It was always you // discontinued

Settling In

(Emma's POV)

The last time I saw Killian was when our countries became enemies with each other. I was seventeen and he was nineteen. It's been five years since then. I remember his brother also died that year. So many misfortunes happened and none of the circumstances were explained to me.

"Thank you..." I look up into Killian's amazingly blue eyes.

"It's the least I could do-" he pauses and thinks. "You must be starving, I'll go and see what I can get you. But first..." He opens up his large wardrobe and pulls out a pale and simple lavendar dress.  "If you want a change of clothes you can wear this..." He carefully places it on his bed.

"Why do you have a dress? I assume it isn't yours."

"You assume correctly. It belonged to... Well, a lady visitor that was once here, she decided to spend a rather enjoyable night here and left her dress." His cheeks turn a light shade of pink at what he was implying.

"Oh..." Is all I can manage to say, it would be far too awkward to say anything else on that subject.

He then walks to a door in his room. It leads into another bedroom, the one I used to stay in when I visited. He opens the door and motions me over. "If you'd like you can stay in there," he points into the room. "Or you can stay in my room, it's up to you."

"Wouldn't the servants find me?"

"No, they only go in there with my permission, so you should be fine if you decide to stay there."

I nod slightly, "I'll stay in there I suppose..."

"Alright. Make yourself at home, as this will be your home for quite some time. I'll be back as soon as I can..." he looks at me, hesitant to leave, there's a look of guilt plastered to his face.

"It's okay... go ahead, I'll be fine." I assure him, speaking softly.

(Killian's POV)

After leaving Emma to herself, I hurriedly walk to the kitchens. The moment I walk in, the servants stop what they're doing and face me with surprised looks on their faces. I hardly ever come down here so I suppose it is shocking. They immediately bow then get back to work.

One of the servants, a young girl, comes up to me sheepishly. "Excuse me, sir, can I help you with something?"

"Yes, actually. Is it possible for me to get a bit of food and a glass of water? Oh, and please make sure not to tell the king or queen about this..."

She looks at me, probably wondering if she should fulfill my request, but luckily I came prepared. I take one of her rough hands in mine and put a gold coin in her palm, and I use my hand to wrap her fingers around it.

"Please?" I ask her with a small smile.

"Y-yes, of course. And thank you! I'll be right with you." She leaves me, and a few minutes later she comes back holding a tray with a cover on top, along with a glass of cold water.

"Thank you," I smile gratefully at her, and take the tray and water out of her hands.

I manage to avoid my parents as I ascend back to my room. I carefully open the door and walk in, I don't see Emma anywhere so I automatically assume she's in the conjoining room.

The door is shut so I softly knock on it. "Emma..."

The door opens to reveal Emma in the lavender dress I had shown her.

"This is for you, love." I walk into the room and place the food and drink on a small table in the corner of the room. I uncover the platter, which has an assortment of fruits and slices of meat. This will definitely do her some good.

"Thank you... I still don't understand why you're doing this for me. Our countries are enemies, remember?"

"Our countries may be enemies, but that doesn't mean we have to be." That's when I notice something. Something shiny reflects on her neck from the sun shining into the room. It's the swan necklace I gave her so many years ago. "You still have it?" I gesture towards the shimmery object, and that earns me another small smile from her.

"Yes..."

Is she blushing?

She is most definitely blushing.

Her blush is adorable, there's no denying that.

"Help yourself to the food and rest... I'll be in my room if you need me, but later we need to talk."

She nods, understanding what I mean.

||this is a few hundred words less than the previous chapters, but I'll try and update the next one as soon as I can.||