"Ella?" I gasped. As soon as I saw her terrified face I knew my suspicions about Lela had been correct. As soon as I saw Ella I knew it was all a lie. The letters about her marriage. . . everything. I forgave her for any wrongs she ever committed instantly. All I could do was try to grab her, to hold her so I could have her forever. . . she escaped. I tried to run after her but Hattie held me by the collar, losing me crucial time.
I snatched her slipper from the unworthy ground and my mind was consumed by one thought. I have to find Ella. I have to find Ella. I HAVE to. I dove back into the ball, streaking through the Dance floor, apologizing, saying it was urgent. I went to my father. "Char, what on earth is going on?" He demanded.
"Sweetheart . . . " my mother began."Why are you holding a shoe?"
"I have to go." I blurted out. "I don't have time!" Everyone within a ten foot radius of me turned to stare. "What?"
"Ella! She was here! It was a lie, she's not- I have to find her!"
"Who is Ella?" My father asked.
"Ella?' My mother murmured.
"What? Yes! Yes! Ella!"
"Char-"
"Please let me leave! Please! I have to-"
"Are you in love with this girl Char?" My mother inquired.
"Yes!" I looked frantically about the hall. "I need my knights. I need-"
"What happened?"
"She was the one who- the letter! The letter! Ella! I need to-" I must sound mad. I stuffed the shoe in my pocket and grabbed fistfuls of my hair and yanked. "-I'll explain later!" I ran to the stables where I knew the Knights would be caring for the horses. "Sir Stephen no - everyone!" I hollered. "We're leaving!"
"Why?"
"Where?"
"What is it?"
"Follow me!" My horse was still saddled - thank god. I bridled him hastily and swung myself onto him. "Let's go!"
I brought my horse to a halt before the manor house of Dame Olga and leapt off of it. I ran to the door and a maid opened it. "I need to speak to Dame Olga." I said.
"Your majesty." The maid squeaked.
"Please?" I said gently.
"Yes!" She darted off.
"Prince." Stephen said."What in the name of heaven has gotten into you?"
"He's finally gone insane. I knew this day would come." Bartholomew said mournfully.
I ignored him. "We need to find the Ogre Tamer. Ella. She's in this house."
"To what do I owe this pleasure Majesty?" Dame Olga said, opening the door.
"Where's Ella?"
"Ella?" Dame Olga simpered.
"Your step daughter. Ella of Frell."
"What would you need of her?"
"MOTHER!" A horribly familiar voice shrieked. "ELLA WAS AT THE BALL!" Dame Olga's plump face went purple with fury and she gave a very unladylike swear. Olive waddled up behind Hattie. Olive is not intelligent. I thought. She might tell me something. "Olive, is your step- Ella, is she here?"
"Gimme 6 KJ's and I'll tell."
"OLIVE!" Hattie wailed.
` What is with her and money? "Here you are milady," I said cheerfully.
Olive bit down on the coins. "Ella's our Maid."
Hattie tackled Olive. "You dim-witted child!"
No kidding. "Gather all the Maids in the house!" I pushed by Dame Olga. My sweet Ella. . . Please be here. I paced. "Calm down boy. She'll be here." Stephen said. You don't understand. I thought desperately. She broke my heart but It could have all been a trick. For what I don't know but. . . Please, Ella, be here. "Here's a maid." Someone said. I didn't care who said it because it was Ella. My Ella.
But she didn't look like the Ella from an hour ago. She was wearing a filthy dress and her beautiful hair was covered by a rag. Her delicate fingers were chapped. She really does look like a maid. No! Ella is a gently bred lady. How could they do this to her? She's more of a lady than that wretched Hattie! My sweet Ella. My Ella. The Ella who makes me laugh. The Ella who made me cry. "Ella! Ella! Why are you dressed so?" Then she spoke in that tinkling voice I dreamed about, the one that sounded like a song. "I am-"
"That's just Cinders the Scullery maid," Hattie said. "But our cook Mandy has cakes fit for a prince!"
I turned to Ella. "This shoe will fit Ella alone whether she is a scullery maid or a duchess," I remember the day I helped her put on these very glass slippers. Her feet are so small it could fit nobody else but a child. My eyes were fastened on Ella the entire time Hattie and Olive fruitlessly tried to put the shoe on. Ella looks. . . terrified. She's . . . scared of me? Oh, Ella. What has been done to you?
The shoe fit on Ella's foot. Beneath the ragged hem of her dress the shoe shone like stars. "You needn't be Ella if you don't want to be." I whispered. You can be anyone. Anyone! Be whoever you want as long as I can keep you forever. "But I'm not." Ella whimpered.
"That's right!" Hattie cried. "She's Cinders!"
Nobody needs or wants to listen to you. "Ella, do you love me?"
"Yes." She said, sounding close to tears.
Joy flooded through me. She loves me! She does! "Then marry me!"
"Yes." She sobbed.
"Don't marry him, Ella!" Hattie said.
"I can't." Ella said, withdrawing her hand. Why is she listening to Hattie?
"The prince is kind enough to want to marry you Ella my sweet. Do so." Dame Olga said. Ella looked like she was going to throw up. She was rocking back forth, holding back her words with all her might. Her hand was clamped over her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks. She gripped the chair with one hand as if she feared to fall from the earth. Just as I was about to call for Stephen to get a doctor she sprung to her feet and shouted - "No! I won't marry you!"
"You have to!" Olive cackled. "Marry him and give me your money!" Again, what is with her and money?
I heard Hattie shrill, "Go to your room."
"Hush Hattie!" Ella chided. Ella ran to the door and instead of fleeing shouted out of it. "I shan't marry the prince!" She danced over to me and kissed my cheek. I shan't marry you."
This might be my last chance. I turned my head and kissed her. Ella's lips parted and she was trembling. The kiss intoxicated me, drenching my mind in blank happiness. I'm kissing Ella! Ella!
She pulled away and dazed, I heard the cook, Mandy shout about a curse being broken. Ella's eyes widened. And she asked to marry me. I didn't want to bother with words so I just kissed her.