A Change of Perspective
Fact number 6: My fairy best friend does provide me with a carriage to escort me to the palace. Unfortunately this carriage has the words Bell Postal Service written on its side and is a flashy orange. That was our first problem of the day.
"How am I going to explain Lady Jacqueline arriving in a mail cart? Astra! Are you listening to me?" Astra had her eyes closed tightly, not paying me any attention. I might have been a little cranky having barely slept an hour before getting up to prim and dress, two of my least favorite activities. Lady Jacqueline was wearing a modest traveling gown. It was a long green dress (one of Nerida's national colors) tied with a white sash. One of Madison's nicer things, but the problem was that it was much too big on me, making the extra material bunch up. Oh well, beggars cannot be choosers. My hair was tied with a loose ribbon and my brown curls fell elegantly down my back. Suddenly, there was electricity in the air. It quickly left though, leaving humidity in its place. Astra finally opened her eyes.
"There, that is better," she said with a satisfied smirk. I spun around to see Lily's carriage, but it had transformed. The orange had changed to an ivory with gold trim. On the door and sides were murals of Nerida's legendary sea side. "Are you ready?"
"Wow, Astra that was amazing." She smiled modestly and lifted the last trunk into the carriage. Lily exited the house accompanied by Sir Lawrence and Blue Jay. When she saw the carriage she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Come on. We are late as it is," Astra said, opening the door for us. "Go." We all climbed in.
After letting Lily out near Bell Post Office, the ride to the palace was swift. When we reached the main gates I held my breath. Could I really pull this off?
"Who goes there?" a guard asked, coming towards the driver.
"Lady Jacqueline of Talia," he answered. And no, he is not Lily's normal driver. He is Cly. After we had formulated the plan I went to his house and asked him if he would help. Cly agreed of course, always up for a ruse. He looked hilarious in a black suit and hat. Through the window I could see he was doing an excellent job of keeping a straight face.
"Hum," the guard said thinking to himself. "Can I see some documentation?"
"Excuse me sir?" Cly asked, his voice basking in innocence.
"Your traveling papers for one."
"Sir, I am outraged. We have traveled day and night to reach the palace in time. Our beloved Queen Ana, may she rest in peace, has just died. And now you wish to deny Nerida's youth entrance into your palace. This is discrimination I tell you." I tried to sustain a laugh. "I am sure the King will be hearing about this. Don't you see clearly that this carriage is Neridan. This man Neridan. Its passengers Neridan. Discrimination, Sir, do you know the meaning of that word?"
"Now young man quiet down. This is simply protocol," the guard explained. Other guards had begun walking towards him, anticipating trouble. Astra elbowed me. I shrugged my shoulders. She pointed to the door. This was going to be my first test as Lady Jacqueline of Nerida.
"Is there a problem here boy?" I asked harshly after I had gotten out of the carriage. Cly bowed awkwardly in his seat.
"No Lady Jacqueline."
"Then get moving. Now!" That last bit came out sounding like Alison. Perfect, the guard looked frightened.
"I simply need to see your traveling papers," the guard stammered causing me to I roll my eyes dramatically.
"Why didn't you tell him?" I asked Cly venomously. "Did you hear the storm last night? Well, we were caught in it. One of the wheels broke its axis. Positively dreadful night, we were stuck in mud, it was quite the odyssey. You see we sent for another carriage because our previous one could not be fixed. The traveling papers were probably misplaced in the confusion." The guard nodded as I did.
"Very well. Forgive me for the trouble," he said, motioning for the gate to be opened for us.
"Wonderful performance," Astra said once I had gotten back into the carriage.
"Why thank you," I answered my voice still that of Lady Jacqueline.
