Ella was believed to be the luckiest girl throughout all the kingdom. As expected word quickly spread of the orphan maid with glass slippers who wooed the prince. The story made children's eyes twinkle, whilst men and women either swooned or mentioned about luck. Some others mentioned much more tasteless ideas but they were quickly drowned out by the fever of excitement from those in the kingdom. Ella had not felt luck yet; she had not felt luck for a long time. She pondered at the idea that meeting the prince in the woods that day was quite lucky. But she saw it more as fate, a taste of what was to come and a coincidence of the highest. For no other day had she been pushed to such extremes from her step family; similarly for no other day (she learned) was the large hunting party planned in Kit's honour. She felt it was simply the magic of fate, a good helping of destiny and perhaps, just maybe perhaps, a tiny amount of luck. She had a lot of time to ponder these days, the more she was left to ponder the more the word luck frustrated her. She felt it was used so often by others whilst conversing; that she might as well change her name to the word.
Staff upon arrival told her how lucky she was, her new maids in waiting Catherine and Eleanor often told her she was lucky, her tutors, the guards, the cooks, the stable boys, dukes, duchesses, members of parliament... Ellie felt dizzy as she reeled off the list in her mind. So often she was told no, so often she was reminded that she should feel lucky. Was she lucky she loved the Prince, now King? Was she lucky that he loved her? Was she not capable of love without luck? Ella knew she was more than likely being silly but she was feeling restless. She wished to have just half an hour alone, doing as she wishes without eyes constantly on her. Without guards and maids acting as shadows. Ella wished for just a stroll round the market place in peace. It was often such a small bit of freedom for her when living at home. She often had to hide her enthusiasm of jumping at the opportunity to go buy some more bread or ribbon from the there. Ella used to love hiding in the bustle and blending in to the background; it was a rare time she could feel how wonderful freedom could be. Sometimes by a certain palace window in the upstairs fourth drawing-room, which was used for late night teas and coffees so hardly ever used these days. Ella could hear the distance buzz of where she wished she could walk and hide again.
It had all been so wonderful when she arrived. Perhaps she was being unfair, it was still wonderful. Kit was wonderful, the palace and its staff are charming and Cinderella is a distant part of her; with only a few fading scars to show she was there at all. Ella shook her head at her gloomy thoughts, it was a late September day but the sun still had a touch of heat as she strolled throughout the palace gardens; on a safely planned route she was allowed to walk often. She smiled occasionally as the memories of her first visit pushed aside her residing gloomy thoughts. As usual Eleanor stayed by her side, Catherine was away ordering yet more clothes for the soon to be Queen which perplexed Ella greatly; she already felt she had enough gowns to last much longer than a lifetime. She signed as she sat by the fountain, her summer navy gown sprayed around the edge like pools of water were tumbling over. Ella gently made patterns in the water with her fingers. Luckily her sleeves ended at the elbow with white cuffs closing off the skin from the fabric. The dress had white edging to the bottom that stopped a few inches above Ella's ankles, with more white around the sweetheart collar. It was simple, Catherine scoffed that it was close to a mourning dress but Ella insisted that morning. She had already been every shade of the rainbow since arriving and today she felt anything but feeling bright. Catherine stopped when Ella said that. Her black hair nearly whipped out her neat bun by the sudden impact. Black eyes set in aging yet fair features scanned Ella's face. Ivory skin nearly set upon Ella in a comforting hand but Catherine quickly drew it away. She made excuses about needing to set up more appointments with the dressmaker then, that Lady Ella was free to walk the grounds for an hour and with that she excused herself. Leaving a puzzled Eleanor to finish getting Ella ready for the day.
Eleanor was a few years older than Ella and she grew into a quick friend. Eleanor had short strawberry blonde hair, emerald green eyes with an olive complexion; although she sat a good few inches shorter than Ella she was certainly very fair, which Ella sometimes teased was clearly obvious to a particularly guard called Tristan. That sometimes becoming less and less as Ella felt more and more unlike herself. She found herself sighing more often, singing less and blaming tiredness and over excitement for her changed demeanour. Although Ella had never spoken the truth out loud; she felt slightly trapped. 'Lady Ella?' A concerned voice called out her name and Ella suddenly became aware she was crying. 'What's wrong Lady Ella? You have not been yourself for weeks now, are you ill? Is that why you are so unhappy?' The mention of unhappiness made Ella's head snap up immediately as she quickly replied 'who has said I'm unhappy?'. Ella couldn't help but feel slight panic, as if she's a naughty child that's been caught stealing sweet treats for the kitchen. 'Oh my Lady' Eleanor sighed, 'it's a clear on you as the gown you wear, please share what is on your mind'. Ella sat for a minute as she fumbled with her hands, she scoulded herself for not having much courage; how can she let her mother down now after all she's been through? 'Is it the King? Does he not treat you well, do you feel you have made a mistake. Is that it? He certainly loves you, I can't imagine he wouldn't treat you well, although, that's not to say I wouldn't disbelieve you my lady. What I mean is, he wears his love so clearly for you. You can't wish to return to be someone like me, you know you are lucky...'
'Stop! Stop please Eleanor just stop! Ella cried. Please, oh how I just beg you please do not finish that sentence. I am fed up of luck, I am fed up of not being able to breath without someone finishing that breath for me, I've had enough of my shadow not even being mine. Of course I love the King, how could that of even been questioned? I know I shouldn't be here, I know the kingdom and the staff and clearly you think that luck is all I have. But I am so much more than luck. I am Ella and what I want is to just be alone!' Ella caught her breath and instinct made her run, her mind took over as history somehow repeated herself as she ran to escape the moment in time she could no longer bear to be part of.
The King found himself walking throughout the palace at a pace much quicker than what is expected of Kings. But truth be told he was worried and frustrated with himself. Catherine had rightly interrupted his parliamentary meeting this morning to express concerns that Lady Ella was not herself even more so today. Kit was no fool, he himself had noticed Ella was not her bright and courageous self. How could he of set it aside so easily, as it just being her adjusting after leaving the such awful circumstances she found herself in. The story had made his blood boil but with direction of courage and kindness from his Ella, he had successfully banished the cruel stepfamily and the traitorous Duke; thus successfully gaining Ella back the house that was rightfully hers. Kit sighed. Even if the adjustment was the issue he should of checked, he should of pushed a little more, asked in a different way, remind her she could tell him everything. He shook his head and cursed himself a fool, he was still getting used to knowing how to act in a relationship. The kind of love he felt for Ella was scary; unknown territory that he wish he could gain advice from his mother or father. Kit started to recall the faces of his dear parents fondly where his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of panic and commotion. Kit paused for a second before smiling at the idea that perhaps Gus had gotten rather brave in the kitchen again. His smile quickly fell as he heard words that made him forget how to breath. 'Find and alert the king! Lady Ella is missing, she was last seen fleeing the grounds and from the palace guards. Find the king, find the king!' Kit's stomach dropped. The forgetful girl who loses her shoes had ran from the palace once again.