Here's a fresh new version of Cinderella for you. This isn't what I planning to do when I finished my other stories. However I decided to go for it. I know my chapters aren't very good; I don't have a lot of time to spend on them now-a-days. So far I'm thinking that this one won't have a sequel. I'm hoping to wrap this story up before the end of the summer.

Chapter One: The Great War

The kingdom that I vaguely remembered was nothing like the one that I lived in now. I remember sunshine and happiness, now everything was dull and rainy, drenched in sadness and dirt. It only took a matter of months to transform the kingdom so drastically; I could barely remember what used to be, for I had spent thirteen years living in what was now. The kingdom of Novenna had changed for the worse, but I suppose war will do that to a country.

It all started thirteen years ago, I was five years old. I don't remember much of that time as I've said before. But my neighbor Betsy has told me the whole story. At that time Novenna had a different king, King Dragan. He was good and generous king who was friends with the king of the neighboring country of Ilithya. One summer the King of Ilithya, King Christophe, received a visit from King Dragan. They were discussing something of importance.

Both Kings had only one child apiece, the heir to the throne of Novenna was an eight year old Prince named Hayden. His mother had died shortly after giving birth to the boy but King Dragan had loved and raised his son as best he could. Being sure to show the boy all the love in the world to make up for the absence of a mother, and he did a great job, already the boy was a promising young man.

You see, the heir to the throne of Ilithya was a five year old girl named Arabella. The two kings and the mother of the little princess had been discussing of how to put the two heirs together. To form a powerful alliance between the two kingdoms, both kingdoms were buzzing with excitement at the thought of the two one day joining in marriage.

Then the unthinkable happened. King Dragan had been home from his visit only a month before he received word that the young Princess Arabella had vanished. Not only that, but there was evidence to suggest that someone from his own kingdom of Novenna had kidnapped the little girl. Tensions built between the two kingdoms and King Dragan decided that he should take a team of men to Ilithya and aid in the search. Hoping that they would find the princess safe and that relations with the other country could be pleasant once more.

However, sometime before King Dragan and his team reached Ilithya, they vanished as well. Their horses were found saddled and wondering around, there was no sign at all of the King or his men anywhere.

Novenna was to be ruled, in the absence of Dragan, by his brother, Geoffrey. Geoffrey believed what many Novennians did, that the Ilithyans had stolen the king in retaliation for the disappearance of the princess. A few months later war was declared.

Thirteen years later here we were, my father had been sent out to fight in the war, and he had been killed. I was left to be raised by my stepmother and her two absurd daughters. They didn't much care for me, so I was delegated the household chores. I worked with the housekeeping staff to keep our manor in good shape, and to aid the mistress and her two daughters with the task of getting dressed and fixing their hair.

Our country was tired of war, we were all hoping that soon, Prince Hayden, who had been away for the past several years studying, would soon find a bride and be able to take his rightful place. We had high hopes for the young man; we hoped that he would somehow manage to fix everything.

I sighed and paused to wipe the back of my hand across my forehead before I went back to scrubbing the floor of the entrance hall. I was eighteen now, the same age as my lovely stepsisters, who are twins by the way, and my hands were rough with work, all of my dresses had been torn and patched up many times, all their colors were faded from the sun.

"Cinderella! Where are you?" My blonde stepsister, Estelle, came down the stairs and crinkled her nose at me, "Why hasn't my purple gown been mended yet? I asked you to do it yesterday." I straightened slightly, "I'm sorry Estelle I'll be sure to mend it before the end of the day."

Estelle rolled her eyes, "Nevermind, I'll have it sent to the seamstress. I don't want your filthy hands staining it anyway." She turned and walked away, nose up in the air. Estelle was the prettiest of the twins; she was oldest by a few minutes as well. She was blonde and slender with rosy cheeks and blue eyes. But she was also self-centered and vapid.

I shook my head and went back to my work. Several hours later I was helping Marianne prepare lunch in the kitchen when the other twin, Ester, came in, she was blonde, but plump and her skin was blotchy. "Have you seen mother? I just heard something great!"

Marianne shrugged, "I'm sure she's in the sitting room Miss." Ester nodded and ran out again clumsily, I could hear Estelle scolding her twin for running and sounding like an elephant. Marianne shook her head, "Ella go and let them know that lunch will be served in a moment." I nodded and wiped the flour from my hands, I went out and toward the sitting room but paused just outside the door and listened.

Ester was talking quickly, "I was just in town shopping for ribbons when I heard the most exciting news! Prince Hayden has returned and his uncle is throwing him a ball, and all the eligible young ladies are invited to attend and meet the Prince. He is looking for a bride!"

My stepmother, Astrid gasped, "Oh this is wonderful news indeed!"

Ester nodded, "They are sending a royal herald around to each household to extend invitations to all the young ladies there. They were just down the street they should be here soon."

I moved forward, "Madame, lunch will be served shortly…" Astrid looked at him, "Oh forget the lunch Cinderella, Estelle we much get you into that lovely pink gown and make you look so radiant that they will have to mention you to the prince!" just like that the house was in uproar. Gowns were being thrown about, things were being polished and dusted, and all of the nice carpets were being put out. We all had to help dress and prepare the ladies of the house.

Astrid was still buttoning Estelle's gown when there was a knock at the door, "Cinderella go answer and take him into the entrance hall. Then come and make sure that we are in the sitting room before you bring him in!"

I nodded and went to do as I was told; I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited about all this. Perhaps they would invite me maybe the Prince would fall in love with me and rescue me from this place! I opened the door for a dressed up man carrying a bag, "I am here on behalf of King Geoffrey, I request to meet all young ladies in the household." I nodded and took him into the entrance hall, "I will go and tell my mistress you are here."

In the sitting room there was still chaos but I was told to go and bring him in anyways. I did as I told, but when I walked into the sitting room again all of the ladies were sitting primly, Estelle glowing with youth and beauty, and conceit. Astrid stood, "Oh how lovely of you to come, may I ask what we can do for you?"

She gave me an odd look so I left and didn't hear much of the conversation, all I know is that he didn't stay long, soon I was seeing him out to his horse, "Tell your Mistress that I was grateful for her hospitality." He said and paused, "And here, I am supposed to give one to all young ladies. And you seem like a sweet girl." He pressed a golden invitation into my hand and got onto his horse. I tucked it into the pocket of my dress and went inside to get back to my chores, but I was beaming on the inside, perhaps there was hope.