I was lost, but now I'm found {{Arthur & Guineve}}

[ella]

"Emma!" An older women practicably screamed, calling out for the young girl. A young girl carrying a barrel of water, jumped at the sound of her named being screamed."Yes ma'am?" Emma asked softly, her eyes fixed on the woman's shoes. "What has taken you so long?" The older women nagged, snatching the barrel of water from Emma's small hands. "It was a long way ma'am, I'm ever so sorry!" Emma said as she lifted her dress in a bow. She really did not mean to take so long, but she had ran to the stream. She would have ran back, but if she did, she'd spill the water. Emma knew from experience that the punishment for spilling water was greater then being slower then expected. So Emma took her time on the way back ,making sure not to spill a drop. "Well seeing as it took you so long, you'll have to do more chores to make it up to us." The women boasted, as her children played around the tent.

"Of course." Emma said still speaking to the women feet. "What ever would your mother say now? I've taken you into my home, feed you, bathed you, kept you safe, and you can't fetch me a simple pale of water! What a shame!" The women shook her head at the though. Emma id nothing. It was common to be spoken to as such. Emma was used to it. Since her parents had died, she was used to such treatment. Her mother's friends had taken her in, passed her off to one another. She was no trouble really, she was just expensive. Another mouth to feed, to bath, to clothe. It was hard. But Emma did not need to be treated like this. Then again, she could run away? If she did she would surly die, as this women boldly told her. So Emma was stuck with this family, pretty much as a slave, until they grew tired of her, and sent her off to another family.

"Anyway. You will take this" The women began holding out a few coins to Emma. "to town to buy my family bread. If you hurry back, I'll give you some extra bread at supper tonight." The women laughter as she dropped the coins into Emma's out stretched hands. Emma took the coins and slipped them into a pocket for safe keeping. "Yes of course, thank you ma'am." Emma whispered, as she backed away slowly. "Be gone child. I don't want to see your face until you have bread." The women turned on her heals to go play with her children. Emma only now looked up, as she watched her 'siblings' playing. Why without Emma, the other kid's would have had to fetch water, and bread. But no. Seeing as they were so nice to take Emma in, she of course had to do salve labor. It was the 'least she could do' after all, Emma was such a burden!

At least she was not whacked this time. Evil women. Emma turned and she too went of into the forest. Emma knew the way to the market well by now. It took her but an hour to get there, maybe less. Emma was unsure. All she knew was she knew this place well. She was always sent here to fetch something different almost daily. Emma was used to being here. Though this was the first time she was sent to the market alone. Usually she was sent with another older child. But apparently at age 7 she was old enough to wonder the city alone. When that was decided, Emma has no idea. She just knew she had to get it right. So to keep her company on the way to the market, she called to her butterfly friends. She spoke to them, and giggled the whole way there. Before the break in the tress, she sent them away again, to keep them safe.

The journey had been rather short, her friends made sure of that. Walking into the market, was not what she was expecting. Yes she had been her so many times before, but never on her own. As the people rushed by her, not seeing the short girl, talking laughing going about their business. Emma suddenly felt very lost. She knew where she was, yet she was so lost. The streets were busy at this time, and Emma was not expecting so much movement. Her heart began to beat faster, her palms began to sweat, her breath quicken, and tears began to fill her eyes. She could go back, but if she returned with out bread, she would be beaten for sure, yelled at also. Who knew what would happen to her. Emma had to get bread. But where did she go? She felt like an aunt in a city of people. She surly get trampled if she tried to go into the city alone. But she could not return with out bread. She also had to return to the safety of the tent. But.... but... Emma drew blanks. Rather she stood by the side of a street, virtually undetected.Her face held a fixture of fear and worry. What was she going to do? Her mind was blank, and she was losing time. So much for her extra bread at supper.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

This journey had been a rather leisurely one thus far. Some of the maidens had decided to take a small trip to Willowdale to get some clothes and things unavailable to Camelot. Instead of just sending someone out to get them, as most had specific instructions from their mistresses, it turned into a small venture. Upon insistence from the ladies who maids were going out, a few knights banded together deciding to escort them; Arthur being one of these men and doing it for a very specific reason: Guinevère was one of the maidens. The forests were proving to be more and more dangerous, with numerous bandits as well as many attacks of magic, so Arthur knew he would not rest his mind until Guinevère was back home. What better way to assure this than to go with them and ensure it himself. Keep a watchful eye on her -- and the others of course -- so that he would be able to know first hand that she was safe.

The ride proved to be uneventful, which was a great relief indeed. It was a peaceful journey thus far and Arthur hoped it stayed that way. When they arrived in the small town, the knights went to a tavern to unwind and relax, where as some of the maidens wasted no time and got straight to work. They would be spending majority of the day here, that much was for certain and with this in mind, Arthur decided to take a room in an inn where he could remove his armor. There was no need to draw too much attention to himself as the Prince. Perhaps it would enable him to blend in a bit more in the local town instead of constantly being bowed to and acknowledged. This was one of those rare times that he did not wish that . . . and again, it was because of Guinevère.

