MORE Pictures will be added later.
Author’s Note: I will be deleting the previous posts I made for the last four days. I was writing on my blog. It was fun, but I am never going to do a story that way again. My daughter read the story and said it was like the bedtime stories that I would make up for her and her sister when we were raising them. I am sure that I will edit this story more. It needs help with the grammar and punctuation. I hope you enjoyed it. I tried to make it a story that teaches life lessons, teaches how to fish from a small stream or creek, and of course I hope it is a story that is fun to read. I will be making it into a coloring book/story book for my Lyman Family Reunion. I will also be adding on more illustrations to accompany the story so you might want to check back on my this entry of my blog, from time to time. I no one else cherishes this story, I hope, at least, that my grandchildren will cherish this story and learn from it. However, I also hope that many of you who print coloring pages from this blog will find this story a fun and instructional read.
I truly think that fishing is a great stress reliever. My wife and I prefer small stream fishing. I encourage you to go fishing if that is something you can do where you live. Please feel free to make comments on the story. I am interested in my readers' opinions.
A Fishy Cinderella Story… or…
A Cinderella Story, With A Fishy Twist
Copyright Robin Andrew Lyman 2017
Ella Chambers was a happy a girl. She lived with
her father and mother (Adam and Elleen Chambers). She was close to her
mother and father. Her father was kind of nontraditional for the time and
would take Ella fishing in the woods behind their house. She was self-conscious
about her somewhat larger than average feet.
He would tell her that her feet would be an asset when she was fishing
because she would have good balance and not fall in. On their fishing
adventures Ella's father and often her mother as well, would look for and
gather rare herbs to sell at the market in the village and on his business
trips. Their dog, Rascal, was good at finding truffle mushrooms as well.
They even had clientele in the palace who bought their herbs and
truffles. The herbs and truffles supplemented Ella's father's income.
His main business was a traveling merchant who supplied many kinds of
household items to shops all over the kingdom. He would buy the items
from those who made then and sell them on his trips throughout the kingdom.
Many people in the village and surrounding areas benefited from the
ability to sell their homemade blankets, tools, and etc. Adam Chambers was
frugal with his money. He bought a nice home on the edge of the village and
had a few servants, as well as several employees. These employees would purchase items in
distant villages to sell later, and often they traveled with him. Adam
had also put some money away...but more on that later.
All went well in their little family until Ella was in her 17th
year when her mother fell ill. Ella was saddened when her mother's
condition worsened. She was close to her mother. Her mother was
very kind and always wanted her only child to be kind and good. She
also taught Ella to stand up for herself... but to be wise when she did so.
The last thing Ella's mother said to her was, "Take care of your
father."
A year after his first wife’s death Ella’s father chose to marry a
widow named Gertrina, who had twin daughters close to Ella's age. Ella
tried to be friendly and kind to her stepsisters, Larina and Catilda, but they
were not receptive to her overtures of friendship. Then tragedy struck
again when Ella's father was killed in a riding accident on one of his business
trips.
Before his death, Ella’s father had been a very successful
businessman. However, when he died Ella's stepmother dismissed the
servants. She knew that Ella's father had money put away for Ella.
She also knew that he had taken a sizable portion of the money and put it
in a separate account for her two daughters and for his wife if he should die.
What bothered Gertrina was that Ella's portion was twice as large as what
she and her daughters had received.
Unfortunately for Ella, her father had never told her about the
accounts. He had confided in the banker, a trusted friend, but this
friend, Sir. Rothschild, had gone on an extended voyage to manage investments
in another country. So when Ella's father died she had no idea about the
account she had in her name. Her stepmother DID know and she was clever
and crafty.
Gertrina made a trip to the bank and cut a deal with the corrupt
assistant manager, Grover Casenius, who was more than eager to help out…for a
price. Every time Gertrina went to withdraw money for expenses or fancy
clothes for herself and her daughters the money was actually withdrawn from
Ella's account. Grover would also take a cut. He was hoping that his boss, Sir Rothschild
would never return from his extended business trip, but that if he did return,
he would assume Ella took her own money out. Grover never informed Ella
about her money, nor that her father’s will was stored in the bank vault.
Gertrina took advantage of the situation. She dismissed all
the staff and told Ella that she was now the only servant. Ella was
placed in an attic room and her nice room on the second floor went to one of
the stepsisters. There was some protesting on Ella's part. Her
mother HAD taught her to stand up for herself. However, Gertrina had told
Ella that since there was no money put aside for her that she would have to
either leave the home and live on the street, or accept the job as a servant.
Ella did have friends in town, but her stepmother cut off all
communication and watched Ella like a hawk. Ella's friends were told that
she was in a deep depression because of her parents' deaths. They were
also told that Ella did not want to see anyone and had gone into seclusion in
her room. All of this was, of course, a pack of lies.
Ella felt like she had let her mother down because she had not
taken good enough care of her father. Of course this was wrong, but her
stepmother, sensing the guilt played it up and used the guilt to her advantage.
Deep inside Ella knew that Gertrina was wrong, but she still did feel the
guilt and sadness. Gertrina also, frequently threatened to have Rascal
put down if Ella did not obey her every order. Ella loved her dog and did
not want to see this happen. So she reluctantly took on the role of
servant in her own home.
Ella got so cold in her unheated attic room that she often had to
go downstairs and sleep by the kitchen fire at night in order to keep warm.
Her stepsister Catilda found her there one morning just as Ella had woken
up and was trying to put out the hot cinder from the fire that had burned a
hole in her worn out dress. Catilda began to mock Ella because of the
cinders and because she had ash smeared on her face from where she had been
lying close to the fireplace. Catilda called her "Cinderella."
Ella's worn out dress was full of those cinder burn holes. Her
dress was also stained with soot and ash. Her shoes had worn out by then
and her feet were particularly dirty. Ella's stepsisters often made fun
of her larger than average feet.
This life went on for Ella for over two years. Ella did not
know it but she was growing more and more beautiful. She did not feel beautiful
but she was determined to not get down. She worked hard but kept an eye
out for a chance to escape. Her stepmother and stepsisters were demanding
but they could only get Ella to do so much. Ella would cook adequate
meals, even though the former cook had taught her to cook quite well.
Ella stood up to her stepmother when she threatened to beat her for not
cleaning the floor well enough. Ella picked up the handle of a broom and
told her stepmother that there were some things that just weren't happening.
Even so, Ella suffered. She missed her parents and her friends.
She knew also that her stepmother and stepsisters were spreading rumors
about her throughout the village. They told people that Ella was lazy and
depressed and refused to leave her bedroom. Even more ironic, they told
everyone that Ella was very demanding and had to be waited on hand and foot.
The truth is that Ella's stepmother and stepsisters were the
demanding ones. Ella was not allowed to go outside so the yard fell into
disarray. Still, the inside of the house was quite well cared for.
Ella's stepmother was hoping that with no paid servants that the money
would last a long time. Again, Ella had
no idea that there was money put aside for her...and that it was being used up
by her stepmother.
Gertrina decided eventually that the yard had to be cared for.
She told Ella that she could go outside to work on the yard, but that if
she was not done and back inside at dark then the house doors would be locked
and Ella would not ever be allowed to come back in. Gertrina also
reminded Ella that all her old friends thought she was a lazy, demanding
recluse. The forced curfew did not upset
Ella that much because she knew that she would finally be allowed outside.
She might even be able to sneak off to do some fishing in the nearby
woods. She also thought about looking up her old
friends, especially Kimberly Seviere, but Ella’s stepmother’s words rang in her
ears and she wondered if her former friends would now reject her.
Because she was such a hard and smart worker, Ella did her most of
the weeding and care of the yard and garden by noon. She weeded the garden with care. The care of the garden formerly had been the
one chore Ella’s step sisters did. She
suspected that their constant whining about weeding was one of the reasons
Gertrina was letting Ella care for the yard.
