Love Is Just A Word
Amber Blossom
Note: Yes, I am SOO sorry about the LONG update, but things piled into another, and I suddenly lost all interest in Ella Enchanted (Yes, gasp now) But, my muses came back, in the middle of a BORING class, and I welcome… CHAPTER TWO…
Disclaimer: Ella Enchanted belongs to Gail Carson Levine.
Some One Else in the World
"Char, what was that all about?" Queen Celina was by far a force to be reckoned with, with an easy temperance, getting her angry was quite a feat – and would be the warning to start running to the mountains.
Now here she was, her sleek black hair was messed and out of its perfect bun, her dress was rumpled after a fruitless search of her son in throngs of evil girls, and her wonderfully planned three night ball was ruined by her son.
"Nothing, mother," Char didn't bother to meet his mother's gaze, his voice was beyond hollow – he didn't even bother putting on a mask. "Absolutely nothing."
"What happened with that young maiden, she seemed absolutely charming – the resemblance between her and Lady Eleanor is uncanny!"
"She went back home," he spat bitterly, as his gaze lowered to the marble floor, "…she isn't coming back anytime soon…"
With that, he walked away, leaving his mother spellbound at this mysterious maiden who just about broke and enflamed her son's heart.
"Mandy?" Ella tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, and poked the fairy, "Mandy? Wake up!" Relenting, Ella reached for the large burlap sack that Mandy had brought along. Inside was every single thing her mother owned (the bag was fairy-made of course), from the most extravagant dress, to jewels dangling of hair sticks from the more oriental countries.
Reaching for her fairy book, Ella opened it once and found a diary entry of Hattie's. Who surprisingly spelled better.
Dear Diary,
THAT WRETCH! That good for nothing minx! She knew that it was my night to shine, to be swept of my feet from that handsome Char, but no, she took it from me! And she took that cook with her too.
Mother says that she was just jealous, and that Charmont will get back to his senses sooner or later. Secretly, she's glad, or was for the fifteen minutes before she found out that everything that Lady Eleanor had (who knew Ella's mother had more jewels than the queen) was gone. Still, that wretch can't expect to win the prince's heart, it is simply a bewitchment. Poor Ella, green never suited her, but I guess her green eyes weren't just a physical trait.
Mother plans to invite the prince to dinner tomorrow. Maybe then I can knock this bewitchment out of him…
Ella slammed the book shut as the entry rambled on about some silly dress Hattie was going to wear for the prince.
…For Char…
Softly, the feint hum of rain began, becoming a soft beat.
"I'm sorry," Ella whispered softly, her voice barely audible. In mere seconds she couldn't tell tears from rain. "…I'm sorry…"
The infamous palace garden was beyond beautiful, with an arrangement of soft colors, magical lights were weaved into the trees, and the beautiful center fountain was lit from the inside, its clear water reflecting the moonlight with a beautiful, aurora (fairy) light.
The soft thumping of the rain didn't faze him. His mother was gone, and the soldiers were at their homes.
His thick hair fell to his eyes as he looked up.
"…love…" he gave a sad chuckle, "…maybe it's just a word, a fantasy…it's not real…a word isn't real…"
As much as he wanted to believe himself – it didn't work – the Ella he knew was gone, was just fake. It was a horrible realization the second time around.
Somehow, a part of him knew some one else in the universe felt the same way he did, and that same part of him was happy – happy that he wasn't the only one feeling this way.
Note: Yes, Char thinks that Ella, and the façade, Lela, was just another scheme (I thought you were supposed to learn from your mistakes?) And Ella? She'll be more featured in the next chapter, titled: New Beginning.
