Hidden Identities
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the entire world! Except, maybe, my car, a few books, some clothes, oh, that one pencil, and, um, maybe, a coke can and . . .
Summary: What if Hattie had not danced by and snatched off Ella's mask? What if Char had asked Ella THE question? What will Lela do?
Chapter 11: The Feast
"Stop it," I hissed as Aaron's fingers tightened around my arm. The bruises he had already made there earlier were stinging. He loosened his grip, but dragged me into the room.
The room fell silent as Aaron and I entered. The courtiers looked up at us in courteous glances. The king and queen smiled at the sight of us. We stopped in front of the large dais that held the high table where the important people sat.
"Your majesties, it is an honor to see you again," Aaron greeted them and bowed formally. There was an annoyed glint in his eyes as he moved to sit down beside the queen.
"A pleasure," I murmured. With a quick curtsy, I moved to sit by Aaron, but he motioned me to sit by the king. There was an empty seat on the other side of mine. Hattie was all ready in her seat on the other side of the empty one. She wrinkled her nose at me.
"Where'd you get that ugly dress? It looks like a peasant's garb," Hattie hissed at me. I longed to say something back, but a servant serving bread came between us and placed a roll on my plate.
I watched as Hattie tried to eat her roll politely, but it looked like a pig eating their slop. She wore a vibrant dress that she thought she looked good in. It really only made her look like a lantern.
"How is your stay so far, Lady Eleanor?" the king asked me. I managed a weak smile up at him.
"That palace is lovely. I really can't wait to see more of it," I answered. The old king nodded and returned to his meal.
"Have you seen the crown I'm wearing for the wedding? It's huge! Diamonds and sapphires and rubies!" Hattie exclaimed. Her eyes bugged out. "Too bad you'll only have a tiny one."
I glared at her. How could Hattie have complied with Aaron's plan? I wanted to slap that grin off her face.
"Hattie, eat your own meal and don't talk to me again. I can't stand the sound of your voice," I whispered. Hattie's face scrunched up in anger.
"You're just jealous," she replied. "Or maybe, you're angry. Did Aaron tell you of our little plan? I thought so as soon as I saw your face. I can't wait until my Charmont arrives and sees the dirty little snake you are. He'll come running to me."
"I -" A loud banging noise sounded from behind me. Hattie and I turned around just in time to see the servants' door open. Char walked in.
"Sorry I'm late Mother, Father," Char said, his eyes on his parents. "I was working on some paperwork."
"It's all right, dear. Please sit and eat. The feast has begun," the queen replied and motioned towards the empty seat besides me. I let out a small shriek and whirled back around so he would not see me. "Princess Hattie has been waiting."
Hattie smiled, showing her large teeth. Char's footsteps clacked closer and closer behind me. I dared not even breathe. He stopped in back of his seat and pulled it out. A warm breeze hit my face as he hurriedly sat down.
"Oh, Charmont, why were you late?" Hattie asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. "I was so worried!"
"I had things to do, Princess," Char answered after a moment's hesitation. I almost gagged as Hattie giggled in a high pitch.
"Call me Hattie."
Ugh. If I had to listen to Hattie's voice any longer, I thought I would be sick. The presence of Char right next to me was excruciating. I wanted to see him or talk to him, but I was scared. So, I reached for my roll and turned to the king.
"Have there been any good hunts?" I asked quietly, not wanting to attract Char's attention.
"Ah, the pheasants and wild pigs have been especially abundant recently. This summer has been much cooler this year," the king said. "There's a hunt scheduled for tomorrow. We hope to find deer."
"Oh." I tried to keep the king engaged in conversation, but my mind always seemed to wander to Char. I listened to Hattie tell Char the gossip of the Ayorthian palace. It was almost like being in finishing school again.
Suddenly, a loud thud sounded from where Char was. Then, a cold liquid drenched my lap. I gasped and jumped up from my chair. Char had accidently knocked over his cup of water and it had spilled from the table onto me. My chair fell over with a loud "thunk" on the ground. Char jumped up after seeing my wet dress.
