Chapter Six: Excitement, Balls, and Dresses
A few days after the excitement in the woods, Aria rode into town to visit Ophelia.
"You don't look well, Miss," Ophelia said. She lifted a hand to Aria's pale face. She did not have the glow that a young maiden should have. "Not at all. Why do you and your sister stay there when they treat you so?"
"Because we made our mother and father a promise to cherish the place that we were so happy in. They loved our house and… and now that they're gone, we love it for them. It's our home."
Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted them.
"Hear Ye! Hear Ye!" They looked up to see the Royal Crier on his horse. He unrolled a scroll, reading from it. "Know on this day, two weeks hence, there shall be held at the palace, a royal ball. At said ball, in accordance with ancient custom, the Prince shall choose a bride. Furthermore, at the behest of the Prince, it is hereby declared that every maiden in the kingdom, be she noble or commoner, is invited to attend. Such is the command of our most noble king."
Though Aria had no wish to attend the ball, she knew Ella would be most excited to see Kit, the apprentice. And Ella was so very excited indeed. And her stepsisters were mildly intrigued by the notion of meeting the Prince.
After Ella related to her stepfamily what Aria had told her, Lady Tremaine jumped up in excitement.
"I shall trick him into loving me!" Anastasia declared. "See if I don't!"
"This is the best news!" Drisella crooned.
Lady Tremaine spun on her daughters, holding folded hands to her chest.
"Calm yourselves. Now listen to me, one of you must win the heart of the Prince. Do that, and we can unwind the debt in which we were ensnared when we came to this backwater."
"I a princess!" Drisella swooned.
"Or rather I a princess!" Anastasia disagreed.
Turning around, Lady Tremaine frowned when she saw Ella standing there.
"Having delivered your news, why are you still here?" she questioned. "You must go to town right away and tell that seamstress to run us up three find ball gowns!"
"Just three?" Ella questioned. "There are four of us girls."
"What do you mean?"
Drisella laughed, "Mummy, she believes that the third dress is for her and thinks little Aria deserves one. How embarrassing."
The lady of the house laughed. "Oh, you're too ambitious for your own good."
"Oh, no. I only want to see my friend," Ella promised.
Shaking her head, Lady Tremaine looked sternly at Ella.
"Let me be very clear, one gown for Anastasia, one for Drisella, and one for me. La mode Parisian."
"She doesn't know what that means," Anastasia laughed. Ella shot something back in fluent French.
Not understanding what she meant, Lady Tremaine frowned.
"Good. Right, that's settled then. Now, go! Every girl in the kingdom will be chasing the Prince. You must get there first before the seamstress is drowning in work!" Nodding, Ella raced out of the room.
Reposted to reflect current writing style and because the original post was sloppy.
-Amy Thorton
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