A Cinderella Story with a Fishy Twist - complete story

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 17^th 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.