Sorry it took so long for me to update. Here's the next chapter!
Disclamer:
Me: Ella, say that I own Ella Enchanted!
Ella: Phoenixcurse owns Ella Enchanted.
Char: Ella, tell the truth.
Ella: Phoenixcurse doesn't own Ella Enchanted.
Me: NOOOOOOOOO! Why Ella?
Ella: Sorry, the curse made me tell the truth.
And there you have it. I don't own Ella Enchanted.
Ella POV
I rode hard through the day, the image of the palace sparkling in the dawn trapped in my head-along with the man I had left there. I rode past noon, only stopping briefly to water Lafaria, and scribble a quick note to Mandy saying everything was going well, and that I was nearing the town of Bast. Even though I was expecting it, I was thrilled when I opened the lid of the fairy box, and the note had disappeared. I mounted again, and didn't stop until I had reached Bast, and the sun was slipping behind the trees. I found an inn that requested a reasonable price, and after making sure Lafaria would be settled in, I collapsed on my own bed, exhausted, and let my eyes close. I laughed drily as I realized the irony in my situation. Bast-Lela's hometown. I should have planned this more thoroughly. I could imagine a thousand ways that Char could catch up to me, and I'd have to marry him. I sighed, and let my eyes drift closed again. I would leave early the next morning. There was no way I would let him catch me now. Even though I almost wanted him to.
Char POV
I paced in my room, sorting through everything I had learned. Lela was Ella. Ella was Lela. Ella was not married. Ella had been a slave for a year, and I had not noticed, even though she was writing me letters. Ella might be cursed. I shook my head, trying to sort out the facts from the lies. Ella wasn't cursed, I decided. If she was, she would have told me. I laughed at myself for jumping to conclusions. Ella wouldn't keep a secret that big from me. I stood in front of my hanging map of Kyrria, wondering where she could have gone. I came up with several possible locations of where she could have gone; Jenn, Bast, or Harenia. She had definitely left Frell. I decided she wouldn't have gone to Jenn either; she had hated finishing school, there was no way she would have returned. That left Bast and Harenia. Pounding at my door startled me out of my thoughts, and a red faced Sir Stephan burst into the room. "Have you found any hints as to where she has gone?" I asked eagerly. He smiled wearily.
"Yes, sire. There are reports of a young woman traveling south on a black horse. It is said that they are traveling at astonishing speed." I walked once again to the map. That ruled out Harenia; it was to the north of Frell.
"Do you know which roads she took?"
"Yes. She took the main road out of Frell, but soon left it for a smaller road through the forest."
"Good. Have my men prepare, we leave for Bast at the crack of dawn." Sir Stephan smiled, bowed, and left the room. I sank into my chair, relieved. Ella was okay, and I knew where to find her.
Ella POV
I awoke to a dark sky. I frowned-the sun should have risen. I soon realized that it had; there was a heavy blanket of clouds stretching across the sky. I paid the owner, saddled Lafaria, and continued at my frantic pace towards Ayortha. At sometime in the afternoon, it began to rain. It was a light drizzle at first, but it soon escalated into a full-fledged thunderstorm. I decided only a fool would continue in such conditions, and quickly located shelter. It was in the form of a cave nestled between two large oaks, tucked into a hill. It had a small entrance, but the inside was large enough me and Lafaria to both have plenty of space. I gathered wood, but quickly saw I had nothing to light it with. Thankfully, when I opened the fairy box, I found provisions-including matches. I lit a fire, and began to munch on an apple, while Lafaria dozed. I sat on a rock outcropping, and looked around the cave. I screamed as I found a pair of bulbous eyes staring into mine, and nimble hands seized Lafaria and me.
Sorry, didn't mean to make this a cliff hanger. I promise I'll update more quickly now-I've been really busy with track and band.