SO I haven't even logged on to my account for around a few years. I stopped writing for a while (I blame high school), but now I feel inspired all over again and I'm super happy to be back. I wonder if anyone even remembers me from all those years ago...
My plan is to totally redo this story...chapter by chapter. I hope you guys will enjoy the new as much as you did the old, maybe even more :) Since I'm only doing it a chapter at a time, the rest of the story hasn't been revised yet. The old chapters are still up... As I revise each chapter, I'll make it clear that the chapter's revised, etc... I'm planning on doing some minor plot changes, so the overall story should stay the same, but most of the details will change (for instance, this whole chapter is now in Ella's point of view, when originally it wasn't) I'm kinda rambling, so I doubt much of this will make sence...
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter One
I sat on the throne with a great amount of discomfort. The back post of the chair dug in to the middle of my back, and after sitting in the same chair, the same way, for too long, I was a bit uncomfortable. I could tell that Char knew my thoughts, every once in a while he would give me a gentle smile that made my heart melt a little. It was strange, how even though we haven't been married for long, he can read my thoughts better that I can. I sat, watching him silently, as he spoke to the old man in front of us. Char talked quietly to the man, trying to comfort him, which was no easy task because he was in tears. From what I could hear is the man had nothing left, fires and strong wind had destroyed a vast amount of his crops, and the rest were not enough for him to survive throughout the winter. His children were gone, as was his wife, so there was no one to help him replant the crops. Char sent the man away with money and food. He turned to me and gave me a soft kiss. The day was almost done and the hall that we sat in was almost empty, it was almost sundown and everyone was either in the kitchen preparing the next meal, or riding home to his or her families.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost didn't hear Char whisper, "why don't you rest for a while? I'll get some work done while you sleep."
I gave him my best smile and retreat to my rooms, walking past the long staircases that Char and I slid down so often. As I walked up the stairs, I ran my fingers along the scratch in the staircase, where my husband's jacket button had caught on the banister, causing a very noticeable crack in the polished wood. I smiled at the memory, and how we had laughed for days because of it.
My smile faded when I entered my room to find Hattie sitting on my bed. She didn't notice me for a second, and it gave me time to notice that she was wearing my dress and my jewelry. The dress clearly didn't fit her as I could see the back of the gown was untied, the bodice was too short. Hattie looked up at me, and she grinned, showing perfectly pointed cats teeth, and black venomous eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound as nice as possible, but some of my words still came out wrong.
"Sit down, and be quiet, Ella." Hattie said, mocking me. I almost laughed at her request, and was about to tell her that I wasn't her obedient slave anymore, when something deep inside of me told me to sit down. I fought against it, trying to deny what was happening to me, but there was an overwhelming sense of dread as I felt the symptoms that I used to feel: dizziness, a pounding headache, and a strong need to throw up. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound would come from my lips. I imagined what I must look like to her, my eyes widened from shock and my mouth wide open. I sat down, but only so that I could think clearly. It did me no good, as thousands of thoughts raced through my head, and most of them were filled with dread. How could this be happening? How could the curse be back? What had Hattie done to me? I finally glanced towards Hattie, who hadn't said a word since her order. She was deathly quiet and her face was plastered with an odd smile. Her expression was nothing short of evil.
"You're wondering how and why I'm doing this to you Ella," Hattie started, "I hated you more than ever, since you married Char. You were never meant to marry him. He belongs to me." If I could have talked I would have snorted. Char belonged to no one, and he was just as likely to have ever married Hattie, as I was to turn in to a frog and spend the rest of my days on a lily pad. "You can speak again Ella," Hattie hissed, her smile touching her cheeks making her look like a vicious snake. A snake with its fangs ready to bite. Despite her freeing me, I chose to stay silent, but it only seemed to make her happier. "I have a plan, but it's much to complicated for you." I did snort at that, and something flickered behind her eyes, but only for a second and then it was gone. I became so lost in my thoughts that I almost didn't pay attention to when Hattie started talking again. "So you will just have to play along with out knowing."
I gave her a defiant look, and she looked scared for a moment. Hattie leaned forward, and I saw her beady little eyes narrow, "You will tell Char that you don't love it. Make it so convincing that he will believe you. As soon as you've told him that you never want to see him again, you will meet me out in the stables, and I will give you more orders." It takes me a second to absorb what she's told me and I gasp when I realize the intent of her words. Is she really serious? Not only does Hattie now have a serious case of treason over her head; she's going to end up in a crazy house.
