The Princess & The Pirate

{ 17 } Broken Carriage

{ POV: Emma }

The sun's bright light caused my eyes to fly open. I sighed and stuffed my head in the pillow.

A lot had happened lately, a lot of stuff I'm still coping with.
My parents both had passed away. My mom died due to an attack of the castle along with my dad. Neal, Killian and I all survived. I missed them everyday and I wished that they could be here to see Neal and I continue to grow up.

Luckily, they didn't die before they could see my wedding. Our wedding day was the last good day I could remember.
Killian and I live in the castle, we mostly just accompany Neal and support him. Neal was now King and enjoyed it. He was an outstanding leader, better than I could ever be.

Along with these many joys came a lot of heartbreak. But we have endured it and will cope with it.

I got up and changed into a white gown, but it wasn't too puffy. I left our room and found Killian and Neal talking at the table. I sat down beside Killian and smiled.

"Good morning, love" he said as he watched me sit. I smiled back, "Good morning". I looked down at my plate and began to eat.

"I'll be going to visit a princess nearby, I need to find a wife in hopes of saving the kingdom" Neal said but never took his eyes off his plate.

"Why would you need to marry someone? What's wrong with the kingdom?" I asked. He shrugged, "We are too poor, marrying someone could help increase the kingdoms income".

I shook my head, "Are you sure you want to just marry someone for business and not for love?". He nodded, "It's for the kingdom". With that, he got up and left. I sighed and looked back at Killian.

"Before you ask, this is a horrible idea" he said chuckling. "But it works".

I nodded, "But he shouldn't have to give up love! I mean, that's not fair". Killian nodded, "Sometimes the best things are unexpected...take us for example, who would've guessed the pirate and the princess?". I chuckled, "Good point".

{ POV: Neal }

I changed into presentable clothes to wear when I meet the princess. I didn't even know her name yet, but I knew I had to do this.

I heard a knock on the door. "Yes?" I called out as I slightly turned my head. "It's time to leave now, sire!" a guard shouted back. I nodded, "I'll be out in a moment". I heard the sound of his footsteps slowly disappear. I sighed, time to get this over with.

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I felt the carriage rock around as it road over the bumpy, dirt path. I wrapped the small ring in the plan of my hand. I admit it, I was envious of my little sister. She got the one thing I desired, to marry for love.

I felt the carriage stop. There's no way we arrived in such a short time. I moved over and opened the door. A guard came running over.

"What's happened?" I asked. "There seems to be a broken carriage in the middle of the road, sire!" He said, keeping a straight face. I nodded, "I'll investigate". I got out of the carriage and began walking towards the broken carriage.

It was purple and gold, truly an amazing colour combination. It had a wheel missing along with two other broken wheels. I approached it and noticed the door was slightly open. That's when I heard someone gasp.

I looked down at the carriage and saw something move inside. "Men!" I called out and several men stood beside me. I held out my sword and kicked open the door.

I looked inside and saw a woman covering herself with a green cape, she had the hood over her head so I couldn't see her face.

"Who are you?" I asked in a serious tone. Slowly, she pushed the hood off. I now saw her beautiful brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. I smiled at her.

"I won't hurt you" I said in attempts to make her come out. She smiled warmly, "My name is Bliss". I grinned and held my hand out for her. She hesitantly took it and I helped her climb out.

"I'm King Neal" I said to her as she fixed her purple dress. I noticed she was a peasant.

"What happened?" I asked as I gestured to the broken carriage beside us.

She frowned, "A rich man was trying to take me to his home so I could work for him, I refused so he forced me to...as we road I heard strange noises, then the carriage broke and it stopped...they didn't bother to bring me with them so they left me, I thought I heard bears so I stayed hidden until you found me".

I sighed, "I'm so sorry to hear that, sounds like you need some rest and maybe new clothes...would you like for us to bring you back to my palace?". She nodded, "I would appreciate that very much". I smiled and gestured to my carriage.

She walked over to it and got in with the help of one of my guards. I smiled and looked back at the broken carriage.

"Sire?"

I turned to the guard standing in front of me. "Yes?" I replied. He sighed, "What about the princess you are to meet?". I shrugged, "Take another guard with you and tell them that important stuff has come up and that I'll meet her another time". He nodded and turned around.

I walked over to the carriage and got in. I smiled and climbed into the carriage. Bliss smiled at me and I gave my guards the signal to leave.

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I lead Bliss into the throne room and sat down with her. She smiled at all the stuff in the room. "This is amazing! It's so much more beautiful than I imagined!" She said with a big grin.

I chuckled, "I've lived here my entire life, I guess I don't see it like you do". "You mean that you don't see it like a peasant does" she replied.

I nodded, "I suppose that makes me sound ignorant?". She shook her head, "I'm pretty sure most people see it that way". I chuckled.

I have never really experienced what love feels like, but I think I do now. Even though we just met, I was in love with the beautiful Bliss.