Now I just had to wait and hope my idea worked. I set up a little moniter
at the palace, which would load itself on to my computer regularly, and
give me the prince's schedule and any major plans for the coming year. As a
fairy godmother, I was allowed access to that sort of thing. If a royal
ball appeared somewhere, I would know I could safely move onto the next
part of my plan.
Two days after my venture to the palace, I checked on Cinderella and her step-relatives. I found all as usual: Cinderella a terribly abused young lady, the stepmother (whose name, as I had found out from my case papers, was Lydia Fleur) was patient and unruffled, Sylvia calm and amused, and Anya thoroughly annoyed. I tried to do what I could for the family. While they were out I came and weeded their garden and fed some of the animals, another day I had all the potatoes scrubbed and washed, ready to be cooked when they got home. I did this through the window with my wand, it wouldn't do for them to come home and see a fairy sitting there peeling vegetables, especially as I didn't want them to know I was in any way involved with their case. Not yet, anyways.
Finally, about a week later, I got onto my computer one morning, and lo and behold, the prince was planning a royal ball. The invitations would be sent out at once. Ususally there were three months or so to plan for such a large occasion as this was going to be. But perhaps he didn't want to anger his magical "Friend". No matter. Once the invitations were sent out I could safely proceed to the next part of my plan.
* * * * *
"Sylvia, would you please get me my thread basket?" Lydia Fleur asked her daughter.
Sylvia snapped her finger, and the basket flew towards her. She flicked her finger in her mother's direction, and the basket flew over and settled in Lydia's lap.
"That's quite impressive, dear. Sorceress Gildiana said you were a natural when you began, and believe she's right."
I was impressed too. For one as young as Sylvia, this was very advanced. I hovered outside the window of Mrs. Fleur's parlor, where she and her two daughters and stepdaughter were sewing and chatting. I was checking on their current situation, and putting some finishing touches on my plans.
"I enjoy it. And my skills come in handy." Sylvia nodded towards the basket, a wisp of black hair falling out of the twist at the back of her head. She brushed it behind her ear.
"I don't think proper young ladies ought to be learning such things." sniffed Cinderella.
"Cindy, be quiet." Anya said absentmindedly, her tongue between her teeth as she attempted to thread a needle.
"My name is not Cindy, you ignorant child." said Cinderella in an superior way. "It is Cinderella."
"Why do you get so annoyed when I call you 'Cindy'?" asked Anya, looking up from her needle. "It's no worse than CINDERella. That's like calling you soot or something."
"How dare you mock me!" said Cinderella in an aggrieved tone.
"Girls, please." sighed Lydia. "We've been over this before. Cinderella is a beautiful name, and I completely understand why you would want to be called by your full name. Anya, there is no reason for you to call her 'Cindy' or anything else, nor point out any faults that you may happen to find in her name."
"Hmph." Cinderella sniffed in a satisfied way.
"And there is also no reason for you to act rudely to Anya when she does call you something other than your given name." said Lydia sharply to Cinderella.
"Not to mention if you're going to call me something, you might as well come up with something better than "you ignorant child". I'm only a year younger than you, and I'm smarter."
"I doubt that." said Cinderella.
"That's because you don't know any better." said Anya comfortingly. Sylvia bit her lip and turned back to her mending to hide her smile. Cinderella apparently couldn't think of anything to say, and turned her mouth into a pout.
"I do not wish to further discuss the matter with one so young and foolish as you." she said finally, and turned her face back towards her embroidery.
"Good, because I dislike arguing with someone that isn't a CHALLENGE to beat." Anya said.
"Anya, please." said Lydia in a warning tone.
"Sorry, Mother." her daughter muttered.
They were quiet for a moment. Then there was the sound of someone knocking on the front door. I flew around the house to the door, mostly because I figured that whatever went on there would be more interesting than watching Cinderella and Anya shoot dirty looks at one another. And I was right. At the door stood a royal messenger, dressed in a fine white uniform with gold braid and buttons. His hair was brown, almost a red color. And his face was very freckly. I flew down to stand a couple of feet away from him, so I could listen in better on the conversation, if there were any. He may just hand over the invitation, say who it's from, and leave.