When the work was done Ella took off into the woods behind the house.
She had always loved Nature.
It was the first time Ella had been to
the forest in two years. She went to her favorite spot by the creek.
She scouted out the fish in the creek and the next time went out, on the
following day, she got her dad's fishing pole from the shed out behind the
house and caught trout for dinner. Her stepmother so enjoyed the trout
that she did not complain or ask where the fish came from. Ella saved the
best trout for herself. She was not allowed to eat with the family and
they rarely come into the kitchen when Ella was cooking, so she was able to
choose the best food for herself. Now that she could leave the house Ella and
Rascal would sometimes find truffles that she would cook up for her step
family. Although Gertrina in some ways would have preferred Ella to stay
in the yard, the truffles and trout were just too good to pass up.
The fishing became a regular thing. Few people fished in
this forest because there were rumors that it was haunted. Ella would
often use the pendulum trick that her father taught her in order to drop the
worm and hook into tight spaces.
Ella Fishing in the Forest being discovered by the Prince
Notice that she is fishing with the pendulum technique.
One day she was hauling in a brown trout when she heard a male
voice behind her talking to Rascal. There, kneeling on the ground, was a
man who also was holding a fishing pole. He was talking to Rascal and his
dog was sitting by patiently waiting her turn to greet this new dog. The
young man was dressed nicely but not super fancy. Ella figured he was a
merchant of some kind. He looked at her catch and asked, "How did
you do that?" "I have been trying upriver all day!"
Ella looked at him and laughed. She had a nice laugh. "I can
take you to some good fishing holes downstream if you want." The
young man said, "Please do." Ella took him a little ways
upstream and there was a pool below some larger boulders. He walked right
up to the edge and threw in his baited hook. "No, no, no." she
said while trying to suppress a laugh. "The trout can SEE you."
she whispered. She then taught him to sneak up on the pool of fish and
keep hidden in the weeds or grass or behind a bush or tree. She also
advised him to not wear the bright red tunic he had on. When the young man got
his hook caught in a snag Ella waded into the creek in her bare feet and got it
untangled. She joked about her big feet giving her stability. Ella
explained that the trout were trying to fatten up for the winter...it being
early fall. After the nice young man caught several trout by following
her advice he thanked her and said he needed her to be his new fishing partner.
Then he said that he had to get home before dark. Ella looked up
from cleaning her fish with a start. "Oh no!" she said.
"What's the matter?" asked her new fishing partner. I
have to be home before dark or my stepmother won't let me inside and may even put
me out. Her fishing partner was appalled. He insisted that she
could come home with him. But Ella was in a dress that now was little
more than rags. She was barefoot. She had been comfortable here in
the privacy of the woods, but to be seen in public looking like an urchin was
just too much. She grabbed her fish and waved goodbye and said, "It
was fun fishing with you!" and she ran for home as fast as she could.
The young man was left standing there bewildered. He thought that
she was such a nice, pleasant young lady, true she was dressed in totally worn
out clothing, but she was probably very poor and could not help her appearance.
He did not know that she had thought he was attractive too. But when
Ella, even briefly considered her situation she had thought to herself,
"But me looking like THIS?" She also thought, "He was
really handsome, oh well, I will probably never see him again.”
Ella did not reach home before dark and was relieved to find the
back door still open. Gertrina had come home that evening and called
excitedly for her daughters to come into the drawing room. She was so excited
that even though she had noticed that Ella was not home, she was more concerned
with telling the news to her daughters. She was telling her them that
the prince was having a ball and all the eligible young maidens in the village
were invited. This young prince was unmarried and known to be kind, wise
and handsome. “And of course,” Gertrina reminded her daughters, “He is
very very rich.” To Gertrina this last
point was the one that mattered. Ella
had crept inside and was listening outside the sitting room and she had heard
it all.
A few minutes later, when Ella was in the kitchen, cooking the
fish, she was surprised to have her stepmother come in. Gertrina said
that there was a ball at the palace and Ella would need to help get her
stepsisters ready. Ella asked if she could go and her stepmother walked
out laughing loudly. She turned in the doorway and yelled mockingly back
though the door, "Cinderella, filthy little Cinderella at the Prince's
ball? How ridiculous! Now hurry
up with dinner, you are quite late with it tonight. You didn’t know that I
realized that you were late. You are
lucky I did not lock you out for good, you ungrateful little wretch!" “I will try to do better Stepmother,” Ella
said. But Ella’s thoughts were on her
new fishing companion.
Isn't it ironic and yet common for ungrateful people to
accuse others of being ungrateful.
Gertrina and her daughters were cared for quite nicely by Ella. Ella tried to be courteous and kind and was
only rewarded with Larina’s and Catilda’s teasing and Gertrina’s cruel words
and threats.
What Ella did not know is that her fishing companion was very
upset. He found it absurd for a parent to lock a daughter out...or even
worse to put her out. He had found Ella kind and intelligent. He also
thought that the dirt and rags did not conceal her inner spark and outer
beauty. He also thought that she would
probably not come to his ball. "Too bad," he thought. He
suddenly got an idea. He called the Prime Minister in and asked for a
change in the announcement for the Royal Ball. He told him that new
announcements should be printed that make it mandatory attendance for every
eligible young maid to come to the ball. Surely, he thought, that rotten
stepmother would not dare break the law.
When the new announcement was posted the prince had one nailed to
a tree right by the trail in back of Ella's house. You see, he had come
back to the woods the next morning, while Ella was doing her chores, and he had
tracked where she had gone. He had been trained in tracking by the Royal
Hunter.
Ella still had no idea that her once fishing companion was the Royal
Prince. She went fishing as usual and figured that she would be alone
again in the woods...she was wrong. She got to the end of the trail where
her favorite fishing spot was and there was her new friend. Prince Robert
was his name, but he did not tell her that. When she asked him his name
that day he had said, "Rob-IN." He almost said Robert, but he
did not want to reveal who he was just yet. He was liking how Ella
treated him like a normal person instead of all the formal bowing etc. He
was also very tired of the women at court always trying to impress him. It felt like they all wanted him for his
title, not for who he was on the inside.
He had obtained his parents’ permission to go fishing in the nearby
woods on the condition that he stayed in disguise. They did not want him to be alone but
recognized that he would benefit from the peace and quiet of the fishing in
Nature experience.
Today, following Ella’s advice, the Crown Prince had worn browns and dull greens
so his fishing went a bit better. (It was harder for the trout to see
him.) He wore the clothing of a
tradesman to help conceal his identity. His simple garb made him to appear to be a regular citizen of the kingdom. Of
course he also remembered what Ella had taught him about lying low. In
fact, her advice reminded him of what the Royal Huntsman had taught him about
hunting. He shared his thoughts with Ella, “I guess stream fishing is kind of
like hunting trout.” He snuck up on the backwater pools and stayed low or
behind shrubbery or trees and he caught several trout right away. Ella,
as usual, caught all she needed for dinner and was soon resting on a boulder
that overlooked her favorite spot.
Ella and the Prince hanging out together
while fishing
The prince walked over and sat beside her. Suddenly Rascal barked
a signal bark and Ella jumped up and said, "Come and see what he's
found!" Rascal, of course, had found truffles. After gathering
them up Ella and her new friend went back to the rock and ate raw truffles.
They also talked about life. Ella told Robert (who was going by
Robin), all about her parents dying and how she had to become a servant.
She also told how much she had loved her family before the tragedies.
She had even tried to love her step-family, but when they were so demanding
and verbally abusive it was very hard to love them.
For his part, 'Robin' told Ella how he had responsibilities and
how his parents were kind but insisted on him keeping up with managing things.
