The day of the wedding. Again, nature seemed to be against me, letting the sun shine brightly, the clouds drift lazily across the sky, and birds chirp merrily in the trees. It was dreadful. Here I was, preparing to go watch the man I love marry another woman.
I decided not to wear a mask, and simply avoid Char. It would be quite easy, since he would be avoiding my family at all costs. So I donned the dress Mum Olga had bought for me and headed down the stairs with Hattie.
Olive still had a touch of her illness, and she had no desire to go to the wedding unless they gave out money, so she stayed home.
"Olive, you'll miss all the fun!" exclaimed Hattie when Olive refused to go.
"What fun?" Olive said.
"The fun of seeing Char leave Ataniea at the alter and come running to me." Hattie smirked knowingly. "I know he'll do it. He has to. The way he looks at me whenever we meet gives me the thought that he can't bear to be in my presense because he is betrothed to another and can't have me!"
I snorted. Char couldn't bear her presense, all right, but not because he was desperately in love with her.
The magnificent wedding was to be held at the old castle, just as all most weddings were. As we arrived at the scene, I could barely stand to be reminded of the night that Char and I found the glass slippers, toured the upstairs, and slid down the banister. That was also the night that he had caught me in his arms and twirled me around. I felt a tear threatening to fall and forced my thoughts elsewhere.
Hattie and Mum Olga dashed into the building the moment the exited the carriage. As for me, I took that opportunity to go to the candle trees. I needed to make a wish for myself.
The candle trees looked magnificent in their September glow, making me recall the time I came here to make a wish for mother. That was past, and I needed another favor from the trees. I entered the grove and stared at one of the trees.
"Please," I whispered, still fighting back tears, "let Char know I still care for him. And help me break the curse so I can marry him," I added. It was a silly wish, but it was what I wanted so it was what I wished for.
I backed away slowly, with both hands over my heart. Just as I turned to leave the grove, I backed into a tree. "Oh!" I said.
"Pardon me," said the tree."
I turned all the way around. It wasn't a tree, it was Char.
His jaw dropped. "Ella! You're here! Aren't you supposed to be frolicking somewhere with your husband?"
"Yes," I stammered, "but my good friend is getting married today so I thought I should come and support him."
Char broke out into a gorgeous smile. "Thank you."
I nodded. "What are YOU doing here?"
"I-I... I was trying to avoid the wedding," he said sheepishly.
I almost told him that that was okay, but I caught myself. Ella wasn't supposed to know he didn't love Ataniea. "Why?" I asked.
"Do you know your sister's maidservant, Clarise?" he asked, giving me an odd look.
"Yes, of course I know her. What about her?"
"Well she convinced me that I shouldn't get married if I don't love Ataniea, so I'm not going to."
"You don't love her? How can you end a betrothal just like that?" We had begun walking through the trees without noticing.
"She is not the girl for me," he said. "I don't know how to end a wedding before it starts, but I can't go through with it."
"What will happen if you don't marry anyone?" I was wondering why he wasn't acting like he hated me, although I didn't state it. The subject of who he really loved was bound to come up sooner or later, and I preferred sooner.
He sighed heavily. "I have to. In fact, I have to marry Ataniea because I didn't choose a bride at the three balls. Did you hear about the three balls?"
"Of course," I said. "I heard all about them from Hattie."
"Well, I chose no one so I have to go on my parent's choice." Char leaned against a tree and shook his head.
"How could it be possible not to find the woman you love at those balls?"
He threw me a glance. "The woman I really love wasn't there, but another woman that seemed favorable was."
"Why didn't you choose between them?"
"I have resolved never to marry," he repeated the same words he had said to Lela at the ball.
"If it is not too personal, who do you love?"
He opened his mouth, and closed it agian. He did this several times until, finally, he took a deep breath in preparation to tell me when someone yelled his name.
"Char, dearest!" It was Ataniea. Perfect. She was at the end of the grove, the end we came from. "I have been looking all over for you, Char! Who is this you are talking to?"
"I'm Ella," I said, curtsying. "I'm a good fr-- an acquaintance of Char's."
Ataniea gave me half smirk and turned back to Char. "Dearest, we must be getting into the castle. The ceremony will be starting soon."
"Of course, Ataniea," Char said dully. "Will you be coming in?" he asked me.
"Yes, I'll be right in."
After they had been gone for some thirty seconds, I followed into the castle, where the ceremony was just starting. Char was just stepping into place by the altar, and Ataniea was sitting with her mother, the queen, as was customary in our Frell weddings.
As High Chancellor Thomas began his droning speech, I noticed that Char was clenching and unclenching his left hand, a sure sign of nervousness. When Chancellor Thomas had finished, Ataniea rose and he placed a veiled crown on her head. She approached Char and they held hands, kneeling at the altar.
As the hand Char had been twitching was occupied by Ataniea's right hand, Char clenched his right hand.
