A Revelation and A Proposition

Although getting much needed help from Katy and Nathaniel, cleaning up the next morning was painstaking. My eyes stung from lack of sleep and tears, and my back hurt from digging. Not a single chicken had been left alive. In my despair however, I had to thank the Lord that Bessy was safe. She was shaken, and wouldn't let me milk her, but she was alive. That much I could be grateful for.

"Phew." Nathaniel wiped his brow as he packed the dirt over the chickens' corpses.

"Thank you guys." I sighed.

Nathaniel sat down cross legged and Katy sat next to him. They nodded in response to my gratitude.

"You are one unlucky girl, you know that?" He said.

"Lately." I agreed. "Now we've lost the way we get half of our food supply!"

Katy looked at both our sullen faces and sat up straight, taking in a deep breath.

"But hey, look at the bright side!" She smiled. "Less chores, no feed to buy……"

I gave her a look. She was definitely reaching. Stepmother came out and offered us water. We all drank greedily. After a bit, Nathaniel stood up. Katy looked at the ground suddenly, looking ashamed. That didn't make sense. Nathaniel stretched.

"Well I better get going." He smiled. "I need to get cleaned up."

I took another glance at Katy whose expression had gotten worse. She wouldn't look me in the eyes.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, glancing away from his sister.

"I." He puffed his chest out. "Have a date today."

Everything made sense now. How could she not have warned me?! I kept my face composed and plastered a grin, possibly a much to large one, on my face.

"Oh? With who?"

"Melissa Comingway." He nodded. "We're going to take a horse ride through the country side."

"Precious." I said sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Don't laugh, it wasn't my idea. It was hers." He held his hands up in defense.

"Well have fun." I responded, desperate to end the conversation.

I could feel my eyes start to burn again. He gave us both a wave and said he'd see us later. I watched as he left. As soon as he was gone, I let me face drop and I looked at Katy. The poor thing looked mortified.

"I wanted to tell you….." She began. "But there wasn't time and I didn't know until we were walking over here I swear!"

I didn't answer her, but continued to stare. She came and sat beside me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you ok?" She squeaked.

"Sure sure." The sarcasm was heavy. "Fine. Just thinking about my dead chickens. My lost seeds. Ugly girls named Melissa Comingway. And maybe about saving for a pig."

We were both silent for a moment.

"Her nose does resemble a snout doesn't it?" She nudged me.

I started laughing then and she immediately joined in. I don't know why I was laughing, but I couldn't stop until my ribs felt like they had cracked.

I was looking over a sharp blade at the shop, checking for any dull spots I may have missed. I didn't find any to my delight and I set down my rag. I reached for a can of oil when I heard a customer enter. I stood up to see that is was the man from the day before. Was he here for me?

"Can I help you?" I asked him.

He bowed at my approach and I stopped to curtsy. If my father taught me anything, it was manners.

"You name is Cinderella correct?" He inquired.

"Yes."

"My name is Lieutenant Korton. The King requests that you dine with him this evening."

"Dine with him?" I was totally confused.

The king? What could he possibly want with me?

"In… the castle?" I choked out.

"Of course. A carriage will be by to pick you up later this evening." He bowed again and left before I could utter another word.

I stood frozen, my mind paralyzed. I didn't have a coherent thought in my brain. I stared for probably a good five minutes at the door to the shop. Harold came in during my catatonic state and shook me awake.

"El?" His voice concerned.

I snapped out of it and looked at him. I told him what had happened and he became just as confused as me.

"I wonder what the king wants of you." He pondered.

"I couldn't possibly guess." I shrugged.

He sent me home then, telling me that I must get ready. I ran to Katy's house, hoping she was there. When Mrs. Tremmond saw my terrified face, she tried to set me down and calm me with a glass of milk.

"No thanks. I need to see Katy." I insisted.

"She's with Jerold. I think they are at the pond." She told me.

I left and ran to the pond right outside of the village. Ducks swam happily around, completely unaware of the strange tragedies and surprises life seemed to be hurtling at me. There was a weeping willow tree on the far side. Squinting, I could see to figures sitting beneath it.

"Katy!" I yelled across the water.

Her head turned and she got up quickly, running towards me. We met halfway, although I was panting because I'd already run all the way to the pond.

"What is it?" She demanded.

"Remember that man who asked you about me yesterday?" I breathed.

"Yes."

"Well he just came to the shop and told me the king requests my company for dinner! They are sending a carriage!"

"WHAT???!" She gasped. "This is marvelous!"

"Huh?" Flabbergasted, I stared at her.

"Dinner with the king? Could you imagine!" Her hands clasp together and her eyes became distant.

"Katy, come back Katy." I snapped my fingers in front of her and she popped back to the present. "This is not marvelous. What does he want with me?"

"You'll find out tonight I guess."

Jerold walked up to us then.

"Hey Jerold." I said glumly.

"Hey El, what's up?"

"I have to have dinner with the king."

"Really?!" He put his arm around Katy. "That's amazing, what for?"

