering what she was thinking! She hardly knew this man. Just because he courageously saved her life didn't make him a kind person. She stared into his face. She guessed him to be about her own age. His tanned skin and callused hands gave away the hours of labor he so obviously did. He had sky blue eyes which glinted with life and passion. He had high cheek bones and a small scar which ran from his hair line to the corner of his left eye brow, giving him a slightly raised eyebrow. They had barley enough time to utter their names before city guards immediately came down with the tattooed man. Emma jumped away from Jared pulling herself out of his arms blushing profusely.
Her captor, the tattooed forigen man snarled and spat at her, cursing in a language foreign to Emma. Emma jumped away, distancing herself from Jared and the forigen man still emabaressed, her embarrassment however quickly changed to fear when she saw them.
Palace guards.
She immediately started to panic. She had sat there staring into Jared's, she had to admit, rather beautiful eyes, giggling like a dim-witted child, very unlike the princess she was, while the guards had been walking up the street, searching every nook and cranny. In the shops, between people, in the houses.
The panic and confusion swept throughout the crowd as they approached. Vendors with questionable items immediately evacuated their stores, beggars and the homeless slunk back into the alleys and the crowd parted to let the intimidating men through. The guards wore thick armor with the imperial crest on their breast, a Lilly entwined with a staff which had a giant Sapphire placed precariously on its head. The guards also had large, threatening swords dangling off a dark leather belt, each also had a pair of hand cuffs hangings from the other side, and had bright red tunics and leggings under their armor.
She couldn't help but let a look of horror and shock pass over her feature. She had just left the palace! Her step mother surely couldn't have known yet. Tom would not have given the information up easily. Emma furrowed her brows. Laurels power and influence had gotten far. The only way of her knowing would be the servants. She wondered what Laurel had threatened them with. Unemployment? Banishment? Would she go as far as execution?
Emma would not put it past her step mother. As long as she had known her, Laurel had gone out of her way to make Emma's life horrible.
Emma's mother died when she was just six. She still remembered how her mother smelt like meadows and flowers. It was so very unlike how she smelt on her death bed, bitter and smoky.
Her mother had been the pride of the land. When Emma was a little girl she was told of her mother's beauty, she remembered being seating on her maids knee, looking innocently up at her asking more about her mother.
The maid, who was the first of many, had obliged the young princess and told her of her parents unconventional meeting, the queens unrivaled beauty and her grace. No one ever spoke of her death. It had caused so much pain to the kingdom and beyond, its was not a subject which entered civilised conversation. When her mother died the kingdom fell apart. Alliances which had previously been strong, fell apart. Peasants grew unhappy with their lives.Noble men and woman gossiped and plotted against the throne.
But the greatest loss to the kingdom by far, would be the loss of a King.
Emma can barley remember her father. What she could remember was not very comforting. She remembered him standing on the stairs in an elegant white suit instructing their many servants. She remembered this commanding voice ring out among the palace halls. She remembered his imperious eyes, always watching for the slightest mistake.
But, all those memories were nothing to the day of her mothers funeral. The day when she and the kingdom had lost him. The city was in mourning, the country was in mourning and Emma was in pieces. They woman she respected the most, admired the most and loved the most was gone. There were no world for how torn inside she felt. She was too shocked to cry, the tears refused to come no matter how desperately she wanted them too. As time went on her wounds healed slowly, for Emma had not only lost one parent. She had lost both. She remembered clearly, her father stood at the alter, her mother's still body lay below, Emma sat close to her father's cold and manipulative ministers far away from the comforting embrace of her nurse maid. She remembered sitting stone faced fearing to moving in case it disturbed her resolve not to break down in front of the entire court. Her father started his speech without so much as a downwards glance at her mother. The being was just to reassure the public of his commitment to the nation. He never once mentioned her mothers wonderful eyes, her flowing hair, her beauty inside and out. Emma felt a rage which she had never, or hasn't since, boil through her veins. She felt such a violent hate towards her father as if it her his fault for the problems in her life. The king stepped down and motioned for her to take to the 'stage' where her mother was watched by the grieving crowd. It was her job to bless her mother before she was buried. It was par of ancient tradition which was only followed to appease the older, more conservative public. Emma could think of nothing worse. She had approached her mothers coffin and recited that prayer drilled into her from birth. She raised her hands and rested them on the side of the coffin. She hated how her voiced had cracked during the prayer, she turned keeping her eyes to the back of the room.