Chancellor Thomas began his legal bonding speech, the same one he used at Father and Mum Olga's wedding. "These two beautiful people are here today to come together for a cause. That cause is love."
Char coughed.
"If anyone here believes that these two must not be joined in love, please say so now or forever hold your peace."
Hattie was on the edge of her seat. She seemed ready to rise when someone else did.
Char cleared his throat as he let go of Ataniea's hand and stood. "I have a reason."
Everyone stared. No one spoke. Hattie was jubilous.
"I am not in love with this woman, nor will I ever be. My heart belongs to another."
At this point, whispers broke out and people began to speak loudly, but none could speak as loud as my stepsister. "OH, CHAR!" she cried to him. "I KNEW YOU LOVED ME! I KNEW YOU WOULD CHOOSE ME OVER THAT FORIEGN SLIME!"
Ataniea's large jaw dropped. "So you DON'T love me?" she seemed surprised and relieved at once. Knowing she could get what she wanted if she held her relief, she feigned horror and fainted.
Her servants rushed to her side, and everyone turned their heads to her. Char took that moment to escape out the side door, and I followed.
He was in the candle tree grove again, though farther away from the castle than he was before. I caught up to him and grabbed his arm.
"Char, what was that all about? You left her at the altar!"
"I don't love her, and did you see the look on her face? She was HAPPY!" he scoffed. "I felt I couldn't go through with a marriage unless I told the woman I love that I love her." He grabbed my shoulders. "Ella, it's you! I love you and I always have, ever since the moment I met you! I sent you letter saying that, but your stepsister sent one back saying that you were already married." He removed his hands angrily. "And because of that, I seek another. You say you're only an acquaintance of mine, but I consider you my best friend. Now I am going to go to Lady Lela and ask for her hand. Excuse me."
At that, he took off running.
*************
dun-dun-dun!!!!!!!!! ooh what will happen next? thought this was the last chapter? THINK AGAIN!!! tee hee.
ARGH MY ENGLISH TEACHER IS HORRIBLE!! SHE WANTS THIS BIG PAPER, YOU KNOW AND SHE KEEPS MARKING ME DOWN POINTS FOR IT!! shes having us turn in a bit at a time and every bit that i turn in she scolds!! shes got something against me, i swear. you'd think i could write a paper, wouldnt you? oh, no im not good enough for a fricken english teacher.
excuse me im a little mad right now. i have a ton of homework. i did half of it and decided to write this chapter and then get back to it. i have to study for a biology test (wish me luck!!) and a spelling test (wish me luck!!) well have a nice day!
I decided not to wear a mask, and simply avoid Char. It would be quite easy, since he would be avoiding my family at all costs. So I donned the dress Mum Olga had bought for me and headed down the stairs with Hattie.
Olive still had a touch of her illness, and she had no desire to go to the wedding unless they gave out money, so she stayed home.
"Olive, you'll miss all the fun!" exclaimed Hattie when Olive refused to go.
"What fun?" Olive said.
"The fun of seeing Char leave Ataniea at the alter and come running to me." Hattie smirked knowingly. "I know he'll do it. He has to. The way he looks at me whenever we meet gives me the thought that he can't bear to be in my presense because he is betrothed to another and can't have me!"
I snorted. Char couldn't bear her presense, all right, but not because he was desperately in love with her.
The magnificent wedding was to be held at the old castle, just as all most weddings were. As we arrived at the scene, I could barely stand to be reminded of the night that Char and I found the glass slippers, toured the upstairs, and slid down the banister. That was also the night that he had caught me in his arms and twirled me around. I felt a tear threatening to fall and forced my thoughts elsewhere.
Hattie and Mum Olga dashed into the building the moment the exited the carriage. As for me, I took that opportunity to go to the candle trees. I needed to make a wish for myself.
The candle trees looked magnificent in their September glow, making me recall the time I came here to make a wish for mother. That was past, and I needed another favor from the trees. I entered the grove and stared at one of the trees.
"Please," I whispered, still fighting back tears, "let Char know I still care for him. And help me break the curse so I can marry him," I added. It was a silly wish, but it was what I wanted so it was what I wished for.
I backed away slowly, with both hands over my heart. Just as I turned to leave the grove, I backed into a tree. "Oh!" I said.
"Pardon me," said the tree."
I turned all the way around. It wasn't a tree, it was Char.
His jaw dropped. "Ella! You're here! Aren't you supposed to be frolicking somewhere with your husband?"
"Yes," I stammered, "but my good friend is getting married today so I thought I should come and support him."
Char broke out into a gorgeous smile. "Thank you."
I nodded. "What are YOU doing here?"
"I-I... I was trying to avoid the wedding," he said sheepishly.
I almost told him that that was okay, but I caught myself. Ella wasn't supposed to know he didn't love Ataniea. "Why?" I asked.
"Do you know your sister's maidservant, Clarise?" he asked, giving me an odd look.
