Disclaimer: I don't own Ella Enchanted tear… Gail Carson Levine does.

(A/N) Sorry I haven't updated for a few days… here should be a longer chapter… I think… Maybe… Hmmm… Then again… Okay just read it, I'm confusing myself…

Forever Elly

Chapter 2

The whole time Mandy was leading me home I was growing more and more curious as to what she had promised someone she would tell me.

I would have tried to interrogate her to get her to spill something on the way home; in fact that had been my plan, but one look at her face told me that this was not the right time.

It was still pale. In fact, it had been pale since the announcement about the Queen's death. I was worried. Was Mandy still in shock? Would she be okay?

I studied her as best I could; trying to figure out what was occupying her thoughts. However, she kept everything locked in a whirlpool of emotions inside her. On the outside she didn't let even a hint of how she was feeling slip through.

When we finally got home, I was more relieved; as Mandy could at least sit down.

I set about making her comfortable. I made her sit down, made a cup of herbal tea, and got a blanket, which I tucked around her.

In my worried state, I had forgotten that she needed to tell me something, so when she brought it back up, I grew curious again.

What was it that had caused her such distress?

"Sweet, do you remember what I told you about your parents?" She asked.

"Yeah," I replied, not expecting the question. "The carriage accident. What about it?"

"Well," Mandy paused. "It's just… Elly, your parents didn't die in a carriage accident."

There was skepticism on my face. "What-" I cleared my throat. "Then what happened?"

"Elly… The late Queen Eleanor of Frell; she was your mother."

My jaw dropped. "W-what? Are you lying? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Where is my father? Is he still alive?" The questions came pouring out.

"Elly," Mandy said quietly. "Your mother didn't want you to have to grow up in a castle like she did. She hated it."

I watched Mandy as she told me this. A look on her face told me she was holding something back.

"Mandy… What aren't you telling me?"

"Elly, when you were born, your mother told your father you hadn't survived the childbirth. She didn't want you to have to live with him." Mandy sighed. "I used to work as the cook in the palace. I knew your mother, your grandmother, your great-grandmother, and so far back as the Eleanor line goes."

I stuttered. "B-but… how? Mandy… What are you talking about? What's going on?"

"Sweet, I'm not actually your god-mother… I'm more your fairy godmother."

She saw the confused look on my face. "You're a fairy?!"

"Yes."

"Okay… Can you prove it?"

Mandy shook her head. "We don't do magic in front of humans. Nobody does anymore. Not even Lucinda. It can have unfortunate consequences."

Lucinda… The fairy-tales were true?

"Okay fine, so you're a fairy… Why didn't my mother tell my father about me?"

"Elly, she was just protecting you. Your father… Well, he's not exactly a nice man. Your mother was afraid you would have a miserable life living in the castle with him watching you like a hawk. Lord knows that's what he did with her. When she married him he was delightful. However, as soon as he gained control of the crown… well you can figure out the rest. He was only using her. Your mother loved you very much Elly. She just wanted you to be happy and free. But somehow, he's now found out about you. I'm not sure how. Probably one of the maids who knew about you at the time or possibly there was someone we didn't know about that knew about you."

This was overwhelming. My mother… the Queen? What was going on? And what would my father do?

Wait… "Mandy… if my mother was a queen… does that mean-?" I broke off as my voice wavered. "Am I a princess?" I whispered in awe.

"Yes, Elly, you are Princess Eleanor of Frell. You will one day rule Frell as your own kingdom."

Now it was I who was in shock. So when there was a knock on the door, Mandy threw back the blanket and got up to get it, while I was still frozen in place.

I could hear snippets of her conversation with whoever was at the door; mostly just what she was saying. She was questioning things. "Why?" I heard her ask. There was mumbling, but I couldn't make out the words. "When?" More mumbling.

"Elly!" Mandy called. "Come here dear."

I shook myself out of my fog and went to Mandy.

Standing next to her was a messenger in a red uniform I recognized as from the court of Frell.

"Mandy?" I asked suspiciously.

"Sweet, it seems your father has learned of your existence. He has requested that you and your things are to be brought to the palace in Frell immediately. He claims you need to be prepared to take over the thrown in the event that something happens to him."

I stood gaping.

What have I gotten myself into?

Sorry I didn't update sooner… I've been really busy… Plus I failed a geometry test (who needs geometry anyway? I'm not going to be an architect when I grow up… algebra is so much better) so I've been forced to go to extra help session things (I've never failed before so don't think I'm some bad slacker student… And I'm not really very happy about failing that if you can't tell)

You should be happy though… It's really late now and I still have a ton of homework to do, but at least I feel a sense of satisfaction in the world knowing that my story is updated with this new chapter… even if I could have probably made it longer and even if it won't even be posted right away!! Give me a break though, I'm working on like 5 hours of sleep (and I'll probably get less than that tonight).

The whole spelling and grammar meticulousness is going down the drain in this chapter… It's really late and I'm really tired and that combination doesn't let me care that my story isn't exactly perfect. So unless there are any really really really stupidly noticeable mistakes (that are completely inexcusable) I really don't care at this point. Only editing tool right now is my spell-check… nice and easy. Of course when I get a chance I'll probably go back and edit it myself… but whatever… tell mistakes.

I have to go find some sugar now so I'll be hyper tomorrow and not fall asleep in my classes.

R&R!

Thanks

Lauren