On Stranger Tides

Chapter 17

The palace was being decorated for the royal wedding that was to happen the next morning. Bouquets of pale, pastel flowers were being assorted in every vase and any banister that they could put flowers on. Fabrics in similar colors with small delicate patterns of swirls or dots were placed in between clusters of flowers and covered the chairs and tables. The wedding arch wrapped in light-colored tulle and with delicate vines and flowers. The cooks and servants were scrambling about trying to come up with the last-minute details and sort through the placement for everything. Emma almost felt bad, as this was probably the most beautiful wedding set up, one she would've imagined for her and her true love. The servants and her parents had worked very hard on this, and she was just running away. Emma knew though that running was the only way that she could ever get her freedom and prove to her parents that she could be on her own. 

Her parents had said that the only reason she was betrothed to Prince Matthias was that their kingdom was in debt and trade was severely down. Over the last few weeks, she had been trapped in her room, Emma had messaged many kingdoms in many different realms by messenger bird telling them briefly of the struggles their kingdom had been facing. Some had agreed to be trade partners, others would be willing to give loans in exchange for certain goods only found in The Enchanted Forest. Not every kingdom, however, was willing to do business, but because of the Charmings' good reputation, humble deeds, nobility, and policies of the past, most were willing to help. That's how simple it was, but Emma knew her parents weren't ones to ask for help, that had to be the only reason they were all in this mess in the first place.

Since Emma and Samuel had come up with the plan she has been putting things in order, so it would be easier for her parents to deal with her departure. Of course, she would probably never be looked at the same by them, this, she had to do. She left them the letters from the other kingdoms, and their plans for deals, she had laid out other plans to keep these trade deals going and to keep them strong.  She had written a list of other ideas she had for policy, economics, education, and laws. One law included the fact that arranged marriages were wrong. These ideas were just mere bullet points, but maybe it would make her parents see the ideas of the next generation, and keep in mind the changes the future had in store. She had written her parents a letter explaining everything, and told them not to worry, she would be back to visit. Emma had also written a letter for her future sibling, leaving it for him or her to open on their 13th birthday. In this letter, she included ways of sneaking through windows, how to deal with mother's outgoing self or father's great ability to say no. Emma had also said, to follow their dreams, and she believed that by the time they read this the world would be a different place. She added that she was sorry for leaving, and hoped that they would be a great leader someday.

This was harder than Emma had originally anticipated, she was just now realizing how much she would miss this life. How much she would miss her parents, no matter how much they disagreed on things. How much she would miss the halls she spent her whole life going down, playing games with her father or walking alongside her mother. How much she would miss the staff, her friends. Emma never hated her life in the castle only what it brought rules, expectations, and fame. If her parents learned to understand her and figure out their faults it would mean everything. If then they were willing to let her be who she was, Emma would come back home. 

Emma walked up the stairs trailing her hand along the familiar railing, then she walked down the hallway that led to her room. She was on her way to see Samuel off to the docks, he was scheduled to deliver her dinner then he would be off.  Emma was ready now, she had walked the palace halls all day reliving every good and bad memory. She was certain that this was the right path for her. Emma stepped into her room closing the door behind her, Samuel was waiting at her desk with her dinner tray in hand.