"She was a queen, she was my Mother. People speak of her being lost, she isn't lost. If I go to the end of the oceans, to the top of mountains, across the deserts I will never find her again. She is gone..." She said in a small voice barley suppressing a heart breaking sob. If you listen hard you could hear the courts hearts breaking.
There was a loud thump when her father hit the floor. It was so unexpected. Every ones attention was focused on Emma, no one saw him fall. The whole court gasped with shock as physicians raced to his side. They say it was the stress that did it. The doctors informed the public that he had had a stroke, but his advisers assured them that he would still be a strong king. Everyone in the palace knew better.
He couldn't move, couldn't speak. He was no longer capable of being king.
Not only had they lost a King, but she was the only heir, a female heir. Yet another problem on Emma's long list. She was born a girl. Only boys could inherit the throne, she was no use to her kingdom until she married to form alliances. The advisers argued and argued about the problem, if only he had a wife to control the country while everyone thought it was his doing.
That was where Laurel came in. She was beautiful, titled, rich and ruthless. A perfect candidate for the new queen. It was not too long before the wedding bells were chiming and Emma inherited a new mother.
If her Mother was here now, Emma would not be forced to do things against her will.
She was sharply brought to the present as Jared grabbed onto her arm and spun her around "Its time for us to disappear" he whispered throwing a glace at the ever nearing line of guards.
Emma shook her head, clearing it of all thoughts, and looked around, all this commotion, everyone wondering whom the guards had come for now.
All of this was for her.
She stared up the road, the panicked crowd added to the chaos, people ran in all directions, carts, horses and people clogged all exits, all this made her almost incapable of escape.
Almost.
Jared was looking around frantically beside her, like all the other citizens he had also heard to stories of the cruelty of the guards when they were on a mission. They had no regrets of injury or loss of lives, as long as they got the job done. These guards were moving with a purpose, these guards defiantly had a mission.
All the while Emma glanced at a nearby wagon which lay in the middle of the road facing the advancing troops. It was completely abandoned, the items from the cart splayed across the ground as the horses tore at the reins trying to break free. Each horse had a wild look in their eyes, each fed on the panic which surrounded them, emanated from the crowds. Stalls all around the area had been trampled or destroyed leaving debris of all over the road.
Emma made a spit instant decision. She lurched out of Jared grasped as she started running towards the cart. She ran forwards ignoring Jared cry behind her. She stooped down and grasped a long piece of wood from the cobble stones. She dodged and weaved between the ruins of the market. She heard the blood pounding in her head, the adrenaline pumped through her body, Jared chasing after her and the shouts of the nearing guards as they spotted her.
She was finally clear of the ruins, she made a beeline for the cart. She ran around the side continued towards the front, before her arm was caught by Jared's hand. He spun her around and stared at her.
"What do you think you are doing? We should be running away from them, not towards them!" he all but shouted.
Emma sighed, tugged her arm free of his grip and pushed her fringe out of her face.
"Look, we don't have time for this. You just going to have to trust me."
Jared gave her an incredulous look before she spun around and continued along the cart. She positioned herself behind one of the large wheels. Emma watched the horses pull the cart never really moving it very far, they were just animals. She felt a twinge of regret, in her plans she had never considered the horses. In the scheme of things, it was her or them. The line of soldiers drew nearer, and nearer.
Any second now. The guards were now running towards the cart shouting at her, they were less than twenty metres away, it was all to easy.
Emma stepped out from behind the cart holding the plank out to her side. She smiled her signature impish grin, the guards hesitated for an instant before shock ran through there faces. They recognised her.