Lydia opened the door. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Good afternoon, sir." she said, then curtsied.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. I have come from the court of His Majesty, King Charming the Fifth. All ladies in the house are invited to a royal ball in celebration of the upcoming twenty-second birthday of His Royal Highness, Prince Charming the Sixth. All ladies in the house include servants and higher classes ages twelve and up. All information will be found on the invitation. Good afternoon." He touched his cap, bowed, and turned to go back down the walkway. Lydia stared after him, and then down at the invitation which he had somehow placed in her hands while he had been reciting. She blinked, then turned around and went back inside. I soared upwards again, back to the window, arriving back at the parlor seconds before her.
"Girls, that was a messenger from King Charming." she announced when she entered back into the room.
Cinderella and Anya looked up at her in surprise. Lydia's entrance had been a good thing, the two girls had been looking daggers at one another a moment before.
"What for?" asked Sylvia, glancing up from her mending. "Sorceress Gildiana said we might get something from the palace soon, but she wouldn't tell me any more than that."
"Why didn't you SAY something?" exploded Anya. "Something from the palace and you didn't mention it?!"
"I didn't want you to work yourself up too much wondering what it was." explained Sylvia, looking back at her sewing.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me." complained Anya in an aggrieved tone.
"What did the king want?" Cinderella demanded.
"He didn't really WANT anything. We got an invitation to a ball." said Lydia, opening the invitation and scanning it quickly. "It's next month, all ladies of twelve and older are invited, formal dress, of course, and it's for the prince's twenty-second birthday.
"We will go, won't we?" exclaimed Anya.
"Of course." Lydia smiled. "You don't really think I'd refuse to let you attend this?"
Anya grinned. "Well, no, I just figured I need to make sure."
"Whatever will we WEAR?" exclaimed Cinderella happily. Then her face clouded. "That is, if I'm allowed to go too. I wouldn't put it past you to make me stay home and sweep the floors or something."
"Cinderella, of COURSE you're coming, you dolt." Anya exclaimed. "Much as I wish you DID stay home and attempt to work --- I doubt you'd SUCCEED, but still, one can always hope --- you're coming. Obviously."
"Yes, Cinderella, you may come. I consider you to be one of my daughters, much as you think to the contrary, and I'm certainly not going to make you stay home and sweep the floors while your sisters and I go have a good time."
"Good." Cinderella sniffed. "So, will we be getting new gowns for the marvelous event?" she asked.
Lydia frowned and pursed her lips. "I don't know." she said at last. "I don't know if we can afford it. We've been rather low on money ever since Thomas died... I don't think we can really splurge on new gowns right now. Although..." she clapped her hands together. "Come with me, I have just the things."
"Where?" asked Anya, laying her mending aside and standing up.
"Well, a while ago Lady Rodimiller asked me to embroider some new gowns she'd bought. But as soon as I finished them, she said she didn't want them, they'd gone out of style by them. I was so angry, she even refused to pay for my work, and it took me three months to get the gowns done! But she said she didn't care if I kept the dresses, so they're up in the attic. With a little taking in and hemming, I think they'd fit you quite nicely."
"I don't want gowns that are out of style!" exclaimed Cinderella.
"They won't be." said Sylvia. "Baroness Rodimiller thinks anything's out of style if it's been around for a month. She has a reputation for buying gowns, wearing them once, and then tossing them out because they aren't at the top of the fashion list. The dresses will be perfectly fine."
"I doubt that." muttered Cinderella. Anya sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. She and Sylvia exchanged looks, then both turned away to keep from laughing.
"Well, I'm fine with a month-old ball gown." said Sylvia, standing up. "And if you embroidered them, they'll be beautiful." Her mother smiled appreciatively.
