Fallen From Grace

Part 5

Emilia tried to control her nerves as she was first introduced to the future Queen of Spain. She bowed and introduced herself praying she didn't fall on her face due to her nervousness causing her legs to shake. She was rewarded with a kind smile and an arm around her own as the Queen lead her down the hallway.

"So Lady Emilia you are to be my escort here in France?" Mary asked in a kind voice.

"I am no Lady, Your Grace just a simple girl here to serve." She felt a slight blush and looked to the floor.

"Oh I do not believe that. From what I understand you are a special friend to the king's favorite son." Emilia's head shot up at that statement wondering how she had figured that out in the five minutes she had been here. The alarm must have shown on her face because Mary smiled a little bigger and patted her arm. "Word travels fast at court and there is nothing to be afraid of. Everything I have heard about you has been very good." Emilia tried to shake her nervousness off and took a deep breath.

"Sebastian and his mother took me in when I had nowhere else to go. I owe them everything."

"So they are your family then." She stated more than asked.

"I suppose that is the case, yes." She looked away shyly not sure where this conversation was headed. Mary sensing her discomfort steered the conversation in another direction.

"My friends and I haven't been here since we were children. So much has changed, perhaps when we get settled you could give us a tour." Emilia nodded her head in agreement.

"As you wish Your Grace." They stopped right outside the doorways which lead to the room that she would be staying in. Before they went in however Mary stopped her causing her to turn and face her. She was a little taller than Emilia but then again people were but her eyes sought hers before she spoke. Emilia shifted slightly unsure what she was supposed to say or do.

"Please, call me Mary. I would like to think that we will be good friends. If you are like family to the king's son then you are like family to his brother. This means we will be like sisters one day. I think I would like that very much." Emilia wasn't sure what to say and tried hard not to show her surprise. This was unexpected and she couldn't help but return the smile. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I think I would like that very much." She bowed her head slightly as they entered the room, her ladies followed behind her.

Throughout the morning Emilia tried to leave several times so that the ladies could get settled but each time Mary found some reason to keep her from leaving. She asked questions about everything and everyone. She even asked about Emilia's life before she came to court, a subject that only Bash and his mother knew about. She tiptoed around the issue and only gave bits of information. No need to bother a royal with her insignificant problems. All in all however it was an enjoyable morning. Mary ever so kind and her lady's excepting her as if she had always been one of their own. She grew rather fond of Aylee and Greer. Kenna she tolerated but understood her ambitions and Lola, although a bit stand offish was very respectable. It was very overwhelming to her. She was finally able to make her escape with promise of food from the kitchen, insisting on going herself so that she could make sure only the best be delivered. She left the room and made her way around the corner and leaned against the wall in order to catch her breath. Her mind spinning, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing her mind racing. This was not what she expected and she wasn't sure how to handle it. She gave herself an in depth pet talk and finally opened her eyes only to jump and give a little yelp to see who was standing in front of her. His arms tucked behind his back and a smug smile on his face.

"Bash! You scared me half to death!" This earned her a chuckle as he took a step closer to her.

"So was it as bad as you thought?"

"Nearly." She said as she rolled her eyes. He frowned slightly and took another step closer and touched her arm

"Was she unkind to you?" He took another breath before she answered.

"No that wasn't it at all. She was surprisingly excepting of me, her lady's as well."

"Then what is it?" His concern showing on his face. She had the sudden urge to smooth the worry lines from his brow but gave herself a mental shake. She shouldn't be thinking things like that about her best friend. He would never see her that way. "Emilia?!" He asked again which grabbed her attention back to the conversation at hand.

"It's just a bit overwhelming that's all. She says we are going to be like sisters Bash. I'm not sure what to think." She looked up at him worryingly which won her a relaxed smile from him.

"Oh princess it will be fine." He tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear before he tucked her hand at his elbow. He lead her down the hallway as he asked where she was going.

"I haven't had the best of luck when it comes to sisters. What if I make a mistake? What if she starts to know me and then finds out she doesn't like me? What if....?" Before she could finish her statement Bash turned her around so that she was facing him again. He forced her to look up at him.

"You need to stop that kind of thinking. You are a good, kind, strong and beautiful person. Anyone who doesn't like or respect you is not worth knowing, besides the Queen strikes me as being someone genuine. Now stop fussing and let's get going. We have a wedding to attend." She groaned slightly and quietly but he must have heard her because he let out a chuckle. "I thought every girl liked going to a wedding."

"Yes and every girl like to wear such constricting clothing and remembering social graces." She said as she grimaced and pulled at her waist slightly which only caused him to bark back more laughter as they continued down the hallway.

A few hours later after the noon day meal she was once again in her room. This time it was to pick out a new dress for the wedding. Something she really wasn't looking forward to with all the people and dancing. She didn't really know how to dance and the thought of it almost frightened her. She just prayed that she didn't make a complete fool of herself. She really wouldn't be going but with her new duties it was expected. She sighed a deep sigh and approached her cupboard pulling it open. As she started to rustle through the dresses she heard a sound coming from the back of the closet. She pulled the dresses back when something flew out of the cupboard. She jumped back with a slight scream stumbling backwards and falling to the floor. When she did she hit her head on the table behind her. The next thing she remembered was opening her eyes to darkness and hearing someone moving in that darkness.