Chapter 6

I awoke long after dawn and was surprised that Edmonda was not there to see me wake and to give me a long, harsh thrashing. Yedda was there, however, and with hot soup in hand. I smiled at the site of her and especially when she showed me the soup and knelt beside me to feed it to me.

"You're sick Ella, with the fever," she told me, her voice full of concern. "Maida advised me to make you some soup, so I have." I smiled and nodded my thanks, for I realized my throat was too sore to speak. I attempted to sit up but as I did the room began to spin and I could do nothing but lie again.

"It was not right," Yedda said quietly, as she fed me some more soup. "At the ball, I mean. Edmonda must have known what happened was going to happen after she spoke with the queen, for she told me to go find our carriage and tell our driver that we were going to leave shortly. Well it took me forever to find our carriage, for they all look so alike, but when I finally came back the whole nightmare was over and Mother did not leave for another hour which annoyed the driver quite a deal. She must have known I would have stuck up for you. I tried to tell the prince that you were indeed Ella, I truly did, but Edmonda was too clever and made it impossible for me to speak to the prince or Their Majesties. I'm terribly sorry Ella." I was sorry too, and I patted her hand to show I thanked her but as she looked away I allowed a single tear to fall down my cheek and wiped it away before she could see. She smiled at my strength and continued to feed me.

Yedda cared for me the rest of the day and Maida cared for me that night. By morning I was better and woke with the dawn. I went out and began to feed the chickens when I heard a great deal of commotion and crying coming towards me. I recognized Maida's anguished voice and looked behind me to see Edmonda marching towards me, Jocelyn at her side carrying a bundle, followed by Yedda, Maida, and other servants crying out at Edmonda, protesting something. I looked at them in confusion and set down the basket of chicken feed and walked towards them to meet the crowd.

"What is going on?" I asked Edmonda in confusion. Edmonda smiled her wicked smile and took the bundle from Jocelyn and threw it at me.

"Did I not tell you that if you ever told anyone that you were Ella that I'd throw you on the streets?" she asked, her voice slick with cruelty. "There are your things. A tattered cloak so you shall not freeze to death quickly, a bit of food which should last you a day, and your mother's precious dress and shoe, though they aren't too precious now." She smiled her smile again and let me realize that I was utterly alone. Maida and Yedda were weeping now, as were other servants. I surprised myself by not joining them and raised my chin.

"So be it," I replied, causing her to be taken back in surprise. "But I must ask, why do you let me go. How do you not know I shall go straight to the prince?" Edmonda laughed and looked at me as if I were a fool.

"There is nothing you can do to make him realize your true self now," she shot. "If you go to him they'll put you in prison within seconds." I nodded and stepped backwards in defeat.

"Then he shall come to me," I replied before turning to leave. As I walked away from my home, and my only friends I heard nothing but Maida and Yedda's hopeless protests and Edmonda's ruthless cries to quiet them. Once I made it into the woods, I felt my freedom.

I quickly found refuge in the Tree Palace. I was able, by some miracle or another, to find fresh berry bushes outside of the palace and a stream that trickled by full of fresh water too. It was curious these things were there because I never remembered them from my child-hood. I couldn't help but wonder if it was my mother's doing from in heaven. After collecting some berries and placing them upon 'Rex', I created a bed out of leaves and dried grass at the base of 'Regina' and lay there for a long while in thought. I was startled out of my thoughts as the sound of galloping hooves reached my ears. They were nearing the palace and I knew that I needed to hide myself. As quick as possible, I ran behind bushes to the right of 'Regina' and hid myself there to watch the stranger enter.

Who entered, though, was no stranger. It was Eadric, his face contorted from, no doubt, stress from his parents. He came in at a brisk pace and headed straight for 'Rex'. He stopped though as he noted the berries upon the throne. He next looked down at my feeble attempt at a bed, followed by a look around the palace itself.

"Who is there?" he called. "Show yourself, I command you!" Slowly, I stood up from behind the bushes and walked out from behind them. He turned and saw me, his face twisting in anger.

"I come for serenity and peace from my life and I find you, of all people, here?" he shouted, coming towards me in anger. "How dare you come to Ella and my place? How dare you?" I winced, thinking he would strike me but he did not so I chose careful words to make my last chance to convince him.

"You majesty," I said softly, taking a cautious step closer to him. "I promised you something, the day that I was told my father was dead. I told you, 'I shall never leave you on my own accord. I promise you.' And I never did. I never left my love for you behind, and I know you never left your love for me either. Please Eadric, please realize it's me." I watched as his eyes softened and his hand reached up to free my flaxen hair from the scarf around my head. His fingers ran through my hair and I closed my eyes in happiness at his touch.

