Chapter 11: Into the Forest pt. 2

James lay frozen for a moment, his racing heart pounding in his ears as he tried to process the last few minutes. He shook off the shock and walked over to where Emelia lay on the muddy bank of the stream. As he approached, her face lit up with a smile, and a loud cackle escaped her lips as she propped herself up on her arms. “You’re laughing? We almost died!” James said in disbelief.

At first, she said nothing as James helped her up on wobbly legs. She could feel the muddy sludge seeping through the thin layers of her clothes. Taking a deep breath, she bravely lifted her chin and declared, “And yet it’s been the most fun since I arrived at the castle.”

James slowly leaned over and gently used his thumb and index finger to brush away a speck of dirt from Emelia’s face. Their surroundings were beautiful in the late afternoon sun - the sun’s rays filtering through the trees, the light trickle of the creek cutting its way through the terrain, and birds leisurely chirping in concert with Emelia’s melodic laughter a few feet away. He could hardly believe they made it out alive after their close call, yet he couldn’t help but savor the moment. To emphasize his point, he tenderly plucked a piece of moss off her shoulder and said softly, “It was fun. Even if we almost died.”

Emelia’s breath caught as she looked into his deep blue eyes. She knelt down to pick up her quiver, her fingers brushing against the rough material. Her heart beat faster when she saw the flicker of a smile on his lips. “Would you mind helping me collect my bow and arrows?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said, turning his head to scan the ground. He saw a few by the bottom of the hill, their fletchings shimmering in the morning sunlight.

They worked in companionable silence, each in deep thought after their brush with death. Emelia stopped and breathed deeply, feeling refreshed as the chill air filled her lungs. The sun was setting, and its soft pink and orange tones painted the sky with a blanket of peace. Emelia felt calm and content and finally looked to James, breaking the silence with a passionate declaration. “I love you,” she said.

Her voice lingered in the air, still and heavy. James seemed to stop breathing, his body tensing and his gaze widening with surprise. She had finally said it, and he hadn’t expected it. He wanted to cry out joyfully, but his shock kept his mouth clamped shut. His heart raced as her words settled in his mind. He’d waited for so long for this moment. A moment that was here, now. His voice was a croak as he managed to say just two words, “You - you do?” She nodded, her eyes shone with love and happiness, and he finally found the words he’d been searching for so long. “I love you too.”

Like the force of a river bursting through a dam, Emelia couldn’t hold her feelings back any longer. She felt the mud squish under her feet as she walked up to James and threw her arms around his neck. The breeze felt like silk and chaffed at her exposed skin, like fingers touching for the first time. Suddenly, their lips pressed against each other’s, the pink lips soft and supple against his own. As their kiss became more profound and passionate, she felt the heat between them rise.

Emelia gasped as James’ hands slid down her back, the rough calluses sending tingles up her spine. His strong arms encircled her waist and drew her closer, and she could feel his firm chest pressing against hers. She let out a soft moan of pleasure, and he wanted nothing more than to take away the tiny bits of fabric separating them. His gaze lingered on her body hungrily, and she could feel the heat radiating between them, intensifying their craving to be with each other. As their passionate kiss ended, Emelia melted into him, feeling his warmth and the fire blazing inside her. His deep eyes, full of tenderness and uncertainty, seemed to search her core as he murmured her name. “Emelia.” She saw a desire to make her his in his gaze and instinctively knew what he was about to say. His voice shook with emotion as he whispered, “I want you. I want all of you, but I won’t have you unless we are married. I want to marry you.” He rested his forehead against hers, the intensity of his words still lingering in the air.

Her stomach twisted, and her breath stuck in her throat as she tentatively asked the question. “What about you marrying another royal?” He glanced away momentarily, and she began to count the seconds until he answered.

James saw Emelia standing before him, her eyes brimming with love and understanding as she waited for his reply. He remembered the day he had first seen her and the days that followed when their friendship had blossomed into something more, eventually turning into the deep love they shared now. He thought of all the days they had spent together, the laughter they had shared, and all the plans they had made with one another. This woman was his world. If he had to marry someone else, it would mean losing her forever. “I never cared about that,” James said softly, brokenly studying Emelia’s face as he spoke. “All I care about is you.”

“Then marry me,” she replied with a warm smile.

James’ eyes glowed with joy as he embraced Emelia and spun her around, her long hair billowing around her. He set her down softly and pressed his lips against hers, passionate and full of love. Emelia felt a thrill coursing through her body as she kissed him back, and with newfound confidence, he declared, “I’ll tell my father as soon as he returns.”

After gathering all of their fallen belongings, James and Emelia made their way back to the castle. The dirt caked on their clothes felt like a second skin as they walked hand in hand. Once they had drawn a hot bath to soothe and relax their weary bodies, they met in the dining room for dinner. Emelia could feel James’ fingers tracing circles on the back of her hand as they sat at the table. When she looked up, he was smiling at her, his smirk barely hidden by the flickering candlelight. She blushed and asked him, “What are you thinking?”

He grasped her hands, his gaze so intensely focused on her that she couldn’t look away. His lips brushed against her ear, and the warmth of his breath sent tiny sparks of electricity down her neck. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice soft and full of longing. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks, and he pulled her closer into an embrace. James’s face was mere inches from hers, and as his lips curled into a smile, he murmured, “I can’t wait to marry you.”

The huge mahogany doors swung open, creaking from the weight of centuries, and in the doorway stood Queen Angeline. Her white gown was resplendent, and many jewels sparkled in the firelight. Her eyes were like steel as they focused on her grandson. “There you are, dear,” she said in a voice like ice.

James was taken aback to find his grandmother standing there with a vivacious woman who seemed to be his age. Her golden hair was tucked behind her ears, framing her striking blue eyes, which were so similar to his own that he had to do a double take. He quickly stood up, releasing Emelia’s hand from beneath the table. “Grandmother,” he muttered, stepping forward to kiss her on the cheek. “Welcome back. I wish you had let me know you were coming.”

Queen Angeline slowly scrutinized Emelia’s face, searching for an answer to something that seemed to be hovering between them. Though Angeline’s expression didn’t change, something in her eyes shifted, as if she had seen an answer to a question she hadn’t asked. “I see,” the queen finally said, her confident and somewhat mysterious expression conveying a greater understanding of the situation.

Emelia, her palms damp and her head held high pushed back her chair and stepped forward, the sound of its feet scraping against the marble floor echoing around the chamber. She bowed her head respectfully, “Queen Angeline, welcome back.”

Angeline slowly pivoted to face the woman beside her. She quietly said, “James, I’d like you to meet Princess Elizabeth from Kingdom Macula.” Her fiery eyes met Emelia’s as she forced out a saccharine greeting, “Your fiancé.”