"I'm so sorry!" he cried and grabbed napkins and tried to blot the wetness spreading on my stomach and legs. I shook my head and tried to push him away. I saw his ears turn pink as he continued to try and dry the dress.
"Oh!" I gasped. My white dress was quickly becoming see-through in the wet part. Char could most definitely see my undergarments.
"Charmont!" Hattie cried from her seat. I tried to back away from him and not be seen, but he chose that moment to look up. It was as if time froze.
He stood there with one hand with a napkin on my stomach and the other holding onto my hand. My other hand paused in the midst of trying to push him back on his shoulder. His eyes widened as he saw my face.
"Ella?" he finally whispered. His heart was in his eyes. I saw the love he felt for me and the hurt that he had as well. Pain was clearly written across his face along with confusion. The noise of the feast in the background died as I stared at him.
I did the only thing I could. I ran.
I took off through the servants' door and out into the hall. I ran down the hall and through any door that was open. Behind me, I could hear the footsteps of Char.
"Ella!" he shouted. I darted into the nearest open door. It led to the library. My eyes scanned the room. There was no other way out! I hid behind some bookshelves as Char ran into the room.
Through a crack in two books, I saw him pause in the middle of the room. He glanced all around at the bookshelves looking for me. I backed up quickly and tried to find an exit. Char turned into one of the aisles and began searching for me.
The fire crackled and sparked from one side of the room. It was the only light of the room. I sank into the shadows further. Char was gone from my sight. Where did he go?
I heard a clack from somewhere close. Biting my lip, I whirled around to run out the exit. I smacked into something warm.
"Char," I gasped. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the firelight. "Stop!"
"It is you," Char said. I tried to run, but he wouldn't let me go. "Ella, what are you doing here?"
"Please," I answered. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to see him. Seeing him brought out all these emotions I had tried to hide. I couldn't face him. Not with the knowledge of what Aaron was planning to do to him and Kyrria.
"Ella! What are you doing here?!" Char raised his voice in anger. "How are you here? And you're Aaron's fiancée? What? Then, I wasn't good enough for you? Was that it? You toy with my emotions and then run off to marry my enemy?"
"No," I whispered pleadingly to him. Tears filled my eyes as his face filled with anger and sadness all at once. "It wasn't like that."
"Then, enlighten me, Ella. I'm in the dark here. All I know is that I thought I loved you. And then you turn the tables on me and go gallivanting off with the prince of Ayortha."
"No! I didn't do that!"
"Then explain that ring on your finger. Explain how you came to be Aaron's fiancée." Char ordered.
"My family moved to Ayortha so my step-mother could get married to the king! It wasn't my fault that Aaron proposed to me! He just did! He told me to marry him!" I cried. "I didn't want you to get hurt!"
"You didn't want me to get hurt," Char mimicked me. "Well, you thought wrong. I am hurt. How could you do this to me, Ella? How could you lie to me and come back into my life like this?"
I shook my head. Tears were pouring down my cheeks now.
"Do you think I want to go through with this wedding? I have no choice, Char. None! I was forced into this. You don't know anything about me!"
Char's eyes widened.
"You don't want to marry Aaron?"
I covered my mouth with one hand.
"Ella, what's wrong? What's happening? How did Hattie come to be princess of Ayortha? Is there a conspiracy?" Char asked heatedly. I only shook my head and tried to will him to leave the matter alone in my mind. He wouldn't. "So, you do know something."
"Please! Just leave me alone!" I finally said. I could hear Aaron's voice in my head, laughing and telling me his plans. The curse clamped onto me like an iron fist, refusing to let my free will go. "You don't know! You don't know what's going on! You can't know!"
I kicked his shin and he let go of my arm. I backed up as Char bent over in pain. The firelight was flickering on his handsome face.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Ella, wait. Don't go," Char called. My feet stopped where they were. "Ella."
"Ella, I've been looking all over for you," a voice interrupted us. I cringed as Aaron walked into the room. His cold eyes flicked distastefully over Char, who returned the greeting. "Is Prince Charmont bothering you?"