"I don't know." I frowned.

"Well aren't you excited?"

"Not really. I'm so confused. The king hasn't socialized with anyone since he inherited the throne. And now all of the sudden, he wants ME, of all people, to dine with him?" I explained.

"Well, you're going right?" Katy asked.

"Well I can't say no. It's the king! I could be beheaded!"

That night I paced my house, waiting for the sound of a carriage to drive up. Stepmother had insisted that I wear my fanciest dress. Of course my fanciest dress looked pretty much like the rest of my brown dresses, except it didn't have frayed edges. Dri and Ana earlier had ripped through my hair with a brush. A headache was setting in from the tortuous incident. I didn't know what the end result was, we didn't have a single mirror in the house.

"I guess this will have to do." Stepmother had said after they had finished my makeover.

The way she said it did not instill confidence inside me. I didn't care that much though. I wasn't going to pretend to be something I wasn't . I didn't even know what the king wanted!

The sound of horseshoes trotting on the ground grew louder and stopped in front of my house.

"Oh now behave." Stepmother said who had been pacing along side me.

"What did you think I was going to do?" I asked as she pinched my cheeks. "Misbehave?

"Go, Go." She pushed me out the door.

The carriage was small, with gold trimmings. It was pulled by two white horses and a man in a tall hat. The man smiled and tipped his hat. There was another man who opened the carriage door for me.

"Thank you." I said warily as I stepped inside.

He shut the door as I sat. I was alone in the carriage, making the ride to the castle all the more awkward. I was hoping there would be someone to give me a quick lesson in etiquette for dining with the king, or at least explain why this was happening.

The coach stopped, I glanced out the little window to see that we were at the front gates of the castle. My stomach did a few flips at the sight of it. Despite my indifference to the Royal family and their fortune, I couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the castle. The coachman took my hand as I stepped outside, I had to keep myself from gasping. I'd never been so close to the castle walls before. The large spires of the palace towered over my head, making my neck hurt as I looked on them. They were made from white marble. Etched into the rock were intricate designs or swirls and shapes. Two statues decorated the front gates. The angel's wings expanded out, their faces peaceful.

"It's beautiful." I whispered out loud.

"Yes." Was all the coachman replied.

He led me through the gates into the castle's large entryway. Deep red carpet made a path up a staircase as wide as two of my houses put together. It curved as it ascended. I could see it led to a room with a great chandelier. I wondered if that was where I was going to dine. Lieutenant Korton appeared at my right side.

"Well hello Cinderella, you look lovely." He greeted with a bow.

"Th..Thank you." I blushed, though I new he had to be lying.

I could only imagine how I looked compared to the exquisite furnishings around me. To my disappointment, Lieutenant Korton did not take me up the stairs, instead we walked around them and into a wide hallway. We came to a door which opened to a small dining area. As I entered, the Lieutenant did not follow me. I looked at him questionably, and I think the look on his face was an attempt as reassurance.

Inside, I found the King sitting at a chair that looked like it was maybe one step down from being a throne. His wife sat next to him, looking majestic in her finery. Also at the table was a man who I recognized as the King's right hand. I bowed to them.

"Come come!" The king said jubilantly and gestured for me to sit.

I walked slowly to an empty chair that was at the opposite corner. I didn't speak a word. I wasn't sure how to start. I didn't even know if I was allowed to ask a question to the king without special permission. Just to be safe, I decided to wait for them to say something.

As I sat in silence, the three sovereigns took in my appearance. The king smiled and then as quietly as possible, whispered to his wife who nodded rapidly in response. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but his expression eased my nerves. Whatever they were staring at did not dissatisfy them. Lord Brandon, the King's right hand, whispered to the king as well.

"Yes……exactly what……..for……he….. somewhat pleased." Was all I could comprehend from his murmuring.

I couldn't look any of them in the eye. I looked around the room, tapping my fingers lightly in my lap. It was a nicely decorated room. There were drapes with colorful embroidery hanging down from the ceiling. Artistic pottery adorned the corners.

"Do you like duck?" The king spoke to me.

I looked at him in surprise.

"Um…yes.." I answered.

He snapped his fingers and servants began bringing in large trays full of food. Pretty soon I had a plate full of fruit, duck, potatoes, and vegetables. They didn't ask what I did or did not want, they just piled the food in front of me. As I looked at it, my stomach rumbled. I didn't think I ever had or ever again would taste food like what was there. This thought sent pangs of guilt throughout me.

"You are probably wondering why you are here." The king stated.

"Yes your highness, very much." I relaxed.

'Well, eat, and I will tell you."

A/N- Wow. It's been forever since I've updated this story. I completely forgot how I was trying to form the characters. All these chapters are old, I took them all down because I thought I wanted to revise them, but then I read them and they were fine. So I reposted all of them!! There are a few chapters I haven't put back up because those ones I do want to revise. Thanks to those who have reviewed. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. I've been so crazy with school and such. I hope to pick this one up again and I'll get lots more story written for you! -Md