"Lady Jacqueline, how wonderful for you to come on such short notice. May we wish our sincerest condolences on behalf of your Queen Ana," Ms. Rey announced as soon as I entered the palace. Servants had been sent out to bring in my trunks. I nodded. Ms. Rey may have taken my muteness as a pompous act of nobility, but in actuality I was too awestruck to speak. I had never been inside the palace. To put it plainly, it was magnificent. The front hall where I had entered was decorated ornately to show the wealth of Faylinn. A dazzling chandelier hung adorned with what seemed like a million candles. I tried to take it all in, to say something knowledgeable to the palace's head maid.
"Lady Jacqueline is very tired and is still in shock over the Queen's death. May she please be escorted to her room so that she may rest?" Astra asked. Ms. Rey quickly called a young maid to lead us to our room. After many twists and turns we arrived. The room was huge. An enormous feather bed took up much of the space. There was also a large sitting room, dressing room, and bathroom.
As soon as the maid left us I jumped up onto the bed. "Astra, we did it." She giggled and sat down next to me.
"That was the easy part."
"I am in the palace." It was all so surreal. There was a knock at the door. I sat up quickly, smoothing my skirt down.
"Pardon me," a maid that had led us to the room said, opening the door slowly. "I just wished to inform you that I will be at your service during your stay."
"Thank you very much," I said giving her a big smile. "What is your name?" The maid seemed to not know what to do.
"Delilah," she said, curtsying quickly. She then backed away and quietly closed the door.
******
Meanwhile, far away from the palace, stage two of the plan was underway, the Hoodlum gang was approaching their query.
"Halt!" their leader, Chris Hood, announced. The two other riders gathered around him. They were all dressed in Royal Militant uniforms."We understand the plan yes?" Chris asked. Late last night, Bella had written Chris a letter explaining her predicament. When she had gone to see Cly, Bella had asked him to deliver the letter to Chris. Chris really did not understand what exactly she had gotten herself into but they were friends, perhaps more, and he was determined to help her in any way he could. He unfolded the letter for what seemed like the tenth time this morning and read it over.
******
Dear Chris,
Perhaps I call on our friendship at too early a time but I need your help. I have to get into the palace and to do so I am masquerading as Lady Jacqueline of Talia. The problem is that the real Lady Jacqueline is in route to Faylinn and should be arriving a little before midday. Chris, this may be too big a favor to ask but if you help me I will forever be in your gratitude. Lady Jacqueline cannot arrive. I wish I could provide you with a plan but I confident you will think of something.
With Love,
Isabella
******
When Cly had brought the letter, Chris formulated a plan. He and several of his older men went out in search of soldiers in the early morning. They found an abundant amount and selected the most drunken. Getting into a brawl with the soldiers, who could barely stand, let alone fight, the Hoodlums demanded their uniforms. The stripped soldiers had then been left in the street with only their undergarments.
"Hood!" Toby called, shaking Chris from his pensive state. The youngest of the group had been sent ahead to scout for the Neridan carriage.
"Any news?" Chris asked once Toby had reached the group.
"Ay, it's 'bout two miles away."
"Good. How does it look?"
"There is one guard on horseback, the driver, a footman, and a maid in the carriage with the girl."
"Remember, I will do all the speaking." Chris told his men. "Don't mess this up. Let's ride to meet them. Sit tall. Keep a good face." They all nodded. With that the four Hoodlums rode to meet the real Lady Jacqueline of Talia.
******
I could not believe the plan had actually worked. Not that anything had been accomplished yet, but we were in the palace. That was a start. I wondered how things were going on Chris' end. Sinking into the warm bath Delilah had prepared, I let all my worries slip away. I had never felt anything so luxurious. The marble of the tub was a soft white and it seemed to mold into my body. The soaps caressed my skin. The water even felt different. This was quite the departure from the normally tepid water I bathed in. I took a deep breath every so often, as if reminding myself that I was alive.
