Chapter 1: The Beginning

In the 16th-century of France, on the outskirts of the kingdom and just a few hours away from the castle sat a small two-story brick farmhouse. A girl of the age 19 was raised by her aunt and two cousins since the age of 9. After her parents' death, her aunt took over their house and made her a servant in her own home. Out of jealousy, due to her beauty and sweet nature. Which caused her to be loved by everyone she meets, while her cousins remained cruel and shellfish.

Pretty much claiming everything as their own and that included the things her parents had given her. Her bedroom went to them while she was moved to the attic and was left with barely anything. Just a pallet for her to sleep on and a single wool blanket. A small chest to keep what clothes she has inside and a water basin to clean herself up with. The only light she has, is a small candle that sits on a small stool beside her bed and a rolled-up blanket for a pillow. Which most times she doesn't use it as one and basically uses it as another layer to keep herself warm at night.

Not being allowed to bathe except for once a week and it couldn't be a hot one, but cold. So, most times she didn't get to bathe properly. Where she was left with dirt and grime still caked on her skin. Despite that, she remained beautiful, both inside and out.

Her curly red hair hung down to her mid-back in a straggly and matted mess from last nights sleep. Green, emerald eyes shone with life even after many lashings she has received from her aunt and never broke her spirit. Always remained cheerful and it only fuelled her aunts' anger even more. To where she would give her lashings just for the fun of it and never once breaking her.

Today was no different as this morning she had a free time, and she was ecstatic. Waking up around 5 o'clock, she sat up from her pallet with a cringe and hiss. The lashings she got yesterday were the only reminders of her punishment she received in the past two days, and she doesn't regret her decision at all. For her cousins deserved it.

Especially the oldest cousin, who she punched in the face the day before for the comment she made and couldn't hold back her anger anymore. It takes a lot to make her angry and what her cousin had said, really pushed it over the top. Earning her to get the special whip and her aunt whipped her a lot harder than the previous times. Being used to it, she no longer cried out in pain and just took it with pride.

Then her youngest cousin kept complaining about things yesterday and it was getting under her skin. From, the food not being hot enough, or her tea wasn't sweet enough, to the meat not being cooked all the way and anything else she could complain about. Getting all the other servants irritated and so, she pretended to accidentally spill her cousins fresh cup of tea onto her lap. Causing her cousin to shriek in a non-girly manner and knocking the table over when she jumped to her feet.

Biting her lip to keep from laughing out, Estella had watched as both of her cousins did some type of funny dance around the room and bumping into each other. All while trying to clean off stain on her cousin's dress and she could see her aunt glaring at her from her seat.

Knowing she was in trouble yet again, for her aunt would find anything she could to whip her, and she was used to these punishments. Now, her back was filled with fresh new lashings from the previous past two days and would burn every time she moved.

Normally, one of her favorite servants would clean and put medicine on her back. However, they are no longer here and so, she is left to do it herself. Only, she is not as good at it and the pain hasn't subsided.

Finally rising to her feet, she cringed in pain and began to pull off her night gown. That was worn out and dirty. Its blue color faded from wear and tear of it being the only one she owned. Along the bottom was torn and ragged from being stepped on constantly. As it was too long on her and with a sigh, she walked over towards the chest that sat underneath the attic window.

Lifting the lid, she began to pull out her servants clothing and laid them out on the pallet before placing her night gown inside the chest. Closing the lid, she returned to the pallet and lifted a white slip-like dress first. Sliding it over her head, she slipped her hands through the sleeves and then let the rest fall around her. It hung down to her knees and had long sleeves, that cuffed at her wrists.

Turning, she picked up the last piece of the outfit and slid it on. It was a blue sleeveless dress that hung down to her feet and had strings across her chest to keep the dress on. (FYI: Look to the dress of Daniele on the movie Ever After. ;-) I do not own the dress.)

When she was satisfied, she turned to do her hair and hurried over to an old broken-down desk that used to be one of her cousins old one. Grabbing a brush off it, she began brushing her hair and then began putting it up into a half ponytail. Two small strands of hair curled on either side of her face and she let out a deep sigh as she tried to brush them back, but they always fell back down.

