I've noticed that there are not enough Char/Ella romance stories on here... So I decided to write one of my own full of Char/Ella fluff... Enjoy! Ps: Ella doesn't have the curse in my story.

Destiny Unfolds

I woke up that morning to the gentle sound of rain falling on the rooftop. I sighed. It was Sunday, and even though I had the house to myself for once, I knew it wouldn't be long before my stepmother Olga, Hattie and Olive would arrive home from the local market place. There were many household chores that had to be done before they got back, and I was the one who had to do them. I sighed again, rolled over on my bed and sunk my head into the pillow.

Half an hour later, I was up and dressed, ready to tackle my daily chores when I heard footsteps along the pebbled path, approaching the front door to the house. Surely that wasn't my stepfamily back already?

Curiously, I walked over to the window and peered through the opening in the curtain. A young man no older than 25 was standing right in front of the door doubled over, wet from the rain and holding his left arm across his chest. I gasped and immediately rushed to go assist him. He managed one knock on the door before I quickly opened it.

"Oh, thank heavens. Someone's home…" The man spoke taking deep breaths.

I quickly blurted out... "Are you alright – do you need a doctor?"

The man stood up straight and looked at me for a moment before glancing down at his left arm.

"Oh, no it's just a sprain. I'm sure I'll be fine…" He did a terrible job at hiding the pained look on his face though.

"Ok" I replied slowly, not really knowing what else to say. If he didn't want help, what did he want?

"I am dreadfully sorry to bother you, but I am actually looking for my horse. You haven't happened to have seen one wondering around have you?" I noticed that he spoke with such a formal, English accent.

"Umm" I had a quick glance around over his shoulder. "No, sorry I haven't… Are you sure you're not in any pain sir? You don't look too well" I said, looking down at the arm he was tightly holding across his chest.

The man sighed a little and looked up at me from under his damp curly brown hair which had plastered down to his forehead.

"Is it that obvious?" He chuckled slightly. "I thought I'd be able to handle the pain and wait until I got back to -" He cut off suddenly.

Either because he was about to say something he shouldn't in front of me, or because at that moment, the rain started to fall even heavier and he looked up, shielding his eyes. Without thinking whether or not I should let a stranger into the house, I stepped aside and gestured for him to come in out of the rain.

"Thank you" He smiled as he stepped past me and into the living room.

"Let me get you a towel so you don't drip water everywhere. And I'm certain we've got some bandages around here… I'll be right back" I said, running up the stairs.

As I entered back into the main room, the man seemed a little uncomfortable.

"I'm so sorry to trouble you like this" He said as he took the towel I had offered and began to wipe himself down.

"It's no trouble at all; I mean I can't very well leave you out there in the rain with no horse and a sprained arm"

He stared at me with his lovely bright blue sparkling eyes and a wide smile that would make any girl melt. This was one handsome man, the kind of man Hattie would drool over. I mentally shook myself out of it and offered him a seat at the dining table. He continued to study my face as he sat down and carefully propped his sore arm onto the table.

"May I ask, what is your name?"

I stopped fiddling with the bandage that was in my hands and looked down at him.

"Ella" I replied, placing the bandage down onto the table and pulling a chair out for myself. "Ella of Frell" I added.

The man gave me that lovely heart warming smile again, and I couldn't help but to smile in return.

"So…" I interrupted, breaking the silence. "How'd you sprain your arm?"

"Ah, yes…" He started, shifting in his chair as he recollected what had happened. "Well I was riding my horse into Frell, when all of a sudden he got spooked by a loud noise coming from a nearby bush. He got scared and raised up on his hind legs. This action caught me off guard and I fell off, landing hard on my arm"

"And what happened, he just left you there?" I asked.

"Yes. Took off somewhere in this direction…"

"Hmm. Well in the meantime, would you like me to bandage that up for you?" I offered, pointing to his arm.

"Please. If you'd be so kind, I'd be very grateful".

"It's no problem" I smiled. He was wearing a navy velvet jacket over a white billowy shirt. "I might have to get you to take that off though. So I can get to your arm" I said while trying not to blush.

"Oh, of course"

I watched him and studied his facial features as he took off his jacket and rolled up his left sleeve. I gulped. His shirt was quite wet and his muscled torso was slightly visible through the thin white material. I forced my eyes away and focused on unraveling the bandage. Gently I started to wrap the bandage around, starting from the wrist and working my way up the arm.

