Ella sighed. How stupid could she possibly have been? Sure, let's
just follow strangers to wherever they may lead. Well, no matter. She'd
charmed the pants off of those ogres, hadn't she? What was one, little
knight to compare with all her other triumphs?
She put on her best smile for the troll sitting beside her in the darkened carriage. "Please turn the carriage around. I hate to inform you, but I'm already married."
Sir Bowen just laughed. "I've heard of your stupid parlor tricks, girl. Trying to beguile me like you did to those ogres, correct? Sorry to inform you, but I'm smarter than your average man, and most likely twice as intelligent as an ogre. You're little magic won't work on me."
Ella started getting mad. She deserved a happily ever after, and no overgrown pig with a title was going to steal it from her! "Well, sorry to inform you, sir, but my husband-my current husband- is a prince. He has a whole army to command. And my father knows where you live. They will come for me. Wouldn't it be easier to just turn around now? You know, bring me back, let us forget it ever happened?"
Bowen just laughed again. "Ah, my dear, you underestimate me. I've already considered that possibility. We'll be going to another estate of mine, one that no one knows of. No one can see it either. It is protected by fairy magic."
Ella tried again, on another vein. "Well, you know I can't marry you, right? A marriage cannot be legal if one party is already married. Even if I weren't married, I wouldn't consent. So, what is the point of kidnapping me?"
Bowen replied, "Girl, do you realize you are talking about legalities to a man who just kidnapped you? Do you think I care if the marriage is legal? Second, as for your consent…" his voice dropped. "…If I order you to marry me, I suppose you will just have to follow that order won't you?"
Ella smiled inwardly. Sir Bowen thought that she still had her curse! If she just followed all his orders, perhaps he would leave her alone for a spell. Then she could get away.
"Now sit back!" Bowen commanded.
Ella complied. She had a plan now. She would outsmart Bowen. She would get out of here. She would get her happiness back.
Char hung his head in wretchedness. Ella was gone! No doubt Sir Bowen took her. He never should of left her alone! He should have been with her!
Well, there was no point in wallowing in self-pity now. He had to save Ella. Sir Bowen's estate was in Torlia? Then he would go to Torlia.
"Sir Stephan!" Char called out.
Stephan appeared at the doorway. He looked heartsick; he, too, missed Ella. "Yes, sir?"
"Assemble your finest knights. We leave in the morning for Torlia."
The knight nodded. "Right away, your highness."
Char's steely gaze at the empty room reflected his determination. He would cross rivers. He would cross mountains. He would get Ella back.
She put on her best smile for the troll sitting beside her in the darkened carriage. "Please turn the carriage around. I hate to inform you, but I'm already married."
Sir Bowen just laughed. "I've heard of your stupid parlor tricks, girl. Trying to beguile me like you did to those ogres, correct? Sorry to inform you, but I'm smarter than your average man, and most likely twice as intelligent as an ogre. You're little magic won't work on me."
Ella started getting mad. She deserved a happily ever after, and no overgrown pig with a title was going to steal it from her! "Well, sorry to inform you, sir, but my husband-my current husband- is a prince. He has a whole army to command. And my father knows where you live. They will come for me. Wouldn't it be easier to just turn around now? You know, bring me back, let us forget it ever happened?"
Bowen just laughed again. "Ah, my dear, you underestimate me. I've already considered that possibility. We'll be going to another estate of mine, one that no one knows of. No one can see it either. It is protected by fairy magic."
Ella tried again, on another vein. "Well, you know I can't marry you, right? A marriage cannot be legal if one party is already married. Even if I weren't married, I wouldn't consent. So, what is the point of kidnapping me?"
Bowen replied, "Girl, do you realize you are talking about legalities to a man who just kidnapped you? Do you think I care if the marriage is legal? Second, as for your consent…" his voice dropped. "…If I order you to marry me, I suppose you will just have to follow that order won't you?"
Ella smiled inwardly. Sir Bowen thought that she still had her curse! If she just followed all his orders, perhaps he would leave her alone for a spell. Then she could get away.
"Now sit back!" Bowen commanded.
Ella complied. She had a plan now. She would outsmart Bowen. She would get out of here. She would get her happiness back.
Char hung his head in wretchedness. Ella was gone! No doubt Sir Bowen took her. He never should of left her alone! He should have been with her!
Well, there was no point in wallowing in self-pity now. He had to save Ella. Sir Bowen's estate was in Torlia? Then he would go to Torlia.
"Sir Stephan!" Char called out.
Stephan appeared at the doorway. He looked heartsick; he, too, missed Ella. "Yes, sir?"
"Assemble your finest knights. We leave in the morning for Torlia."
The knight nodded. "Right away, your highness."
Char's steely gaze at the empty room reflected his determination. He would cross rivers. He would cross mountains. He would get Ella back.