Eh, short chapter
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"Excuse me, but what are you doing with my fiancé?!" I jumped in surprise, then groaned inwardly. This would take some explaining to do with Tabitha. Sighing, I got to my feet and faced her. "How nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you Tabitha!" I said, with mock excitement. She just looked at me strangely, so I continued. "My husband is a royal guard as well, so he knows Sir Ethan. I was just congratulating him on his sudden engagement. You are the wife-to-be I presume?" Tabitha relaxed quite a bit, but she was still wary. "Who's your husband?" she inquired. Uh oh, I was in trouble now. Ethan piped in to save me "Frederick dear." With this she relaxed immensely. "Oh I see. Well, Ethan dear, the banquet isn't ready yet. Shall we go?" With out a word of goodbye in my direction, she grabbed Ethan by the elbow and marched off.
I sighed, frustrated. Well, at least I knew that he loved me and that marrying Tabitha wasn't by choice. But I didn't know what to do. It now seemed urgent that we leave this place, for my sake, if I was found here, and for Ethan's so he wouldn't have to marry that- well nevermind what she was. He just wouldn't have to marry her. The only plan I could think of was for both of us to leave, leave the kingdom, but how? Different ideas ran through my head, each more futile than the last one. I was so wrapped up in the thought of escape, that I ran right into, you guessed it, the prince and Ella. I don't know how I did it, but somehow I managed to get my mask on and tie it as I was stumbling backward. As I dubiously apologized, the couple frowned at me.
"Cinderella darling, perhaps we should go inside so that you aren't harmed by any more of these careless trollops." The prince sniffed. I was shocked, for two reasons. #1 being the fact that he had just called me a prostitute, and #2, he had called Ella, Cinderella. What kind of phony name was that? I could think of a hundred different names that were real, but Cinderella?! I sighed as they walked past, trying to maintain dignity, while repositioning my mask. Suddenly the knot in back gave way, and there I was, behind the two worst people I could think of, well aside from Tabitha, and all they had to do was turn around and I was dead. Luckily the prince was too occupied with trying to impress a bored Ella to turn around. But Ella, being bored as I just mentioned, heard my silent struggle and soft cursing behind her.
I must admit, it was quite humorous when she turned around, only to see me there. Her eyes bulged for a moment, then her mouth kept snapping open and shut, mouthing "no" over and over again, like a dying fish. Of course the prince didn't notice this, he was too busy trying to impress her by talking about who he knew, and who that person was, and what kind of flower this was. I was lucky he was so thick-headed, he just kept dragging a now hiccuping Ella away from me, unwittingly saving my life. I was daring enough to shoot her a sly smile, then I took off, running as fast as I could to the other end of the garden. I then sank into a hedge, trying to catch my breath, trying to figure out what to do.
As I got up, repositioned my mask VERY secularly, I decided the best thing to do was to leave the ball, and try and meet Ethan somewhere tomorrow. I started towards the castle, trying to ignore the couples staring at me. I reached the castle just as the dinner bell rang. I must say it was perfect timing on my part. I decided instead to slip back over to the gazebo to wait until Ethan came out again, which he might before dinner was over, just to get away from Tabitha. This way I wouldn't have to be on the lookout for Ella either, as she was probably sitting right next to the prince as the "guest of honor". There was only one flaw I saw in my plan. I was hungry.
I had a lot of time to think out there, shivering in the gazebo. I thought about how Ethan and I would escape, I thought about where we would go, if we were going to get married, and how that would play out. I thought about where to meet tomorrow, what I was going to bring, and how we would travel. But the things I thought most about were how annoying Tabitha was, how "Cinderella" was going to pull this one off, how cold it was, and how hungry I was. My stomach growled again and again, angrily protesting the lack meagerness of the samples that I had tried earlier on. Just as I was about to risk being found, and go inside to save myself from starvation, the bell tower rang. It was 11:30. In only a half hour, Ella would be getting home. I had to leave before her. I chewed on my lip nervously, looking at the castle, willing Ethan to come out right then. But it wasn't Ethan that came out, it was Ella and, o my god, Tabitha, chatting up a storm.
I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I did the only thing I could think of; I crouched down under the hedges, and I ran. Through the gardens, through the castle courtyard, and into the street I ran. When my feet finally hit the gravel of the road, I stopped, panting for breath. With shaking hands, I peeled off my slippers, undid my mask, and trudged the rest of the way home, heart heavy. My dress was all crumpled and trailing along the street, my feet ached, my hair was beginning to resemble Madame's but worst of all, I knew I would never see Ethan again. If I did, he would be side-by-side with Tabitha, perhaps as miserable as I would be.
I finally reached the house, slipped inside, and started changing. I had just hidden my dress when the front door opened and Ella came in. I dived into my bed with a soft squeak and pretended to be asleep, watching her out of the corner of my, in case I had to start running. Ella looked at me for a moment, then sighed sadly, walking towards the stairs. It wasn't quite midnight yet, but I suppose the transformation was taking place, as she was limping up the stairs. She didn't seem to be in pain though, just very sad. Perhaps for the same reasons that I was. I waited until she was in her room before I moved. Then I sighed and rolled over, my pillow becoming decorated with tears as I fell asleep.
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And just when it looks the bleakest. I leave you to wait. Mwahaha! Guess what?! I know what's going to happen in the rest of the story. I had serious writer's block, and then one night- revelation! So look for one to two more chapters. Thanks for all the comments! They've helped quite a bit.
