Ok this is my longest chapter! I have decided to do a four part story, since my reviewers are demanding it (once again, shocked I have reviewers.) I'm doing the suggestion one of my reviewers suggested (KrazyKamaka-zGurl89, thank you so much!)

I need suggestions for the next chapter!

Now, this is when Char is at Areida's inn. Oh, and a little more added.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Ella Enchanted.

I was finally returning home. Finally. No more silence and no more time to think about her. I was finally returning home. I couldn't, just simply, couldn't wait.

I rode home with the knights who companied me on the ogre hunting. They were laughing about something. They always seemed to have a smile on their faces. Maybe they never felt that heart-breaking feeling when the one girl you are so sure you are suppose to marry turns you away for someone else.

Sir Stephen was now talking about his family. His children were splendid, so alive and always smiling. And his wife always greeted him at the door with a hug and a kiss. My heart ached for Ella to do that to me and for our children to always be smiling…

No, I must stop thinking about her. I had decided to leave her in Ayortha. But I couldn't seem to get her smile out of my mind. She seemed so trust-worthy, so kind and thoughtful…

"Any ladies you fancy, sire?" Sir Stephen's voice penetrated my thoughts. I glanced at him from my horse and found that now all eyes were trained on me. I swallowed.

"No…I don't fancy any lass. All of them are only after my crown. Their all lying, misleading, deceiving, minxes…" I realized what I was saying. I put a nervous smile on. "Err…guess I got carried away. Can't trust them lasses anymore." I thought silently to myself 'Yes…and some just break your heart.'

Sir Bert nudged Sir Martin and laughter was in their eyes. I snapped, "What is so amusing? Care to share?"

I guess my anger surprised both of them because they both stared at me with wide eyes. "N-No, sir."

I narrowed me eyes. "Good. Let's keep moving and find an inn immediately. And no more talk about them lasses." I kicked my horse to go faster and soon we were riding top speed towards an inn. We were near the border of Ayortha so we found one almost immediately.

They must have never had such important guest because all of them were nervous. The mother, I suppose, looked so surprised and shocked and her eyes were wide.

I strolled in the inn as if I wasn't royal and just another customer. I flashed the mother a kind smile. "Madame, may we please have a room for the night? We need it only for a night, ma'am."

She nodded mutely and began to recollect herself. "Y-Yes sire. Please, come in here. Areida! Come here, child!"

A beautiful girl came down the stairs. A little voice in my head said, 'But not as beautiful as Ella…' Oh, darn, there I go thinking of her again…I dug my heel into my toe as punishment.

"Hello there," I said as the girl's eyes widened. She curtsied low and reminded me of El-

'STOP IT!' I ordered myself.

She looked me right in the eye and then glanced away. "Sire…here, let me show you gentlemen to your rooms."

She led us through a hall and gave us four secluded rooms. There were two beds in each room and there were seven of us, counting me. I was going to have my own room. Good, I didn't want any of my men hearing me cry out in the night for her.

She curtsied again. "Sire, dinner will be in ten minutes." She left, but not without a backward glance at us nervously.

Sir John grinned and had a twinkle in his eye as he looked at me. "My, she was a pretty one." My men laughed and went into their rooms before I could yell at them. I sighed and ran a hand through my hand. What was I to do?

I decided to go into my room. I was about to just fall backwards on my bed when I heard a child scream, "BOO!" Naturally, I turned to see whom it was but right at that second, I had begun to fall so I ended up on the floor, on my bottom.

A girl's head popped out from the covers. "Hi!" She said with a grin.

I just stared. Was this room already occupied? She giggled and held out a hand, which I took mutely. "I'm Ettime! What's your name?"

I managed to find my voice. "Prince Charmont of Kyrria. Is this your room? I am sorry, I will request another room…"

She giggled again and jumped out of my bed. She had a wide face and had a huge smile. Her two front teeth were missing but that just made her look cute. Her dark black hair was in big tails and her eyes were dark brown. She looked about six years old.

"Wow, a prince! We never had royalty before! And no, silly, this isn't my room! My mommy and daddy own this inn! I just go into rooms and jump on the beds. Heard voices outside and decided to hide and scare somebody, which was you!" She pointed a finger at me and began laughing, falling back on my bed.

I stared. All right… "Well then…I suppose I shall fetch your mother so she can put you back into your room."

Ettime's eyes widened and she grabbed my arm as I stood and turned to walk out of the room. Her large eyes were scared. "Please, don't! Mama will be so mad at me for disturbing the guests! Please, sir, don't!"

I looked into her nervous, scared eyes and smiled. "I won't tell."

She grinned, showing no front teeth. "Thank you, Prince Charmont!" She gave me a big bear hug that startled me. She let go and laughed. "You have a startled expression, Princie!"

I laughed at her nickname for me. That had been the first laugh since Ella had sent me that letter.

A knock was on my door. Ettime looked at it nervously and mouthed, "It might be mother."