Leaving them no time to ponder this however, Emma stepped forwards and sharply rapped both horses on the behind. Both horses off in the same direction, straight towards the line of guards. She quickly dropped the plank of wood and watched as guards jumped out of the way of the veering, chaotic wagon. She heard the shouts and screams of the guards as she struggled to keep a grin off her face. That would teach Laurel to think she would be easily caught.
She was roughly grabbed by the hand as Jared ran up behind her and pulled her along with him. She let him lead her towards a now empty exit. Emma grinned. She felt alive, it was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
They whirled around the corner, Jared tugging on her hand. She followed along dumbly, stumbling in his wake. Her hand tingled as she looked at there en-laced fingers, being a princess nobody apart from family touched her in even informal gestures. This seemed, almost intimate to her, even if it were an everyday occurrence to Jared. Much to her disgust in her lack of self discipline she felt her cheeks heat up bright scarlet as she trailed behind him all but forgetting the guards hot on their tail. All her thoughts were focused on her hand in his. This was ridiculous. The only reason she felt herself drawn to him was the simple fact that he treated her as a human being. All men either treated her with misplaced awe or polite distaste. All but Jared.
Even in the most hectic, exciting and confusing moment of her life, Emma found herself wondering what she would do if circumstances were different. It had been a wonderful night, but it was time for her to face up to the truth. She was a princess. A princess had no place in this kind of life. As much as Emma enjoyed her time, she didn't belong here, she had to tell Jared.
"I go and save you" he panted "And then you go and do something so-so... brilliant. Here I was thinking you were just a damsel in distress. You are very resourceful!" Jared commented with a look of awe and amazement. Emma smiled triumphantly glad for his praise momentarily forgetting her dilemma.
Emma sat next to Jared cradling a steaming mug in one hand and resting her chin on the other. Her and Jared were sitting in the middle of a market by a open bonfire. They had managed to evade the guards and had escaped. Emma was living the life she always dreamed of, sitting on a dusty log, staring into the flames and sipping a suspicious looking brew. She was away from the palace, away from prying eyes. She was unknown.
"So, you work around here?" Emma said fishing for a conversation.
"Yeah, I work for my father. We run a shipment business." he looked down at the mug in his hands then looked up smiling "Its not much of a job but it makes us enough money to get by. It a beautiful night. I should be at home right now, but I don' think I could go home."
Emma frowned "Why would that be?"
"Oh, my step mother." he gestured with one hand "She is... difficult,"
"I know how you feel!" Emma cried "I have a step mother too!"
"Really?" said Jared eagerly, leaning in towards her.
"Yes, shes a fright. Shes controlling my father. Manipulating my life and making all 'my' choices for me!"
Jared nodded enthusiastically "I know how you feel!"
"I wish he never married her..."
They both sat quickly back realising they had both unconsciously moved towards each other during their animated conversation, leaving them just inches apart. Emma felt a light blush grace her cheeks, she'd been doing a lot of that tonight.
Her and Jared talked of the markets and the city guards. They talked of their families, of course she left out many details. She told him of her brother and her step mother. He asked many questions but she deflected them skillfully asking him many in return. She learned of his step mother and his frightful step family. She learnt of his dead mother and of his father, of his job and his passions. She learned of his opinions on politics and the wars going on between the kingdom and their neighbour. He was animated as he waved his hands about trying to convey his frustration with the kings advisers, his eyes gleamed with passion
He was so opinionated and strong. He was so sure of himself and yet she was not sure who she was at all. She always shrunk from her responsibility and role in society, always resenting her position yet Jared wished he was in a position of power. Not to do wrong or abuse his power, to do good. To change the country for the better. Even now as he voiced his opinions and thoughts, not hesitating when it came to a decision, not when he caught her and not when he lead her through the many winding streets.
"If I could, I would have a word to those advisers. While I was at it I would find that silly queen and tell her to leave the country! Shes brought us no good. She wastes money on the war while people starve in her own kingdom. Why? Because she simply wont compromise!" Jared said loudly.
Nearby people turned to stare before quickly bustling off. The store owner, whom had overheard walked right up to them.
