a/n: I keep forgetting to say this, but thank you to all my reviewers! you make my world go round! or at least make me happy anyway!
thank you to all readers as well, but reviewers are like proof that people do read this, unlike stats who don't really tell me much.!
Although i was a but disappointed to get so few reviews, I didn't let it stop me from updating! I hope you all like this chapter.
disclaimer: *sigh*must i really do this? everyone knows i don't own Cinderella.
Chapter 10
"Eldon! Elle! You can do so much better! Why aren't you even trying?" asked Elianne, exasperated with our efforts, or lack of.
After I had finally calmed down from my hysterical laughing fit, Elianne stopped shrieking that what we did wasn't funny. We needed to be serious about acting in love, our life depended on it. Or so she said.
Eldon rolled his eyes. "What are we even supposed to say? I have almost no experience in this area and I doubt my fiancé knows much either." I glared at him from my spot on the ground, tearing viciously at the grass. He probably didn't know much about love, but if anyone knew flirting and wooing, it was him. That is, according to the kitchen and scullery maids who still can't stop giggling when he is mentioned, anyway.
"Well no, but you have both been around nobles and such who do right? Besides Eldon, mother and father love each other very much and show it. And Elle, didn't your stepmother and father love each other? Just take after them. You should both be passionate, yet gentle." She said, raising her arms and closing them around her body, hugging herself.
"Elianne?"I asked, raising an eyebrow, "Exactly how many romance novels have you been reading lately young lady?" she blushed. "That's not the point Elle!"
We stared at each other in silence again. After our mockery of love, both Eldon and I refused to seriously act out like we were in love. It was much too awkward.
"Fine!" Elianne raised her hands in defeat. "Just you wait. Tomorrow is mom's turn." With that ominous threat over our heads, Eldon and I followed Elianne back to the castle.
The following days were uneventful. I continued to have fittings for my dress in the mornings and 'love' lessons with Eldon and our 'chaperone' but more like 'dictator' in the afternoons.
Our lessons were slightly improving, and we were finally able to look at each other directly without grimacing or grinding our teeth. At least, not while practicing. The lessons in the meadow had progressed to dancing, which wasn't so bad if we just looked over each other's shoulder.
"No, no, no, no. Look into his eyes and act like you're melting Lady Darielle! Act like the only thing supporting you as you dance are his hands that are holding you up. That's it. Only, don't bend your knees, it looks unnatural. Prince Eldon, do stop grimacing. Smile, and if you can't, look intense. Intensity and seriousness can be taken as suppressed passion." I snorted at that, and shook my head at our dictator of the day.
Mr. Tebu, the bald man that introduced me to the King and Queen on the day of my interview, was in on the events that were happening and was trusted enough to aid us in our mission of fooling everyone of my love for Prince Eldon. Apparently, Mr. Tebu was a director in the dramas that were put on for the nobles until he was promoted a few years ago, and the Queen thought him a professional in this matter. I had thought the Queen was bad when we had our lessons, but she was nothing on Mr. Tebu.
"Ouch! Really, could you be more careful?" That was about the hundredth time that Prince Eldon had stomped on my foot.
"The floor we're walking on is uneven," he said, eyes flashing angrily.
"Oh sure, 'the floor we're walking on is uneven.'" I mocked, "You don't see me stomping on your foot do you? You would think a prince would have better dancing skills than a tutor."
Prince Eldon opened his mouth to speak, his eyes glaring dangerously, when we heard clapping. Confused, I looked at Mr. Tebu who was clapping his hands heartily.
"That's exactly what you need to do, whisper at each other, even if they are not very nice things. Anger is a very strong emotion and it caused both of you to lean forward and look intently in each other's eyes. Of course, you were both furious, but the audience doesn't know that! All the audience sees is both of you leaning forward and staring straight at each other while whispering. The only thing we need is for Lady Darielle to giggle every so often. So for now, that is our plan. Until you are both married of course, or officially engaged."
What? I looked back at Prince Eldon and realized that we were indeed very near to each other's face. So close in fact, that I noticed a few freckles on his face that I didn't know he had. Well, if acting in love meant making Prince Eldon angry we were so going to fool everyone.
It was the day of the ball.
