Chapter Six:
I yawned. It was early morning and we had been riding since midnight. I would not complain, however, because I knew Char wanted to get to the inn soon. In a way, this is why I had wanted to leave Kyrria anyway. I wanted change, I wanted adventure, and I wanted to spend time with my brother. I was getting all of them.
"We'll stop at the next inn, Cecilia." Char said from in front of me. Obviously he had heard my yawn. "But after a few hours of sleep and some food, we'll leave." Char hated having cold food all the time, so he would get a hot meal whenever he could. I didn't really care what I was eating.
At the next inn we stopped, as promised. We rested, ate a nice lunch of vegetable soup and warm bread, then left. I couldn't wait until we got to the inn. It would take several days, I knew, but it didn't bother me. I wanted to meet Ella. She sounded like an interesting person. Besides, she would probably be my new sister-in-law. I had the right to want to meet her.
I knew I would soon have to tell Areida and her family what had happened, why I was here. I couldn't bring myself to do it, though. I trusted them, but I didn't know if I wanted to tell them.
Areida knows I'm keeping something important from her, something that isn't just about Char. It hurts her, I know. She acts the same as normal, but I can see it in her eyes. I have been getting looks when I walk down the street. Looks saying that I'm crazy for running away from a prince. Looks of disapproval for hiding and lying like they knew I was. Looks of jealousy for capturing the attention of a prince.
Sometimes, when it becomes too much, Areida will go to the market for me and I will clean. I am grateful to her, to her family. I wouldn't be able to get through this if it weren't for them. I will tell them soon. Tomorrow.
We are nearing the borders. We will be there soon, most likely tomorrow. I am glad Cecilia came with me. She is nice company. I hate talking to myself, for it is most of the time a one-sided conversation. Also, she made me stop and rest. If it weren't for her, I would ride non-stop, not caring that I was tired.
"Mandy, I need your help." I said this morning as the two of us did the breakfast dishes.
"What is it, Lady?" She asked as she wiped a plate dry.
"I need you to order me to tell them." I told her impatiently.
"Very well, Ella." She turned towards me. "Tell anyone of the curse you wish to tell."
I glowed with pleasure. It was the perfect order. I didn't have to tell them, but I could if I wanted to. I thanked her and ran up to help Areida with the cleaning.
We are only a few hours away. Cecilia decided that we needed to stop for lunch, so she found a nice spot along the road. We had sandwiches with cold meat from the last inn. After we finished eating, Cecilia got out the magic book.
"Look!" she cried suddenly. "Here's another picture of Ella!" I scrambled up to get a better look at what she was pointing at.
Sure enough. There was Ella in the inn's kitchen, smiling to someone, it must be her cook, Mandy, as they washed dishes. I stared at it for long moments, wishing that the grin were for me. I flipped the page only to find a Cinderella story. I found that oddly humorous. The same thing had happened to me. The beautiful girl whom I did not know the name of running out of the ball and loosing a slipper as she ran. The prince running after her. The only thing different was that the prince found her. I will find Ella too, soon.
"Is Ella here?" I asked the serving girl. She turned white. "N-No, your highness." She stuttered.
Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Listen, we know she works here. Now, is she in, or not?"
"She and the cook are out for the moment." The girl seemed truly afraid.
"We'll wait." I gave her a smile.
Mandy and I were asked to visit the baker after dinner. He was ill, and the town healer was not here. Mandy would give the man her healing soup with the unicorn hairs, and most likely some tonic. It was after dark when we returned to the Inn, both about ready to fall asleep on our feet.
When we returned to the inn, all the lights were off. It was expected. When they were finished cleaning up, the two went to bed. After all, we got up before dawn every morning.
I bid Mandy goodnight and walked to my room. I could not see a thing, but knew where everything was, so I had no problem. I threw myself on my bed, and landed on something... hard. Something human.
A candle was lit from somewhere behind me. Looking up, I blanched upon seeing who was sitting on my bed.
"Hello, Ella." Char said with a smile.
Another extremely short chapter, I know. Hopefully, the next ones will be much longer. Ah, well.
