Hello everyone! I haven't written a fanfic in years! I became quite overwhelmed in trying to write my last one a few years ago and I'm still seeking the courage to go back to it. Anyway this one should go much better, I hope. So here we go!
Disclaimer: I don't own Disney or Cinderella.
Chapter 1
Ella could hardly believe it. Just hours earlier she had resigned herself to living a dull, miserable life, forever under the control of her vicious stepmother and demanding step sisters.
'No matter.' She had thought. 'As long as I can keep them away from Kit, then it is all worth it.'
But now, standing here before the king, her heart thumping in her chest, she realized that it would have mattered. She would have felt a terrible sadness at never seeing him again. And this this moment she realized how deeply and truly she loved him, and how happy she was that she was not going to have to endure that bleak existence she had resigned herself to.
"Please," said the king, as he indicated that she should sit.
Ella sat, butterflies fluttering in her chest. She watched the king kneel and extended her foot for him to take. As he slid the glass slipper unto her foot and it fit, Ella released a breath that she hadn't known she was holding and as the king looked up at her and smiled, she felt her face stretching into a smile to match his.
After her terse goodbye to her stepmother and step sisters, she left the house with Kit, where he promptly helped her up unto a horse, before quickly climbing back unto his own mount. After giving the order, they set out to return to the castle at once.
Ella felt so happy. She kept sneaking glances over at Kit, but soon realized she needn't bothered sneaking, since almost every time she looked over at him, she would find his gaze already looked on her. Despite the rocking motions of the horse and the sea of soldiers around them, his gaze remained constant on her, almost as if he was afraid to look away for fear that she would disappear.
Before Ella knew it, they had arrived back at the castle gates. Ella remembered passing through these gates for the first time when she went to the Ball. She was nervous then. And even though this time, there was also a hint of nervousness, she was much more relaxed and at ease and she couldn't help but look over at Kit again, knowing that he was the reason for her feeling more calm and comfortable.
They dismounted the horses and Kit led her inside.
"My lady," Ella hear, and turning, saw Kit with his hand extended for her to take.
"If you would please come with me, we have much to discuss." Ella smiled and took his hand and he led her off to a private sitting room. Once inside, he dismissed the servants and closed the doors behind them. The king invited Ella to sit before sitting himself, across from her.
"My beautiful Cinderella," he began, "I searched everywhere for you. I'm so glad I found you. Please, tell me why you didn't stay."
Ella was taken aback by the depth of emotion in his eyes. She could see now that it had pained him to be away from her as much as it had pained her to be apart from him.
"Oh Kit… I've missed you too. It's quite a long story…" she began.
"Then I should like to hear it," the King said, "All of it. Please, tell me everything."
"Well…. If you insist…." And Cinderella began her tale of how she had lost her mother, how her father had remarried a woman with two daughters, how she had then lost her father, and instead of bonding together with her new step family, she had been reduced to a mere servant at their beck and call and everything was miserable until that one day when she met him and everything changed.
Then Ella told him of how she had wanted desperately to go the Ball and meet her apprentice friend 'Kit' but her hopes were dashed when her stepmother and step sisters ripped her dress to shreds and left without her.
She even told him of how, in her darkest moment, her prayers were answered by her Fairy Godmother who allowed her to go to the Ball and there she met up with Kit, only to have to leave the Ball right before she could give him her name. And how in the end her stepmother had found out and tried to manipulate her, but Ella refused to give in to her stepmother's demands.
"Oh Kit, I thought I'd never see you again," Ella admitted. "I was heartbroken, but I couldn't let her get her hands on you. I couldn't bear it if she broke you too, I just couldn't." As Ella spoke, her eyes shone with love and unshed tears.
"Oh Cinderella, I can't imagine how you must have suffered," the King said, his voice pained. Kit moved to sit on the couch next to her.
Taking her hand, he said "But I promise you. You will never have to endure any such hardships again."
Ella's looked up at him. She could see the sincerity on his face, in his eyes. She knew he spoke the truth.
"I know it," she said. "I believe I will be happy here."
"Always, always," the King promised. "I swear it. I will make you the happiest woman alive…if you'll let me.."
Ella looked up at the King, confused. She gave him a questioning look.
Realizing that Ella didn't understand what he was asking, the King's face took on a slight look of nervousness.
Letting go of her hand, the King eased off the couch and moved to kneel in front of Ella, in much the same position as he assumed when helping her put on her glass slipper. Ella's eyes widened and she gasped in surprise. She now understood what Kit was trying to say earlier.
"This isn't quite how I imagined doing this but… Cinderella, I-"
"Wait, please," Ella interrupted him.
For a second, the king looked crestfallen. Was she truly going to reject him? No. Perhaps she thought they were moving too fast? They hardly knew each other, after all.
Just as the King was about to rise from his kneeling position and move away, he heard her say:
"Ella. Call me Ella."
Looking up at her, the king saw her face shining with love and warmth, and just a hint of mirth in her eyes. His smile returned.
"Very well then," The king began again, "Ella, I know we haven't known each other very long but I feel as if our souls have been made for each other. I want to spend the rest of my life making up for all the horrible things you've had to endure in your life and you would make me the happiest man alive if you would do me the honor of….."
Ella waited, for the end of his speech, but he seemed unsure of how to finish. Smiling, she asked teasingly "of marrying you?"
"Yes, yes, marry me, marry me!" The king laughed out, "I want you to marry me."
Ella felt her heart swell with the love she felt for him and she didn't need to hesitate or think it over. She knew this was meant to be.
"Yes. Yes I'll marry you!" She responded almost breathlessly.
"Indeed?" the King asked, moving to sit beside her again. Then he looked up into her face. Ella nodded, smiling.
"Ella, you've made me the happiest man in the world. I love you so much!"
"Oh Kit! I love you too!" Ella responded.
Taking her hands in his, the King gave Ella a brilliant smile. Ella returned his smile and as her mind whirled, with thoughts of the future, she knew she could face anything as long as her Kit was by her side.
A/N: It's short I know, but the second chapter has already been written, so if it's not uploaded with this one, it should be uploaded soon after.