I nodded, showing I understood and I pointed wordlessly to my closet. She ran to the closet without making a sound at all. She closed the closet door just as I opened the door. Areida was there, standing there nervously.

"Your Highness," she curtsied again. I bowed politely. "Dinner is served, sire."

I nodded. "Excellent."

She was about to walk away when she stopped and looked at me and played with her hair. "Sire…um, have you by any chance seen a little girl by the name of Ettime? She has been missing and she sometimes likes to go into the guests' rooms. Have you seen her?"

I kept my face still and shook my head. "Can't say I have."

Areida looked away, embarrassed. "Thank you anyway. Come, dinner is to be served." She walked away.

"I shall be there in a minute," I called. When Areida was out of sight, Ettime popped out of the closet, holding her hand to her mouth as if to hold in a giggle.

"Thank you for covering for me. Areida would have been very mad at me if you had," Ettime said with a grin.

I laughed. "Well now, your family is looking for you. You best go down there and make up an excuse for your absence."

Giggling, Ettime left. I sighed. What a nice kid…

"Sire, dinner is going to be served. Are you coming? Or are you not hungry?" Sir Stephen asked me.

I smiled slightly. "I was just headed down there. Come, let us go eat."

Sir Stephen and I walked downstairs where my other men were already seated and eating happily.

"Madame, this food is wonderful!" Sir Martin exclaimed, taking another big helping for himself. The mother beamed.

Sir John nodded in agreement. "For once, Martin doesn't lie!" That set everyone, even me, into laughter.

The mother, while curtsying, knocked over a table, which a vase fell and broke. The whole family got on their hands and knees and began to pick up every sharp edge. I got down on my hands and knees and began to help when Areida knocked into me. I apologized and insisted on paying for the vase, since it wouldn't have happened if I did not come.

I was sitting down, laughing with my men when that girl, Areida, filled my cup with ale. She was pouring when suddenly she looked me right in the eye and asked, "Sire…do you by any chance know of Ella, Ella of Frell? She was at finishing school with me but she ran away. I was wondering if you ever heard of what became of her."

I think my heart stopped moving at her name. I looked at Areida, who looked at me nervously but excited.

Sir Stephen called out, "Ah, the ogre tamer!" He turned to me and so did everyone else. "What ever happened to her?"

I wanted to squirm in my seat but I knew better. Years of training to become king were finally paying off.

I finally was able to speak. "You…you were her friend? You liked her?" I know my voice must have sounded amazed but I gave no thought of it. Only on Areida's answer was my main concern at the moment.

Areida looked my in the eye and said, "She was my best friend, sire, that I ever had in my whole life."

I stared at her hard, trying to see if she was lying or not. Only honesty was in her eyes as she looked at me for an answer.

"She…I believe she is well. She is married to a rich gentlemen. She is happy, I think. She is rich, so she is happy."

Areida blurted out, "Ella doesn't care about riches!" Then she flushed. I guess she realized she contradicted a prince. I decided not to say anything.

"How do you know?" I questioned. She hadn't received Ella's letter, telling him that she would laugh at the world. She didn't feel the pain in her heart from the rejection.

Areida once again stared me in the eye without flinching. "At school everyone hated me because I wasn't wealthy and because I spoke with an accent. She was the only one who was kind."

I wanted to snort at that but instead said, "Perhaps she's changed."

Areida glared at me. "I don't think so…Your Highness." Two contradictions. I'll let this one slide as well.

I think our conversation ended there. I didn't speak again, only ate. I was too busy thinking about what Areida had said. Was it true? Was it impossible for Ella to change?

I wanted to cry out to Ella, "Why did you leave me with these questions? Why?"

I sat and ate as if I were a robot. I don't even think I remembered what I said or did the rest of the evening. I do remember, though, as I excused myself and went upstairs, Ettime came with me.

I opened my door and she ran inside and jumped on my bed. I sighed, not really in the mood to talk.

She glanced at me with huge eyes and then began jumping on the bed. She started talking while jumping. "So…did you…like…dinner?"

I nodded and kept my eyes on her. What if she fell and broke her arm?

Ettime nodded. "Sorry for mommy breaking the vase, though. She was really nervous about meeting you and all, since your…royalty!"

I cracked a small smile. "Well, I get that a lot around people."

Ettime nodded. She then plopped on my bed. She put her elbows on her knees and her hands on her chin. "So…who is Ella?"

I wanted then for her to be quiet. I felt my rage and anger and hurt and confusion come rushing back at me. I turned away and studied an object on my dresser. "An old acquaintance…" Yeah right. More like my one true love.

She arched an eyebrow and kept her keen eyes on me. She seemed to be reading my mind and knowing every single thing I thought of. It frightened me a bit.

"I think your lying," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest and stared at me hard. I wanted to laugh. In all my years, I have never been called a liar.

"Why do you think that?" I asked and sat next to her on the bed. She turned herself and faced me, her keen eyes once again studying me carefully. She didn't act like a six year old; she acted like a wise elder.

