Dreaming Cinderella

Chapter 5

"I-I'm so s-sorry!" Emilia stammered having a hard time keeping back a fit of giggles that were threatening to burst from her. She knew she shouldn't laugh, after all it was her fault the stranger was wet, but the look on Margaret's face was making it difficult to do anything but not laugh.

"Yes, so I can see." The stranger said seeing through Emilia's attempts at hiding her laughter, and she bit at her bottom lip, something she'd always done when she was nervous. "Luckily for me I think I needed a bit of a bath anyway." The Stranger admitted sheepishly giving Emilia a kind smile and she felt herself relaxing relived he wasn't angry.

"I really am sorry," She wanted him to know and he shook his head, shaking the water in her direction, getting her wet in the process not that it really mattered since she was already soaked through.

"Don't be. My luck the last couple of days has been terrible anyway so this only seems fitting, actually." He said with a chuckle and Emilia started chewing on her lip again suddenly feeling worse. "At least I didn't miss out on all the fun." He teased taking in the sight of Emilia and Margaret and both girls blushed red at his words', Emilia realizing the sight she must look.

"Do you mind if I fill up my canteen?" The stranger asked and Emilia shook her head watching as he pulled a canteen from a pouch on his waist and went to the well the bucket in tow. Both girls watched as he filled his canteen drinking before refilling it again.

"I have to admit, I feel quite refreshed now. Thanks." He smiled, and Emilia didn't know whether he meant for the drink or for drenching him in water, but she smiled all the same knowing she was lucky he wasn't angry.

"My parent's own this inn, please won't you come in?" She offered knowing it was the least she could do. She had drenched his clothes after all. She couldn't leave him walking around wet all day, he'd catch his death.

"I'm afraid I've no money, like I said the last few days have been poor luck on my part. I got separated from my companions' and made it here to this village by dumb luck. I followed a crow." he admitted and Emilia perked up, longing to here his story now that he'd started it. Already she was spinning tales on how he had been separated from his friends'.

"Is it a good story?" She asked bluntly catching him off guard. "How you and your friends' got separated." She explained and he thought about his answer before finally shrugging his shoulders in answer.

"I don't know if I'd say its good, more like stupid really." He told her and she smiled. Stupid usually meant it would be a good story.

"My parent's won't care you've no money, they offer shelter to any who need it." She told him slipping her shoes back on her feet. She'd kicked them off at some point during her battle with Margaret. "My Mother will even insist on a hot meal. Besides' I did practically drown you, the least I could do is allow you to dry off." She added and he laughed at her words'.

"That is true." He admitted with a grin. "Very well I would be a fool to refuse such an offer." He finally decided and she and Margaret led him back to the inn where they were met by her Mother as soon as they walked through the door; who could only sigh at the sight of them.