I stared at the peculiar people that I was surrounded by.
A black-haired man, who was in a mismatched suit and bright red top hat, sat to my right, continuously pouring tea into what seemed like a never ending teacup. The girl that I heard called Samantha was wrapped around his arm, lovingly smiling at the man, completely enthralled with his story. Across from them, a red headed boy and brown – haired beauty were curled into each other, obviously in a relationship. Sitting directly across from me and the Huntsman, the girl I knew as Ina and the man who would visit her were holding hands, a chaste but deliberate show of affection for each other.
It seemed as if the Huntsman was the only one in his group of friends who was a bachelor, and I wondered why that was. He was good looking, if I were being honest. His light brown hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck, unlike it had been earlier. A single, thicker strand of hair had separated from the rest of his hair, hanging down near his eye. The forest green orbs would shine as he laughed at something the man in the top hat said, his white teeth glistening in the sun. His tan was an obvious sign of his hard work, the callouses on his hands indicated many years of labor.
Someone cleared their throat, and I blushed as I realized that the entire table had gone quiet and was now staring at me. I ducked my head, not daring to check what the Huntsman's reaction was to finding me staring at him like a fool. Thankfully, he didn't say anything, which saved me from any further embarrassment. He surprised me by wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into his side, allowing me to hide my face in his chest. He joined back into the conversation again as if nothing had happened, as if there had not just been a five minute break of silence.
As I instinctively curled myself into him, I wondered silently if it was wrong. I couldn't help but ask myself why I was allowing myself to get so close to a man I had just met not even a full day before, why I was allowing myself to become attached. I wondered if he felt the same way, or if he was just being a gentleman and saving me from sitting alone in embarrassment because of my actions. I wondered if perhaps he didn't think of me at all. Maybe he saw me as just another job, just another responsibility. But, surely that couldn't be it. If it were, then wouldn't I already be dead?
My mind was swimming with doubts and 'what if's' by the time the sun set and we began to say our goodbyes. Huntsman hadn't removed his arm from around my shoulders, keeping me close to him all throughout the get together. I didn't mind. It brought me a strange comfort, knowing that someone was there for me, keeping me safe. Especially when that someone was a man. He turned to me, smile in place, and moved his arm from around my shoulder, only to take my hand in his.
"How would you feel about staying with one of my friends tonight? You can choose who, it doesn't matter to any of us. We only want you comfortable."
I thought about it silently. "I get to choose?" He nodded in assurance. "Then, I would like to stay with Ina, if that's alright."
The girl smiled, taking my free hand in both of hers. "That's more than okay, that's great! We'll be the best of friends."
I tried to smile in reassurance, but I wasn't sure what to make of the girls bubbly personality. She seemed to be happy for no reason, and yet every reason imaginable at the same time. I supposed when you don't have to worry about disappointing your father, then you are able to be whoever you wanted to be.
"I believe you both with get along just fine," the Huntsman said in assurance to me, noticing the apprehension on my face. "Ina is a Royal as well, you will both have much to speak about."
"Just because we're both from a Royal family doesn't mean that we'll have a lot to speak about, Huntsman." Ina said, rolling her eyes. I was thankful that she spoke what I had been thinking, because I had been unsure of how to say it without insulting the man.
The Huntsman rolled his eyes. "Of course not, how daft of me to insinuate such a thing!"
That night, I laid awake in the small room that Ina and Wolfsbane had set aside for me, wondering what things were going to be like now. I didn't know what I would do, not having my family with me. Although, I'm not sure that they could be considered a family anymore. I didn't want to be a burden on anyone, didn't want to put anyone out.
I wondered what it would be like to live on my own. Would it be possible for me to fend for myself, to take care of myself? I'm sure that Ina and the rest of my new acquaintances would be willing to help if I truly needed it, but could I handle the majority of the responsibility myself? I wanted to believe that I could.
My mother had always taught me to be independent. She always said that a true princess didn't need a man to lead her, but rather could lead herself. I wondered if that still applied now, in the life of solitude and hiding. I'm sure it would, but then again, my insecurities came back to haunt me.
If I were being completely honest, I didn't know what I was going to do. I had lost my family, my belongings. My entire life had become a jumbled mess. I didn't know who these people were, or if I could trust them completely, although I didn't get any bad signals from a single one of them. I didn't completely know where I was, or where I would go after this. I didn't know what I was going to do.
Before I knew it, the pale morning light started to shine through the thin glass of my window. With a sigh, I climbed out of my bed and began my morning routine to the best of my abilities. Once I was dressed and presentable, I made my way out to the kitchen. I found Ina cooking at the large, iron stove, much like the ones that we had in the castle.
"Is there anything I can help with?" I asked, feeling bad when she dropped a bowl of berries from surprise.
"Oh, good morning, Lara. And, no thank you, you're the guest. I can handle a simple breakfast. You just make yourself comfortable."
"If you're sure," I hesitated. "I don't mind helping, truly."
"Maybe tomorrow morning," she said with a wink as I sat down at the long table. "Do you know how to cook?"
I nodded. "More than a lady of high stature should, or at least that's what my father says."
"How did you learn?"
"My mother didn't come from a very rich family, though they were still of a noble stature. She and her mother had done most of the cooking in their home, since they couldn't afford a cook. She had started teaching me from a young age. When she died, Mammy, our cook and my nurse, took over the lessons."
Her face softened at the mention of my mother. "I heard about the Queen's passing. I'm so sorry, Lara. It must be terrible to lose a mother."
"It was hard, but I always have a little piece of her inside of me. My father always said I was a spitting image of her. Mammy also said that I had my mother's rebellious spirit." I laughed a little. "Maybe that's how I ended up here."
Before we could finish our conversation, Wolfsbane and the Huntsman walked in the side door, talking away a storm. I watched as Wolfsbane shook his head, hanging his coat on a hook. "I'm telling you, we should take out the back wall, open up the living room while we're already at it."
"What are you boys arguing about now?" Ina asked, giving Wolfsbane a chaste kiss on the cheek.
The Huntsman sighed. "This one," he jerked his thumb in Wolfsbanes direction. "Thinks we should knock out the entire back wall, instead of just the part behind the bedroom."
"What are you remodeling?"
"His house," Wolfsbane replied, snaking his arm around Ina's waist. "He wants to put in a second bedroom. But, you know how tiny his house is anyways, he could use the extra space."
"You should knock out the entire back wall." I replied quietly.
Wolfsbane shouted. "Even the girl agrees with me! Wait," he turned to me. "Why are you agreeing with me?"
