Cendres

Chapter 2

Gilbert had fashioned his yellow bird into an elegant golden carriage for Matthew. The blond sat in wonder and awe as they drive through the silent city. Everyone was at the ball.

They passed the city edge and with a jolt, Matthew realized he hadn't been this far away from the house since his mother died.

"You okay, Mattie?" Gilbert asked gently, noticing his change in demeanor.

Matthew told his fairy his thought and the magical being frowned. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes." Matthew said after a slight pause. "I have a feeling everything's going to change tonight."

Gilbert grinned and squeezed the boy's hand. "Me too."

Matthew couldn't breath, but Gilbert kept shoving him up the steps. The guards watched them curiously.

"What it they notice me? What if the Prince doesn't even talk to me? What if I vomit? I feel like I'm going to puke."

"You are going to be fine!" Gilbert squeezed Matthew's shoulders. "But remember, the spell lasts until midnight. Make sure you are right here at midnight and I'll get you. Now, just take a deep breath in," Matthew sucked in a lungful of air. "Now out."

Letting the air out, Matthew relaxed his shoulders as they got to the top the steps of the castle.

"Are you ready?" Gilbert asked.

"No."

"Alright. Go have fun!" Gilbert opened the double doors, ignoring the guards, and shoved Matthew out.

Matthew stumbled but managed to catch himself. A few guards were just inside and asked. He nodded and he slowly made his way up another set of stairs. No one stopped him as he stood in the doorway to the ball room.

A mousey man coughed beside Matthew. "Would you like an announcement?"

"What? No? Can I just go in?"

The man eyed Matthew but let him through with a flourish of his hand. Matthew smiled gratefully and stepped into the ballroom as more guards swung open the doors.

Feeling flustered, Matthew rushed through the doors and found him standing at the top of the stairs, all eyes on him.

He froze as the ballroom fell silent. He thought about searching the crowd for his stepfather, but did not want to alert him of his presence. He descended the stairs as gracefully as he could. His hair on his arms stood on end with all the eyes on him.

When he got the bottom, people began going about their business. However the people nearest him kept staring, not at him, but at someone walking to him.

Matthew frantically looked up to see a tall man working his way to him. By the way the crowd parted for him, Matthew quickly assumed he is the prince and dropped into a bow.

"Please, stand." the prince says gently.

Quickly standing, Matthew kept his eyes downcast. "I'm sorry to interrupt, I came late."

"No, don't be sorry. I'm glad you made it." the prince held out his hand.

Shocked, Matthew took the hand, his own shaking. The prince's hand was soft and gentle against Matthew's skin. It calmed him instantly.

Until the music started back up into a vigorous beat, Matthew didn't realize that the ballroom was silent. He allowed the prince to lead him to the dancefloor and Matthew felt a jump in his chest.

"I can't dance." Matthew quickly sputtered out.

"Nonsense!" the prince placed his hand in Matthew's waist and kept his hand firmly in his own.

"No, really. I don't know how." Matthew said. He knew he was trembling under this man's touch, but he couldn't help himself.

"Just follow my lead." gentle blue eyes helped relax Matthew, but he was still nervous as they took their first steps.

After a few moments of twirling and stepping in large and small circles, Matthew found his voice again. "So, Prince-"

"Please, call me Francis." The prince spun Matthew and pulled them chest to chest. "I never got your name."

Breathless from the dance and their closeness, Matthew was able to get his name out.

The prince, actually, Francis, smiled and caressed Matthew's cheek. "What a lovely name for a lovely man."

Matthew blushed and tucked his freshly magic cleaned hair behind his ear. "I wouldn't know about that."

Francis smiled and took Matthew's hands. "Want to see the gardens?"

Looking around the crowded room and the eyes boring into Matthew's head, the shorter nodded. "That would be nice."

The sea of people parted for Francis, who kept Matthew's hand firmly on his elbow. Matthew was glad, he was afraid the looks he was receiving would be hits and kicks otherwise.