He never mentioned the palace or the kingdom so Ella thought he was
managing some type of business or maybe they owned land and he was some kind of
Baron or Duke or something. "So," he finally said, "are
you going to this big ball they announced yesterday?" "I
can't," said Ella. I have nothing to wear, and my stepmother will
find a way to prevent me from going I'm sure."
Robert looked at her and replied, "Did you see the latest
announcement?" "Well, yes," she answered. "But
I don't think anyone will notice that I'm not there at the ball. My
stepmother has told people that I'm a recluse and depressed and never leave my
room." "Still," said Robert, "would she dare disobey
a Royal Decree that says ALL eligible young maidens must attend the ball. Non-attendance,
or preventing a maiden from attending would be against the law. The Royal
Guard could show up and arrest her for preventing you from coming to the ball."
"Well," said Ella, "I'll try, but Gertrina is
pretty clever. She may find a way to rationalize and get around the
decree to prevent me from going...besides, what would I wear? She sold
all my nice clothes when father died, and my current dresses, both of them,
look like this." She held up the skirt of her ragged stained dress.
"Hmmm..." said the incognito Prince. And he thought,
"I may have to do something about this." They continued to talk
for about an hour.
On his way back to the palace Prince Robert was amazed at how easy
it was to talk with Ella. She really was smart, well read, and he could
see that she had a kind heart. For her part Ella wondered about the young
man. He was so easy to talk to, and he
was not vain or worldly, in spite of his obvious wealth. They met up to
go fishing for several weeks. Whenever
they said goodbye the dogs seemed reluctant to leave each other too. For Ella it was so nice to talk to
someone nice who cared about what she said. It had been two years since
she had pleasant conversation or someone she considered a friend.
When Ella got home that night her predictions came true.
Gertrina announced that since Ella was only a servant she would have to
stay home from the ball. She also said, "A servant is not an
eligible maiden that any prince would be interested in." Ella
mentioned the announcement and the mandatory attendance and for the first time
her stepmother slapped her on her face. Gertrina shouted in Ella's still
stinging face, "You will do as you are told young lady. You know
winter is coming soon and I doubt your chances at surviving on the street!
"I have friends in the village." protested Ella.
"And they have forgotten you or worse they despise you for not
caring for your father and for moping around in your room all the time!"
spat Gertrina. "You know that is not true." said Ella quietly.
"Yes," said Gertrina, in a spiteful voice, "but THEY don't
know it isn't true." Ella face was still stinging from the slap when
her stepmother's hand came up again. Ella took a fast step back and said,
"Do not hit me again Gertrina, or I will be forced to defend myself and I
am younger and probably stronger than you. All this work in the yard and
around the house has made me strong, said Ella in a surprisingly calm voice.
Her stepmother backed away and did not say another word. She knew
she had crossed a line that she never should have crossed. In the two
years since her father's death Ella had grown and although she was not tall,
(but she was several inches taller than when her father died), all that work
HAD made her strong, plus she was clearly no longer a child.
Prince Robert was even more upset that night. He called in
the Royal Wizard (who doubled as a healer) and told him the tale. "I
know that family." said the wizard. "Or at least I knew
them." We did business together." Her father was
excellent at gathering rare herbs and your father is alive because of it.
He found the lungwart, licorice root and other herbs that helped cure
your father of his lung sickness three years ago. He traveled south for
weeks to find that licorice root." "I remember," said Robert.
"What can we do to help her?" asked Robert. "I know
a good
fairy who likes to help out mortals who deserve assistance,"
said the wizard. "She enlarges herself and becomes a fairy godmother
from time to time. Let me contact her and we'll see what we can do.
By the way," said the wizard, "The Royal Chef has lamented Adam
Chamber's passing for two years now. Chambers always had the best
truffles to sell him."
Prince Robert went straight to the kitchen. He found Gerard Seviere,
the Royal Chef and asked about Adam Chambers. Gerard immediately
remembered him and said, with a wistful look in his eyes, "We have not had
good truffles nor many excellent trout since Sir Adam's passing...that is, until
you brought in those trout these past few weeks, your Highness."
"What? said Robert. "Sir Adam?"
"Oh," said the cook, "your father knighted him three years ago, in
a private ceremony, for traveling south to get the herbs that saved his life.
Sir Adam, who preferred to be called Mr. Chambers, did most of his business
with the common folk and did not want them to feel intimidated by the title.
By the way, he had the most engaging young daughter who he would bring to
market with him. Even she did not know that he had been knighted.
It is sad what happened to her after he died. She is still in
seclusion, I understand" Robert knew the truth and he said, "She is
living like a slave in her own house." Gerard was incensed!
"This can not be allowed!" he burst out...then he said, "I
mean, your royal highness, she does not deserve that. Her father did us
all many great services. My own daughter was friends with her and those
herbs from her father kept her alive in spite of her weak constitution.
My daughter was sad when she was told that um...Ella was her name...when
Ella cut off all contact with her. Now I see that we have been told lies.
I am going over there right now!" ""No, said Robert,
I now know what to do and I have begun to take measures to resolve this
situation. She will not suffer for much longer. By the way, she
caught many of those trout I have been bringing in...and the others I could not
have caught without her help," he said with a smile. Then Prince
Robert looked very serious...princely even, and he said, "I think it is
time to catch a certain stepmother." ....and he thought to himself,
"and maybe it is time to catch a certain daughter of a knight as
well." But he did not mean to "catch them” in the same way.
The ball was the next week so Prince Robert was not able to go
fishing much due to preparation work at the castle. His parents insisted
that it was his ball so he would be in charge. It was good training for
him they told him. Finally on Thursday he was able to sneak away to the
woods with his fishing gear. Ella had assumed she would probably never
see him again and it had made her rather sad. She wondered if she had
said or done something to offend him.
But she also had been busy helping her step sisters prepare for the
ball. So this was only her second trip into the woods to fish this week.
She looked for 'Robin' and did not see him. Still, fishing is fun
and she loved being in the woods. She also had Rascal with her and he was
good company. All at once Rascal let out a signal bark, just as Ella
hooked a big one. She landed the trout and then turned around to find
'Robin' watching her. He had been kind of impressed with how she landed
that big trout and in spite of the ragged dress, he thought she was looking
rather nice. With the possibility of meeting him in the woods now, Ella
had made sure she cleaned up before her excursion into the forest. She
still had the torn, burned, and stained dress, but she was making an effort to
keep soot and dirt off of her face. She also did her best to keep her
long brown hair combed, but with working in the yard that day, with wind etc.
she had been challenged to keep it from having a blow away look.
'Robin' said, "Hi Ella, looks like a monster trout!"
Ella said, "I've been trying to get him for several weeks now.
He always got away. You must be good luck!" 'Robin' smiled.
"I think you are my good luck Ella." Ella did not know
what to think. What did he mean by that. Was this well to do and handsome
young man coming on to her? Before she could blush Robert saw the look
on her face and said quickly, "After all, I didn't catch any fish until I
found you."
In reality Robert really did think she was good luck. She
was so much deeper than any of the young women of the Court who were vying for
his attention. They both fished and Ella even gave some of her catch to
'Robin' since she and her stepfamily could not eat all the ones she had caught.
'Robin' had found himself distracted because he kept watching Ella fish.
She really had the moves and he found it easier and easier to look beyond
her dilapidated clothing. He kept forgetting to hide from the fish and so
that is why his fishing went poorly. But he felt like just maybe there
was a more important catch here in the woods. He kept noticing Ella's big
brown eyes. Her grandparents had moved to the kingdom from up north and
northerners were known for their big eyes.
