CHAPTER ELEVEN
A/N: This chapter is slightly edited. In this chapter, Trillion has some disturbing tidings to tell Cinderella and we see more of Max.
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When the coach with the step mother and step sisters pulled off, Cinderella could hardly contain her excitement as she waited eagerly for Trillion to provide the accoutrement as he always did for the third ball. She was also amazed and astounded at how everything had worked out. Her step sister, Magdalena, got on well with Prince Edward at the last function. In turn, that left her free to pursue Trillion since, in the Little Cinder Girl's mind, if Dalena was to be the Prince's bride she would be available to be the fey's bride.
The fey's bride, her mind echoed, as she thought about the dream she'd had last night.
She smiled and hummed to herself as she washed using the pot in the fireplace in the cellar she lived in. There was a knock on the door. Once she'd gotten dressed, Cinderella opened it, smiling broadly, but then her face fell when she saw an older man at the entrance. Like Trillion, he had a hood and cape; unlike the young fey however, the older man's eyes were brown, and he wore a much more serious expression. His chin was more pronounced, and his face had many more wrinkles. He removed his hood, revealing wavy, snowy white hair. His ears were similar to Trillion's; they were pointed, like an elf's. He took in the Little Cinder Girl's pout as he made his way to a chair.
"Greetings, Ashenputtal," he said in a deeper, baritone style voice in comparison to Trillion's tenor.
"Ashenputtal?" Cinderella repeated.
"It is the German variation of your name." The man answered.
Without thinking, Cinderella said rapidly, "Trillion never calls me that. He calls me 'bella mia'".
"I am not my student," the man replied dryly.
"Who are you then?" the Girl of Cinder and Ash asked.
"My name is Maxiflucorocofalipatoryan, but you may call me 'Max'. Everyone does," Max said, shrugging.
Cinderella tried to smile, but the grin didn't reach her green eyes. "Why didn't Trillion come instead?" she wanted to know.
"He got reassigned," Max said, pulling out a huge stick resembling a tree branch. She stared at the stick, which she surmised was probably Max's wand. Max looked around the room, searching for an animal.
"Do you have mice?" he asked. Cinderella gestured outside, and she and the older fey left the chateau's dungeon.
"We have field mice out here," she explained. "Why do you want one?"
"I am going to turn one into a horse," Max told her. They searched until they found one which was white, with black eyes. Max waved his stick three times around the mouse, and it grew, changing its shape into a horse, complete with a harness. He repeated the same gesture with three other mice.
"Do you have a pumpkin?" Max queried, looking for one in the forest.
Cinderella entered her quarters and exited with one a few moments later. "But what about the odor?" she inquired, thinking about Trillion's comments.
"You needn't worry about that. I can eliminate the smell," he told her. It had been on Cinderella's mind to say, "Trillion could not do such a thing", but she kept silent, thinking that her remark would not be welcome. She waited for Max to wave his wand around the pumpkin. Max did with very little fanfare or gesturing, and she found herself comparing him with Trillion. The fey who'd captured her heart wasn't quite so perfunctory in his magic. He amused her with his ability to be unconventional, and she was comfortable with him, even when he was angry.
Max turned back after creating a white coach. Cinderella had to admit: it was beautiful. It was crafted from the finest wood and metal, and was circular in shape, covered with a top which was different from most open coaches in her community. The bottom of it had little stairs with a grip one could use to climb up into it. Although that could be seen on some coaches, only the wealthiest people could afford them. The wheels, four in all, were huge, with tiny spokes in them. The windows were liked stained glass, similar to Trillion's wings but with more polish.
Despite its opulence, however, the Little Cinder Girl decided she wouldn't have minded a giant swan to take her to the ball. Max surrounded her with his wand, and she felt her common attire changing into a matching gown. The white gown had puffed sleeves, with a square necked, slightly low décolletage. The skirt was a full one, branching out like a perfect bell. She lifted her legs to see the thinnest of stockings on them, and on her feet were glass slippers. Her hair was coiffed to perfection; a tall white powdered wig covered her head as was the fashion for women of sophistication and taste. There was a little comb in the front of it in the shape of a butterfly. It was golden, and it complemented the tiny pearls in her wig.
"Although I designed the gown, the powdered wig and the papillion comb you wear in your hair, Trillion provided the slippers of glass. He wanted you to have them, if that should please you," Max said, having guessed that Cinderella was depressed.
