Ella and Elaine sat together in Ella's favourite private sitting room in the palace. She found its wide windows and balconies calming, and she loved to bask in the sunshine on the veranda. Ella sat on the dark green velvet armchair across from Elaine on the matching sofa. She listened carefully to Elaine's story, retaining every important detail that would help her to find Elaine's fairy godmother.
Elaine told her of her arrogant and filthy rich parents in Swathsbert, and of how they had become frustrated of her silence and had become more and more angry over the years. The Duke and Duchess had not been able to understand their daughter's "gift" from her fairy godmother: they had spent weeks before Elaine's birth trying to find the best fairy godmother; how could anything have gone wrong? The gift had seemed harmless at the time. It should have only made for a delightfully well-mannered girl. Nobody had noticed the problems to come with the gift. It should have been prevented. Ella gasped when she heard the curse. Speak only when spoken to, and never to a man. The stupidity of the fairy was almost unfathomable. Elaine had been blamed for her problems; she hadn't been accepted into the court, and had neither friends nor suitors.
Ella waited patiently to hear any mention of the fairy godmother's name; she knew that Elaine needed to get her facts in order after keeping this terrible secret within her soul for so many years. Ella had been listening good-naturedly for several hours when Elaine finally mentioned the ignorant fairy that had bestowed this curse upon an innocent child. Ella sat up straight and paid even closer attention to what Elaine was saying. If she missed the name the first time, Elaine might think that she wasn't listening, and would refuse to continue.
"My parents were so angry that I couldn't greet their guests and make them look good in society, that no matter how often I asked, they wouldn't tell me my fairy godmother's name."
Ella sank in her chair. This would slow down her search for the fairy considerably.
" They refused to blame her, and they thought that I would insult her and that she would tell everyone how poorly raised I was. My mother's biggest concern was that she would become the most scandalous gossip to hit the kingdom." Elaine recounted bitterly, "They thought that discipline was the best solution. I spent my days locked up inside with a tutor, and if the day hadn't gone well, I spent the nights in a cold grey room in the cellar."
Elaine paused, and Ella sighed in pity for the poor girl who had undergone so much. Only then did she notice that Elaine's eyelids were fluttering closed and that she was looking exhausted. Her head began to droop onto one shoulder, and the sweet young girl presented the image of a pixie drained of its energy. Ella gently placed a blanket over Elaine, and she herself went to sleep on a sofa, not wanting Elaine to be frightened if she were to wake up alone.
In the calm darkness, it was easier for Ella to think. She needed a plan…. If only Elaine had some recollection of who the fairy was, or who was present when she received the gift. Ella mentally made a list of all the people who might have useful information. She couldn't ask the Duke or Duchess of Swathsbert, they would be outraged that Ella was intruding in the family's private affairs. Princess Louise would have the same reaction, she reasoned, and any other relatives may share those sentiments. As Ella settled into her temporary bed, it dawned on her… The chamber of records would have everything that she would need to know. Although she'd never visited the legendary fortress, she'd heard much about it The walls had been constructed out of marble, so that no record could be stolen or destroyed. The man who held the prestigious title of Keeper of the Documents was none other than Sir Eberhard of Wensmanshire, who was a good friend of Ella's father. She didn't know much about the man, except that he was lax about his job, and didn't taken it seriously despite its importance to the kingdom. Ella recalled seeing Sir Eberhard only once, when she was a young teenager. She'd been attempting to serve the large man a tea, when she tripped over her apron and spilled the hot beverage all over him. Her father had been livid, but Sir Eberhard just laughed and told Ella not to worry. If he remembered her, Ella was sure that she could find the information that she needed; she'd heard her father saying that the old knight never denied favours to friends. The only problem, she then realised, would be reaching the chamber of records. It was far away, and it would take a long journey to reach it.