As they were getting ready to leave a trout jumped in a pool
downstream and in her excitement she could not resist grabbing his hand pulling
him toward the backwater pool, and saying, "You have a chance to catch one
more!" When they got to the pool, and had to sneak up on the trout,
Ella let go of 'Robin's' hand. They both had felt more than dirty fishing
hands. They both had felt that tingle and their hearts skipping a beat.
But neither said anything. Robert hooked the trout on his first
cast. This is a kind of pendulum cast where you drop the wormed hook into
the area at the top of the pool so the bait will drift down.
'Robin' was landing the trout and in the process bumped into
Ella and knocked her forward into the stream. She was wet, but not hurt.
He helped her up and there they were looking at each other close up for
the first time. "You really DO have big beautiful eyes," he
said slowly and softly. Ella would have blushed but she had actually
thought he was going to say "you really do have big FEET." She
told that to 'Robin' and they both had a good laugh. They were still
holding hands and Robert said, "Please come to the ball on Saturday."
Ella was surprised but she quickly thought about it and concluded that
'Robin' probably really was a duke or count or something so he would be there.
"I'll try, I promise," was all she could say, and they let go
of each other two hands and said goodbye and went their separate ways. He
to comfort and respect and her to discomfort and near slavery.
Later that week Saturday arrived and Ella could see no way of
keeping her promise to 'Robin.' Her stepmother had gathered all of her
daughters' dresses and locked them in her own room so Ella could not
"barrow" them. Ella had to do her stepsisters' hair and listen
to their excited chatter about how they were going to get Prince Robert's
attention. When they left with their mother Ella sat down by the fire and
cuddled her dog Rascal. "I wish I could go," she said to
Rascal. "'Robin' will be disappointed.” And as a tear streaked her
face she buried her head in Rascal’s fur and said, “And I will be disappointed
too." She hugged Rascal tight and tried not to cry but the tears continued
to slip out. She felt the loss of her parents more keenly that she ever had
since the time of their untimely deaths just over two years before. Life
sure wasn't fair...at least hers wasn't. Then, to her surprise, she saw a
bright light outside the kitchen window.
The
light grew brighter and Ella saw the top of a tiny head appear at the bottom of
the window. As she watched the head grew and Ella saw that it was also
attached to a growing body. Soon the woman was full sized. Ella saw
that she was a beautiful fairy. This fairy had small wings and a flowing
dress. She was beautiful and had a kind face. She had a wand in her hand
and waved it and the wall magically opened up and the fairy walked right through
into the kitchen.
Ella with her Fairy Godmother in the Kitchen
Ella looked up from her spot by the fire. She was so
surprised by the magic she had just seen. She had never known that magic and
fairies were real, although she HAD suspected it. You see, often when she
was fishing she would hear twittering behind her. She would turn around
to see who made the sound and there was never anyone there. Sometimes she
would see a few tiny sparkly flashes. When her father was alive he would
say that the fairies were watching. As a
young girl, she would listen to stories from her father about the fairies.
The fairy looked over at her and said, "I'm your fairy
godmother, girl near the flue. What can I possibly do for you?"
Then the fairy leaned forward and said, "I know you are kind and
good! You are Adam's little daughter who fishes in my wood!"
Ella, still a bit bewildered, asked, "YOUR forest?"
"OK," said the fairy, "we’ve watched you for years."
When you stopped coming we shed a few tears." Ella said that
she was happy to be back too. Then she asked the fairy, "You knew my
father?" "Yes, said the fairy, but he never could tell, even his
family, about us and our little dell. We often helped him find herbs in
the forest. His stories were fun and he never did bore us.” Ella was now REALY
flabbergasted! "My father knew fairies?" she asked.
"Yes, among mortals he was one of the best," said the beautiful
fairy. “He would tell you our stories because it was a test. . . to see
if you would have the gift that he had.”
“What gift?” Ella asked. “Why,
the gift to believe in good magic, not bad,” said the fairy. The fact that you can see me means you have
the gift. So now it is time for your
heart I should lift,” said the Fairy. Fairy Godmother, was getting back to business...
She left off the rhyming and said directly,
“What CAN I do for you?" Ella looked up from her tear
streaked face. She did not know what a fairy godmother could do, but she
was willing to find out. After all, she had never seen someone enlarge
themselves and then make a wall open up. So Ella got down to business as
well. "I met a nice young man in the woods. We’ve been fishing together for a few
weeks. He wants me to go to the prince’s
ball, but, I have nothing to wear, and no way to get there in time," Ella said, as her voice cracked in her effort
to stifle a sob. "OH,” said Fairy Godmother, you MET someone. Tell me about him. Ella answered with a bit of far off look in
her eyes, “He is kind. He treats me with respect, even though I must look a
fright. He listens to me…” She could not go on because she found herself
quietly sobbing. She was realizing how
much Robin meant to her. And she was
going to disappoint him tonight.
“Well, that should not be a problem," said her Fairy
Godmother. Ella looked up, “What should
not be a problem?” she asked. “Why,
getting you to the ball,” said Fairy Godmother.
Then she waved her wand and Ella found herself outside.
"We'll start with a nice dress," said the fairy godmother. She
waved her wand again and Ella discovered that her light magic was accomplished
with rhyming spells. Fairy Godmother
chanted out, "Rags to gown for going to town." Ella's ragged
dress became transformed into a shimmering gown. Ella gasped with joy.
"Now we need to find you some transportation.” Fairy
Godmother summoned a pumpkin from the nearby garden and with another wave of
the wand the pumpkin became a shiny coach. "Now for horses,"
said the Fairy Godmother. I need mice.” She did a wave of her wand
and said, "Hither ye come all mice who are near. Ella needs
transportation from here." Soon the yard filled with several mice
who came out from under bushes and under rocks. With another wave the
Fairy Godmother said, "Mice to horses then horses to mice, until 12 am
this will suffice." The mice all began to grow in size and transform
into horses.
Ella’s with coach and Fairy Godmother
Now for a driver," she said, as she spotted one more mouse
crawling out from under a small bush. "Mouse to driver then driver
to mouse, ‘til 12 am then back to the house," spoke the Fairy
Godmother. The mouse was transported through the air up to the driver's
seat of the once pumpkin carriage. . . and course the mouse became a driver.
Then Ella's Fairy Godmother pointed her wand at Rascal and said, "Dog to
footman, footman to dog, be sure to be home for the midnight grog."
Rascal was transformed into a handsome footman holding the door open to
the carriage.
"Now," said Fairy Godmother, "You must return and be
home by midnight, or your Robin will see you as a sooty sight.” Then Fairy
Godmother leaned in and said, “But I don’t think he’ll care.” Then she
continued, “And of course, we won’t hide those beautiful feet. You’ll need suitable footwear to impress all
you meet!" Ella looked down at her bare feet, which like the rest of
her body had become magically clean. Her Fairy Godmother pointed her wand
at Ella's feet and said, "Feet like those of this lovely lass, should be
seen in these elegant slippers of glass." Then Ella's feet were
encased in round toed glass slippers. "They look a bit like
boots." she observed. "Magic always fits the recipient,"
said Fairy Godmother. “There are few girls like you who love the woods
and love to fish. You would have a hard time fishing in high heels, so
these fit you in more ways than one" "Yes Fairy Godmother,"
said Ella as she bowed her head. She did not think she would be fishing
in the slippers, but she was not one to be ungrateful. Besides, she had a
hard time finding footwear that fitted her properly, and the glass slippers
were surprisingly comfortable. “Always be
comfortable with who you are, when you travel from here to near and far,”
chanted Fairy Godmother. She seemed to
like to talk in rhyme, but not all the time.
All her magical spells were in rhyme.
"Now off to the ball," said her Fairy Godmother.
There is no time to waste. Remember what I said in the incantations?"