She shrugged. "I just get a feeling, that's all," she turned away but then looked at me again with that intense look. "Also, whenever anyone mentions her name, you seem to…stiffen. Like something in you just goes all sad and you look like you have some hurt feeling and…" she trailed off and looked away.

I stared at her. She had seemed to be able to read me. She acted like a wise elder! A six year old able to read me!

I laughed a little. "Ettime, she is just an old…acquaintance." I swallowed hard on that word.

She leaned back a little, studying me harder. I wanted to squirm under her intense studying. "There you go again, with that stiffens and sad look." She then sat Indian style on my bed.

I smiled faintly. "You should go on to bed now. Your parents are probably wondering where you are."

Ettime thought a moment then hopped off my bed and walked to the door. There was a small frown and then she stopped at the door, her hand on the handle. She turned back to look at me. "I know there is something more…I just have a feeling that this Ella was much more than you claim her to be. And I can tell you cared about her deeply and you still do. Something happened and has hurt you but you still love her. But you still love her…" After saying that, she left the room, shutting the door quietly.

I then fell backwards on my bed, thinking hard. Ettime's last words rang in my ears. "But you still love her…" I did still love Ella. I couldn't just forget my first true love. But I supposed a new love would enter my life one day and become my wife.

I swallowed hard; remembering the last words on the letter Ella sent me. 'See a carriage that suppresses others peer inside. There, you will find me smiling at my jewels and laughing at the world.'

What if I did see Ella again? What if I saw her just as her note had said? What would I say…or do? Would I still have that heart-pounding sensation in my heart and feel my pulse race whenever I saw or thought about her? Would I still melt when she smiled at me?

I closed my eyes shut and then began to fall sleep. But my last conscious thought was, 'Ella…Ella of Frell, I am still very much in love with you. Why did you leave me? Why did you choose another? Ella…'

It was the middle of a stormy night where thunder woke me up. I was dreaming of me and Ella and us getting married. She was in a beautiful white gown and she had smiled slightly as she came up the aisle. I felt that same pulse racing whenever I saw her. I smiled nervously. She took her place next to me and she smiled. I wanted to scream with joy; she was finally mine!

Then I saw an old gentleman come up and take Ella's hand. I was pushed out of the way and Ella and the old gentleman were married, instead of Ella and me. I had woke up screaming no, that she had left me again.

Waking up in tears makes me feel as if thought I have disgraced the whole ruling line. Imagine my kingdom seeing their future king crying because he had lost his love. I thought it to be disgraceful.

But my heart ached. My head swarmed with questions. Was what Areida said was true? Was there no way that Ella could have changed? Perhaps the letter had been fake…

No. Ella's note convinced me through and through.

My door was thrown open and a small figure dashed inside. I saw Ettime. I smiled slightly. "Hello," I said.

Ettime looked at my startled. "Your awake?" I laughed then.

"Don't sound so surprised. The storm awoke me," I said, still laughing.

Ettime smiled a little. "I got a little scared. This is the room I come when I get scared."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Ettime turned bright red. She resembled her sister, Areida. Just in younger form. "Well…I don't know, really. It's just…this room is so secluded from the others. I usually go to my parents' room but I decided not to wake them. I feel bad when daddy and mommy have to move over 'cause of me. Then, Areida moves around in the night and I am lucky not to get squished when sleeping with her," I laughed. "And Ollo would just yell at me to get out 'cause she said I disturbed a really good dream. Then there's Uflimu, who snores and won't let me get any sleep. Isti is moves also but is much worse. She moves her arms everywhere and I once got smacked in the face because of that. So I learned from then on," I laughed again.

She glanced at me. "And this room isn't used often and I think hiding under the bed is comforting. Please don't laugh," she begged, her eyes wide.

I didn't, knowing that she was embarrassed. "I won't, I promise. But you know what I use to do?" She shook her head. "I used to start singing loudly the most random things," Ettime laughed. I continued, smiling. " Sometimes I would just talk. I don't know why; it too seemed to calm me down. It wouldn't be able to hear the thunder outside. Well, the whole palace heard me and one day, my father finally told me just to come sleep with him and my mother."

Ettime laughed and then said while laughing, "I think I'm not scared anymore. I'm going to go back to sleep. Good night," and she began to leave.

"Ettime?" She turned back to look at me. I smiled. "Thanks. A lot."

She asked, "How did I help you?"

I just chuckled softly. "More than you can ever imagine, Ettime."

She stared at me and then smiled. "Good night."

She left and I said softly, "Good night."

That talk with Ettime had helped me. Because maybe I could chase Ella out of my mind just like I had done with my fear of thunderstorms.

I turned over and pulled the covers close to me. I closed my eyes and I saw Ella. She was smiling. But I squeezed my eyes and rid myself of her. Then I fell asleep. But I still, even thought I had hoped Ella was gone, that she was mine and in my arms…I wished that so bad…

I decided that he should have a little friend. And Ettime is Areida sister, I didn't make her up! I need suggestions for the next chapter! I might do the end! So cast your suggestions in! Review please!