"Yes, of course I know her. What about her?"
"Well she convinced me that I shouldn't get married if I don't love Ataniea, so I'm not going to."
"You don't love her? How can you end a betrothal just like that?" We had begun walking through the trees without noticing.
"She is not the girl for me," he said. "I don't know how to end a wedding before it starts, but I can't go through with it."
"What will happen if you don't marry anyone?" I was wondering why he wasn't acting like he hated me, although I didn't state it. The subject of who he really loved was bound to come up sooner or later, and I preferred sooner.
He sighed heavily. "I have to. In fact, I have to marry Ataniea because I didn't choose a bride at the three balls. Did you hear about the three balls?"
"Of course," I said. "I heard all about them from Hattie."
"Well, I chose no one so I have to go on my parent's choice." Char leaned against a tree and shook his head.
"How could it be possible not to find the woman you love at those balls?"
He threw me a glance. "The woman I really love wasn't there, but another woman that seemed favorable was."
"Why didn't you choose between them?"
"I have resolved never to marry," he repeated the same words he had said to Lela at the ball.
"If it is not too personal, who do you love?"
He opened his mouth, and closed it agian. He did this several times until, finally, he took a deep breath in preparation to tell me when someone yelled his name.
"Char, dearest!" It was Ataniea. Perfect. She was at the end of the grove, the end we came from. "I have been looking all over for you, Char! Who is this you are talking to?"
"I'm Ella," I said, curtsying. "I'm a good fr-- an acquaintance of Char's."
Ataniea gave me half smirk and turned back to Char. "Dearest, we must be getting into the castle. The ceremony will be starting soon."
"Of course, Ataniea," Char said dully. "Will you be coming in?" he asked me.
"Yes, I'll be right in."
After they had been gone for some thirty seconds, I followed into the castle, where the ceremony was just starting. Char was just stepping into place by the altar, and Ataniea was sitting with her mother, the queen, as was customary in our Frell weddings.
As High Chancellor Thomas began his droning speech, I noticed that Char was clenching and unclenching his left hand, a sure sign of nervousness. When Chancellor Thomas had finished, Ataniea rose and he placed a veiled crown on her head. She approached Char and they held hands, kneeling at the altar.
As the hand Char had been twitching was occupied by Ataniea's right hand, Char clenched his right hand.
Chancellor Thomas began his legal bonding speech, the same one he used at Father and Mum Olga's wedding. "These two beautiful people are here today to come together for a cause. That cause is love."
Char coughed.
"If anyone here believes that these two must not be joined in love, please say so now or forever hold your peace."
Hattie was on the edge of her seat. She seemed ready to rise when someone else did.
Char cleared his throat as he let go of Ataniea's hand and stood. "I have a reason."
Everyone stared. No one spoke. Hattie was jubilous.
"I am not in love with this woman, nor will I ever be. My heart belongs to another."
At this point, whispers broke out and people began to speak loudly, but none could speak as loud as my stepsister. "OH, CHAR!" she cried to him. "I KNEW YOU LOVED ME! I KNEW YOU WOULD CHOOSE ME OVER THAT FORIEGN SLIME!"
Ataniea's large jaw dropped. "So you DON'T love me?" she seemed surprised and relieved at once. Knowing she could get what she wanted if she held her relief, she feigned horror and fainted.
Her servants rushed to her side, and everyone turned their heads to her. Char took that moment to escape out the side door, and I followed.
He was in the candle tree grove again, though farther away from the castle than he was before. I caught up to him and grabbed his arm.
"Char, what was that all about? You left her at the altar!"
"I don't love her, and did you see the look on her face? She was HAPPY!" he scoffed. "I felt I couldn't go through with a marriage unless I told the woman I love that I love her." He grabbed my shoulders. "Ella, it's you! I love you and I always have, ever since the moment I met you! I sent you letter saying that, but your stepsister sent one back saying that you were already married." He removed his hands angrily. "And because of that, I seek another. You say you're only an acquaintance of mine, but I consider you my best friend. Now I am going to go to Lady Lela and ask for her hand. Excuse me."
At that, he took off running.
*************
dun-dun-dun!!!!!!!!! ooh what will happen next? thought this was the last chapter? THINK AGAIN!!! tee hee.
ARGH MY ENGLISH TEACHER IS HORRIBLE!! SHE WANTS THIS BIG PAPER, YOU KNOW AND SHE KEEPS MARKING ME DOWN POINTS FOR IT!! shes having us turn in a bit at a time and every bit that i turn in she scolds!! shes got something against me, i swear. you'd think i could write a paper, wouldnt you? oh, no im not good enough for a fricken english teacher.
excuse me im a little mad right now. i have a ton of homework. i did half of it and decided to write this chapter and then get back to it. i have to study for a biology test (wish me luck!!) and a spelling test (wish me luck!!) well have a nice day!