I paced in my room, going from the large window to the opposite side of it where the door stood. I had spent most of the day in my room, catching up on some books I wanted to read and planning next month's lesson plans. Now, in my underclothes and dress robe, I waited for my dress to arrive to start getting ready. As far as I knew, I was going to get ready on my own.
The love-acting lessons were much more successful once we found out that anger was the key. It was a bit of a pleasure actually, to get Prince Eldon all riled up over little comments like his lacking dancing skills. Of course, he got me mad too, but not nearly as much as I got him mad.
I heard a knock at the door and stopped my pacing. "You may come in," I yelled through the door.
"Lady Darielle, we have brought your dress and accessories." Dehlia, a sort of lady's maid, came in with a bag covering what I assumed to be my dress and a small box with accessories from the Queen. With Dehlia were two other maids, Lidia and Grecia. I knew all three of them from those occasions, including the past two weeks, in which I ate with the servants of the castle.
"Thank you, but why all the formality? I thought we were on a first name basis?" I asked as I took the dress and put it on the bed.
Dehlia bit her lip and exchanged a look with Lidia. "'Tis nothing miss, we've heard a few things, is all."
"What sort of things?" I asked, hoping that they hadn't figured out our plan.
"Well, the others won't want me saying so, but rumors going 'round are saying the Queen wants you to marry the Crown Prince. That's why she wants you to dress nice." Dehlia looked down, nervously twirling her straight brown hair around her finger. I looked at Lidia, who hid her face with her golden curls, and then at Grecia who busied herself with the accessory box.
"That's ridiculous! You three know that I'll only marry for love. I probably don't love the Prince. I wouldn't know seeing as I haven't met him, but I'm sure he is the arrogant type. Besides, you girls say he strings girls along, and I'm not into that type, so there's nothing to worry about!" I said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "Now, let me start getting ready for the ball."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The Queen wants us to help you get ready," Grecia said, finally putting the box down. "I suppose she wants you to look really good tonight." I snorted in what I hoped they took as disbelief, not because what they said was an understatement.
"Alright then, let's get started. I just took a bath, so you don't have to worry about that." Thank goodness I had the foresight to do that. I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with someone giving me a bath. The girls nodded and Dehlia gestured for me to sit down at the small vanity in a corner of my room. I took my seat, wondering at what these girls where going to do.
"I'll start Lad—"I raised an eyebrow, "er, Elle's hair. Lidia, will you shake out the dress and find appropriate shoes? Her Majesty said that if Elle didn't have some, to take her size and look for the shoemaker who should have some shoes ready and made. Grecia, do you want to start on her make-up? Her majesty said to make it light, as Elle is going to wear a mask anyway." I sighed. Make-up and dressed hair were my least favorite things. Dehlia started to brush my hair, like she said she would, and Grecia shifted my face in front of her. I heard rustling from Lidia, who was taking my dress out of the bag.
"Oh," Lidia gasped softly, "It's beautiful." I turned to look but was shoved forward by Dehlia. "Hold still Elle. You can look at your dress later." After what felt like an eternity, Dehlia pronounced that she was finished and allowed me to look in the mirror.
I was confused as I continued to stare at myself. My hair was down. Dehlia had tried to brush it, but my curls were untamable. Still, she had managed to make my hair look nice and soft. She had added a bit of glitter so my hair sparkled when I moved. It was nice, but not what had been discussed at my fittings. There was no flower in sight. My make-up was not at all 'light'. Grecia had added dark kohl on my eyelids to make my eyes look larger, giving them a smoky affect. My lips were dark red, and I had more glitter on my shoulders and neck. I most certainly do not recall having chosen for this make-up. I was supposed to look soft and mysterious, not sparkly and bold. I turned behind me to ask Dehlia what was going on when my eyes fell on my dress.
"What is that?" I shrieked. It was not my green dress. The dress that Dehlia was holding up was orange. Orange!
I was not going to the ball as a fire being!
a/n: Thank you for reading, reviews make me happy *hint hint* :) Question, a wonderful reviewer asked For Eldon's POV, and I thought this was a good idea but what do you guys think? It may make the story lag behind a little bit because i still want Elle to tell the story in her POV. i could always add his POV once the story is finished. So let me know what you think!