Chapter Four: Cecilia's discovery
Thank you again EllaFreak for the great suggestions, corrections, and ideas for the chapter title!
(AN: I am switching to Cecilia's point of view for this chapter.)
We are on the road to Ayortha. Father insisted that I take at least two maids and a nine-man escort. I, personally, think that it is a little ridiculous, but father insisted, and father's orders have to be obeyed.
I told mother and father that I was coming because I missed Char, but that wasn't really the reason. I do, but I am coming because I need to get away from the palace. It is so boring there and I never have anyone to talk to. Char barely even gets to talk where he is at, so I figured he would like the company.
We are at the castle at last. I am stiff and sore and looking forward to a nice, soft bed. We never stopped at an inn for the trip. Instead, my ladies and I slept in the carriage while the men at arms slept outside. Char was happy to see me, but he seems upset about something. Of course, he has since he returned to Kyrria. I will talk to him about it sometime later, but at the moment, all I want is to sleep.
This morning I went to talk to Char. We sat before the fire in his room for a little while, talking about home, before I finally asked, "Char, what is the matter?"
"You know Ella, the girl I told you about some time ago? Well, I fell in love with her, but she didn't know. We wrote each other, when I was here last time, and about six months in, I wrote her and told her of my feelings. I got a letter back some time later from her step sister, Hattie, that she had been married to a rich, old man. Hattie said Ella would have liked to marry me, for she would have liked to be queen, but she thought I wasn't interested. I didn't think Ella was like that, but there was a letter from her, in her own hand, saying that this was true." He sat, eyes closed, for several moments.
"Then what happened?" I prodded. I knew there was more. His leaving for several weeks must have had something to do with this. He never even told Mother and Father what was wrong.
"When I returned to Kyrria, father held the balls. I met an interesting young woman, Lela of Bast. We soon became friends. She was not after a crown. On the night of the last ball, I was about to ask her to marry me, for I was told that I had to marry, but before I could, Hattie untied the mask Lela always wore. It was Ella, disguising herself. She ran from the castle, loosing a slipper as she went. I followed, but was to slow. When I got to her house, she and the cook did not come out. My knights and I searched the house. I was looking in a room when I heard a noise outside the window. Ella was there, climbing down. She jumped, and she and her maid ran to the forest. I searched Bast and most of Kyrria, but she was no where to be found."
I feel absolutely awful. I now understand what was wrong with him. He has a broken heart. I wonder why she ran away from him at the ball? It bothers me. And also, she hid herself so he wouldn't recognize her, but went so she could be with him. It doesn't make sense. I will continue to ponder it later, but for now I want to examine the book Char gave me. He says its magic. I've never seen an enchanted book before. I read several of the fairy tales before finally putting it down. Char had agreed to show me the gardens, and I would be late if I didn't get out there soon.
The gardens are beautiful I think Char is glad to have me here. It gives him something to do besides think about Ella, which I'm sure is what he does most of the time. When he stops talking, because his face becomes stone almost, and his smile disappears. It worries me. What worries me more is that the light is gone from his eyes. I would like to hate Ella for doing this to him, but I honestly cant. I think she had her reasons. I think that she loved him, and no one would intentionally hurt anyone they love. Otherwise, why would she have gone to the balls? It was obviously to be with him.
He told me of the messengers he sent out. There has been no news of her for almost two weeks. In a few days, the messengers will return, unfortunately. I know how much is waiting for word of her, but I don't think it will come.
Reading from my magic book has become a daily occurrence for me. I have had it for ten days, and there has always been a new story in it when I finish one. It keeps me entertained.
This morning, when I opened it, I was greeted by something extremely odd. There was a letter from father, who is in Bast, to mother, who is at home in the palace. I have decided not to tell Char for a little while. He would probably take it away. I don't want him to. I love it and I want to keep it.
I found the most remarkable thing in my magic book today! It is a picture of two girls in a dining room of what appears to be an inn. But its not any two girls! One of them is Ella! I recognized her instantly, though I have never seen her. Char described her perfectly; her lively green eyes, light skin, and dark flowing hair. I have to go tell him!