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"Excuse me, but what are you doing with my fiancé?!" I jumped in surprise, then groaned inwardly. This would take some explaining to do with Tabitha. Sighing, I got to my feet and faced her. "How nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you Tabitha!" I said, with mock excitement. She just looked at me strangely, so I continued. "My husband is a royal guard as well, so he knows Sir Ethan. I was just congratulating him on his sudden engagement. You are the wife-to-be I presume?" Tabitha relaxed quite a bit, but she was still wary. "Who's your husband?" she inquired. Uh oh, I was in trouble now. Ethan piped in to save me "Frederick dear." With this she relaxed immensely. "Oh I see. Well, Ethan dear, the banquet isn't ready yet. Shall we go?" With out a word of goodbye in my direction, she grabbed Ethan by the elbow and marched off.
I sighed, frustrated. Well, at least I knew that he loved me and that marrying Tabitha wasn't by choice. But I didn't know what to do. It now seemed urgent that we leave this place, for my sake, if I was found here, and for Ethan's so he wouldn't have to marry that- well nevermind what she was. He just wouldn't have to marry her. The only plan I could think of was for both of us to leave, leave the kingdom, but how? Different ideas ran through my head, each more futile than the last one. I was so wrapped up in the thought of escape, that I ran right into, you guessed it, the prince and Ella. I don't know how I did it, but somehow I managed to get my mask on and tie it as I was stumbling backward. As I dubiously apologized, the couple frowned at me.
"Cinderella darling, perhaps we should go inside so that you aren't harmed by any more of these careless trollops." The prince sniffed. I was shocked, for two reasons. #1 being the fact that he had just called me a prostitute, and #2, he had called Ella, Cinderella. What kind of phony name was that? I could think of a hundred different names that were real, but Cinderella?! I sighed as they walked past, trying to maintain dignity, while repositioning my mask. Suddenly the knot in back gave way, and there I was, behind the two worst people I could think of, well aside from Tabitha, and all they had to do was turn around and I was dead. Luckily the prince was too occupied with trying to impress a bored Ella to turn around. But Ella, being bored as I just mentioned, heard my silent struggle and soft cursing behind her.
I must admit, it was quite humorous when she turned around, only to see me there. Her eyes bulged for a moment, then her mouth kept snapping open and shut, mouthing "no" over and over again, like a dying fish. Of course the prince didn't notice this, he was too busy trying to impress her by talking about who he knew, and who that person was, and what kind of flower this was. I was lucky he was so thick-headed, he just kept dragging a now hiccuping Ella away from me, unwittingly saving my life. I was daring enough to shoot her a sly smile, then I took off, running as fast as I could to the other end of the garden. I then sank into a hedge, trying to catch my breath, trying to figure out what to do.
As I got up, repositioned my mask VERY secularly, I decided the best thing to do was to leave the ball, and try and meet Ethan somewhere tomorrow. I started towards the castle, trying to ignore the couples staring at me. I reached the castle just as the dinner bell rang. I must say it was perfect timing on my part. I decided instead to slip back over to the gazebo to wait until Ethan came out again, which he might before dinner was over, just to get away from Tabitha. This way I wouldn't have to be on the lookout for Ella either, as she was probably sitting right next to the prince as the "guest of honor". There was only one flaw I saw in my plan. I was hungry.
I had a lot of time to think out there, shivering in the gazebo. I thought about how Ethan and I would escape, I thought about where we would go, if we were going to get married, and how that would play out. I thought about where to meet tomorrow, what I was going to bring, and how we would travel. But the things I thought most about were how annoying Tabitha was, how "Cinderella" was going to pull this one off, how cold it was, and how hungry I was. My stomach growled again and again, angrily protesting the lack meagerness of the samples that I had tried earlier on. Just as I was about to risk being found, and go inside to save myself from starvation, the bell tower rang. It was 11:30. In only a half hour, Ella would be getting home. I had to leave before her. I chewed on my lip nervously, looking at the castle, willing Ethan to come out right then. But it wasn't Ethan that came out, it was Ella and, o my god, Tabitha, chatting up a storm.
I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I did the only thing I could think of; I crouched down under the hedges, and I ran. Through the gardens, through the castle courtyard, and into the street I ran. When my feet finally hit the gravel of the road, I stopped, panting for breath. With shaking hands, I peeled off my slippers, undid my mask, and trudged the rest of the way home, heart heavy. My dress was all crumpled and trailing along the street, my feet ached, my hair was beginning to resemble Madame's but worst of all, I knew I would never see Ethan again. If I did, he would be side-by-side with Tabitha, perhaps as miserable as I would be.
I finally reached the house, slipped inside, and started changing. I had just hidden my dress when the front door opened and Ella came in. I dived into my bed with a soft squeak and pretended to be asleep, watching her out of the corner of my, in case I had to start running. Ella looked at me for a moment, then sighed sadly, walking towards the stairs. It wasn't quite midnight yet, but I suppose the transformation was taking place, as she was limping up the stairs. She didn't seem to be in pain though, just very sad. Perhaps for the same reasons that I was. I waited until she was in her room before I moved. Then I sighed and rolled over, my pillow becoming decorated with tears as I fell asleep.
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And just when it looks the bleakest. I leave you to wait. Mwahaha! Guess what?! I know what's going to happen in the rest of the story. I had serious writer's block, and then one night- revelation! So look for one to two more chapters. Thanks for all the comments! They've helped quite a bit.
