Beyond the Castle Walls

Chapter 3

"What did you call me?" Emmaline tilts her head curiously.

"Emmy?" Anna raises her eyebrows. "I figured you didn't want my mom to know your real name, so I used a nickname."

"Nickname?" Emmaline repeats, confused.

"Yeah, it's a short version of your name that your friends call you." Anna explains, smiling slightly in amusement.

"Oh, what's your nickname?" Emmaline asks in excitement. They're friends now, Anna even made a new name for her!

"Don't have one, my name's too short," Anna shrugs and Emmaline frowns. If friends call each other nicknames, then Enmaline wants to have one for Anna.

"I'll just have to come up with one then," Emmaline brightens again, voice determined.

"You have fun with that," Anna chuckles and plops down onto the small stack of pillows in the corner of the small room, which Emmaline assumed to be her bed.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Emmaline exclaims and fishes around basket for the loaf of bread she brought, pulling it out and handing it to the blonde. "I brought you some bread."

"Really?" Anna's expression changes to surprise, grasping the bread in her hands. She breaks it in half, carefully setting one half down on her 'bed' and taking a small bite of the other. Emmaline takes a seat next to her, pulling her legs under her.

"I'm sorry I didn't bring enough for you and your mom, I didn't know you weren't..." Emmaline trails off, unsure how to word it.

"An orphan?" Anna says flatly, and Emmaline nodded. She felt bad, she didn't mean to upset her, she just tends to think before speaking. Her mother disliked that about her. "No, almost was though. Mother caught a nasty cold last winter, she just barely pulled through."

"I'm sorry," Emmaline knits her eyebrows together but Anna shakes her head.

"No, it's okay. Most kids have it worse," she shrugs, but Emmaline can see some hurt and fear hiding behind Anna's unbothered expression. She loves her mother and she's afraid of losing her, just the thought of it terrifies her.

The girls sit in silence for a bit, and Emmaline worries she went too far. She glances over at Anna, who's fiddling with her hands in her lap.

"Anna!" The girl's mother calls, making both the girl's heads snap up to the doorway as the woman opens the door. "It's almost time for supper. Would you like to join us, Emmy?"

"No, no, I should probably be getting home now." Emmaline shakes her head and stands up, picking up her basket.

"Alright, have a good night, dear." Marietta smiles and pulls Emmaline in, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before closing the door again.

Emmaline looks at Anna with a surprised expression, hand hovering over her cheek. She doesn't really get kissed on the cheek, only respectful pecks to her knuckles.

"Sorry, she's very affectionate. Here," Anna apologizes and brings her hand up to Emmaline's cheek, rubbing it slightly.

Emmaline's cheeks flush a light pink when Anna finishes wiping her mother's kiss away, fighting the urge to touch the cheek that was tingling from her friend's touch.

"C'mon, I'll walk to to the edge of the town," Anna smiles and walks out of the room, a still slightly flustered Emmaline following behind.

The girls leave the house and walk quietly towards the faint trail at the edge of the woods from Emmaline constantly making the trek to the village.

The reach the end of the cobblestone street after a few minutes, both stopping and glancing at each other.

"This is as far as I can go," Anna says awkwardly gesturing to the forest in front of them.

"Alright," Emmaline nods quietly not sure what to say. "Thank you."

"It's no problem," Anna shrugs it off, glancing at the ground.

"Do you know when you'll be back?" She asks quietly, not looking up at her.

"Probably not for a few days," Emmaline answers honestly. "I don't want my parents getting suspicious."

Anna nods and looks up again, hesitating before pulling the girl into a hug. Emmaline blinks in surprise before gently wrapping her arms around her, smiling softly.

Anna pulls away and smiles at her, giving one last wave before turning around to walk back to her house.

Emmaline grins widely before turning the opposite direction, the silly smile not leaving her face as she begins the trip back to the castle.

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"Oh, there you are." The Queen announces as Emmaline steps into the library, her father perched in a chair and her mother standing next to it. The King was relaxed, although still intimidating. He had his arm propped up on the arm of the seat and his fingers brushing against his cheekbone, looking intently at his daughter.

"You called for me, mother?" Emmaline inquires, careful to keep her manners.

"Yes," her father answered instead, sitting up a bit straighter. "Leave us, Margaret."

Emmaline's mother nods stiffly and strides out of the room, her dress sweeping behind her. Her father gestures to a seat in front of him, and Emmaline quickly sits down.

"Emmaline," he begins. "I'm informing you now that we will have a guest staying with us for a while. He'll arrive at dinner."

"Why is he coming?" Emmaline asks.

"We have some business to take care of," he waves his hand leisurely. "I expect you to be polite and well-mannered at all times. Do not make a fool of me."

"Yes, sir." Emmaline nods. She decides then and there that she'll do her best to stay away from him, knowing she will inevitably end up slipping up if she doesn't.

"Go dress yourself up a bit, I want you to make the best first impression possible." He instructs, a small smirk tugging at the side of his lips. "Go and assist your sister when you've finished."

Emmaline nods and stands, smoothing out her skirt before leaving the room. She hurries across the hallway as fast as she can without running, wanting to get ready quickly so she can go help Elizabeth.

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I have some really good ideas for this book, I can't wait to get to the good stuff!

Love you all lots!