My eyes narrowed as Aaron looked back and forth between us, clearly enjoying the tension in the room.
"What do you want anyways, Aaron?" Char asked.
"I would like to accompany my fiancée back to the feast. The one held in our honor. You remember that, don't you?"
"Of course. Lady Eleanor and I were just having a chat."
"Well, why don't you stick to chatting with your fiancée. The one that you'll be marrying in a few days."
"I am aware of what is to happen, Aaron. Perhaps more aware than you think."
Char's last statement was clearly a bluff to try and get a reaction out of Aaron. I had told Char nothing of the conspiracy, but Char thought there was one and was trying to prove it. Aaron stopped and watched me through narrow eyes. Finally, he made up his mind on how to answer the comment.
"As much as I would love to stay and talk with you, Charmont, I do have a feast in my honor and a fiancée that needs to be returned to it. If you'll excuse us. Come, Ella."
Aaron grabbed my arm and led me out of the library. I glanced back once at Char. He stood there in the firelight, watching us leave. In that moment, I knew that I couldn't go on with this wedding. I had to find a way out. I had to break the curse.
Author Note: I am so sorry I have not updated in so long. And I am sorry if this chapter was not as good as it should have been. I had appendicitis a week ago and was in the hospital. Also, I now have a job as a receptionist so it takes a lot of my time. I'll try to hurry out with the next chapter which (hopefully) will have the wedding in it. Now, the wedding will not turn out as a normal one does, so don't be expecting the end of this story to be at the wedding. I plan on another twist of events which will lead to a quest and then the end of the story. Keep reviewing! I love them all!
(Also, does anyone know a fast way to lose a couple of pounds? I have to be in my aunt's wedding in a few weeks and I wanted to lose some weight so I would fit in my bridesmaid dress.)
Chapter 12: The Wedding Day has Arrived – It's the big day and Ella is afraid of what will happen. Can she break the curse before she walks down the aisle? And what ever happened to Terrance?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the entire world! Except, maybe, my car, a few books, some clothes, oh, that one pencil, and, um, maybe, a coke can and . . .
Summary: What if Hattie had not danced by and snatched off Ella's mask? What if Char had asked Ella THE question? What will Lela do?
Chapter 11: The Feast
"Stop it," I hissed as Aaron's fingers tightened around my arm. The bruises he had already made there earlier were stinging. He loosened his grip, but dragged me into the room.
The room fell silent as Aaron and I entered. The courtiers looked up at us in courteous glances. The king and queen smiled at the sight of us. We stopped in front of the large dais that held the high table where the important people sat.
"Your majesties, it is an honor to see you again," Aaron greeted them and bowed formally. There was an annoyed glint in his eyes as he moved to sit down beside the queen.
"A pleasure," I murmured. With a quick curtsy, I moved to sit by Aaron, but he motioned me to sit by the king. There was an empty seat on the other side of mine. Hattie was all ready in her seat on the other side of the empty one. She wrinkled her nose at me.
"Where'd you get that ugly dress? It looks like a peasant's garb," Hattie hissed at me. I longed to say something back, but a servant serving bread came between us and placed a roll on my plate.
I watched as Hattie tried to eat her roll politely, but it looked like a pig eating their slop. She wore a vibrant dress that she thought she looked good in. It really only made her look like a lantern.
"How is your stay so far, Lady Eleanor?" the king asked me. I managed a weak smile up at him.
"That palace is lovely. I really can't wait to see more of it," I answered. The old king nodded and returned to his meal.
"Have you seen the crown I'm wearing for the wedding? It's huge! Diamonds and sapphires and rubies!" Hattie exclaimed. Her eyes bugged out. "Too bad you'll only have a tiny one."
I glared at her. How could Hattie have complied with Aaron's plan? I wanted to slap that grin off her face.
"Hattie, eat your own meal and don't talk to me again. I can't stand the sound of your voice," I whispered. Hattie's face scrunched up in anger.