"Have you done this before?" He asked. "I mean, you seem to know what you're doing"

I smiled and kept my eyes on his arm. "Yes, my mother was a nurse and I learnt a little from her… Sadly she passed away before I was 10 years old".

"I'm so sorry" He spoke sincerely.

I tied the end of the bandage together and rolled his sleeve back down.

"I've sprained my arm before. I accidentally fell out of a tree" I said, while leaning back in my chair.

"You... fell out of a tree?" He sounded rather shocked. "What on earth were you doing up there in the first place?"

I laughed a little. "I used to climb them of course. Great fun"

"Really? I can't say that I've ever had any desire to climb trees" He chuckled, running his other hand thought his curly brown hair.

All of a sudden I blurted out "I'm sorry, but I don't think I caught your name…"

He focused his bright blue eyes on mine and blinked twice before replying "Oh, my apologies… My name is - Char" He cleared his throat and then broke eye contact with me.

I nodded, somehow feeling a little awkward for asking him. Suddenly he looked back towards me and slowly smiled.

"I haven't met a girl quite like you, Ella"

"Um, I hope that's not a bad thing..." I said rather shyly.

"No. Trust me, it's a good thing" He assured me looking straight into my eyes.

All of a sudden a sound came from outside, round the back of the house. It sounded like a horse neighing.

"That must be my horse, Flame!" He beamed, grabbing his jacket and standing up.

I got also got up and quickly led him out the back. Sure enough there was a beautiful white horse chewing on the wet grass. I looked up at the sky; the clouds seemed to be clearing. Char rushed over to Flame and grabbed it by the reins, patting his neck and muttering something about how naughty the horse was for running off.

"But, there was one positive thing to come out of you running off…" Char said, now turning to face me. "I was able to mee you, Ella".

I stepped passed him and went over to pat his horse. My cheeks were blushing and there was no way I wanted him to see that.

"He's such a beautiful horse" I stated, trying to change the subject.

"Yes…. Maybe one time – if you want to… I could take you for a ride?" Char asked, seeming a little nervous.

"I've never ridden a horse before…" I said, finally taking my gaze off the horse and onto Char.

He chuckled, apparently finding that amusing. "Well Ella, if you can climb trees, I'm certain you can ride a horse".

I laughed at that, nodding my head to agree.

"So what do you say?" He asked, taking a step closer to me.

"Umm, I don't know… there are many things I have to do, and my stepfamily -" I was cut off by the sound of a carriage approaching the front of the house. "Oh no, that's them now! Quick, I'm sorry but you must leave. My stepmother is rather strict and I can't let her think I've been wasting time talking to a man"

"Oh, I see. Well I'm sorry if I've wasted your time Ella" He said looking rather hurt, as he mounted his horse and took the reins.

"Oh, no…" I said quickly trying to correct myself, while subconsciously placing my hand on his lower leg to stop him from riding off. "I didn't mean it like that – it's just…"

I struggled to find the right words "There's a lot of chores that have to be done around the house… but Char, it's been really nice meeting you"

He eventually smiled, then looked down at my hand which was firmly gripping his leg.

"Oh, I'm so sorry" I quickly let go and turned around blushing furiously.

"Ella, there is something I must do here in Frell… but later this afternoon, may I come back to see you again?"

I turned back around and looked up at the hopeful expression on his face.

"I suppose so…"

"Great! It's settled then. I'll be back around 3.30pm"

"Only on one condition…" I blurted out, causing him to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Oh, and what might that be? He questioned.

"You take me for a ride on Flame" I smiled.

He laughed and gave me a lovely grin. "It's a deal! Thank you very much for taking care of my arm, Ella"

"It was no problem at all" I smiled, waving him off as he gently kicked his horse to start walking.

"See you later, Ella of Frell"

"See you Char, take care of that arm!" I waved him off as he headed down the path.

I stood there for a moment after he had left my sight, trying to take in everything that had just happened. Ok, a very handsome young man had just knocked on my door, I bandaged his arm and now he's coming back later to take me for a ride on his horse. What a great day! I thought to myself. But who was this Char? Where did he travel from and what is he doing here in Frell?