"It has gotten a bit stuffy in here, it would be nice to take a stroll." Francis continued, apparently unaware of the glares.

Matthew could only now in agreement.

Once outside, Matthew was able to breathe. Roses scented the air from what looked like a maze. His newly found breath was taken away by the stars and palace garden. "Its beautiful."

Francis chuckled and plucked a rose. Ridding it of thorns, he deftly tucked it behind Matthew's ear, pushing the hair from his eyes. "It's my favorite spot in the whole palace"

A blush that rivaled the rose covered Matthew's cheeks. "I can understand why."

They linked hands and wandered into the maze. Francis kept the conversation going. From the food to the guests to the stars. Then he had a comment that made Matthew halt.

"Tell me about your family."

Frozen in place, Matthew avoided Francis's eye, glad the rose gave him some sort of wall. "It's not a subject for this time, really"

Francis nodded. "I understand. Childhood is not always easy is it?"

Matthew smiled gently. "I guess not."

"Anyway, I think we're lost."

Looking around, Matthew found he had no idea where they were. "You don't know your own garden?"

"I usually have a guard to lead me around." Francis chuckled.

Matthew covered his mouth to laugh. "How do we get out?"

"I'm sure someone will come looking soon, it's almost midnight." Francis replied looking at a pocketwatch.

About falling over, Matthew took a few steps away from Francis. "I have to go."

"What? Now?" the prince raised his eyes to look at Matthew. Something wasn't right. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I just, I must leave." Matthew turned and dashed through the maze.

"Wait! Let me help you!" Francis called and took after him.

For a prince, he was quick, and Matthew had no idea where he was going. He just went. Even if he had to plow through the roses, he would get out before Francis saw who he really was.

"Wait, Matthew!" Francis called. "What's wrong?"

Matthew kept running, not looking back. He didn't shout a reply, but he did call for someone.

"Gilbert!" Matthew panted. "Please help me!"

A soft glow appeared at the next fork in the maze. Matthew followed it, trusting it was his fairy. He heard Francis make the same turn and pumped his arms harder as he ran. At the next turn, he felt his rose come loose from his hair.

He stopped to pick it up but saw the clock as he spun around. Two minutes. He had two minutes to get home and out of sight. He left the rose, though it hurt his heart to do so.

Francis sped around the corner and scooped up the rose as he ran by. "Matthew please!"

Holding back tears, Matthew burst through the maze, loose petals and leaves flying with him. Gilbert stood before him in a bubble large enough to hold ten people. Without a second thought, Matthew ran through the bubble. A few petals followed him and he closed his hand gratefully around the soft flower.

Gilbert smiled at him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Time to go."

Matthew nodded. He didn't look back as Francis called for him again. He just closed his eyes and let Gilbert use his magic to take him away.

"Hurry and hide that." Gilbert said, popping the bubble. They stood in the middle of Matthew's room. Silent and sad.

His clothes had changed back to rags, but Matthew didn't care. He still had his rose petal cradled in his hand. "Thank you, Gilbert."

His fairy caressed his face and smiled sadly. "That's what I'm here for."

Matthew closed his fingers around the petal. "I'm going to go change."

"I'll keep a lookout." Gilbert patted Matthew's cheek and walked through the door.

Changing, Matthew stuffed the ruined clothes under his bed, then laid on his blankets. He traced the petal lightly, his fingers shaking. He didn't realize he was crying until Gilbert came back in his room.

"Hey, birdie." Gilbert wrapped his arms around Matthew. "I'm sorry."

Matthew leaned against the fairy. He wasn't sure if he was crying because his wonderful night was over, or that he would never see Francis again.

"Wanna talk about it?" Gilbert said softly.

"What's there to talk about? I'm back to being a prisoner in my own house." Matthew said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in his voice.

"I meant about your night out." Gilbert tried to cover up.

Matthew closed his eyes. "He ignored everyone to be with me. We danced, then went outside to this maze." he sighed. "He was so nice and perfect and handsome and… I want to go back."