"You're just jealous," she replied. "Or maybe, you're angry. Did Aaron tell you of our little plan? I thought so as soon as I saw your face. I can't wait until my Charmont arrives and sees the dirty little snake you are. He'll come running to me."
"I -" A loud banging noise sounded from behind me. Hattie and I turned around just in time to see the servants' door open. Char walked in.
"Sorry I'm late Mother, Father," Char said, his eyes on his parents. "I was working on some paperwork."
"It's all right, dear. Please sit and eat. The feast has begun," the queen replied and motioned towards the empty seat besides me. I let out a small shriek and whirled back around so he would not see me. "Princess Hattie has been waiting."
Hattie smiled, showing her large teeth. Char's footsteps clacked closer and closer behind me. I dared not even breathe. He stopped in back of his seat and pulled it out. A warm breeze hit my face as he hurriedly sat down.
"Oh, Charmont, why were you late?" Hattie asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. "I was so worried!"
"I had things to do, Princess," Char answered after a moment's hesitation. I almost gagged as Hattie giggled in a high pitch.
"Call me Hattie."
Ugh. If I had to listen to Hattie's voice any longer, I thought I would be sick. The presence of Char right next to me was excruciating. I wanted to see him or talk to him, but I was scared. So, I reached for my roll and turned to the king.
"Have there been any good hunts?" I asked quietly, not wanting to attract Char's attention.
"Ah, the pheasants and wild pigs have been especially abundant recently. This summer has been much cooler this year," the king said. "There's a hunt scheduled for tomorrow. We hope to find deer."
"Oh." I tried to keep the king engaged in conversation, but my mind always seemed to wander to Char. I listened to Hattie tell Char the gossip of the Ayorthian palace. It was almost like being in finishing school again.
Suddenly, a loud thud sounded from where Char was. Then, a cold liquid drenched my lap. I gasped and jumped up from my chair. Char had accidently knocked over his cup of water and it had spilled from the table onto me. My chair fell over with a loud "thunk" on the ground. Char jumped up after seeing my wet dress.
"I'm so sorry!" he cried and grabbed napkins and tried to blot the wetness spreading on my stomach and legs. I shook my head and tried to push him away. I saw his ears turn pink as he continued to try and dry the dress.
"Oh!" I gasped. My white dress was quickly becoming see-through in the wet part. Char could most definitely see my undergarments.
"Charmont!" Hattie cried from her seat. I tried to back away from him and not be seen, but he chose that moment to look up. It was as if time froze.
He stood there with one hand with a napkin on my stomach and the other holding onto my hand. My other hand paused in the midst of trying to push him back on his shoulder. His eyes widened as he saw my face.
"Ella?" he finally whispered. His heart was in his eyes. I saw the love he felt for me and the hurt that he had as well. Pain was clearly written across his face along with confusion. The noise of the feast in the background died as I stared at him.
I did the only thing I could. I ran.
I took off through the servants' door and out into the hall. I ran down the hall and through any door that was open. Behind me, I could hear the footsteps of Char.
"Ella!" he shouted. I darted into the nearest open door. It led to the library. My eyes scanned the room. There was no other way out! I hid behind some bookshelves as Char ran into the room.
Through a crack in two books, I saw him pause in the middle of the room. He glanced all around at the bookshelves looking for me. I backed up quickly and tried to find an exit. Char turned into one of the aisles and began searching for me.
The fire crackled and sparked from one side of the room. It was the only light of the room. I sank into the shadows further. Char was gone from my sight. Where did he go?
I heard a clack from somewhere close. Biting my lip, I whirled around to run out the exit. I smacked into something warm.
"Char," I gasped. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the firelight. "Stop!"
"It is you," Char said. I tried to run, but he wouldn't let me go. "Ella, what are you doing here?"
"Please," I answered. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to see him. Seeing him brought out all these emotions I had tried to hide. I couldn't face him. Not with the knowledge of what Aaron was planning to do to him and Kyrria.