"Boy, you are either dim witted or a fool!" he growled pointing an accusing finger at Jared "The queen has ears everywhere! You speak treason, you do. Stop it before I kick you away from that warm fire"
Jared's cheeks grew red, Emma wasn't certain weather it was from embarrassment or anger.
Emma looked away for an instant before her eyes fell back on him. He leaned in closer keen to continue their conversation.
"Its good to talk to you. You listen. My father, he doesn't really listen. My step sisters don't have a brain cell between them and my step mother would surely walk away if I was talking about anything not involving the latest fashions or the latest lady she is trying to set me up with!"
Emma felt an impish smile spread across her face, an exact mirror image of his own.
Jared leaned backwards and stretched his legs out.
"What are your feeling on all this celebrations?" he ask casually, but his tone of voice suggested it was far from just a casual comment.
Emma swallowed and answered carefully.
"I don't know... I try not to get too involved in it all but..."
She shrugged, it was the most diplomatic response she could think of. It could be interpreted in many different ways and she wasn't giving away her true opinions. Perhaps the hours of diplomacy lessons had finally paid off. Jared frowned in thought before leaning forwards once more, casting a fugitive glance behind him.
"Me personally? I think its all a waste of time. This 'princess' of ours, what is she doing for the country? She sits in her palace sewing and dancing. We are expected to celebrate a failures birthday. Shes probably stuck up and selfish. That horrible queen probably panders to her every need wasting valuable money. Everyone knows she will never amount to anything. She will marry a rich prince from a far off land and never be heard of..."
Emma stood up quickly turning white. So this is what the public thought of her. A selfish, heartless waste of money?
"I-I have to go, T-Thank you... Thank you very much for this evening, its been truly wonderful."
Emma quickly turned to leave, her eyes filling with tears. All her life, she thought that when she grew up she could be respected, even if she could not inherit the throne. His comments had blown away her entire fantasy of life.
"Emma?"
Jared husky, deep voice penetrated her mind and dug into her like an arrow. She didn't resent him for opening her eyes to the truth, she hated herself for not realising earlier. She pulled away from him and pushed her way into the crowd.
As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She might not be pampered by her step mother, or enjoy the prospect of dancing and sewing. She might not be stuck up but he was right. She was a waste of money and time to the kingdom. The only way she could be of any use was to marry a foreign diplomat or prince.
She let a strangled sob break through her resolve as she pushed her way through the crowd getting angry responses from the populace. What would they say if they know the truth? They would watch in awe. She was never allowed out of the palace, they had never seen their princess, they would stare as they saw the person whom they were celebrating. A young, fragile, rebellious teen.
She heard Jared calling her name over and over as resisted the urge to turn back, if she did she knew he would catch up to her.
Suddenly the crowd gave way and as a young girl bound through the crowd towards her. The youth was taking bounding steps, almost skipping, she had a large bandanna tied over her hair, which was not visible beneath the cloth. She, like Emma, had deep green eyes which shone with life. She wore black leggings and a dark brown tunic. Across her waist hung a red embroidered belt with, much to Emma's alarm, two golden handled knives hanging from either side. But of everything, it was her skin which stuck out, her skin was the deepest brown she had ever seen which caught your attention before anything else (A/N: Think of African skin). Emma halted as stared in wonder at the youth, her problems all but forgotten. She heard Jared run to her side, panting beside her. He raised a finger and was about to start speaking when the small girl stopped in her tracks.
The girls eyes flickered across the crowd before coming to rest on Emma and Jared. A small smile flickered across her face before walking slowly towards them.
It was then that Emma look over the girls head and saw the city guards running down the street towards them.
"Stop thief!" one yelled brandishing a sword at her.
The girl sided up to Emma, she looked down at the young face. Before she knew it the youth was clinging onto her arm, Emma felt a pressure in her back. She didn't have to look down to know it was one golden handled knives.
She stiffened as the girl whispered in a surprisingly mature voice "I hope your a good talker, m'names Miri. I'll do my part, you do yours."
Jared looked incredulously at the young girl, not hearing the exchange and then looked questionally up at Emma.
"My back Jared," she hissed at him.
Jared looked back and immediately looked pale. That knife looked very sinister, he knew that the small girl had the upper hand. One slice and Emma was dead meat.