"I appreciate it, and I am grateful for all that you, and he, have done for me," she said, dipping a little.
Max waved her off, saying, "Your thanks are appreciated but not necessary. I suppose I do not have to tell you that at midnight everything changes back to its original state."
Cinderella shook her head, saying, "No, you do not."
Max regarded her, advising, "You know you must do everything to win the Prince. It is your destiny."
He didn't add that she needed to forget Trillion, that it was best for all concerned if she did. The older fey provided finishing touches for her: a bullfrog turned into a footman who helped her into the coach and a bird who became a driver. When the coach pulled off, Max prayed to whatever gods there were that every action that had been taken would work out for the best. He waved his wand and disappeared.
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At the ball, the Prince was dancing with a Duchess who stepped on his feet at every opportunity. After the dance, the people applauded, and Prince Edward went to sit down to give his feet a chance to recover. He looked at the women, searching for Magdalena, when a magnificent sight captured his eye.
He saw her come in, her dress gleaming as she was bathed in light. She almost had a halo effect around her and looked to the Crown Prince as though she were a real angel. On the sides of the ballroom, Griselda and the Step Mother glared at the mysterious maiden with envious eyes. Magdalena, for once, didn't look jealous, but fearful. She felt her heart coming to the edge of a great abyss. Depending on the Prince's decision, her heart would be pulled back from it and she would have her ever after, but if he succumbed to this maiden's charms, her heart would fall in and it might never recover.
I have fallen for him, she mentally realized. I love him!
Dalena decided then and there, however, that if this maid was what was best for her Edward, she would not try to seize him, but she would step aside to let him be happy. She watched as Edward walked toward the maid as though he were hypnotized. Her eyes watered; her heart was tumbling over the chasm.
"Hello," Edward greeted, taking Cinderella's hand. He stared at her for a long moment before he recognized her.
"Angel?" he breathed. "You are a vision." He took her to the middle of the dance floor and they waltzed to a piece from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. For both of them, time stopped as they gyrated to the music. When it was over, Edward took Cinderella into another section of his expansive garden. He plucked three red roses from a bush and handed them to her. The Little Cinder Girl took them gratefully.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here tonight," he told her. Before she could ask 'why not', Edward anticipated her question, and he replied, "We didn't exactly see eye to eye on things the last time."
"There is an old saying that 'opposites attract', isn't there?" Cinderella asked.
The Crown Prince smiled as he said, "Yes. I have heard that mentioned." He took her hands in his, and they walked toward a gazebo framed with ivy leaves.
"I wonder: would you be averse to visiting me after the ball? I would love for my parents and grandmother to get to know you better," Edward invited.
Cinderella was intrigued. She had dreamed often about a chance to get to know a Prince—any Prince—as a potential love interest. Her bubble burst after a moment, however, when she realized that although she was still interested, her heart wanted to go in a different direction.
"What's the matter?" Edward asked.
"I…can't explain it," Cinderella said. She thought a moment before asking, "have you ever gotten to a path that cut off in two different directions and you wanted to follow both, because both roads looked equally compelling, but you could only follow one?"
Edward looked at her for a long moment and understood completely as he realized that he felt the same way. He liked what he saw, even to the point of possibly courting the maid beside him, but another woman with ice blue eyes and a soft voice also stirred him.
"I understand completely," he told her, exposing his innermost thoughts. "I am having similar views."
The Little Cinder Girl didn't tell him that she had guessed that from the way he had regarded her step sister Magdalena that there were unresolved issues between the pair.
"If there is any doubt about accepting my offer," Edward said, "I will not be angry." He led her back to the ballroom entrance, saying, "I will wait inside. Let me know when you have made a decision." He turned away, walking in slowly.
"I will," Cinderella promised, glad that he had offered her a choice. She strode back to the gazebo and sat down, thinking. Finally, she came to a decision, and she wished that Trillion could be there.
"We must stop meeting like this," the magic man's voice said all around her. Cinderella looked and saw him in the farthest corner of the gazebo.
"I was hoping you would come," she whispered, going to him. Instead of embracing her, the young fey stood where he was.
"You could have blown the wooden whistle I gave you," he reminded her.
She felt her pockets suddenly, then told him, "I don't have it in this dress." They looked at each other for a long moment, and then the fey spoke.
