Happily Never After Read online

  “Ella.” The Prince savored her name. “And this stepmother, what is her name?”

  Alastair cleared his throat, slightly uncomfortable with the Prince’s line of questioning. “Lady Ravenna.” He watched the Prince carefully to gauge his reaction.

  “Lady Ravenna….Lady Ravenna.…” The Prince tapped his finger on his chin as he tried to place the name. “Ah yes, the shrew with the two catty daughters. No wonder she hid Ella away. Ella is grace and charm personified.” The Prince’s eyes grew distant as he relived the night of the ball.

  Alastair hid a smile. Prince Charmaine appeared to have fallen for Ella. Now Alastair just had to figure out if she felt the same way. He had his suspicions, but until she returned from the trip, he couldn’t be sure. “Your Highness, is there anything you require during your stay?”

  “Hmmm? Oh no, just a room and some quiet. I must say” – He rubbed his hands gleefully – “a month away from court will be a blessing in disguise.” The Prince grinned at Alastair.

  “And why is that, Your Highness?”

  “I won’t have to listen to my father’s demands that I marry one of the so-called Ladies he parades under my nose every day. It’s enough to drive a Prince to drink.” He sighed. “At least here I can pretend for a little while that I am not the heir to the throne.”

  “Of course.” Alastair smiled at the Prince. “There is no better place to rest and relax than away from court.” He watched the Prince with amusement as they continued to discuss the shortcomings of living in the palace.

  8 – MEMORIES OF THE PAST

  Ella awoke with the first rays of the sun. Her old habit of rising before her stepmother and sisters was dying hard. Her body ached in every possible way; stiffness from the previous day’s exertions caused her to groan as she climbed out of bed. They had arrived in the dark, and Ella had been too exhausted even pay attention to the inn or the room she had been given. She peered out the small, round window into a neat and tidy courtyard. Small flowerboxes planted with red, yellow, and white petunias hugged the inn under her windowsill. Birds sang good morning to the dawn from the trees that lined the road across from the inn.

  She stretched, feeling unfamiliar muscles twinge. She sighed; it was going to take time to get used to riding again along with the rest of Evangeline’s unorthodox training. A knock on the door startled her. “Hello?” She called as she opened the door.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Jarret greeted her with a bright smile. “I’m glad to see you’re awake already. Evangeline wants to get an early start. A little something to brighten your day.” He handed her a small, paper-wrapped package. “There is a bath-house out back and clean clothes in one of the bags. Meet us downstairs in an hour. Just give your dirty clothes to one of the maids and they will pack them with the rest of our stuff.”

  “Thank you.” Ella returned his smile. “Where are we headed today?”

  Jarret stepped into her room and pulled the door closed. “We wouldn’t put it past the Prince to try to meet up with us before we reach the Great Forest. So we’re going to try to get there as quickly as we can.”

  Ella looked at Jarret in confusion. “Why wouldn’t he just follow us into the forest?”

  Jarret grinned. “He can’t, at least not without a whole lot of pomp and ceremony. He is a visiting head of state. The Elf Queen would be very insulted if he didn’t request permission to enter her kingdom and then stop and pay his respects.”

  “What about us?” Ella asked nervously, considering the possibility that her visit to the Great Forest might entail more than just seeing the sights.

  “We’re not important. We can come and go as we please as long as we don’t break any of her laws.” Jarret wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Relax, Ella. We’re going to have an adventure. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  Ella swallowed her nervousness. She wanted to see the world, to explore all the places she had only read about. But there were so many things she didn’t know, so many possible mistakes she could make. She couldn’t remember what it meant to be fearless. She smiled wanly. “You promise?”

  “Cross my heart.” He grinned impishly. “Besides, I’m going to need you to help find Evangeline a husband.”

  “What?” Ella asked in surprise, her eyebrows climbing up at his statement.

  Jarret chuckled. “See, I have this ongoing bet with her that she will get married before I do. So you have to help me find her a husband.”