Thank you again EllaFreak for the great suggestions, corrections, and ideas for the chapter title!
(AN: I am switching to Cecilia's point of view for this chapter.)
We are on the road to Ayortha. Father insisted that I take at least two maids and a nine-man escort. I, personally, think that it is a little ridiculous, but father insisted, and father's orders have to be obeyed.
I told mother and father that I was coming because I missed Char, but that wasn't really the reason. I do, but I am coming because I need to get away from the palace. It is so boring there and I never have anyone to talk to. Char barely even gets to talk where he is at, so I figured he would like the company.
We are at the castle at last. I am stiff and sore and looking forward to a nice, soft bed. We never stopped at an inn for the trip. Instead, my ladies and I slept in the carriage while the men at arms slept outside. Char was happy to see me, but he seems upset about something. Of course, he has since he returned to Kyrria. I will talk to him about it sometime later, but at the moment, all I want is to sleep.
This morning I went to talk to Char. We sat before the fire in his room for a little while, talking about home, before I finally asked, "Char, what is the matter?"
"You know Ella, the girl I told you about some time ago? Well, I fell in love with her, but she didn't know. We wrote each other, when I was here last time, and about six months in, I wrote her and told her of my feelings. I got a letter back some time later from her step sister, Hattie, that she had been married to a rich, old man. Hattie said Ella would have liked to marry me, for she would have liked to be queen, but she thought I wasn't interested. I didn't think Ella was like that, but there was a letter from her, in her own hand, saying that this was true." He sat, eyes closed, for several moments.
"Then what happened?" I prodded. I knew there was more. His leaving for several weeks must have had something to do with this. He never even told Mother and Father what was wrong.
"When I returned to Kyrria, father held the balls. I met an interesting young woman, Lela of Bast. We soon became friends. She was not after a crown. On the night of the last ball, I was about to ask her to marry me, for I was told that I had to marry, but before I could, Hattie untied the mask Lela always wore. It was Ella, disguising herself. She ran from the castle, loosing a slipper as she went. I followed, but was to slow. When I got to her house, she and the cook did not come out. My knights and I searched the house. I was looking in a room when I heard a noise outside the window. Ella was there, climbing down. She jumped, and she and her maid ran to the forest. I searched Bast and most of Kyrria, but she was no where to be found."
I feel absolutely awful. I now understand what was wrong with him. He has a broken heart. I wonder why she ran away from him at the ball? It bothers me. And also, she hid herself so he wouldn't recognize her, but went so she could be with him. It doesn't make sense. I will continue to ponder it later, but for now I want to examine the book Char gave me. He says its magic. I've never seen an enchanted book before. I read several of the fairy tales before finally putting it down. Char had agreed to show me the gardens, and I would be late if I didn't get out there soon.
The gardens are beautiful I think Char is glad to have me here. It gives him something to do besides think about Ella, which I'm sure is what he does most of the time. When he stops talking, because his face becomes stone almost, and his smile disappears. It worries me. What worries me more is that the light is gone from his eyes. I would like to hate Ella for doing this to him, but I honestly cant. I think she had her reasons. I think that she loved him, and no one would intentionally hurt anyone they love. Otherwise, why would she have gone to the balls? It was obviously to be with him.
He told me of the messengers he sent out. There has been no news of her for almost two weeks. In a few days, the messengers will return, unfortunately. I know how much is waiting for word of her, but I don't think it will come.
Reading from my magic book has become a daily occurrence for me. I have had it for ten days, and there has always been a new story in it when I finish one. It keeps me entertained.
This morning, when I opened it, I was greeted by something extremely odd. There was a letter from father, who is in Bast, to mother, who is at home in the palace. I have decided not to tell Char for a little while. He would probably take it away. I don't want him to. I love it and I want to keep it.
I found the most remarkable thing in my magic book today! It is a picture of two girls in a dining room of what appears to be an inn. But its not any two girls! One of them is Ella! I recognized her instantly, though I have never seen her. Char described her perfectly; her lively green eyes, light skin, and dark flowing hair. I have to go tell him!