Hunting

A tingle of anticipation ran through the air as Emelia and Elizabeth stepped through the entrance. The dining hall was draped in purple and gold ribbons that curled around the corners of each white tablecloth. An ornate chandelier hung overhead, spilling golden light throughout the room despite the chill of winter outside. The aroma of roasting turkey wafted through the air and mingled with the sweet scents of caramelized yams, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Platters of food, carefully placed on top of white tablecloths, were laden with steaming vegetables and succulent meats waiting to be shared amongst friends. Leon and James stood up, broad smiles etched on their faces, as Emelia and Elizabeth approached the dining table.

Leon pulled out the heavy mahogany chair, the legs scraping against the polished floor. Emelia delicately took her seat as Elizabeth gracefully joined James on the opposite side of the table. Servants with white gloves glided across the room, carefully pouring a deep ruby red wine into each goblet. The air was filled with the scent of spices, herbs, and freshly baked bread, leaving each guest in awe of the delicious aromas. No one dared speak and break the mood as they took in every moment of the feast prepared by the highly skilled chefs.

Leon nervously cleared his throat. He forced a smile and looked at Emelia. “I hope your quarters are to your liking,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

She smiled at him, a genuine smile spreading from ear to ear. “It’s exactly as I left it,” she said.

Leon’s fork paused mid-air, a small piece of turkey balancing on the tines. His eyes glinted as he looked at her. “It will always be your room,” he said gently, “You’re welcome here anytime.”

Elizabeth’s gaze stopped on Emelia, her eyes and mouth wide open. Her brow furrowed as she asked, “Your room? You’d lived here before?”

“I did,” Emelia held Leon’s gaze with a smoldering intensity. Her eyes were dark and inviting, sending a message of warmth and affection.

Elizabeth nervously cleared her throat, breaking the intense gaze between Emelia and Leon. Her eyes darted between them, curious. “When?” she asked softly.

Leon paused momentarily, his brow furrowed, before taking a deep breath and beginning. “It was shortly after my parents died,” he said slowly. “I had been thrust into the position of king without any warning, and I had no idea how to navigate it. The weight of the crown felt heavy on my shoulders, and I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of ruling a kingdom.” He nervously twirled his goblet, tracing the ridges of the glass with his thumb. His brow furrowed, and his mouth curved down as he said, “It was a little difficult transitioning into that role.”

Emelia coughed, her eyes wide, as she set her glass back down on the table. She put a hand to her chest and shook her head, trying to conceal the shock across her face. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she said, “A little trouble?”

He chuckled. “Okay.” Memories of Emelia running into his room, bringing light and life to his dark and lonely existence, flooded his mind. He smiled, his eyes crinkling with joy at the recollection. “A lot of trouble,” he added, looking over to Elizabeth. “Emelia came and stayed for about six months,” he said, recalling the warmth and comfort she had brought him during that time. “She helped me work through my grief over my parents and made me realize the importance of my place as King.” He turned back to Emelia, a sincere sense of gratitude in his voice and the depths of his gaze. “I can’t thank you enough, Emelia.”

Emelia’s eyes widened with surprise, and her cheeks flushed as she felt a slight flutter in her chest. She cleared her throat and said in a trembling voice, “Of course, Leon.”

At the dinner table, Leon spun stories about their days when Emelia stayed in Iris. Elizabeth’s eyes were wide with fascination as he spoke, her elbows propped on the table and her hands cradling her wine glass. A warm smile spread across his face as he looked at Emelia, “She would even go hunting with the boys and me ’cause she’s one of the best damn archers I’ve ever seen.” He continued, weaving memories into a quilt of nostalgia.

Elizabeth’s mouth dropped wide open, “Emelia? You hunt?”

The excitement in her voice was palpable as she said, “I never miss a chance to go out hunting.” She shifted her gaze to Leon and, with a twinkle in her eye, added, “By the way, I bought my bow if you want to go out tomorrow morning.”

Leon’s lips curled up, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. He spoke slowly and deliberately, accentuating the words. “There is nothing I would like more.”

Leon and Emelia sat side by side at the table, their eyes locked together in a private conversation. An invisible bubble of warmth surrounded them, and not a soul dared to interrupt them, James included. James couldn’t look away—he was both fascinated and jealous of their bond. The green-eyed man watched with a pang of envy in his heart as they laughed and talked, finishing each other’s sentences with a fondness he had never known before.

That little flutter in James’ chest started to make itself known again, but this time as a rumbling fire that would not go out. It fueled his impulse to rip them apart. He remembered the last time he and Emelia went hunting - the sound of her laughter, her joy as she pierced the air with arrows, the way a flush of excitement spread across her cheeks. He was scared that the same thing would happen between her and Leon, so he tried to intervene in any way he could.

Before Emelia could finish her thought, James cut in. “Save the hunting for after the ball. I wouldn’t want you getting trampled by wild horses,” he said with a sly smirk. His blue eyes twinkled as he glanced over at Emelia and gave her a quick wink.

A soft smile spread across her face as she reminisced about her and James’ journey into the woods. Her gaze shifted to Leon, and her tone softened. “He’s right.”