"Yes," replied Ella. She
had been listening to the spells. "There is a midnight curfew or I will be
stuck in town in my rags with a bunch of cute mice, a good pumpkin, and my
sweet and talented dog, not the worst of situations but it would probably leave
me under dressed." Her Fairy Godmother laughed and said, "I can
tell that you'll do fine."
Ella hopped into the carraige as her once sweet dog, now a
footman, held open the door and whispered in a growly voice, "Thanks for
not letting Gertrina get rid of me." Ella smiled and whispered back,
"Never! And by the way, thanks for being my only friend for two
years." “My pleasure mistress,” he
growled with a smile on his temporarily human face.
So Ella was on her way to Prince Robert's Ball, not realizing that
he was in fact her fishing partner and friend Robin. The ride was smooth
and also fun for Ella. She was excited but worried about what would
happen if and when her stepmother and stepsisters saw her. She had a plan
to avoid them by staying on the edge of the ballroom if possible. Of
course she was not even sure if she'd be asked to dance but just going to the
ball was exciting.
When she arrived the ball had already started. Ella was let
off at the front gate by the “once a mouse” driver and she escorted to the
palace by her dog...I mean Rascal the “once a dog” footman. She walked up
the stairs with Rascal and came in the main entrance. Inside she was
greeted by a doorman and Rascal said, "I bid you adeiu Mistress."
The doorman pointed her towards the front ballroom of the palace.
She glided over in her long dress and saw the stairs. They were
located at the top of the landing she was about to walk onto. She
realized that her plan to lay low may be in jeopardy. As she approached
the stairway a regal looking middle aged man spoke to her respectfully.
It is a good thing she had gotten to know Robin over the last few weeks
because she did not start or jump as much as she would have. This man was
only the second person to treat her with respect in over two years, (unless you
count her fairy godmother and
Rascal the footman). "How may I announce you Madame?"
he asked. Ella was stumped for a moment. She could not use her real
name, Ella Chambers, She remembered a fairy story her father used to tell her
and she said, "The Duchess of Lorath." She was announced and
began to descend the stairs. She laughed to herself at the bottom of the
stairs as she thought how she had such good balance from climbing over and onto
rocks and boulders while fishing. So the stairs and the long gown were
not an obstacle.
Unbeknownst to Ella, Prince Robert, her Robin, was watching from
the far end of the ballroom. He saw her cute smile as she descended the
stairs. He was enchanted. Queen Loritheria had done well, but after
all, Ella was good material to work with.
He had been trying to ditch Ella's stepsisters who were trying to talk
to him about how handsome he was and how strong he must be etc. Robert
said, "Excuse me ladies." Immediately two young courtiers moved in
and began to talk with the two young women.
Robert turned and moved into the crowd and quickly moved to the wall and
began to work his way over to the other end of the hall where Ella had come in.
He could not see beyond the other people who were facing the center of
the hall. He was behind them and therefore was able to move quite rapidly
without many people stopping to vie for his attention.
He was trying to look between the heads of a count and countess
while he was walking sideways when he bumped into a woman in a shimmering
dress. Excuse me Madame he said, before he realized that this was the
young woman he was searching for. "Good evening Ella," the
prince said. Ella shyly looked away and then said, "Hello Robin. Then she
looked at him in his fine royal robes and said, "My but you look different
in those...um...are those royal robes? she exclaimed in surprise!
She then noticed the small crown on his head. "Oh no!"
she said. Then she whispered, "You’re the prince! Why didn't
you tell me?" "I liked getting to know you on equal terms."
he said. "And by the way, you are dazzling tonight. . . but
then again, you were very cute as my fishing partner...and your correct title
is Lady Chambers."
"Please don't make fun of me your Highness. That is not
like the kind and friendly fisherman I know." said Ella. Then her
eyes grew wide and she immediately apologized, "Oh, I'm so sorry your Highness.
I forgot who you are." She bowed her head and started to back
away.
No one was watching this little drama. They were busy
watching the ball. Well, not NOBODY. You see, the prince's father
and mother, the king and queen of the kingdom, were seated high on their
thrones and watching from a distance. Queen Elaina leaned over and said
to her husband, King Edward, "So that is the young lady who has been
distracting our son with fishing is it?" Her husband reminded her,
"Yes, and she is truly a Lady. Her father's deeds have assured that.
She is a worthy Lady and from what we have heard, she is strong and wise.
I also have done my snooping. I sent a ranger to investigate her
doings in the forest. She never catches more than she and her unkind
family can eat. She was seen caring for an injured Royal deer. She
does not hunt them nor harass them. I also remember that her parents were
of great service to us and many others in this kingdom.
Ella was trying to back away but Prince Robert was keeping pace
with her. "I was not teasing Lady Chambers. Your father
traveled far to the south to get the herbs that saved MY father's life 3 years
ago.” Ella thought for a moment. She also stopped backing away.
She remembered her father going on a long journey. He was gone for
several months. There had been tales told that the king was very ill and
might die and that his son was too young to run the kingdom. "I
remember that trip." said Ella.
Father was gone for months. Mother was very worried."
"As were we," said the prince. "About my father's
chances for survival. YOUR father saved his life with the herbs he brought
back and gave to our wizard. My father knighted your father for it."
"But how could that be?" asked Ella. "Dad
never told me about it." "Let me explain," said Robert.
"Our wizard told me that your father did not want to intimidate the
common man who he did most of his business with. He kept many people
working and trade flourished because of him. And his herbs saved many
lives. Including this young woman I met earlier today. I made a
visit to her house, you see...." Ella turned around to see her
friend Kimberly for the first time in 2 years. "Kimmie!" she
cried. "Ellie!" responded Kimberly. Then Kimberly
remembered court etiquette (after all, her father was the Royal Chef so she
knew the palace rules.) She bowed her head to Prince Robert and said,
"Your Majesty, thank you for bringing us together after all this
time." "You are very welcome Kimberly," said the prince.
Kimberly looked back to her best friend and said, "I have
missed you so much. I am so sorry for not coming by and insisting on
checking on you." She said this and tears started to fill her eyes.
"I am so so sorry Elly. It was not right what happened to
you." When my mom heard what had happened she practically had to be
restrained by the Royal Guard to keep from going over to your house to get you
out of there.” Ella hugged her friend and said, "It is not your fault, nor
is it your mother’s fault. How could you
have known?" They pulled apart and then Kimberly said, "So,
look at YOU! A Lady now"
Ella thought about it for a moment and realized that what they were
telling her is that she must have inherited her father's title in that she was
now really was Lady Chambers."
Prince Robert was watching this drama unfolding and finally said
politely, "Miss Seviere, if I may borrow you friend for a dance..."
and he held out his hand to Ella. Kimberly bowed and said to them in
turn, "Your Royal Highness, Lady Chambers," and as she bowed she
indicated the ballroom floor to the couple. They all smiled and Ella had
the first dance she had ever had with someone other than her wonderful father.
They truly danced the night away. They had always been
comfortable around each other and now they could not help but stare into each
other's eyes as they danced. They could not help talking frequently as
they danced. Neither Prince Robert nor Ella had any desire to dance with
anyone else. . . much to the chagrin of the other maidens and the other
young men who had also noticed Ella's entrance. During the second dance
Ella asked why Robert had lied to her. He said he'd tell her during the
next dance. He needed a few moments to decide how to answer. But he
did say that he wished she would not call him Your Royal Highness. "I
liked it when you called me Robin," he said. "All the people I
love the most call me that." Ella was quiet for the rest of the
dance.
At the start of their third dance Robert, or Robin, as Ella
thought of him, explained to Ella that his nickname actually was Robin.
It was what his parents called him in their family chambers or when they
were alone out of earshot of the citizens of the kingdom. "So you
see," he said," I never lied to you. I really do have parents
that want me to be up on the family business, I just never mentioned that the
family business was running the kingdom.
