CHAPTER NINE
A/N: So finally, the Prince meets Cinderella at the first ball. What will be the outcome? And, what has Trillionanaoscapie so conflicted?
This chapter is slightly edited from the original.
The swan swam gracefully across the lake by the castle. After checking to make sure no one else was about, Cinderella got off of the swan's back. It shrank down to the size of a regular swan. She walked up the massive stairs of the castle, listening to the music floating down. She swayed to the music, remembering the dance steps Trillion had taught her. Inside, dresses were swirling, and the atmosphere was one of gaiety and merrymaking. In the center of the ballroom, Prince Edward was dancing with a blonde girl, who was tittering in his ear. Although he smiled at her, the Prince sighed mentally, bored out of his mind. When the song ended, the royal heir excused himself.
It was in the back of the ballroom near the garden that he first saw her. She was sitting on a bench, a white glow enveloping her. She looks so like an angel, the Prince thought. He came closer, reaching out with his hand, to see if, in fact, he could touch her.
When he connected with her warmth, the Prince pulled away, totally embarrassed.
"So sorry," he said.
Cinderella looked up at him, into his deep, chocolate eyes. "No, it was my fault. I should have made my presence known."
"It's all right. My fault entirely," the Prince commented.
Cinderella turned, preparing to leave. "I should go," she said. The Prince gently grabbed her arm. When she turned back, slightly confused, the Prince let go.
"I entreat you," the Prince told her smiling. "Please, tell me your name. My name is Edward."
Cinderella thought for a moment, then said, "I'm not sure if that is wise. I've only just arrived and we've only just seen each other."
The Prince's smile deepened. "A woman of mystery," he said. "I like that. For now, I will simply call you 'Angel'."
Cinderella's brows knit with confusion. "Why?"
Prince Edward answered her, "Because when I first saw you on that bench, you looked like an Angel."
Cinderella grinned as he offered his hand. She took it, and together they made their way onto the dance floor. She looked at her current dance partner, with his curly, dark brown hair; his smiling, rounder face, and his cocoa colored orbs and she thought, heis fascinating….
He swept her in a light waltz, which thanks to Trillion, she knew. Trillion, her mind whispered. She wondered what the faerie was doing, and, more importantly, she wondered why it mattered so much more than dancing with the Prince. Maybe I am mad, she reasoned, but her gentler side thought, no, maybe I wonder because he is such an interesting character, too.
Cinderella remembered their dance together, and the kiss, and returned to reality as the Prince stepped on her foot.
"Oh!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry, but you weren't paying attention to the dance," the Prince said. "Are you ill?"
Cinderella shook her head. "No, I just have so many things on my mind."
"Of course you do," the Prince agreed. "How about we postpone the dance, and just talk?"
Cinderella willed herself to focus on her royal suitor. He was handsome, charming, and very well spoken, after all, but her thoughts flew back to Trillion's sweet smile, his manic behavior, and his brilliant, blue eyes. Although the Prince seemed very cordial and friendly, it was the faerie who had captured her mind and her very soul. She wondered if he thought about her as much as she was thinking about him.
She realized the Prince was waiting for an answer, and said, "I would like that, but I am a little thirsty."
"Oh!" the Prince exclaimed. "Of course you are! I will get you something; just wait right here." He ran off as Cinderella dutifully waited for him. Though it was cooler outside, the palace was warm, probably due to all the dancing bodies inside.
Feeling slightly warm, she decided that she would see the gardens for a moment. As she saw the hanging trees, and a small lake beyond, she sighed, totally lost in the landscape. The Little Cinder Girl walked up to the lake, the cool water beckoning. The moon shined on the water; she ran her hand through it, smiling as the image of the moon grew distorted.
"What's a beautiful girl doing sitting all alone on a festive night like this?" she heard a voice say.
Jumping at the sound, Cinderella turned, expecting to see the Prince or Trillion, but she was slightly disappointed when she saw a totally different man. He was tall and blond, and spoke with a British accent, unlike the fey's unusual one, which sounded like it came, perhaps, from the Americas.
This man's eyes were, she guessed, a darker shade, and his features were more coarse, though not less handsome than Trillion's. He had on a navy coat resembling a frock coat, and black pants.
"I'm waiting for the Prince," Cinderella answered.
"Really?" the man asked. "You might be waiting for a while. It seems he was detained by the King and Queen."
"I suppose I should go in and wait for him," she offered. The man looked at her; as the moon shone a little more light on them she noticed the color of his eyes: violet.
"Why don't you have a quick dance with me?" the man asked. "I promise I won't bite."
Cinderella decided to politely decline. "It would not be proper. I do not know who you are."
"Fair enough," the man replied. "Monsieur Trent—" he bowed low to her—"at your service."
"Monsieur…" she began.