Her plan has one huge flaw- Char will never believe that I don't love him. If I stall this whole thing for long enough, he'll figure it out, and put an end to this madness. But a bubble of fear is stuck in my throat- what if it all happens so quickly that there isn't time for him to figure anything out?
"You will tell him that, now Ella." Hattie states, pulling me out of my thoughts. She points a plump finger at the door. If I weren't so angry, I would have laughed. A deep dark place inside of me makes me stand up, and I wonder if I have the strength to think up a plan, let alone fight her.
"Oh and Ella," Hattie in a hallow empty voice that makes me shiver, "say it like you mean it."
As I walked in to Char's study, where I knew I would find him, I could feel Hattie's words sticking in the back of my throat. I longed to swallow them down and kiss Char, pretend that none of this had ever happened. But the curse stands its ground, and I am left to do its bidding for the moment. But I know that I'll break its spell over me again. I won't stand for anything less.
I knock on the door and slip inside. Char looks up at me from his desk, and pushes the papers aside. "Feeling better?" He asks and is about to stand when he sees the expression on my face. His joyous smile turns into a half-frown; he's confused and unsure of what to make of my silence. I wonder if he can figure out that I'm cursed again from just my eyes. It doesn't seem like he does, and I bite my tongue to keep the words from spilling out for a few minutes longer. I need another minute to pretend, but the minute fades out of my reach as the words I don't mean fall from my lips:
"I don't know how to tell you this," How can my voice sound so calm, so relaxed, so unlike my own. And then I realize. The tone and the manner- I sound like Hattie. I have an overwhelming urge to throw up. But to my misfortune, I don't, and I continue to talk, while Char stands, so close yet so far away, and listens. More lies come from my tongue, "I cannot go on living a lie anymore. I don't love you, I'm leaving."
Char doesn't say anything, just stares at me for a moment. Then a smile breaks across his face, "you had me for a moment, Ella." He lets out a laugh, but stops mid-chuckle as he sees the expression on my face. My expression is stony, and he realizes that I'm not jesting. I'm sure that he doesn't believe me, that he's more confused that anything. "Ella," he whispers, and I see the pain in his eyes. My heart shatters into a million shards, and although it's not my fault, it feels like it is. I fight the curse desperately, I try to open my mouth and take back the words, but the curse is steadfast and won't release its hold on me. I've stood in the room too long, and I should go to the stables. But I struggle to stay in the study to be with Char a few precious moments longer. I wonder if he can tell that I'm lying from my eyes, it doesn't seem so, since he still stares at me in silent horror. Defying the curse is no easy battle, as I struggle to keep my feet in the same place. The world moves around me, and I can feel the roots of a pounding headache start.
Before I know what I'm doing, I turn to leave. The symptoms stop. I walk out of the room, leaving a stunned Char standing in the middle of the room. I walk the short path to the stables, hoping to walk past someone who will order me to stop. But the halls are empty and I make my journey alone. Hattie is waiting for me, sitting atop a horse, with another beside her. "Get on," she hisses, and I comply.
We don't try to sneak out, instead we walk right through the front gates, Hattie sitting upright, like a regal lord, and I, slouched over like a beggar. The knights bow at us as we trot out of the palace. We begin to walk down the pebble road into town. Before I can get a good idea, Hattie hisses, "don't try to run off, Ella. And don't tell anyone about the curse."
I thought that we were going to ride into town, but Hattie most likely feared that Char would come after me, so she turned, and we were headed into the forest. The sun was setting behind us, and on any other day I would have marveled at its beauty. But I was to exhausted to do anything but concentrate on staying on the horse. As we trotted, Hattie gave me a few commands, and after making sure that I wouldn't escape nor would I call for help, she left my side to move in front of me.
I was glad that she had moved not just because being alone gave me time to think up a plan, but I also didn't want her to see the few tears that fell down my face.
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I only have time to do this one tonight and I might (no promises) do chapter 2 tomorrow! I hope everyone liked it :)
PS. As I revise the chapters I'll write revised in big capital letters, so that it's not confusing. I changed a few things in the plot soall of theun-revised chapters might not make much sense...