After taking off his armor, he put on his coat, the length of it only slightly covering his sword which was attached to his side. He left the inn and began to wander the streets, with no set direction in mind, but with one sight he wished to see. It did not take long to find her. Arthur kept a great distance between them as she was on one side of the road where as he was on the other. But as he walked forward, his gaze continued to rest on her. He was distracted by her beauty, struggling with the fact that he could not just run up to her and shop with her, converse casually with her, even proudly take her hand and walk through the streets with her. Instead, all he could do was walk along by himself, looking at her, seeing she was safe, captivated by just looking at her and feeling all of his emotions build up, wondering how he had managed to miss or fail to recognize everything she now encapsulated, in the previous years. It was taking a great deal of strength just to compose himself, but because he was forced to do this on a daily basis, every time he saw her, he was sadly, growing accustomed to it.

He only occasionally looked forward when he had to see where he was going, but that had not been quite enough. He had been so distracted, that he'd been paying very little attention to where he was actually going, and nearly collided into someone, immediately forcing his gaze downwards. It was a little girl. A little girl who seemed troubled. Arthur looked around, wondering where her parents or guardians were. The streets were so busy, and so why was she wandering here alone? After he turned his head in several directions, he looked back down at the young child. "Are you lost?" He asked her, his voice not holding that overly sympathetic tone, but rather, curiosity. Perhaps it was a bit too formal for a child, but Arthur did not talk with children on a frequent basis, especially ones as young as she appeared to be.

[ella]

Emma was so lost in her frighten little mind. Where was she to go? How could she get back? If she went back with out bread, she'd never be trusted again, NEVER! She'd be treated like a child forever, and be forced to do stupid tasks such as fetch things. It was not a life Emma liked. She wanted to do stuff, be trusted with more then giving messages to people, and getting water. She wanted to be on her own, not stuck with an older kid who would try and pull rank on her. She was finally getting some where in her little group of people, and she was bout to ruin it all. Her one and only chance lost to her fear. Lost to her size, and her poor memory of the city.

She did not even notice the male covered in armor stop suddenly at her side. He almost ran her over, but her fear was all that showed. But she was being a very big girl, holding in her tears and all, being strong just like her mother used to tell her. Emma could almost hear her mothers voice now. Almost. She knew her family had died, at the hand of well... she was not too sure why they died, but she knew that someone killed them. Why her parents died, she was not sure, they were good people, healing people even. They did no wrong in Emma's eyes, then again she was a lot younger at the time, and her vision could have been off.

She could hear a young man's voice, asking her if she was lost. The relaxation that he was talking to her, made her turn her head in the direction of the sound. Standing before her was a male, a heck of a lot larger then her. Her eyes blinked at him a few times, as they filled with tears, she tried to blink them away, but none would fall. Her lower lip stuck out and began to quiver, dispute her attempts to keep it still. She let her head nod yes to the question. The more she moved her head the more tears left her eyes, she began to break down and cry. Her breath was uneven as she fought to keep her voice, but her sobs would soon take over. Her little hands pretty much smacked herself in the face, as she blocked it from his view, rather embarrassed. She just cried, all her emotions let loss in a simple nod. She was doing so well by herself, then he had to come along and make her lose her strength.

Emma was just too trusting. She just trusted guys more, they were the ones who could protect her better then any women. So she trusted that he would not hurt her. Then again men always caused war, a women had the touch she needed to help her find her voice and be strong again. A women was what she needed to be herself again to find her head. A man was there to keep her safe as she cried to him. He'd help her. Even if she had no place to be, he'd help her, she was sure of it. She's only cry more if he left her. Anyway, what douche leaves a child crying in the middle of a street.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Uh. Oh. Arthur did not know what to do right now. He did not know how to deal with a crying child . . . mainly because, he had absolutely no practice in this area. There had been no need in the past for him to surround himself with children, especially when they were in such a state. But of course, that was not enough to make him walk away, and leave the poor girl in a fit of tears. He wanted to help her . . . he just did not know how. Well, other than helping her reunite with her parents -- as that was who he assumed she was currently separated from. He began to turn his head in different directions again, once more trying to find anyone who looked panicked at the sudden misplacement of their child. But no one fit this description.

Arthur crouched down in front of her so that they would be more at the same eye level. She would not have to strain herself looking up at him, and he would not have to strain himself looking down at her. But of course, now her face was covered with her small hands, clearly concealing her tearful eyes. Ok . . . so he was on the same eye level as her . . . what now?! What should he say? How should he say it? "Where are your parents?" He asked, trying to soften his voice a little bit in the hopes that she would stop crying and then he would therefore, be able to lessen the awkwardness of this entire situation. He was not an idiot either. He knew that if she knew where her parents were, she would not be lost. But maybe she knew of where they would be and just could not find that location. Or maybe Arthur was just overestimating the intelligence of a child . . . or maybe -- and this was probably the more likely option -- Arthur was overestimating his skills when it came to children.