"Ella! What are you doing here?!" Char raised his voice in anger. "How are you here? And you're Aaron's fiancée? What? Then, I wasn't good enough for you? Was that it? You toy with my emotions and then run off to marry my enemy?"
"No," I whispered pleadingly to him. Tears filled my eyes as his face filled with anger and sadness all at once. "It wasn't like that."
"Then, enlighten me, Ella. I'm in the dark here. All I know is that I thought I loved you. And then you turn the tables on me and go gallivanting off with the prince of Ayortha."
"No! I didn't do that!"
"Then explain that ring on your finger. Explain how you came to be Aaron's fiancée." Char ordered.
"My family moved to Ayortha so my step-mother could get married to the king! It wasn't my fault that Aaron proposed to me! He just did! He told me to marry him!" I cried. "I didn't want you to get hurt!"
"You didn't want me to get hurt," Char mimicked me. "Well, you thought wrong. I am hurt. How could you do this to me, Ella? How could you lie to me and come back into my life like this?"
I shook my head. Tears were pouring down my cheeks now.
"Do you think I want to go through with this wedding? I have no choice, Char. None! I was forced into this. You don't know anything about me!"
Char's eyes widened.
"You don't want to marry Aaron?"
I covered my mouth with one hand.
"Ella, what's wrong? What's happening? How did Hattie come to be princess of Ayortha? Is there a conspiracy?" Char asked heatedly. I only shook my head and tried to will him to leave the matter alone in my mind. He wouldn't. "So, you do know something."
"Please! Just leave me alone!" I finally said. I could hear Aaron's voice in my head, laughing and telling me his plans. The curse clamped onto me like an iron fist, refusing to let my free will go. "You don't know! You don't know what's going on! You can't know!"
I kicked his shin and he let go of my arm. I backed up as Char bent over in pain. The firelight was flickering on his handsome face.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Ella, wait. Don't go," Char called. My feet stopped where they were. "Ella."
"Ella, I've been looking all over for you," a voice interrupted us. I cringed as Aaron walked into the room. His cold eyes flicked distastefully over Char, who returned the greeting. "Is Prince Charmont bothering you?"
My eyes narrowed as Aaron looked back and forth between us, clearly enjoying the tension in the room.
"What do you want anyways, Aaron?" Char asked.
"I would like to accompany my fiancée back to the feast. The one held in our honor. You remember that, don't you?"
"Of course. Lady Eleanor and I were just having a chat."
"Well, why don't you stick to chatting with your fiancée. The one that you'll be marrying in a few days."
"I am aware of what is to happen, Aaron. Perhaps more aware than you think."
Char's last statement was clearly a bluff to try and get a reaction out of Aaron. I had told Char nothing of the conspiracy, but Char thought there was one and was trying to prove it. Aaron stopped and watched me through narrow eyes. Finally, he made up his mind on how to answer the comment.
"As much as I would love to stay and talk with you, Charmont, I do have a feast in my honor and a fiancée that needs to be returned to it. If you'll excuse us. Come, Ella."
Aaron grabbed my arm and led me out of the library. I glanced back once at Char. He stood there in the firelight, watching us leave. In that moment, I knew that I couldn't go on with this wedding. I had to find a way out. I had to break the curse.
Author Note: I am so sorry I have not updated in so long. And I am sorry if this chapter was not as good as it should have been. I had appendicitis a week ago and was in the hospital. Also, I now have a job as a receptionist so it takes a lot of my time. I'll try to hurry out with the next chapter which (hopefully) will have the wedding in it. Now, the wedding will not turn out as a normal one does, so don't be expecting the end of this story to be at the wedding. I plan on another twist of events which will lead to a quest and then the end of the story. Keep reviewing! I love them all!
(Also, does anyone know a fast way to lose a couple of pounds? I have to be in my aunt's wedding in a few weeks and I wanted to lose some weight so I would fit in my bridesmaid dress.)
Chapter 12: The Wedding Day has Arrived – It's the big day and Ella is afraid of what will happen. Can she break the curse before she walks down the aisle? And what ever happened to Terrance?