I yawned. It was early morning and we had been riding since midnight. I would not complain, however, because I knew Char wanted to get to the inn soon. In a way, this is why I had wanted to leave Kyrria anyway. I wanted change, I wanted adventure, and I wanted to spend time with my brother. I was getting all of them.
"We'll stop at the next inn, Cecilia." Char said from in front of me. Obviously he had heard my yawn. "But after a few hours of sleep and some food, we'll leave." Char hated having cold food all the time, so he would get a hot meal whenever he could. I didn't really care what I was eating.
At the next inn we stopped, as promised. We rested, ate a nice lunch of vegetable soup and warm bread, then left. I couldn't wait until we got to the inn. It would take several days, I knew, but it didn't bother me. I wanted to meet Ella. She sounded like an interesting person. Besides, she would probably be my new sister-in-law. I had the right to want to meet her.
I knew I would soon have to tell Areida and her family what had happened, why I was here. I couldn't bring myself to do it, though. I trusted them, but I didn't know if I wanted to tell them.
Areida knows I'm keeping something important from her, something that isn't just about Char. It hurts her, I know. She acts the same as normal, but I can see it in her eyes. I have been getting looks when I walk down the street. Looks saying that I'm crazy for running away from a prince. Looks of disapproval for hiding and lying like they knew I was. Looks of jealousy for capturing the attention of a prince.
Sometimes, when it becomes too much, Areida will go to the market for me and I will clean. I am grateful to her, to her family. I wouldn't be able to get through this if it weren't for them. I will tell them soon. Tomorrow.
We are nearing the borders. We will be there soon, most likely tomorrow. I am glad Cecilia came with me. She is nice company. I hate talking to myself, for it is most of the time a one-sided conversation. Also, she made me stop and rest. If it weren't for her, I would ride non-stop, not caring that I was tired.
"Mandy, I need your help." I said this morning as the two of us did the breakfast dishes.
"What is it, Lady?" She asked as she wiped a plate dry.
"I need you to order me to tell them." I told her impatiently.
"Very well, Ella." She turned towards me. "Tell anyone of the curse you wish to tell."
I glowed with pleasure. It was the perfect order. I didn't have to tell them, but I could if I wanted to. I thanked her and ran up to help Areida with the cleaning.
We are only a few hours away. Cecilia decided that we needed to stop for lunch, so she found a nice spot along the road. We had sandwiches with cold meat from the last inn. After we finished eating, Cecilia got out the magic book.
"Look!" she cried suddenly. "Here's another picture of Ella!" I scrambled up to get a better look at what she was pointing at.
Sure enough. There was Ella in the inn's kitchen, smiling to someone, it must be her cook, Mandy, as they washed dishes. I stared at it for long moments, wishing that the grin were for me. I flipped the page only to find a Cinderella story. I found that oddly humorous. The same thing had happened to me. The beautiful girl whom I did not know the name of running out of the ball and loosing a slipper as she ran. The prince running after her. The only thing different was that the prince found her. I will find Ella too, soon.
"Is Ella here?" I asked the serving girl. She turned white. "N-No, your highness." She stuttered.
Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Listen, we know she works here. Now, is she in, or not?"
"She and the cook are out for the moment." The girl seemed truly afraid.
"We'll wait." I gave her a smile.
Mandy and I were asked to visit the baker after dinner. He was ill, and the town healer was not here. Mandy would give the man her healing soup with the unicorn hairs, and most likely some tonic. It was after dark when we returned to the Inn, both about ready to fall asleep on our feet.
When we returned to the inn, all the lights were off. It was expected. When they were finished cleaning up, the two went to bed. After all, we got up before dawn every morning.
I bid Mandy goodnight and walked to my room. I could not see a thing, but knew where everything was, so I had no problem. I threw myself on my bed, and landed on something... hard. Something human.
A candle was lit from somewhere behind me. Looking up, I blanched upon seeing who was sitting on my bed.
"Hello, Ella." Char said with a smile.
Another extremely short chapter, I know. Hopefully, the next ones will be much longer. Ah, well.