Hey everybody! LuckyCharms007 Back at you with yet another story! I know, I know...I need to post more on my other story rather then work on a new one. But my imagination got away with me again. And I think I'm finished with An Untold Secret sorry you guys! Wait…no I'm not, who am I kidding! I hope you enjoy this one! Dedicated to Natalie for being my editor (I love you!) Read on and enjoy! Oh yeah, and by the way, they have modern things like MacDonald's and TV's and radios, but they have carriages because it's a kingdom…and because I'm the author, and I said so. Just incase you get confused.
Chapter 1: An Uneventful Morning
I woke this morning with a sudden sense of...well...dread. It had been 3 weeks since my father left for the war. And luckily for me, my stepmother, Destiny, was gone for 4 weeks. I had a wonderful time with my father. It was like old times when it was just me and him. But now, I lie here, waiting for my stepmother to call me to do my daily chores. Maybe she'll be in a better mood since she just saw her 'real' daughters 2 days ago and has been boasting about them ever since she got home. Okay, that was hopeful thinking. The day Destiny is pleasant to me will be the day Hell freezes over.
"Cinderella!" she called, using my horrid nickname Daddy and Hermione gave me when I was young. They were the only ones that were supposed to call me that! I quickly changed into my ugliest, dirtiest dress and hurried down the stairs.
"Yes, Destiny? How my I help you this morning?" I asked rolling my eyes. Man, I feel like a MacDonald's commercial.
"You ungrateful child! I kept a roof over your head since your father left! And this is how you treat me!" Here she slapped me across my face, "start on your chores. And then, maybe, just maybe, I'll let you ride your horse. But only if you complete your chores."
I bowed slightly, in respect for my elders and she smirked at me. I turned on my heel and left her sight.
'If I had my way, Destiny Black, you would be the one doing the chores,' I thought to my self as I left the room.
"You're Majesties!" A stout man called, running down a garden path.
"Yes?" The King of Gryffindor questioned, turning away from his wife, the Queen.
"Terrible, terrible news milord. Lord Sirius Black died last night. And his lovely daughter is to find out shortly. There is nothing we can do, sire. I'm so sorry," The man said, and then he bowed and left the premises, with a look of dissatisfaction, being unable to anything to help.
"Oh, dear! His daughter will be heartbroken! She has grown to be just like her mother. I wonder if she'll stay here. After all, our son does need a bride," The Queen suggested, looking hopefully into her husband, James' eyes.
"Lily, don't rush into things. You know our son wants to marry for love. But, I know, let's throw him a ball for his homecoming, how's that sound? Tomorrow?" James suggested. Lily smiled and nodded, excited at the thought of a party for their brave, and loyal son, Harry.
"Ahhhhh...finally! Almost done with my chores. Yes Daddy, I know 'almost only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, atomic war and darts'! Last thing: clean the stables, my favorite!" I said aloud to myself, as I got up off my knees, and dusted my skirt.
I tip-toed past a snoring Destiny and out the front door. She never wanted to see me within her sight, she didn't like dirt. When I reached the stables, the horses neighed. I smiled as I walked to where my horse was kept.
"Hercules, my boy, how are you?" I asked, patting his nose. He nuzzled his nose into my hand, recognizing that it was me who was there. I named him Hercules after the strong Greek God. Mom used to read the myth to me, and we used to pretend that Daddy was Hercules, strong and handsome. I was given Hercules when Daddy married Destiny. It was kind of a hushing present. Daddy knew I didn't like Destiny, so he bought me a horse...and I kept quiet. I started to shift the hay around in Hercules' stall when I heard the sound of hooves on the cobblestone.
"WOAH!" the groom called, pulling back on the reigns.
"May I help you?" I asked, wiping my hands on my apron.
"Is this the Black Manor?" someone asked stepping out of the carriage.
"It is. Do you have word from my father?" I asked, stepping toward the man.
"Ella Black? Lord Black's only daughter?" The man asked stepping back because of the state in which I was in.
"The one and only," I said, not realizing that I didn't look as if I was the daughter of the most respected Lord and Lady of the kingdom.
"My I speak to the Lady of the House?" He asked, looking at the front door. As if searching for someone of stature. I thought for a brief moment.
'Destiny doesn't care about Daddy. Only Daddy's money. I'm actually the Lady of the House. Daddy said.' "That's me as well." I told him, standing up straighter.
"You're only a girl!" He said to me, shocked at the possibility that a 'servant girl' could be the lady of a honored house.
"I'm 17, thank you very much! It was just me and my father, before he left." I told him. He handed me a telegram, bowed and got back in his coach. I didn't open the telegram until the carriage was well out of sight. I didn't like that man. I opened it slowly, in excitement of Daddy coming home.
To the Lady of Black Manor:
We are sorry to inform you that Lord Sirius Black died last night in the final battle with Voldemort...
This can't be happening to me. I lost my mother when I was 4. Now my father? Merlin, what have I done to deserve this? Who is going to walk me down the aisle when I get married, if not my father? My godfather? But I don't know who he is! My luck with parents is not good. Maybe I shouldn't ever get married…
"DADDY!" I screamed. Destiny heard me and came outside. I glanced at her, through my tears, dropped the telegram and jumped on Hercules. I rode to where Merlin took me 7 years ago. I rode for about an hour, until I came to my secret spot.
"Rest, Herc. That's a good boy," I patted his neck, and he started eating the green grass, "Daddy...why! MY Father! Daddy can't be dead," I whispered into the air. I collapsed on the soft green grass and cried my eyes out. What I didn't know was that a handsome young man had seen me collapse from his bedroom window, and came to my rescue.
I heard his dismount, and rolled over on my back, looking more unattractive that I have ever been.
"Who are you?" I asked, wiping my eyes with my dirty apron, not realizing that I was a total and complete mess.
"Your knight in shinning armor. Here, use this," He told me, handing me a soft, white, handkerchief.
"Thank you, knight in shinning armor," I said smiling at him, accepting the handkerchief.
'I wonder who he actually is. He's...hot...yeah, that's the understatement of the year. Those eyes! I love them!' I thought as we sat in silence, neither wanting to interrupt the other's thoughts. I wondered what he could be thinking about…
"Are you okay?" he asked, when I had finished drying my face.
"No, I'm not okay! I just found out that my father died last night! My daddy… " I said, and started to cry once again.
"Milady, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to impose," he told me, putting his strong arms around me. "It's okay to cry. I promise, it's okay."
I hugged him as hard as I could, and cried and cried. He never complained. When I was finished I smiled at him, dried my tears and tried to give his handkerchief back to him.
"Keep it. As a gift," he said.
"Thank you," I told him pocketing the hankie.
"What is your name, milady?" He finally asked, green eyes to blue ones.
"Well, my father called me Cinderella,"
Hey guys! Did you like that first chapter? Oh, sorry I didn't mention in the first A/N...this is first person...if you didn't catch that...Her name is Ella Black...incase you didn't catch that either. Get it? OK, keep checking up!