Ella sighed with bliss. Not since her mother had been alive had she
felt such joy. It was hard to believe that just two months ago, she had
lived in squalor, waiting on her stepsisters hand and foot.
Now, her stepfamily was shunned by most all. She lived in a palace, married to her love, Char; could life be more perfect?
She still marveled at the miracle that had befallen her. She never thought she possibly could get rid of the curse. It was the kind of affliction that never went away. But it did. Her love for Char had surpassed her need to obey. Now she could make decisions. Now she could say no.
Char had been, to say the least, surprised to hear of the curse. He did have to admit that it explained everything. He told Ella that it made him love her that much more, the fact that she had put his safety before her happiness. Yes, their life was perfect. Or so they thought.
Their carefully spun Utopia was shattered shortly after their marriage. Ella and Char were busy having staircase-sliding races when Nancy interrupted to announce a visitor.
"Pardon me, your highnesses, but Sir Peter of Frell requests an audience."
The monarchs reluctantly ended their game and made their way to the grand hall. Ella ranted on the way. "Are you sure I have to be a 'Your Highness'? Can't I just be Ella? After all, not two months ago, these servants were my superiors."
Char smiled. He loved the humility of his wife. "Well, Ella, you are a princess, future queen. You'd better get used to it."
Ella continued on another vein, feeling the need to complain. "I can't believe the nerve of Father. To just march in here! He didn't even come to the wedding! Not that I care, of course. But now he's probably just going to congratulate me and then ask for a loan."
Finally, they came face to face with Sir Peter. He looked extremely nervous, his eyes darting back and forth, as if someone was after him.
He addressed Ella first. "My dear, I cannot be happier about your marriage. I know you will make a wonderful wife and queen. I regret not being there for your wedding."
"Now, 'give a few KJs to me, your dear father, please.' Just watch," Ella murmured to Char under her breath.
Now Peter addressed them both. "I've made a terrible mistake. You see, I received the news of your marriage to late to attend the event, to even know that you were unavailable."
"Unavailable? Whatever do you mean?" Ella inquired.
Her father took a deep breath. "Ella, I promised your hand to Sir Bowen, a knight from Torlia, two months ago. I swear, I didn't know of your engagement. I told him I would bring you to his estate in two months. This is- not a good man. He is very rich, which blinded me to his shortcomings. When I don't bring you to him, he will come for you. If he finds you are married, it will not matter. He'll take you without a second thought. You must be prepared-prepared to protect yourselves."
At that moment, Ella felt her invisible web of perfection shatter.
Now, her stepfamily was shunned by most all. She lived in a palace, married to her love, Char; could life be more perfect?
She still marveled at the miracle that had befallen her. She never thought she possibly could get rid of the curse. It was the kind of affliction that never went away. But it did. Her love for Char had surpassed her need to obey. Now she could make decisions. Now she could say no.
Char had been, to say the least, surprised to hear of the curse. He did have to admit that it explained everything. He told Ella that it made him love her that much more, the fact that she had put his safety before her happiness. Yes, their life was perfect. Or so they thought.
Their carefully spun Utopia was shattered shortly after their marriage. Ella and Char were busy having staircase-sliding races when Nancy interrupted to announce a visitor.
"Pardon me, your highnesses, but Sir Peter of Frell requests an audience."
The monarchs reluctantly ended their game and made their way to the grand hall. Ella ranted on the way. "Are you sure I have to be a 'Your Highness'? Can't I just be Ella? After all, not two months ago, these servants were my superiors."
Char smiled. He loved the humility of his wife. "Well, Ella, you are a princess, future queen. You'd better get used to it."
Ella continued on another vein, feeling the need to complain. "I can't believe the nerve of Father. To just march in here! He didn't even come to the wedding! Not that I care, of course. But now he's probably just going to congratulate me and then ask for a loan."
Finally, they came face to face with Sir Peter. He looked extremely nervous, his eyes darting back and forth, as if someone was after him.
He addressed Ella first. "My dear, I cannot be happier about your marriage. I know you will make a wonderful wife and queen. I regret not being there for your wedding."
"Now, 'give a few KJs to me, your dear father, please.' Just watch," Ella murmured to Char under her breath.
Now Peter addressed them both. "I've made a terrible mistake. You see, I received the news of your marriage to late to attend the event, to even know that you were unavailable."
"Unavailable? Whatever do you mean?" Ella inquired.
Her father took a deep breath. "Ella, I promised your hand to Sir Bowen, a knight from Torlia, two months ago. I swear, I didn't know of your engagement. I told him I would bring you to his estate in two months. This is- not a good man. He is very rich, which blinded me to his shortcomings. When I don't bring you to him, he will come for you. If he finds you are married, it will not matter. He'll take you without a second thought. You must be prepared-prepared to protect yourselves."
At that moment, Ella felt her invisible web of perfection shatter.