"Just Trent," the man said softly. "One dance, Miss…"
"I am called Cinderella," the girl told him, curtseying. As she straightened, she didn't mistake the sparkle in his eyes. "But I must return. He will be searching for me."
"Why not give a stranger one small request?" the man bade. "I will return you to your inamorato." He held out his arms expectantly.
Not wanting to be rude, Cinderella said, "I will grant your request, but after that…"
"I know, I know, you must go back," Trent said. "I promise you will be back before he misses you."
He pulled her close, and she caught his scent. There was something familiar about it, but for the life of her, she could not place where she had smelled such a scent before. They swayed gently, fully comfortable in each other's arms. Then, just as quickly as it had started, the dance was finished. Trent smiled, almost triumphantly.
"Thank you, milady," he said, turning to leave.
"Wait!" She called. He turned back. Cinderella forgot why she'd called him and told him so.
"I'm sure you will remember when the time comes," Trent told her, walking away. Before she could discover what he meant or follow him, the Prince came over to her, two goblets in his hands. Cinderella looked for the other man, but she didn't see him. She turned her attention back to Prince Edward.
He handed a silver goblet to her, asking, "Where were we? Ah, yes, talking." He gently took her arm, escorting her through the dance hall.
As the pair engaged in a lively dance, Trent watched them from his vantage point across the hall. His violet eyes were stormy. An older man sidled up to him. He had a vest which resembled Trent's jacket. His pants were brown instead of black, however.
"What's on your mind?" He asked Trent, muttering, "as if I didn't know."
Trent continued to stare after the couple. He finally faced the older man, saying, "oh, it's you. I was wondering when you'd show up."
"I figured I'd blend in," the older man rejoined, shrugging. "May I speak to you in private?" He gestured to the garden Cinderella and the Prince had vacated earlier. Trent followed closely behind.
When they were hidden amongst a group of tall bushes, the older man scolded, shaking his head, "what am I going to do with you? Didn't I tell you that you could be reported if you continued to disobey the rules?"
"Yes," Trent whispered, morphing into the familiar shape of Trillion. "I was just observing them. Honestly, I was."
"Dancing with the girl was not 'just observing'," the older man criticized. "If this happens again, you know what I will have to do."
"Please, Max," the fae pleaded, "I know I've been taking some liberties, but this is the first time I've ever been this close to humans. They are such fascinating creatures."
"For that reason, I've not turned you in," Max admonished. "I know what it's like to be your age. I realize that young people, whether human, or fae, tend to be curious. And I do know that, despite what you have seen in your Magic Mirror concerning human royal balls, you have never actually attended one, so you want to see one."
Max pointed at his young student to emphasize his point. "But you are treading on dangerous ground," he said. "Do you want to be suspended; to have your wings taken, or some other equally terrible thing, for 100 years?"
Trillion shook his head, but tried again. "I don't. It's just…I can't explain it, but she and I have a connection. When I held her in my arms, I saw her aura. It was brighter than any I've seen!"
Max's face clouded; he was lost in thought for a moment. He remembered their conversation about love and humans, and wondered about Trillion. Telling himself that what the younger fey felt was just the attraction of being in a new situation with interesting beings, the older fey asked, "Do you think she has our blood in her?"
"I am not sure," Trillion answered, "but did you not tell me once that there are some humans who just have a very interesting inner self? She could be one of them."
Max agreed. "You could have a point there, but…" he pointed to the younger man, "…even if that were true, socializing with her is not permitted. She is destined to be with the Prince, not with you."
Trillion protested, "I don't want to be with her! At least not in the way you're thinking. I just want…" Trillion considered for a moment. What did he want, from her anyway? To be acquaintances, to be friends? He pondered his options, thinking about Cinderella at the Prince's side. He turned over the words companion, friend, wife to a Prince. That didn't feel like the right thing.
Then, his imagination flew to a kiss shared between two beings getting to know each other. He began to think the words, soulmate, lover, mine. Those sounded so great, so…right. He shook those tempting thoughts away. He could beat this…fascination with a girl who would never belong to him. He had to.
"What is it you want?" Max repeated, waiting expectantly for an answer. "More importantly, if you receive what you truly want, will you be able to handle the consequences?"
He didn't wait for his protégé's answer before stating, "Because, I am here to tell you that I just overheard the Prince's parents talking, and there are to be two more festive gatherings within this month. You will have to aid her for those festivities. If, however, you can't, I can petition the Fey Queen for someone else to be appointed…"
Trillion shook his head, wearing a look of steely determination. "I will deal with this, whatever it is. I promise, I will not fail her, or you. Above all else, I wish her happiness, even if it means I won't be."
Max grinned, nodding his approval. They looked at the Prince and Cinderella, who were still dancing together despite other women giving the girl dirty looks. Trillion left, not wanting to see them. A moment later, Max caught up with him, flying amongst the clouds in the night sky.
