Okay, I'm this is almost over. This next part is going to be partly from
the book so I'll put in bold everything from the book because I don't want
to be sued or anything. This is my favorite part of the book so I hope you
enjoy it. I know its short but I've got a lot coming up. Have fun!
*******Ella*******
I turned and curtsied, "Good evening your highness."
"Dance with me," an order, "We need to talk. I don't know why you didn't tell me your real name in the first place but I'd like to know it now."
"I'm so sorry, Char," I choked back the tears, "I cannot tell you my name. Please don't ask me to."
"All right, no names. I don't understand why not but it probably isn't my business."
A tear slipped down my cheek, "Oh Char, why did you have to be so wonderful?"
"You love me, don't you? I have loved you from the moment those Ayorthan words came out of your mouth in your terrible accent," he laughed at the memory, as did I, "I cannot stand the mystery any longer. I don't need to know your name, just your face. Remove your mask."
It was an order. I began to feel dizzy. I couldn't see straight. My knees felt week. I had to do it. I would take it off and then run. I untied the silky string in the back, my symptoms disappeared. I pulled the mask all the way off. Char gasped. I hesitated a moment and relished in all that could never be and then ran. As I was running down the palace steps one of my slippers fell off. I turned to grab it but Char was coming out the doors behind me. I looked around for Lucinda but it was only eleven thirty and I knew she wouldn't be there. I continued to run. I didn't know where I was going but my feet seemed to. I ran to the manor. Mum Olga's carriage was just beginning to pull into the drive way behind me. I ran inside. "Mandy! Mandy where are you?" I cried as I ran to my room. I tore off my dress and put on my dirty scullery maid dress. Mandy walked into my room then. She looked at my tear streaked face and then at my dress and seemed to understand. She sighed and helped me take off my necklace. "You went to the ball? What were you thinking? Lucinda helped you, didn't she?" she asked, I knew she would go on. "Mandy, please don't lecture me. I've had a terrible evening. I don't know what was running through my head," I collapsed into her arms and began sobbing. "Tell me everything, Lady," she said, stroking my hair, and I did. A while later Nancy appeared at my door, "It's the prince! He wants to see everyone." I didn't move. She giggled nervously, "He won't eat us, at least I hope not. Come." I followed her, my heart drumming loud enough to drown out all thought. Mandy ran up behind me and rubbed soot into my face and tied a dirty handkerchief over my hair. She kissed me gently, silently telling me everything would be all right. He stood in the hall with his knights and our entire household. Hattie, Olive and Mum Olga had come home already and were fawning over Char. In the midst of all that was important I hated him to see me covered in rags and cinders. I hid between some tall servants and tried to look as much a simpleton as I could. I hoped dearly he wouldn't recognize me. I should have learned long ago that hope is nothing more than hanging on to an impossible dream.
*******Ella*******
I turned and curtsied, "Good evening your highness."
"Dance with me," an order, "We need to talk. I don't know why you didn't tell me your real name in the first place but I'd like to know it now."
"I'm so sorry, Char," I choked back the tears, "I cannot tell you my name. Please don't ask me to."
"All right, no names. I don't understand why not but it probably isn't my business."
A tear slipped down my cheek, "Oh Char, why did you have to be so wonderful?"
"You love me, don't you? I have loved you from the moment those Ayorthan words came out of your mouth in your terrible accent," he laughed at the memory, as did I, "I cannot stand the mystery any longer. I don't need to know your name, just your face. Remove your mask."
It was an order. I began to feel dizzy. I couldn't see straight. My knees felt week. I had to do it. I would take it off and then run. I untied the silky string in the back, my symptoms disappeared. I pulled the mask all the way off. Char gasped. I hesitated a moment and relished in all that could never be and then ran. As I was running down the palace steps one of my slippers fell off. I turned to grab it but Char was coming out the doors behind me. I looked around for Lucinda but it was only eleven thirty and I knew she wouldn't be there. I continued to run. I didn't know where I was going but my feet seemed to. I ran to the manor. Mum Olga's carriage was just beginning to pull into the drive way behind me. I ran inside. "Mandy! Mandy where are you?" I cried as I ran to my room. I tore off my dress and put on my dirty scullery maid dress. Mandy walked into my room then. She looked at my tear streaked face and then at my dress and seemed to understand. She sighed and helped me take off my necklace. "You went to the ball? What were you thinking? Lucinda helped you, didn't she?" she asked, I knew she would go on. "Mandy, please don't lecture me. I've had a terrible evening. I don't know what was running through my head," I collapsed into her arms and began sobbing. "Tell me everything, Lady," she said, stroking my hair, and I did. A while later Nancy appeared at my door, "It's the prince! He wants to see everyone." I didn't move. She giggled nervously, "He won't eat us, at least I hope not. Come." I followed her, my heart drumming loud enough to drown out all thought. Mandy ran up behind me and rubbed soot into my face and tied a dirty handkerchief over my hair. She kissed me gently, silently telling me everything would be all right. He stood in the hall with his knights and our entire household. Hattie, Olive and Mum Olga had come home already and were fawning over Char. In the midst of all that was important I hated him to see me covered in rags and cinders. I hid between some tall servants and tried to look as much a simpleton as I could. I hoped dearly he wouldn't recognize me. I should have learned long ago that hope is nothing more than hanging on to an impossible dream.