"Come on, girls. I think there will be something perfect for each of you." she turned and left the room, calling over her shoulder. "I remember sewing one that's a beautiful green color, you may want to look at that one, Sylvia. It would set off your eyes so nicely." Her voice faded as she went down the hall, her daughters --- including Cinderella --- following her.
Two days after my venture to the palace, I checked on Cinderella and her step-relatives. I found all as usual: Cinderella a terribly abused young lady, the stepmother (whose name, as I had found out from my case papers, was Lydia Fleur) was patient and unruffled, Sylvia calm and amused, and Anya thoroughly annoyed. I tried to do what I could for the family. While they were out I came and weeded their garden and fed some of the animals, another day I had all the potatoes scrubbed and washed, ready to be cooked when they got home. I did this through the window with my wand, it wouldn't do for them to come home and see a fairy sitting there peeling vegetables, especially as I didn't want them to know I was in any way involved with their case. Not yet, anyways.
Finally, about a week later, I got onto my computer one morning, and lo and behold, the prince was planning a royal ball. The invitations would be sent out at once. Ususally there were three months or so to plan for such a large occasion as this was going to be. But perhaps he didn't want to anger his magical "Friend". No matter. Once the invitations were sent out I could safely proceed to the next part of my plan.
* * * * *
"Sylvia, would you please get me my thread basket?" Lydia Fleur asked her daughter.
Sylvia snapped her finger, and the basket flew towards her. She flicked her finger in her mother's direction, and the basket flew over and settled in Lydia's lap.
"That's quite impressive, dear. Sorceress Gildiana said you were a natural when you began, and believe she's right."
I was impressed too. For one as young as Sylvia, this was very advanced. I hovered outside the window of Mrs. Fleur's parlor, where she and her two daughters and stepdaughter were sewing and chatting. I was checking on their current situation, and putting some finishing touches on my plans.
"I enjoy it. And my skills come in handy." Sylvia nodded towards the basket, a wisp of black hair falling out of the twist at the back of her head. She brushed it behind her ear.
"I don't think proper young ladies ought to be learning such things." sniffed Cinderella.
"Cindy, be quiet." Anya said absentmindedly, her tongue between her teeth as she attempted to thread a needle.
"My name is not Cindy, you ignorant child." said Cinderella in an superior way. "It is Cinderella."
"Why do you get so annoyed when I call you 'Cindy'?" asked Anya, looking up from her needle. "It's no worse than CINDERella. That's like calling you soot or something."
"How dare you mock me!" said Cinderella in an aggrieved tone.
"Girls, please." sighed Lydia. "We've been over this before. Cinderella is a beautiful name, and I completely understand why you would want to be called by your full name. Anya, there is no reason for you to call her 'Cindy' or anything else, nor point out any faults that you may happen to find in her name."
"Hmph." Cinderella sniffed in a satisfied way.
"And there is also no reason for you to act rudely to Anya when she does call you something other than your given name." said Lydia sharply to Cinderella.
"Not to mention if you're going to call me something, you might as well come up with something better than "you ignorant child". I'm only a year younger than you, and I'm smarter."
"I doubt that." said Cinderella.
"That's because you don't know any better." said Anya comfortingly. Sylvia bit her lip and turned back to her mending to hide her smile. Cinderella apparently couldn't think of anything to say, and turned her mouth into a pout.
"I do not wish to further discuss the matter with one so young and foolish as you." she said finally, and turned her face back towards her embroidery.
"Good, because I dislike arguing with someone that isn't a CHALLENGE to beat." Anya said.
"Anya, please." said Lydia in a warning tone.
"Sorry, Mother." her daughter muttered.
They were quiet for a moment. Then there was the sound of someone knocking on the front door. I flew around the house to the door, mostly because I figured that whatever went on there would be more interesting than watching Cinderella and Anya shoot dirty looks at one another. And I was right. At the door stood a royal messenger, dressed in a fine white uniform with gold braid and buttons. His hair was brown, almost a red color. And his face was very freckly. I flew down to stand a couple of feet away from him, so I could listen in better on the conversation, if there were any. He may just hand over the invitation, say who it's from, and leave.