The guards now stood in front of them hands on their hips, they stood at least a head taller than Jared, and Jared was no small fry. Emma swallowed and looked up at them forcing herself not to wince as the knife pressed harder into her back.
"Step away from her!" the guard in the middle, obviously the leader, growled.
Suddenly Miri burst into wails and tears poured down her cheeks. Emma looked in alarm down at Miri, but soon the dagger dug deeper into her back and she quickly looked back at the guards.
"Mummy!" Miri wailed.
Emma looked down at her in shock, Mummy? She was barley old enough to be her sister, let alone her mother! Jared looked across at the young girl in confusion.
"Your her mother?" one guard looked at her up and down.
"Er-" The knife pressed even harder into her back "Yes, what do you want with my angel?" I said hoping the guards couldn't see through my acting, I placed an arm protectively around Miri's shoulders. It was either lie to the guards or get cut in half by a knife-wielding girl.
"Your angel?" the guard looked sceptical "You are too young to be her mother! You are obstrucing the city guards, move now!"
Suddenly Jared stepped forwards and resting his hand tentatively on Emma shoulder.
"What do ye' want wit' me wife?" he said putting on a country accent.
Emma almost let her jaw drop, he was pretending to be her husband, to save her life. Strange how he seemed to be getting into the habit of saving her. She smiled appreciatively up at Jared before continuing on.
"Don't you be start with me!" Emma stated pretending to be offended "My daughter here has done nothing wrong! We let her ut of our sight for one second, and you lot chase her down the street! Shes only a child!"
"Only a child who stole a loaf of bread!" the guard retorted "I think we better be taking you all down to jail, you are obstructing our investigations and arrests! We might even let the palace guards punish you, they are in a awful mood this evening."
The guards moving forward menacingly and Emma and Miri took a step backwards. Jared stared at them and cried "Are you willing to take a woman who is expecting a child into jail?"
The small crowd whom had gathered to witness the spectacle whispered at this sudden turn of events. Emma looked up at Jared, a look of shock passed over her face. He lent forwards and rested a hand on her small stomach. Emma felt herself turn bright red at the implications. If she was 'pregnant' this whole crowd thought that... her and Jared had... These thoughts only mad her blush harder as she struggled to find her voice. Her skin burnt where his hand was touching her belly and she felt as her skin was being pricked with from the inside out
"We found out just last week!" Jared exclaimed "Everyone knows stress is no good for a child!"
The guards squinted down at her.
"She doesn't look... shes too young... We didn't realise..." one stammered, the embarrassment clear on his face.
"Look lady, just pay for the bread and we will leave you alone. Just don't let her do it again!" The leader said his eyes flickering from Jared hand to Miri who was still curled up next to Emma.
Jared withdrew his hand from Emma's stomach and drew out a silver coin from his pocket and pressed into the hand of the soilder. Jared turned sharply and grabbed Emma's hand and said loudly.
"Come on dear, we best be getting home,"
Emma smiled and nodded feeling the sharp knife withdraw little by little as the guards walked away.
"Come along Miri," Emma said.
Emma looked down at the young girls face. On second thought, she wasn't young at all! Her face was mature and her features were sharp. Emma guessed the girl to be only a little younger than herself. Emma's face turned from shock to anger, to confusion. Miri wasn't a sweet little girl, so why did she think she was one? Were her eyes simply playing tricks on her or had she not bothered to give her a long look when she had run up to them?
"Why yes mother," Miri, if that was her real name, said smirking.
Emma pulled her hand out of Jared's sharply causing him to turn around (she had not forgotten his 'opinions' of her). Emma drew her lips back and hissed to Miri,
"When we get away from this crowd, you have got a lot of explaining to do,"
A/N:I have just added a prologue it would be useful to read it (Although at this point in the story it might not make much sense, but it is part of the crucial story line and it is called suspense.)
To Disney Princess3, julissa.', xN00DLES and Tiger Lily21 thank you for reviewing.
I will give you cyber birthday cakes if you all review (Yes, that was a bribe)