"Ella?" he asked, his voice still lined with doubt, tears filling his eyes. I nodded, tears of joy falling down my own cheeks. "Ella!" he said once more, no doubt in his voice, before pulling me towards him and bringing his lips to mine. I felt as if I was born again the moment he took me into his arms. It was the most wonderful feeling a person could ever feel in their lifetime. We walked throughout the forest for a long while, and mostly I told him my story. I explained how Edmonda realized my father lied to her about his money, how I was forced to fake my death, how I came to be Chantel, how I got to the ball, and right down to how I came to be in the Tree Palace. He looked at me the whole time, he face covered in pure amazement. He shook his head when I finally finished.

"How could you be so strong?" he asked, bewildered. I smiled and shrugged as I sat down in 'Regina'.

"I grew up learning to be strong," I told him with another shrug. "I also knew that if I survived I had a chance to be with you again. I don't know what I'd do with out you Eadric." He smiled and took my hand.

"Nor I," he said in agreement. "So let us make our partnership permanent. I was so lost, Ella, and finding you has made me more complete than I ever thought a man could be. Will you marry me Ella Beldon?" Slowly he slipped out from his pouch my mother's glass shoe and replaced it with my tattered old one. I protested at first, for I did not think he could get his parents to believe it was me, but he insisted he would make his parents believe me like he did. That boy works magic. He asked me questions only I could answer and so did his parents. It was not long before they wrapped me in hugs as well.

I was given the best apartments in the palace and arrangements for our wedding was prepared throughout the night. My mother's dress was cleaned and restored for the next morning when we left for the church bright and early, for after all, it was bad luck to be married after noon. I did not see Eadric at all the whole morning but the queen fussed about me the whole time making sure I was ready. As the wedding grew near I realized most of the royal court was there, and many lords and ladies. I asked if the queen thought if Edmonda and my stepsisters were coming. The queen laughed and told me they weren't invited but there was an invitation for them to come and speak with the king and queen.

"Hopefully," the queen added with a smile. "They won't hear the prince has a new bride by then." I took that to mean that they were to be punished for their maliciousness so I begged her to not include Yedda in the punishment. She obliged and said she would not if that was my wish. After saying that it was, I made ready to become the Eadric's wife and princess.

The doors were swung open and I slowly made my way down the long hall of the gothic cathedral. I saw Eadric watching me with eyes that shone of nothing but love. The courtiers, who all were standing, curtsied as I made my way past them. Eadric took my hand as I finally stood beside him and we kneeled together before the priest. When we left the cathedral together, we were married and I was a princess. As easily as Edmonda made me a servant, I had become what my father dreamed me to be.

After returning to the palace, I changed into a new dress and made my way down to the hall that Edmonda was to meet with the king, the queen, and Eadric. I noticed that Edmonda and Jocelyn were in the room already so I entered quietly and stood near the back.

"Your Majesties," Edmonda greeted them, her voice laced with dramatic happiness. "For what do we owe such an honor?" The king and queen did not return their smiles and quickly bid them rise from their curtsies.

"You are here," the king began sharply, making Edmonda flinch in surprise. "For lying to the royal family about Lady Ella's condition, among other things, and for the vicious treatment of Count Beldon's daughter who is a lady of class and rank, not a servant." Edmonda fumbled for words but could not seem to find any. Jocelyn shrieked at the king's words and shook her head.

"I am not apart of this!" Jocelyn cried in horror. "She made me treat Ella horribly! She forced me to!" I rolled my eyes and to my amusement, so did the queen.

"Yedda is pardoned, but you are not. Maybe you should have made wiser decisions," she told Jocelyn firmly. "Both of you, by royal command, shall be put into prison where shall stay until you die, unless another decision is made. Or, by miracle, someone would give you a less severe punishment." The queen looked over at me and met my eyes with a smile. Jocelyn and Yedda turned and gasped when they saw me, and the crown that lay upon my head. I walked towards them, stopping but a few steps away from them and looking Edmonda in the eye.

"Not curtsying to the future queen is a great offense, Lady Beldon," Eadric commented from next to his father. Edmonda gave me an unhappy smile and curtsied, followed by Jocelyn.

"Your majesty," they whispered together. I smiled and looked down upon their sorrowful heads.

"I do not wish them to rot away in prison," I admitted, staring up at the King and Queen. "I wish them to be ripped of their titles and to be sent to work as un-paid servants in the palace, though not servants to me, for I never want to set my eyes on them again. Is that suitable Majesties?" The king and queen nodded in agreement and guards took Edmonda and Jocelyn away. That was the last I saw of them. I was truly free from them.