Lydia opened the door. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Good afternoon, sir." she said, then curtsied.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. I have come from the court of His Majesty, King Charming the Fifth. All ladies in the house are invited to a royal ball in celebration of the upcoming twenty-second birthday of His Royal Highness, Prince Charming the Sixth. All ladies in the house include servants and higher classes ages twelve and up. All information will be found on the invitation. Good afternoon." He touched his cap, bowed, and turned to go back down the walkway. Lydia stared after him, and then down at the invitation which he had somehow placed in her hands while he had been reciting. She blinked, then turned around and went back inside. I soared upwards again, back to the window, arriving back at the parlor seconds before her.
"Girls, that was a messenger from King Charming." she announced when she entered back into the room.
Cinderella and Anya looked up at her in surprise. Lydia's entrance had been a good thing, the two girls had been looking daggers at one another a moment before.
"What for?" asked Sylvia, glancing up from her mending. "Sorceress Gildiana said we might get something from the palace soon, but she wouldn't tell me any more than that."
"Why didn't you SAY something?" exploded Anya. "Something from the palace and you didn't mention it?!"
"I didn't want you to work yourself up too much wondering what it was." explained Sylvia, looking back at her sewing.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me." complained Anya in an aggrieved tone.
"What did the king want?" Cinderella demanded.
"He didn't really WANT anything. We got an invitation to a ball." said Lydia, opening the invitation and scanning it quickly. "It's next month, all ladies of twelve and older are invited, formal dress, of course, and it's for the prince's twenty-second birthday.
"We will go, won't we?" exclaimed Anya.
"Of course." Lydia smiled. "You don't really think I'd refuse to let you attend this?"
Anya grinned. "Well, no, I just figured I need to make sure."
"Whatever will we WEAR?" exclaimed Cinderella happily. Then her face clouded. "That is, if I'm allowed to go too. I wouldn't put it past you to make me stay home and sweep the floors or something."
"Cinderella, of COURSE you're coming, you dolt." Anya exclaimed. "Much as I wish you DID stay home and attempt to work --- I doubt you'd SUCCEED, but still, one can always hope --- you're coming. Obviously."
"Yes, Cinderella, you may come. I consider you to be one of my daughters, much as you think to the contrary, and I'm certainly not going to make you stay home and sweep the floors while your sisters and I go have a good time."
"Good." Cinderella sniffed. "So, will we be getting new gowns for the marvelous event?" she asked.
Lydia frowned and pursed her lips. "I don't know." she said at last. "I don't know if we can afford it. We've been rather low on money ever since Thomas died... I don't think we can really splurge on new gowns right now. Although..." she clapped her hands together. "Come with me, I have just the things."
"Where?" asked Anya, laying her mending aside and standing up.
"Well, a while ago Lady Rodimiller asked me to embroider some new gowns she'd bought. But as soon as I finished them, she said she didn't want them, they'd gone out of style by them. I was so angry, she even refused to pay for my work, and it took me three months to get the gowns done! But she said she didn't care if I kept the dresses, so they're up in the attic. With a little taking in and hemming, I think they'd fit you quite nicely."
"I don't want gowns that are out of style!" exclaimed Cinderella.
"They won't be." said Sylvia. "Baroness Rodimiller thinks anything's out of style if it's been around for a month. She has a reputation for buying gowns, wearing them once, and then tossing them out because they aren't at the top of the fashion list. The dresses will be perfectly fine."
"I doubt that." muttered Cinderella. Anya sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. She and Sylvia exchanged looks, then both turned away to keep from laughing.
"Well, I'm fine with a month-old ball gown." said Sylvia, standing up. "And if you embroidered them, they'll be beautiful." Her mother smiled appreciatively.
"Come on, girls. I think there will be something perfect for each of you." she turned and left the room, calling over her shoulder. "I remember sewing one that's a beautiful green color, you may want to look at that one, Sylvia. It would set off your eyes so nicely." Her voice faded as she went down the hall, her daughters --- including Cinderella --- following her.