"He sounds lovely." Gilbert said. "I wish I could fix things for you."

"Why can't you?" Matthew asked. He heard the door open downstairs, then the stomping of feet and the girls' whining.

"We're only meant to help, not fix completely. When we do that, people become selfish and expect us to do everything for them."

Matthew nodded in understanding, but it didn't make him feel better.

"Why are you still here?" Matthew asked, genuinely curious. Gilbert had helped him meet the prince, what else was there to help with?

At Gilbert's hurt expression, Matthew quickly told the fairy his thoughts, who nodded in understanding.

"I actually don't know why I'm still here. We usually only hang around for one spell." Gilbert explained.

Matthew started to reply but the voices on the stairs leading to his room made him roll over and pretend to sleep. He barely closed his eyes when the door was thrown open. He didn't have to fake his jump of surprise, but he did blink his eyes owlishly at his stepfather and sisters.

"There's no way that could have been him!" Dorlas screeched.

"Who?" Matthew asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

"What did you do after we left?" his stepfather snapped.

"Cleaned up and went to bed." Matthew didn't stand up. He was afraid the rose petal would slip from his blankets and reveal what he did. "Did something happen?"

"An unknown boy went in and hid away with the prince all night!" Grelzda whined. "The prince didn't even look at me!"

Matthew stood silently as the girls whined about their night. Now that he had cried after a wonderful, but long, night, Matthew was tired and wanted to sleep. Not to mention he had to get up to make these morons breakfast.

"Don't worry girls," Matthew's stepfather said, finally herding them from Matthew's room. "I'll find someone rich for you two to marry."

"Maybe so, but it won't be the prince!" Dorlas cried, tears dripping off her pointed chin.

"I hate that boy!" Grelzda sobbed, her fat cheeks wet with her own tears.

Matthew shut the door behind them and sighed. "I want to get out of this house."

"I know, birdie." Gilbert said softly, appearing above Matthew's bed. "But I'm still here, so something is going to happen."

"I hope sooner rather than later." Matthew mumbled, getting into bed.

Gilbert landed on the foot of the bed and patted Matthew's knee. "Get some sleep. That'll help."

Matthew doubted it, but he was glad to have Gilbert's gentle touch as he drifted off.

Though sleep didn't really help Matthew's mood, something else did.

"A message from the palace!" Grelzda shrieked as Matthew set the table. She came tearing in the dining room, making the fat man look up from his paper.

"What are you going on about, girl?" the man grumped.

Matthew slowed his movements, not wanting to draw attention to himself, but not wanting to leave the room. Had Francis found him? Is that what that letter was?

"A letter?" Dorlas asked, taking her seat at the table. "Did you say from the palace?"

"Yes!" Grelzda jumped in the air, her ugly dress fluttering around her. "Maybe the prince did notice us! We're going to get married!"

The girls continued to shriek as Matthew snuck his way back into the kitchen. "Gilbert!" he hissed, hoping his fairy would show.

Gilbert appeared above the sink, grinning. "Have you read the letter?"

"No, I was hoping you could eavesdrop?" Matthew asked. He knew it was wrong, but he had to know.

"I already know." Gilbert laughed and wrapped his arms around Matthew. "The prince is going to come from house to house, asking everyone who could have attended the ball to present him with a flower petal. When he is presented with one he approves of, he will marry whoever gave it to him."

Matthew furrowed his brow. Such a strange way to find a bride. Then it hit him. Francis must have seen him take the rose from the maze, and now he was looking for him.

"Oh, Gilbert!" Matthew breathed.

"I know, birdie!" Gilbert cheered. Matthew was glad the fairy was invisible and silent to others beside him.

"He's coming for me!" Matthew hugged Gilbert tightly. "Thank you!"

"It was all you!" Gilbert petted Matthew's hair. "Your life is going to change for the better."

Matthew squeezed the fairy as he felt his heart fill for the first time in a long time. Someone was looking out for him, and another was looking to be with him. He had a chance at having a love filled life! He couldn't wait for Francis to come get him.