Hello guys, this is the chapter 4 of this fan fiction, I hope you like it. Please leave give kudos and write a comment if you like this chapter .
Chapter 4 : meeting you after years
Soon, Princess Isabella's eyes fell on the big beautiful rose bouquet that Ella had just brought to the shop today.
Papa roses ! Isabella pulled her fathers arm to draw his attention towards the stall where she saw that bouquet. He looked where Isabella was showing him to look and his eyes just couldn't believe what he was seeing: there stood his mystery Princess, but she wasn't alone, she was standing with her men, a man who held her hand in his. The man he saw with her was George and he was covering her finger with the cloth to stop it from bleeding.
The king blinked as many times as he could to stop imagining her as if this was a product of his imagination, but soon he realised that it was not, even after that, he decided to go and check by himself. Isabella wanted to buy that bouquet of flowers, as it reminded her of the roses of her secret garden but the king never allowed Isabella to cut them As she was still little. So he ordered to stop the carriage, still his blue eyes fixed on Ella.
Stop the carriage now! Our Princess wants to buy something from that stall. The king demanded and they got down from their carriage, the captain of the guards too got down from his horse and walked behind the royal party. The king held Isabella's hand and they walked towards their stall, nervous and still confused whether this was a dream of him or not.
Ella noticed the silence in the crowd and stared in awe how the people made way for the king and his daughter to come towards their still. She was astonished beyond explanation, when they were nearly there, George left Ella's hand when he was done securing the cloth on her finger. He realised that the king was coming towards them, and he bowed. Every step that the king took, was making his brain foggy, unable to think straight or to plan what will he say to her when they reach their stall.
His heart was starting to get frustrated when, by and by, he realised that this was not dream or hallucination, this was real. Think, he was now standing right in front of his mystery Princess.
Ella was so frozen in her place that she didn't even bowed to the royalty, until George touched her arm making her come out of her trance, an action that did it go unnoticed by the king who frowned slightly as a result of this, maybe his worst fears were turning out to be true.
Ella bowed to the king, deeply embarrassed that somebody else had to remind her to do so.
My apologies, your majesty. She said while bowing, unable to even look at the king in his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that once used to smile when she smiled , but she could certainly feel his gaze on her which increased the amount of guilt she felt, guilt of being so helpless in the hands of her own destiny and family.
Isabella pulled his fathers coat to remind him that she wanted to buy that rose bouquet.
I would like to buy this rose bouquet, please. Said the king looking at Ella, who still wasnt looking into his eyes.
Your majesty, we can't take money from you. George said to the king and taking that bouquet from the display he gave it to Isabella, as she was on her toes excited to pick that bouquet from him.
The king, nonetheless, kept a very valuable gold coin on the counter looking at Ella, but she could not meet his eyes. The king started getting cross at Ella, she was not looking at him at all. He thought that now she didn't even want to look at him, that she doesn't want anything to do with him.
George picked up the gold coin and gave it to Ella, and said, immediately drawing the King's attention:
she is the one who deserves it, your majesty , she made this bouquet with the most fragrant flowers. Said George. This marie remark provoked a wave of jealousy in the kings my heart, as he saw love and admiration in George eyes for her, also he finally got to see what his heart was craving for :Ella looked at the king briefly when she picked up the gold coin from George's hand, her eyes were red and moist filled with raw emotion of melancholy and broken dreams. The kings anger softened when he saw her brown eyes, his heart was broken once more in this moment , only if he could talk to her, if he could ask her every question that has been tormenting him for the past years.
After meeting the kings eyes she looked at the little Princess and smiled at her, realising that she had the most beautiful features of his father, his ocean blue eyes, those brown curls and that beautiful smile. The king glanced at his daughter as well, and felt that he was getting angry at Ella for no reason at all, he moved on, he married and had a child, she has all the right to move on in her life as well. Reflecting about their circumstances, he softened his heart and try to talk to her.
So... you are doing well here? He asked, just to break the ice.
Yes. But all that Ella managed to get out of her lips, now he genuinely felt that she doesn't want to talk to him anymore.
The captain recognised Ella as the King's mystery Princess and he was feeling incredibly proud of himself for encouraging the king to take part in the parade . The king turned to leave, but after walking a couple of steps, he turned back and asked one last question to her:
What do they call you?
Ella looked at the king with beautiful memories flooding her soul and regretting not answering this question the very first time they met.
Ella. She said with eyes filled with tears yet smiling at him for finally ending his curiosity. The kings eyes filled with tears as well seeing that smile on her face, this meant that she still remembered their first meeting and how desperate he was to know her name in The Secret Garden. Finally, noticing that everyone's eyes were on them, he walked back to his carriage with his daughter and the parade continued.
After the king left, she stumbled but held the counters edge to support her, she was emotionally shaken by this encounter.
I have to go. She said composing herself and leaving the stall to George, who was just staring at her in confusion while she was mounting her horse. Even the king saw her leaving the market, in his mind, he was wondering where exactly did she live.
Back in the palace, the king was next to his daughter who had fallen asleep in her bed, tired from the morning's event. The king was caressing her brown curls lost in his thoughts. He was trying to make sense of whatever he saw this morning. She was not a Princess, certainly, she had a stall in the local market and was selling flowers, fruits and vegetables, then how come she came to the ball wearing that magnificent dress or where did the golden carriage come from. Those were some of the questions that were puzzling the king, but at least now he knew her name.
Ella, your name is Ella. The king pronounced her name, feeling every letter of her name with his lips. In that moment the captain came in the princess's room.
Oh! The Princess is having a nap? He said smiling.
The king smiled at him and got up from the bed, not before kissing his daughter on the forehead. He then walked towards the table where the vase was with the flowers they had bought from Ella. The captain followed him and stood beside the king.
So... you found your lady today, your majesty? The captain said teasingly and the king drew a sad smile on his face.
I found her, and how? I can't make sense of anything captain. The first time I saw her in the forest, I saw her like she was today, but then we met at the ball and she was dressed like a Princess and for that reason I thought that she was one, and today I see her in the local market. But when we started our search for the mystery Princess with the glass slipper she was nowhere to be found. Said the king, getting very confused as he was praising his mind's doubts.
You're right, your majesty we couldn't find her at all. And moreover, I have been to the local market more than once and I have never seen her there. Said the captain.
But what's the point now? She is married now and my chances are gone captain. Said the king in despair.
How can you say that? You don't know that yet! How can you draw your conclusions with what you just saw? He could be her suitor? She may not have said yes yet!
I don't know captain, he was holding her hands.
I don't feel that they are a married couple, Your majesty. In fact, he gave her the gold coin you kept on the counter, If they were married I don't think that he would do so. I still think that you have a fair chance.
The king's face at this moment was etched with sorrow at the thought that she could be married, so the captain placed his hand on the kings shoulder.
I will find where she lives your majesty, trust me. Said the captain in assurance, and left the room.
As soon as she reached her home, Ella ran towards the entrance, shutting the door behind her and resting her back on it, she tried to calm herself as she was breathless. She couldn't believe her eyes, she saw the king, but for her she perceived her kit in him. She slowly sat down right in front of the door and took the gold coin out of her pocket, and touched it lovingly with her fingers, rubbing it softly with her thumb, and being grateful that she got to see her Kit once again. Little did she know that her destiny and perhaps lady Tremaine's blessing wanted her to reunite with her love.
