The day of the wedding dawned beautifully with the golden rays of sun streaked across a pale blue sky. Birds were singing and bells were ringing joyfully. It seemed as if the weather was determined to be obstinately contrary to the wishes of everyone else involved.
That morning Edward spent alone in his room, staring out the window at the distant horizon. He could not abide the sound of the bells… to him they sounded like a funeral dirge. On an old chest lay the little glass slippers, sparkling in the sunshine like a thousand jewels. Cinderella had left them at his door just before she had left… forever. They were all he had left of her.
In the hour before the ceremony was to take place, Prince Edward, looking as if he was preparing for his own funeral, entered the silent, empty church, knelt at the altar, and prayed. He hardly knew for what he prayed unless it was grace to go through with what he knew to be his duty. And as he ended his prayer, he looked up, tearfully, and whispered his love to Cinderella. His apology.
"Dear Cinderella, forgive me. I have no heart for what I must shortly perform. My heart is yours and yours alone. I would not have you grieve for what was... not to be. It's only in fairy tales that the prince... marries the lady of his choice. The real world is not so kind. There are no private kingdoms. Only public ones. I have loved but once. I have loved but you. And I have lost you... twice."
oOo
Far, far away in Sylvania, Cinderella sat in the garden, all surrounded with the flowers. Caroline and Sarah had left her to her thoughts and were talking quietly in another corner of the garden. There was a swing in the garden and Cinderella often spent hours sitting out there, listlessly pushing herself back and forth.
I can't forget the melody…
Although our song is through.
The love we shared, the dream we dared,
Was just a prayer that can't come true.
I tried to stop remembering.
But till the day I die,
Within my memory will ring the melody
Of the song that was you and me.
Although our song is through...
I can't stop loving you...
For I can't forget the melody.
"And what, might I ask, are you doing here?"
The sudden and unexpected voice startled the girl from her silent reverie. The very sight of the woman who stood before her, with such an expression of trial and longsuffering, brought back a rush of bittersweet memories.
"Oh!" Cinderella cried. "It's you. You gave me such a shock!"
"I should hope so." The fairy sighed. "That is nothing to the shock you've just given me. Why, you shouldn't be here at all! That's not how I planned it. Oh, really! I sometimes wish I could retire. Unless I'm on the spot to take care of every little detail, something always goes wrong!"
Having heard the voices, Caroline had hurried to rejoin her friend. At the sight of the newcomer, she stopped short and stared. And the newcomer stared back at her, in obvious dismay.
"You!" cried the lady. "What are you doing here? Have all my plans messed up that badly? Oh, dear."
"I… didn't expect to see you again," Caroline said slowly, thoroughly surprised.
"Nor I you," she returned, shaking her head. "Didn't the prince knight John? It was all supposed to work out… what could possibly have gone wrong?"
"Nothing has gone wrong with John and I," Caroline frowned. She felt certain that this woman was an angel of some kind… after all, all that she had spoken of had somehow come true. But… she was still rather confused.
"Then why are you here instead of back in Euphrania, with him?" the woman did not give Caroline time to answer for she suddenly broke into a smile. "Of course! I see it now! You came to help Cinderella. You have such a sweet and generous heart, I should have known all along." But now she turned back to Cinderella, speaking rather disapprovingly.
"I know exactly what happened. You stayed beyond the stroke of midnight, didn't you?"
"Yes." Cinderella sighed regretfully. "Oh, but please don't scold me! I'm unhappy enough as it is."
"Well, of course, you're unhappy." the lady shook her head. "Any girl would be unhappy if she were missing her own wedding."
"Wedding?" Cinderella's head shot up, her face suddenly gone white. Caroline drew in her breath sharply.
"Yes," she stated matter-of-factly. "The prince gets married today. I had the date underlined in my diary. Why else do you suppose I am dressed like this?" she spun around, the full skirts of her sparkling purple gown billowing out.
"Who..." Cinderella faltered, her lip trembling. "Who's he marrying?"
"Well, at the moment, the wrong girl, obviously." The woman raised her eyebrows. Caroline wondered vaguely why Sarah was suddenly so quiet.
"Oh, it's too irritating!" she continued, impatiently. "I had it all mapped out. Well, I suppose I shall simply have to rise to the occasion and do something spectacular yet again, and spectaculars always take so much out of me."
All three girls by now were staring at her in utter confusion. The woman sighed resignedly.
"Just come down off the swing." Cinderella slid down, obediently, as the woman continued. "It was the same with Snow White. All the same, you young girls. Never do as you're told. Men are much easier. I suppose you know that well enough." This last she said to Caroline, with a meaningful nod.
"Who on earth is she?" Sarah spoke at last, whispering to Caroline. "What on earth does she think she can do about all this? That's just... not possible!"
"I heard that!" the woman cried indignantly, frowning at Sarah, who rather cowered behind Caroline. "Just trust me." She snapped her fingers and instantly, in her hands, were the glass slippers. It was as if at that moment Cinderella realized that it truly was going to happen. Those slippers made dreams come true. She had tears trickling down her cheeks as she slipped into the beautiful, magical shoes. Within moments, she had been transformed into a beautiful bride, all dressed in shining white, with a wreath of flowers in her hair. Sarah was all but trembling with fright, her eyes wide with shock.
"And now for you…" the lady turned to Caroline, smiling mysteriously. "Don't you worry, dear. You'll be with your John sooner than you think."
By the way, you may as well know that I won't be done until I say "the end" so I hope no one mistakes a chapter break for the ending and doesn't bother to check back for updates. The end, however, is in view... we are winding down!