Beyond the Castle Walls

Chapter 6

Hey guys! Sorry for the delay in updating, it's because I've decided to start making my chapters longer. They used to be about 1000 words each, and this one is about 2500. I'm gonna try to have them all be around 2000-3000 from now on.

Emmaline hears a voice call her name and she turns to see Emil walking to her with two trays of food. She had got back to the garden a few minutes ago, giving her time to change and make it look like she had been here studying since she came out.

"I don't know what you like, so I just brought a lot stuff," he says a bit awkwardly and sets the trays down on the grass in front of them.

"Thank you," Emmaline smiles politely, grabbing the plate closest to her and taking some food.

"How were your studies?" Emil asks.

"Lovely," Emmaline answers shortly before taking a bite of a strawberry. She really didn't feel very conversational at the moment, but she agreed to this, she has to be polite.

"You read a lot, yes?" He asks and Emmaline nods. "Based off your books, where would you want to travel?"

Emmaline blinks in surprise, not expecting that question. She's not used to people asking her questions at all, much less questions about what she wants in life.

"Greece," she decides and Emil tilts his head curiously at her.

"And why is that?"

"I would like to see where my favorite stories took place. See the ground they walked on, the fields they fought in, the old buildings; It's always fascinated me."

He nods along to her explanation and takes another bite of food, listening intently. Emmaline smiles slightly, still not used to people giving her their full attention.

Anna does that. Emmaline's smile brightens a bit at the thought of the girl, already missing her. Anna always listens to everything she says, making faces at the appropriate times and occasionally interrupting to make a comment that makes Emmaline laugh until her belly hurts. She misses her.

"Where would you like to go?" Emmaline asks Emil, and he thinks for a moment.

"I would like to go to Greece with you." He decides. "I went with my father, but I'd like to learn how to see it the way you do. You make it sound exhilarating."

Emmaline laughs lightly, finding his answer a bit funny.

"Why is that funny?" He asks.

"Well, if you go somewhere and don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it. If you go again in the mindset of someone else, then it's not really you enjoying it, is it?"  She reasons as she picks out a danish.

"Hm, I suppose you're right." He hums. "Then I'd like to go to France."

"And why is that?" She asks, slightly mocking his earlier words.

"I'd like to admire it's beauty as myself for the first time." He says and Emmaline nods.

"I've heard it's a beautiful place." She agrees.

"Why do you avoid me?" Emil asks and Emmaline freezes, a bit caught off guard.

"I'm not good with people," she finally decides on saying.

"Oh," he nods before smiling. "Well I am, so I can be good enough for the both of us."

Emmaline laughs, shaking her head and sipping on her water. Emil was nice, a bit funny too, but she still would rather be in the village. She doesn't mind having him around, he's a good conservationist, but she misses Anna's crude and improper conversations.