*****
"Pardon, I did not catch your name?" Delilah asked Astra. As soon as she had met her new charge she had known that this job was going to be a breeze. Some of the other girls had the most horrid princesses and ladies. The maids had been dreading this week of festivities. Ever since the girls had arrived, it had been drama after drama. They were from each of the seven districts of Breena. Bringing that many young women together had been interesting to say the least. But this one, Lady Jacqueline, she certainly was different. Delilah always felt that she was a good judge of character and she liked this girl. She felt like a weight had been lifted of her shoulders.
"It's Astra," Astra answered. Delilah grinned at the young girl.
"What a peculiar name. Very pretty though."
"Thank you." They each grabbed one side of the bed linens creating a big tent between them. Astra did not know why they were making the bed, it had been perfectly fine to begin with.
"How do you like Faylinn?"
"I love it," Astra said smiling. A great deal of the conflict had been caused by the guests' entourage rather than the girls themselves. Each thought they were better than the other. So it was quite refreshing to hear Astra praise Delilah's home. That was something odd about Lady Jacqueline and Astra, the warm smiles and humble words. It was unusual for noblity to be so ... nice. Delilah smiled, shaking off the suspicious feeling and instead questioned her new friend about her home.
******
The light green carriage finally came into view around a bend. The four members of the Royal Militant slowed their horses to a walk. Lady Jacqueline of Talia looked out the window having been startled by the carriage's sudden stop. Three of the soldiers waited 10 feet away from the carriage. One of them, the leader she presumed, continued on.
"I have an urgent message from Queen Evangeline of Faylinn." Lady Jacqueline's guard motioned for him to come closer. "I am Lieutenant Ford Harrington of the Royal Militant." He flashed the guard his identification. "I regret to inform you, Lady Jacqueline of Talia, that you have traveled all this way for nothing. We wished to intercept you earlier but failed to do so due to last night's storm. The situation at the palace is sensitive to say the least. The Crown Prince Chadwick has requested that no more maidens join in this week's festivities. The ball has been canceled. It seems that his reluctant attitude towards choosing a bride has taken its toll on the Queen."
"So we are to turn back," the guard demanded looking very agitated.
"Yes sir. The Queen understands that you are mourning your Queen Ana and does not wish to take the Queen's own niece away from her family at this time for no reason at all, seeing that all the events have been canceled. Our sincerest condolences." Lieutenant Ford Harrington and Lady Jacqueline's guard spoke for awhile longer. Finally, they both turned back to their respective homes.
******
Astra knocked on Lady Jacqueline's bathroom door. Inside I had fallen asleep in the now lukewarm water. "My lady," Astra tried before opening the door. Closing it behind her, she walked over to me.
"Hello." I said lazily once she had woken me.
"Breakfast is in a fifteen minutes." I nodded. "So get up, get ready."
"What are you so hyper about? I mean royalty is away fashionably late no?" Astra rolled her eyes. I had been a bad influence on her.
"Yes, well, for your information I managed to whip up a level 2 spell."
"For what?" I asked sitting up. Astra threw me a robe.
"You'll see," she said smiling. "Hurry up." With that she left.
I sat there for a little while longer puzzling over the trouble this new spell would surely cause.
Hola readers. Thank you to my two anonymous reviews last chapter and one from the chapter before. I always reply to my reviews so here goes.
Ori Lee - I would love for Chris to be the Prince. It would make things much less complicated.
Jean - I hope that was a good wow.
Joanne brotherton - I really appreciate your comment. I really have strived to make this story different from other Cinderella stories and I hope I have done so.
To everyone who has reviewed this story, I really really appreciate it. Thanks also to those who are reading. (This is going to be a long AN, you have been warned.) I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Next chapter is going to be interesting a lot of new personalities. (I am always interested in suggestions) I hope the transition between points of view was smooth. It always irks me when writers change viewpoints without warning and I am left oh so confused but I thought the changes of view were important to the story. If you are confused let me know. Also please let me know if I have made any mistakes in my writing (grammar, spelling, that sort of thing) I review it countless times but I still might have missed something. Um, I think that's it. Happy reading. =) ~IrisLily~