  “What do you win if she gets married first?” Ella asked curiously.

  Jarret waggled his eyebrows and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Her prize race horse.”

  “And if she wins?” Ella smiled at his antics.

  He let out an exaggerated sigh. “My southern vineyard. But” – he winked at her – “since I am likely to remain a permanent bachelor, I have nothing to fear.”

  “What makes you think I can help you find her a husband?” Ella fiddled with the string on the package she held.

  “Easy.” Jarret tousled her hair. “We are bound to meet other gentlemen on our travels. One of them is bound to catch her eye. I just need you to keep watch and let me know if there are any likely prospects.”

  Ella batted his hand away and rolled her eyes. “I suppose I could help. But” – she held up a warning finger – “you have to promise you won’t try to force love where it doesn’t exist.”

  Jarret planted a quick kiss on her cheek. “You’re the best, and I promise.” He danced out of the room.

  Ella giggled as she untied the package he had left with her. Inside it, she found a small, leather-bound journal. Curious, she opened the cover and found a note tucked in the front.

  ‘Dear Ella,

  I found this among my father’s things.

  I thought you might like to have it.

  – Jarret’

  She opened the journal to the middle and noticed her father’s precise and careful handwriting covering the pages. A lump formed in her throat, tears pricking in her eyes. She scanned the page, noticing that the date at the top was a few years before her mother had died. The entry recalled a picnic her mother had planned and the ensuing adventures as she and Jarret had wandered away and gotten lost. Her mother had been in a panic, sending servants out to scour the estate for the two of them. Her father described how proud he had been after she and Jarret had found a little cave where they had built a fire to dry off after falling in the creek. The memory formed as she read her father’s words of Jarret insisting there were trolls in the woods and the trek along the creek where they tumbled into the water.

  Ella carefully rewrapped the journal and tucked it into the saddlebag a servant dropped in her room the night before. She wanted to spend the day reading her father’s journal, but she knew that Evangeline was impatient to leave. Jarret’s reminder that the Prince could still be following them spurred her into action. She bathed and dressed in less than an hour. Jarret and Evangeline found her waiting patiently in front of the inn, reading the journal.

  “Interesting read?” Jarret asked coyly.

  Ella smiled up at him from her perch atop a tree stump. She shaded her eyes to get a better look at her friend. “Yes. This brings back so many memories.”

  “Good memories, I hope.” Jarret offered his hand to help her stand.

  “Mostly.” Ella took his hand, brushing debris from her pants as she stood. “Some of the entries are about my mother when she got sick.”

  Jarret squeezed her hand. “I know. I read it once, to see if it had anything in there about his fairy godmother.”

  Ella nodded, feeling tears and sorrow squeezing her throat. She pushed them aside, blinking a few times to clear the moisture that had formed in her eyes. She looked at the ground, fearful that looking at Jarret would cause her to lose her waning control.

  HE brushed his finger across her cheek, wiping away a stray tear that had escaped. “I miss her too,” he whispered.

  Ella nodded, unable
to trust herself to speak. She took his hand, squeezing it to let him know she appreciated his admission.

  “Well, I think it’s time we leave.” Evangeline’s chipper tone cut through the crisp morning air. “Mount up.”

  Ella walked over to her horse and accepted Jarret’s hand up as she climbed into the saddle. He squeezed her leg before walking over to his own horse and mounting. Ella’s thoughts turned back to the journal and all of the memories it had conjured up. She followed along on her horse lost in the memories of a time when life actually made sense.

  It was an idyllic spring morning. The sun beamed through the trees, making intricate, lacy patterns on the ground. Ella enjoyed the sounds of the birds chirping; she had rarely been able to enjoy just listening to sounds of nature. Her stepmother usually had her slaving away at chores from before the sun rose until well after it set at night. She turned her thoughts away from the sadness of the past and forward to the adventure that lay in front of her.