Ella and Robert or Robin danced and talked through many dances,
until Robert motioned for his parents to come over and meet her. The King
and Queen were already mixing with the guests and they were actually working their
way towards their son and his "fishing partner." "Lady
Chambers, let me introduce you to my parents, King Edward and Queen Elaina."
Ella bowed and said, "Your Royal Majesties, I am pleased to meet the
parents of such a fine fisherman." (She couldn't help it, she had to
make a joke. She wondered if she had crossed a line but both the king and
queen laughed but not too loudly.
They exchanged a knowing glance and the king nodded to his wife.
Then Queen Elaina put her arm around Ella and said in a quiet voice,
"Lady Chambers, we have had a team of courtiers distracting your family.
We have a plan. Just then Ella happened to see the large clock up
high on the wall. She was startled to see that it was 11:45.
"I have to go!" she said. "Wait said the prince,
king and queen all at once. Queen Elaina was holding onto Ella with her
arm around her back. "We are letting you go home shortly." she
whispered, "But we want you to know that Robin will be coming to get you
tomorrow or the next day." "The NEXT day?" protested
Robin. "Don't worry son," said his father, we will keep the
house under surveillance." The queen continued. "We will
have you go home and we will start a public search for you. This should
come as quite a shock to your family who really deserve a good shock."
Now, my husband has something else to tell you. King Edward cleared
his throat but still kept his voice low. "We did some research into
your father's estate. It seems a certain banker just returned from a 2
1/2 year journey and he has shed some light on your situation. It appears
that your stepmother did not tell you about the account your father set up for
you. She has been stealing from it for over two years, even though your
father left her and her daughters a sizeable sum as well. But of course
yours is much larger. We also discovered that your father left a will at
the bank. It gives you the house and all that is inside it.
."Now go, I am pretty sure your stepmother saw you. She will
certainly identify you if your gown transforms." He saw the startled
look in Ella's eyes and explained, "We have a very good wizard with
powerful fairy friends. We know their magic often comes with a time
limit. It is so they can help us mortals within certain limits. In fact, you called yourself the Dutchess of
Lorath. That is the name of your fairy
godmother." Ella’s eyes grew wide but then Robin cut in and said,
"Excuse me Father," Then, turning to Ella he said, "Do not
worry, I will come find you very soon and put everything right as much
as is in my power to do."
Out the back door went Ella. She was surprised to find her
carriage and servants waiting for her down on the road behind the palace.
She started down the steps and caught the low heel of her right shoe on a
step and it came off and fell off the edge of the step down into a bush.
She knew she had very little time so she just left it there. "It
will turn to dust when the magic wears off in ten minutes," she thought.
Ella was dumbfounded. She had not realized that her fishing
partner was really her prince...she was beginning to think of him as
that now, She also thought about it on her way home. The Royal
Family knew the fairy that was her fairy godmother. It made her
think and she realized that they must have sent her to Ella to help her be able
to come to the ball. She felt a warm
feeling inside for both Robin and his Royal Parents.
Prince Robert had stood at the doorway as Ella departed out the
back of the palace. He saw her lose the
slipper. As the “once a pumpkin”
carriage rounded the corner of the palace and disappeared the Dutchess of
Lorath appeared beside him. “I think
you’ll need this,” she said. She waved her wand and began chanting, “Out of the
bush and into his hand, comes a momento of love to a real man.” She then turned to the quizzical prince who
was wondering what that meant. “You
truly are kind and respectful your Royal Highness. The measure of a true Gentleman or Lady, or
anyone else, is how they treat everyone, not how they treat those who are in
high positions. You have done well and I
will give my blessing to you both. In
fact, I think this lovely young lady is also a real Lady because of her efforts
to be kind and respectful of those who are demeaning to her. And how is it that she has such courage to
not run from you in a panic when she learned who you really were. She is truly a great catch” For his part,
Robert was in complete agreement. He looked down into his hand where the
Dutchess had magically placed the round toed glass slipper. He started to modify his plan.
The ride home for Ella was a dream until 1/2 mile from home when
she was magically thrown out of the carriage face down into a mud puddle.
When she kneeled up she saw that she was in rags once again, and dirtier
than ever. "Oooooooo!"she thought, "I wouldn't want Robin
seeing me like this!"
Her carriage was a broken pumpkin lying in the middle of the road.
The horses and driver were mice again who were scurrying of into the
roadside weeds. Rascal ran over and sad right down in the mud puddle and
started to lick the mud off of her face. Ella thought of how elegant it
was at the ball and she started to laugh. What a difference a few minutes
can make.
She looked back behind at her left foot and saw that it had a very
muddy glass slipper still on it. She wondered at this but she also
thought, "My fairy godmother left me a souvenir of tonight. She got
up, tried to wipe off the mud, gave up on it, and ran in her bare feet home.
She cradled her glass slipper against her breast in one hand.
Rascal ran along beside her barking excitedly.
When she got home she was a bit cold. She put some water on
the stove to heat up so she could take a bath. She sat by the fire trying
to warm up as the mud dried on her. Without warning her stepmother burst
into the room. "Where have you been tonight young lady?"
Ella did not like to lie, so she just said, "I went outside and
accidentally ended up face down in a mud puddle Gertrina." As she
said this Ella indicated her dress with her hands holding up the skirt.
Gertrina was flummoxed. She was almost certain that she had seen
Ella enter the ball. "That Duchess of something or other,” she
thought. But how could Ella have been there and still look like
THIS?" She left the room without saying another word. She would have
to think on this. You might want to note
that Ella did not actually lie. She
really had gone outside and fallen in a mud puddle.
Ella was relieved that the interrogation did not last for long.
She thought at the least she would get a scolding for being so muddy and
messing up the kitchen floor. But Gertriana really was confused.
Both would have been surprised to learn that Ella's fairy godmother had
used her wand to toss Ella out of the carriage right before it shrank back into
a pumpkin and broke on the road. Fairy Godmother had realized that
something had to be done to help fool Gertrina. So Fairy Godmother had
conjured up a mud puddle and tossed Ella into it. So when Gertrina saw her stepdaughter Ella
truly looked like she could not have possibly been an elegant duchess at the
ball.
Ella's step sisters came in to gloat about the elegant ball that
they thought dirty old "Cinderella" had missed. Both Laurina
and Catilda were delighted to see her covered in mud. The contrast of
seeing all the beauty of the ball and their stepsister covered in mud was
striking to them. "Looky here, our step sister has gone to the
garden mud ball!" cried a delighted Laurina. “What's the
matter Cinderella, the soot, ashes and burn holes in your dress were not
enough?" asked a sneering Catilda. Ella said nothing. She knew
from experience that if she said anything back to them then their mother would
punish Ella, an unworthy servant, for talking back to her superiors.
Ella thought about what the Royal Family had said and remained
calm. They promised that she would be rescued soon. Therefore the
verbal abuse and bullying did not really affect her this time. She
wondered what her stepmother's expression would be when an officer of the Royal
Guard came to see HER, Ella, instead of one of her step sisters.
The next
morning Ella woke up to a new world. She
was still lying by the fire. She was
still in a ragged dress. She HAD managed
to bathe and change into her one other dress, so she was no longer covered in
caked on dried mud. She also knew that
she would be able to see Kimberly soon.
She wondered about the prince. He
WAS so kind and handsome…she thought he was cute and wondered if it is
appropriate to think of or call a royal prince “cute.” Ella did not know if she and the prince would
ever be a couple. She hoped so but she
was trying to not get her heart set on it.