Rolling her eyes, she hurried to the door to the attic and slipped on the shoes before heading down the stairs. Having a free morning, she knew what she was going to do with that free time and that was to work on her archery. Ever since she was 10 years old, her best friend Henry began to teach her how to use a bow and a sword on the days she had a spare time.

At first, he was reluctant on doing so, saying that girls shouldn't learn how to use them, and she just smirked and remarked back, "I'm not your average girl, now am l?"

Receiving a laugh from him, he agreed with her and agreed to teach her on one condition, that should only do it out of fun and not try to go into battle with it. Rolling her eyes, she agreed and so he began teaching her. In fact, she had gotten so good that she began beating him in a spar and he joked saying that she doesn't need any more training.

"Fine," she had said to that, with a smirk. "l guess I'll find someone else to keep teaching me."

When she saw his face, she had to laugh for it was priceless and he rolled his eyes at her teasing. So, he continued to teach her and still getting his butt whipped by her.

When Estela reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned right and headed down the hallway for a few feet till she reached the main stairwell. Heading down it as softly as she could, she looked back up the stairs and sighed in relief when no one was there. Finishing the last few steps, she hurried to the left down another hall and towards the door at the end. It leads to the kitchen where the other servants were sure to be there getting breakfast ready and when she opened the door, she smelled something yummy.

"Ah, my lady. Good morning," a sweet elderly lady said as she beamed at her from her spot next to the furnace. Since the death of Estella's parents and her aunt making her a servant, she still treated her like her mistress when no one was around. To her, Estella was and will always be the master of this house. No matter what status she has and will always be her favorite. "What has made ya so happy this morning, miss?"

"Today I have a few hours of free time this morning and I'm going to go practice my archery," Estella exclaimed cheerfully as she grabbed an apple from a bowl of fruit on the table and took a bite.

"But miss, is that wise?" she asked, as she stopped mid-stride to the furnace and turned to her.

"Don't worry so, Penny," Estela laughed lightly. "I'll be back before my aunt realizes I've been gone."

"l sure hope so, my lady," Penny said in worry. don't want ya to get whipped again, for ya just recently got whipped and..."

"l know," Estela interjected as she pulled Penny into a big hug. Growing up, she always looked up to Penny like a mother figure and loved her dearly. Then she let go and hurried to the back door before turning around to her. "l shall not be long."

Without another word, she hurried down the stone steps and down a small cobble stone path that ran through the vegetable garden. Going through a small fence on the other side, she hurried down a small hill that led to the barn and she continued to run pass it. Making it to the field where piles of hay sat, she ran straight through and towards the forest that lay on the other side.

When she reached the forest, Estella had to slow down and slowly began to walk down the steep hill that led to the training arena that Henry made for them. When she reached the bottom of the hill, she then continued to run for a few more yards before coming to the training arena. Cobble bricks were laid in a large half circle around some targets and a medium chest sat on the right side of the arena. That's where it held the bow and swords.

Walking up to it, she opened the lid and pulled out her favorite bow; it was made by Henry's father, and he made it light enough for her to hold. Reaching in, she pulled out the quiver with arrows in it and strapped it around her. Making her way over to the target range, she pulled out an arrow and notched it in the bow. Aiming at the target, she let go and hit the bulls-eye head on, receiving a smile from her.

Not realizing how much time had passed, Estella was about to notch another arrow when the bell from the castle indicated that 3 hours have passed. Causing her eyes to wide in fear and turning towards the castle bell, she saw that it was indeed late.

"Oh no!" she gasped as she quickly put the bow around her. "I'm late and boy am I going to get it now!"

Forgetting to put up the bow and arrows, she hurried through the forest as fast as she can until she came to the steep hill. Beginning to climb up it to save time, she noticed that it was damp from last nights spring shower and would slip every now and then. Only to catch herself and began the ascend once again.

Almost at the top, she reached out and grabbed onto a thick tree root that looked sturdy enough to help pull herself up. Only, it wasn't as sturdy as she thought as it came undone, and she lost her footing. Causing her to roll down the hill and colliding into a tree. Hitting her head on something hard and everything around her went black.