When Ella next awoke, it was dawn. Elaine was gone, and a shadowed figure was standing in the doorway. Ella sat up and rubbed her eyes. There, in the doorway, was Princess Louise, with a revolting smirk on her face. Ella began to speak, but was interrupted by Louise's smug voice.
"I took the pleasure of moving Elaine to a room more… suited to her attitude." Began the princess. "Very much like that disgusting creature, in fact." She smiled to herself, showing tainted teeth and sending chills down Ella's spine.
"What have you done with her?" demanded Ella
"Why, I thought I'd done you a favour, seeing as she'd obviously invaded your privacy."
"Where is she?" asked Ella again, but to no avail. Louise continued in the same sweet tone.
"I never thought that you were quite suited to young Char, but I didn't realise that he would have you banished so soon! And for you two to scare a young thing like Elaine with all that shouting— "
"Stop speaking this nonsense and tell me where Elaine is!" cried Ella.
"Nonsense?" asked the princess in a mock incredulous pitch, "Well, I naturally assumed, what with Char leaving chambers with Arielle this morning…" she trailed off… "Oh! I hope I haven't offended you, and I suppose you're still getting over this argument. I'll leave you in peace."
The princess left, and slammed the door. Ella slumped down on the sofa and put her head in her hands. Suddenly, the magic of the palace seemed the fade into a grey reality. Nothing was working out for her. She hardly saw her prince, and she was stuck in a rivalry with one of the most powerful women in the realm. A tear seeped through the cracks between her fingers, which seemed to jolt her into realising what was happening. She was simply allowing the walls of her new life to crumble around her, without doing anything about it. And if Char really was interested in Arielle… well, then she could always find something else to do with her life. She didn't need the palace any more than the palace seemed to need her.
First things first, she thought, I need to find Elaine.
She could only imagine what kind of hell Louise would have put the pitiful little girl into after socializing with the other palace outcast. As Ella walked down the corridors, she realised how true that title had become. Guards who would once wave and smile now turned away. Rumour had it that Louise paid several hundred gold chips to the guards for them to act hostile towards Ella. Ella didn't know who to turn to… if what Louise said about Char was true, then irritating him would only make matters worse. The guards would no longer speak directly to her, and only a few of her old friends kept in touch. Suddenly, gleaming silver caught her eye. She turned, to see none other than Char walking down the hall wearing his most elegant suit, flanking Princess Arielle. Arielle was a young girl; her attractive face was obviously professionally made-up. The rouge on her cheeks matched her eyes perfectly, and her blond locks bounced just the right amount to flatter her v-necked gown.
Ella couldn't think where Prince Char would be taking the princess in such sophisticated attire without telling her. A ball? A banquet? Some celebration? As she looked at Char's smiling face, Ella hid her own, which was tear-streaked and flushed from crying. The sick feeling in her stomach began to spread, and she dashed down the nearest stairway. She'd never been down them before, but she was sure she'd find a way back up.
When she reached the bottom of the staircase, Ella leaned on the cool stone wall and sank down to the ground, until her knees touched her face. She didn't know how long she sat there, weeping, but she came out of her own grief when she heard sobs that were not her own. She stood up slowly, and after stretching out her legs, followed the sound of the pathetic cries. All of a sudden, Ella recognized the sounds echoing around the stone tunnel… With a horrible realisation, Ella began to sprint down the hallway. She didn't pay attention to the many prisoners in the cells to either side of her, she only followed where the sound was taking her. When she finally reached the end of the long hallway, she came to a rotted wood door. Ella took a deep breath, and took hold of the icy handle. The knob twisted stiffly, and the door creaked open. Ella shoved it, and it swung off its hinges. Rushing in, Ella took Elaine in her arms and rocked the bawling girl back and forth. Footsteps pounded in the hallway, and a silhouette was projected onto the wall of the grimy cell. Then, all Ella could smell was the dirt caked on the ground, and all she could see was darkness. She heard one scream, and then nothing. Elaine! She thought, as her mind plummeted into a calm nothingness.