Even in the short time she knew the prince, she knew that he would
always be honorable. She remembered the
kind and loving things he said to her, but she could not help having some
doubts. After all so much had gone wrong
in her life. Still, she felt filled with
hope and she knew her prince would keep his promise to rescue her.
She looked
around the kitchen and thought about the house.
She automatically found herself planning what housework she would do
today and thinking about where she would go fishing later in the day. Then she realized she may not be able to go
fishing if the Royal Enterage showed up before noon. She also realized that it was HER house. She certainly knew it better than anyone
else, but she was not just the servant, she was the owner. She decided to go back to her daily routine. She had become so good at planning she knew
what she would prepare for breakfast and what rooms would get a deep cleaning
today. That is, what rooms she would
clean if she was still the servant all day.
As Ella was
making breakfast her stepmother came in.
As mentioned before, this was rare for her to come into the kitchen
while Ella was cooking. This was the
second visit in a few days. To Ella it
almost felt like an intrusion. Gertrina
was glaring. She walked right up to
where Ella was cooking some bacon on the stove.
Ella had said, “One moment Gertrina, I need to flip this bacon before it
burns on this side.” Gertrina grabbed
Ella’s shoulder and whipped her around…and started to rant, “I can’t figure out
how you did it, but I know I saw you at the ball last night. I suspect you stole a dress from someone’s
house. I never should have let you
outside.”
Ella had
some confidence, more than usual, but she did not want to give away what she
knew. Inside she realized that she was
repulsed by her stepmother. She had
always had a hard time figuring out how someone could be so cruel and
selfish. She also realized that her
stepmother was breaking the law. She was actually not just mean, but she was a
practicing criminal. She was stealing
Ella’s money and withholding her inheritance.
Ella held her tongue, and tried to decide how to respond to
Gertrina.
Finally,
after a long pause, Ella said, “I am not a thief Gertrina. I did not break any law.” “Aha!’ exclaimed Gertrina, “You admit that
you went to the ball! I’ll lock you in
your room for a month!” “And who will
care for the house and yard?” asked Ella calmly. “And who will cook your food, do your
laundry, and bring truffles and fish for you and your other daughters? “My OTHER daughters?” shrieked Gertrina, “You
said my ‘other’ daughters! YOU are NOT
my daughter!” Even though this came as
no surprise to Ella, that her stepmother did not consider Ella her daughter, it
could not help but hurt her to hear her stepmother say it. “Oh well,” said Ella to quietly, with a tear
in her eye, “I have tried to love you three, even though you do not make it
easy to love you.” “I DON’T WANT YOUR
LOVE! Shrieked Gertrina even louder!
Then, what can only be described as a wicked stepmother stormed out of
the room.
Ella knew her situation was about to change,
and yet she stood at the stove and wept quietly. Partly she was weeping for Gertrina and her
stepsisters. “How could people grow to
be so selfish and cruel?” she asked herself.
Ella parents had raised her on fairy stories and Ella knew the story of
a fairy king who became jealous of his son in law who had killed a wicked
giant. Salo the king had persecuted and
hunted his son in law mercilessly. His
son in law evaded the king, but he also forgave him and refused to fight or
kill him. Eventually the son in law,
Davelo, became the king. Davelo was
forgiving and kind to Salo’s descendants as well.
Ella even
remembered that when her father was alive her stepmother had been polite and
occasionally kind to her. Was it all a
ruse the whole time? Maybe it was greed
that set in after Gertrina found out about Ella’s inheritance. Surely, if Ella had known that it was HER
house she would have allowed Gertrina and her daughters to stay and live there. But Gertrina was more like Salo, full of jealousy
and resentment. Ella’s father would have
been very sad to see how things had worked out with the family he left behind. But things were about to change and he would
be happy with the change. Ella made a
decision to forgive, although justice would have to be served as well.
Ella also
wondered at how it was that HER stepmother had become so cruel whereas Kimberly’s
stepmother was kind and gentle. She had
raised Kimberly since she was 8 and loved her as her own. When Ella’s mother died Kimberly’s mother had
been so kind to Ella. Ella was not
surprised that Mrs. Cardon was upset when she was told about Ella’s servitude.
The day
moved on. Lady Chambers went about the
work that no Lady normally does. She fed
her family, who did not consider her “family.”
She emptied the chamber pots. She
straightened up the drawing room. She
was mopping the floor when Gertrina came home from the village. She was excited. She called to her daughters and Ella to come
into the drawing room. Ella had just
cleaned the drawing room. When she went
to sit down Gertrina said, “Don’t sit down on that nice chair, you’ll soil it
with your filthy dress.” In fact, it was
a rather clean dress. Her filthy dress
was soaking in a washtub in the laundry room at the back of the house. . . for
Ella to launder later. Ella almost said something back to her
stepmother. After all, it actually WAS
ELLA’S chair. But she held her peace and
stood as Gertrina explained that the prince was searching for a young maiden he
had met at the ball. He was visiting
every house in the village with a glass slipper. He would try it on each of the
young maidens to find his bride. If he did not find her in this village by the
palace then he was to move on to neighboring villages. Remember that Gertrina and her daughters were
distracted by courtiers much of the night so they had not clearly seen Ella
with Prince Robert. Gertrina’s daughters were instantly excited, “He met me!”
said Catilda. “He met me too” cried
Larina, “Why would he want YOU when he could have ME?” They instantly started to argue with each
other. This kind of behavior was common
so Ella sighed.
The sigh
caught Gertrina’s attention. “You will
not be seeing the prince, when he comes to my house,” she said to Ella. Ella almost choked. “YOUR house?” she asked. This was as crazy as ever, but before she
could explain that it was her, ELLA’S house she remembered Prince Robert’s
promise, and she knew she would not be in this situation for much longer. She realized that Gertrina was addressing her
again, “As I told you before, a servant is not an eligible maiden.” “He never will let her get away with it,”
thought Ella. Her stepmother would be in
so much trouble. Ella decided to try persuasion,
to give her srtepmother a chance to avoid being in even more trouble. Ella
said, “If the proclamation says ‘every
eligible young maiden’ do we not need to obey it?” Gertrina, who still
suspected that Ella HAD gone to the ball, scowled and without looking up at
Ella stared straight ahead and said, “If you come out to meet him I will have
Rascal killed today.”
At first
Ella wanted to protest, but remembering Prince Robert’s promise, she bowed her
head and said in a submissive voice, “Please don’t take my dog away from
me. He is my only friend in this
house.” Gertrina replied as she rose
from her chair, “then do not disobey me.”
Ella did not reply. She did not
believe in lying. She never said that
she would not come out to meet the prince when he came to HER house. Ella had done her best to try and give
Gertrina another chance and she had rejected it.
It happened
an hour later. Ella was dumping out the
mop water when she heard a knock at the front door. Gertrina popped into the kitchen and reminded
Ella of her threat by pointing at Rascal who was lying by the fire and running
her finger across her own neck. Ella
knew what this gesture meant, but she just stared stonily at her
stepmother. Ella had never said that she
would not come out to meet the prince and his entourage. She waited, peaked through the crack, and
listened at the kitchen door. Her step
sisters each tried on the shoe. Prince Robert
did not attempt to try it on them. He
assigned his chamberlain to do that unpleasant task. “Let me go first!” aid Larina. “After all I’m the eldest. It will fit me!” “Only older by 4 minutes,” said Catilda. “See it fits!” cried Larina. The chamberlain asked her to stand and take a
few steps with the slipper on. It fell
off and clattered to the floor making Prince Robert wince. The same thing played out with Catilda. After the glass slipper was on her foot she
tried to walk across around and off it fell.
The chamberlain mentioned to the prince that this could lead to a broken
slipper if it kept happening at every house.
Of course both young women could get their foot in the slipper
but it was impossible for them to walk with it staying on. The glass slipper would fall off their small
feet and clatter on the floor.