"Did Max tell you I was reassigned?" he asked, breathing in her scent of wild flowers.
"He did," she responded. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," he admitted. He then violently shook off her effect on him, saying, "I don't know what made me say that."
Cinderella smiled, hugging him again, her hands caressing his wings. "Yes, you do," she said knowingly. "I discovered the truth myself tonight for the first time in my life."
"What is that?" Trillion asked.
"The truth is this: I love you, with all of my heart, with all of my soul," she answered simply. And you love me, she mentally added, waiting for him to verbalize her thoughts.
Hating what he was about to do, Trillion's never blinked, but stared at her as he said calmly, "Oh, do you?"
"Yes," she said, adding, "and if my step sister marries Prince Edward, then that means…"
"That you shall find another Prince," Trillion finished for her, "and you will become his bride!"
Cinderella shook her head vehemently, saying, "No! I don't want another Prince! I want you!"
Trillion bowed his head, saying softly, "You don't really know what you want, but whatever it is, it's not me."
"Yes, it is what I want: a life with you," Cinderella insisted.
Trillion began pacing as he told her, "No, no, you don't want that."
"Why not?" Cinderella asked.
Trillion stopped pacing and glared at her. "Let's start with the basics, shall we?" he almost snapped. "Number one: you are a human, I am a fey. I am always on the go, never able to commit because I never stay in one place long enough, which is part of what I am. Humans want stability, and I can't ever give you that."
"I do not wish stability," Cinderella was saying, but Trillion continued his tirade.
He said, "Number two: my life span is at least twice as long as yours is. You would die long before I would. Number three: let's say number one and number two are not factors. You would want children, and I am not sure a union between us could produce them."
Cinderella said just as fierce, "We can always secure children by other means! Many married woman have children without bearing them. Maybe there can be some magic cure for my aging…something that will extend my life."
Trillion went on, oblivious to her. "Number four, and the most important reason of all…" he paused for dramatic emphasis and then spoke grimly, "I do not love you."
Cinderella gasped, then her eyes widened as she absorbed his words. "You are lying!" She finally shouted, her facial expression conveying denial. Trillion tried to comfort her, but she stormed away to the other side of the gazebo.
"It isn't true!" She protested. "You held me in your arms! We felt a connection, I know it!"
"I held you in my arms, and I felt something for you…I still do, but I can be fond of you, and still not love you," he said simply, adding, "at least, not the way you want."
Trillion thought about what he had just said. What was love? He wondered. He really did not know all the particulars of it yet, so in his mind, he was not sure if he loved her, or if he ever could.
Cinderella started crying as the hand on the clock inside the ball room came closer to the midnight hour.
"Your kisses told me otherwise," she said in a small voice. It took all of Trillion's self control not to turn blue with melancholy; so wrapped up in her sadness was he. He materialized a handkerchief and gave it to her.
Cinderella wiped her nose pleading, "You could see the Fey Queen, petition her on our behalf! I know that she would not turn us away! Our being together is unprecedented, but I am willing to take the risk…"
"You don't even know what consequences you'd suffer!" Trillion yelled. "You're just a client, and my mission to help you is over!"
He flew to Cinderella, hovering over her as he spoke his next words. "You probably thought I had been reassigned by the Fey Queen, or by Max, but I requested reassignment because I thought it would be best, rather than being with you one more time," he told her.
Cinderella felt her momentary sadness evaporate as she became angry. "Then is that what you wish?" she asked. "Never to see me again?"
"I do," the fey said, thinking, not if it's this painful; not if I feel this way.
The clock struck: midnight had come. As the first, then second bong sounded, the Little Cinder Girl sniffled; then silent, angry tears ran full force down her cheeks. She ran away from Trillion; away from the one being who had made such a positive impact on her life. As the clock continued to bong from inside the ball room, the Prince saw her running. Others paid little attention, except for Magdalena.
"Angel!" he cried, but Cinderella kept running. Prince Edward followed her, bounding down the stairs. Magdalena followed him and saw him stop as he spied the tiny glass slipper on the stairs. Dalena looked up and spotted a girl in a tattered dress with matted darker blonde hair running down the road. Her eyes lit up with recognition, but she said not a word as the Prince was picking up the slipper and examining it. Cinderella didn't stop until she reached her home, her hopes and dreams shattered.