Summary
We all know the ending of every Disney Princess movie, the guy gets the girl, good trumps evil, and everything is daisies and sunshine. Even in fairy tales, this cannot last. The girl finds someone else, evil wins out over moral integrity, and storm clouds cover the sun. Can these women fight the urges of greed, lust, and moral temptation? Chances are, probably not. Don't lose faith, sometimes even good can come from evil.
Chapter 1: The Shoe Doesn't Fit Anymore, Sweetheart
"No, this can not go on. I can not do this to James," I say as I try to fight off the advances of Gio, one of the stable boys.
"Ella, do not play with my poor heart this way! Just your beauty scatters my thoughts to the wind," Gio exclaims. "Besides Ella darling, you know you can not resist my charms," he says with a devious grin.
I look into his eyes and immediately know that he is right. I have fallen in love with this man.
So much has changed since James put my slipper on my foot two years ago. Gone is the once charming prince. Instead of being showered with kisses, I am pelted with harsh words. The surprise gifts I would have once received have been replaced with sharp blows to my torso. Always where no one can see, so I can keep up the appearance of a princess in love.
He has grown cold and distant. Only paying attention to me when he. . .needs me. I put up with this for close to a year and then I was rescued by Gio.
Gio was a handsome man. Tall and tanned from hours out in the sun. Strong arm that came from working on his father's farm, where he grew up in a small village many leagues south of the kingdom. He has always had a love for horses, so when the opportunity arose to go and work in the king's stables, he did not hesitate. He worried about leaving his father, but those worries were quickly put to rest as his father announced he was going to be marrying a widow in a nearby village. So, with nothing holding him back, Gio set off north for his new adventure.
Working in the stables was a a job Gio enjoyed very much. He was surrounded by the finest horses he had ever seen and and the pay was not bad either. He had been working for the king about five years before the young prince set on his search for the young maiden with the glass slipper. Gio had never been one for romance and much rather preferred horses to people. Until one day, a couple of years later, when he was tasked with bringing the princess her horse for her afternoon ride. Usually, one of the younger stable boys did this, but they were busy mucking out the stalls. As soon as Gio set his eyes on the princess, Gio was in love. He had never seen hair so golden or eyes so blue. After a few moments of openly gaping at the woman, he gathered himself and brought her horse to her.
"Here you are, my lady." he managed to utter. He kicked himself for being so ridiculous. "She's just a girl." He told himself, but he realized that she was no ordinary girl. She spoke with such kindness in her voice, it was if they were old friends. After seeing that she was mounted and ready to go, he quickly strode back to the stables trying to think of anything but her. He knew that she was not even giving him a second thought.
Oh how wrong he was.
Cinderella actually had many thoughts about the strapping man that brought her her horse. She had expected one of the awkward, lanky stable boys. When Gio came out from beneath the shadow of the trees, she was taken aback by his appearance. She had never seen someone so tall and strong. The prince never did anything that required physical exertion and spent most of his time in his study. This man obviously has seen his share of hard labor and extensive hours in the sun. She composed herself and thanked him for bringing her horse, who she felt was her only friend in the world. She wanted to stay and talk to this young man longer, but she knew that if James found out, the man would be punished or sent away. She watched him walk off back toward the stables and let her horse guide her through the forest as she let her mind wander to thoughts of the handsome stable hand.
After this interaction, Cinderella went on a ride anytime she could, but to her great dismay, the usual boys were the ones bringing her horse to her. One day after her afternoon ride, James asked her about the increase in her daily ventures.
"I have noticed you have been riding more frequently. . .how has this come about?" the prince asked with obvious suspicion.
"Oh, I have just grown tired of my needle-point, strains the eyes. I decided more fresh air would not do me any harm." She said. She hoped he would accept that as a plausible excuse.
"I see. . .why don't you take up painting?" he suggested.
"Oh darling, I have never been the artistic type you know that. I would say that my needle-point reflects that fairly well." She chuckled and looked at him to see how he would react.
"Yes, you could definitely stand to improve," said the prince with some disdain. "All the more reason to stay in and practice."
"Why are you so concerned about how I entertain myself during the day?" she asked.
"Oh. . .there is really no reason. I figured you would be flattered that I cared about what you do." he said feigning concern.
Cinderella knew that James did not care about what she said or did as long as she was not bothering him. He must have seen or heard something, but what? She had not seen the man for weeks. If they did meet again, it would have to be privately.
"That is sweet of you dear, but I am happy to be outdoors to enjoy this beautiful weather. I have my old age to perfect my needle-point," she explained, dismissing his questions. "I think I will go up and rest for a while, my beauty and I rode hard today."
She walked quickly from the room and made her way to her chambers. Her mind racing all the way. Does he know? Is there anything to know? She laid down and closed her eyes as she drifted into a sweet sleep filled with dreams of the handsome man.
As Cinderella gazed into Gio's eyes, remembering their first encounter, she felt so at ease and happy. Yet on the other side of that same coin, came feelings of apprehension and foreboding.
Feelings that were only going to grow stronger.