Fortunately the slipper was made by magic and was shatter free,
whispered one of the Royal Guards to Prince Robert.
Finally Ella
heard the prince ask if there were any other eligible young maidens in the house. Of course he KNEW that Ella lived there. For a moment he worried that she might be out
fishing. Gertrina denied the presence of
any other eligible young maiden. “Are
you CERTAIN?” he asked her as he gave her a suspicious look. “No other eligible young woman.” Lied
Gertrina. One more time, the prince
rephrased the question, “Is there ANY other young maiden in this house or who
lives here at the present time?”
Gertrina then cooked her own goose.
She glared back at the prince and declared, “No other young maiden lives
here, I live here alone with my two daughters.”
She had condemned herself with this clear and outright lie. She could not later say that she did not
consider a servant eligible. She had
lied to a member of the Royal Family and this, in and of itself, was a crime. Of course, Gertrina had been committing fraud
for 2 years so her conscience was numb to committing to one more crime.
Then the
prince let the cat out of the bag. He
asked, “And where is Lady Chambers?”
Gertrina and her daughters all jumped just a little. “I,” said Gertrina, “am Lady Chambers.” “Was your husband a knight?” asked Prince
Robert. (The prince knew that Adam
Chambers had told no one about his knighting ceremony, except perhaps his first
wife. He knew this because surely Gertrina would have wanted the title of Lady
if she knew about it, and even Ella had not known.) Ella was watching through the crack in the
door and tried not to laugh at her stepmother’s discomfort. Gertrina hesitated to answer the prince and
then said firmly, “No.” “Ah then,” said
Prince Robert, “Let me introduce you to Lady Chamberlain.” Ella could recognize a cue and out she
stepped from the kitchen. Even though
she was in her old worn out dress she curtsied to the prince and his
attendants. She gave a nod to the chamberlain
and the Royal Guard contingent, and she waited.
Cinderella has the other Glass Slipper
“Lady Chamberlain,” said Prince Robert, “I think I have something you
lost last night.” He had her sit down and he placed the rounded toed glass
slipper on Ella’s foot as she pulled out from behind her the other glass
slipper she had kept. He placed that
shoe on her other foot. Suddenly one of
the Royal Guards transformed into a beautiful human sized fairy. She waved her wand and said, “Your goodness
inside is truly the key, let us all see you as you truly can be.” This meant that as you are inside show
yourself outside. And Ella found herself in the same gown as the
previous night. The stains on her hand
from scrubbing the floor were gone and she felt that her hair was beautifully
done with a small tiara befitting a Lady.
Her stepmother
and step sisters stared and then looked at their own oufits. They were also showing their true
colors. They were no longer in nice dresses. They were now dressed in old simple black
dresses. The stepsisters looked down and
gasped and then seeing Ella in the beautiful gown, they dropped to their knees,
mumbling apologies. Gertrina, was still
standing in a dress that was considerably more ugly than the dresses her
daughters had ended up in. The prince
addressed her, “I command you to kneel before your new mistress.” Gertrina knew the jig was up. She felt a panic rising inside her. She slowly sank to her knees defeated…but it
was about to get much worse for her.
“Gertrina Chambers,” said the prince in a formal voice, “I accuse and
arrest you for monetary fraud, withholding an inheritance, failing to follow a
Royal Decree, and lying to a member of the Royal Family. Guards, please take her away to await
trial.” Then he turned to the daughters,
“I say this and it is valid if it is acceptable to Lady Chambers: You two have been cruel but not violent. I could try you both for complicity in your
mother’s illegal acts. Your mother has
been stealing Ella’s money for two years and you have both benefitted from
it. The account belonging to you and
your mother will be depleted by the amount stolen from Ella. There will still be a substantial amount
remaining. I give you a choice. You can leave this home at once and you will
forfeit the money your stepfather left you, or you can go to the nunnery school
for two years to learn to be nice people.
Afterwards you can return to society and you will have an inheritance to
make you comfortable. If that is acceptable
to you, Lady Chambers,” he added looking at Ella. Ella nodded her head and thought that Prince
Robert had given her a chance to show mercy, just like she had hoped to
do.
Larina and Catilda
were not stupid. They did not want to be
put out on the street. Nor did they want
to lose that inheritance. They agreed to
the Prince’s and Ella’s conditions. They
were then escorted toward the door to go out to a waiting carriage to take them
to the nunnery school. Ella stepped out
and said to them. May you both learn to
be the good people I know you can become.
They were humbled and a frightened of the possibility of going where
there mother was taken so they were respectful and said, “Yes Mistress,” and
‘Yes my Lady.” They knew the correct
etiquette when speaking to a Lady.
As Larina
and Catilda were escorted to their waiting carriage Ella turned to Prince
Robert and bowed. “How can I ever thank
you Your Royal Highness?” Then in
another way Prince Robert showed his greatness.
He took Ella’s hand in hers. She
blushed a bit but kept her eyes locked on his.
“I know that this is the home of your youth, and yet you also have very
sad memories of this place. Let me take
you away where you will always be respected and loved, and where you will
always call me Robin in private.” said the prince. Ella was not sure what he was asking of
her. “I don’t understand, your Royal
Highness.” she replied. “You are the
bravest, most resourceful, intelligent, kindest and strongest young woman, and
the best fisherman I have ever met. Please
let me make you my bride,” he pleaded, “and take me fishing with you
often.” Ella could not surpass a
snicker. She also could not believe what
was happening. Her ears filled with a
roaring sound. Her heart was pounding,
and she felt so happy that she almost felt dizzy. Robin saw this and put his arm around
her. “The question requires an answer,”
he whispered. “Yes,” she managed to
say. “I love how you treat me with
respect and kindness,” she said, “I love how you did not talk down to me or
dismiss me for my apparent poverty. I
love how you were willing to listen to me and how you let me teach you and how
you listened to me about my life. And,”
she giggled, “I love how handsome you are fishing in the woods.” … so YES I
will marry you if those things all can go on forever.” “Well then,” said the prince, “We announce it
tonight at the Royal Banquet my parents are having for you. They were counting on you saying yes you
see.” They smiled at each other through
sparkling eyes and came together into each other’s arms.
Gertrina
Chambers spent 4 years in prison and served 5 years in indentured service
before she came back to the home occupied by her daughters. For their part the sisters had been relieved
to avoid prison and found that the nuns were firm but fair. They actually learned to be kind and they
would eventually marry men from the village.
Ella actually became friends with them.
When they would go to apologize for their past behavior Ella reminded
them that those who live in the past can’t enjoy the future. Gertrina went on to live with her daughters
for many years and grew mellow in her years as a doting grandmother. Whenever Ella came to visit she felt terrible
but appreciated Ella’s kindness and lack of a vengeful agenda. Grover Casenius was in prison for 10 years
and when he was released had to become a farm laborer in spite of his education
and training.
And that is
the story of Ella, formerly Cinderella, who went on to marry her prince. For years she was his chief counselor and
best friend. She was the daughter his
parents never had. She was his wife and
soulmate and she was the mother of their children. All their children were taught about their
family history and what Ella went through and how their father and grandparents
rescued her. Their children were taught
to be strong but kind and fair in all their dealings with their fellowman. When Prince Robert’s parents each died Ella
was his chief comfort. When the pressures
of ruling the kingdom were getting to him she was both his counselor and
escape. Robin was always there for
Ella. He always listened to her problems
and challenges. No one ever doubted
their commitment to each other. One day,
years later, when they were grandparents sitting on the palace balcony, Ella
said to Robin, “We may never know what would have happened to me if you had not
gone fishing that day.” And Robin said,
“True, but that day I caught the catch of my life.” “We both did,” said the queen who once was
called Cinderella.