  9 – A PINCH OF FAIRY DUST

  Violet stamped her foot in frustration, growling as she watched the scene play out below her. This was just not going the way she had planned. First Ella had gotten herself kicked out of the house. Then she had ended up with the Leandres men, who bundled her up and took her off on some hare-brained adventure. Now the Prince was cooling his heels on the Leandres’ estate, and there was no way to tell when he would get bored and head home.

  She flittered along behind Ella, trying to keep up with the horses. She couldn’t afford to let Ella out of her sight.

  “What’cha doing?” Lavender’s annoying voice asked from a nearby tree.

  Violet sighed. Lavender was becoming very irritating since she kept following where she wasn’t wanted. “I’m keeping an eye on Ella,” Violet replied haughtily as she joined Lavender on the slender branch.

  Lavender sat with her feet dangling, kicking them slowly like a small child. “I can see that silly. But remember Rose’s rule.”

  Violet shrugged, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. She had not broken Rose’s edict to leave things be, at least not directly. “I haven’t interfered,” she stated, trying to sound calm.

  “Mm hmm. That’s why you were visiting the Prince.” Lavender held a finger up to her lips as if she were pondering a problem.

  Violet squirmed a little, avoiding her gaze, “I was just trying to give him a chance to find her.”

  Lavender giggled. “Of course you were, dear. But” – she held up her hand to stop any arguments from Violet –

  “Rose will consider any other actions by you to be inference.”

  Violet fumed. “I’m just watching her,” she grumbled.

  Lavender smiled tolerantly. “Yes, and that could lead to the temptation to interfere.”

  Violet stared down at the threesome as they disappeared around a bend in the road. She ground her teeth. Rose was so controlling. There was no reason to let the Leandres men get away with changing her spells. Ella’s best happily ever after was with the Prince. There was no way she was going to let Ella lose that. She would have to be very careful though; obviously Rose didn’t trust her and had assigned Lavender to spy on her.

  Violet sighed in defeat. “Alright, I give up.” She let her shoulders slump, pretending to accept Rose’s rule.

  Lavender squealed in delight. “Goodie. Now let’s go find a troll to annoy.”

  Violet rolled her eyes. “I’m just gonna sit here for a while.”

  Lavender eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t believe you.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  Violet shrugged. “Fine,” she sighed. “I’ll meet you at the troll cave. I just want to sit here for a minute and gather my thoughts.”

  Lavender watched her carefully. “Okay,” she said slowly. “You have fifteen minutes.” She nodded once and then flew off toward the troll caves.

  Violet sat there for a couple of minutes to make sure Lavender had actually left. She peeked around the tree, looking for her. When she was sure the coast was clear, she flew off after Ella. She flapped as fast as her wings would take her, leaving a trail of fairy dust sparkling in her wake. She pulled her wand from up her sleeve and gave it a little shake. It was difficult enough to cast a spell when standing on solid ground; casting a spell on the fly was going to be very tricky.

  The Leandres boy was riding alongside Ella, discussing something trivial and irrelevant. The blonde girl rode on the other side, laughing and commenting. Violet aimed her wand at Ella’s back, trying to steady her hand as she flew behind her.

  “Let’s see,” she muttered, her tongue stuck between her teeth, thinking up a perfect spell. “Pixie dust and fairy wings, make this girl’s heart sing. When next the Prince she meets, let true love’s kiss be sweet.” She waved her wand, tossing the spell at Ella’s back. At that moment the horses shifted, and the spell zinged into the other girl’s back.

  “Oh fiddle fart,” Violet cursed. This just made things infinitely more complicated. She flapped her wings faster, pulling a pinch of fairy dust out of the pouch at her waist. She tossed the fairy dust into the air, imagining the troll caves. She disappeared with a little pop, leaving a shimmer of dust in the air. There was no way of fixing the mess she had just made. Now Ella had competition for the Prince’s hand, and the worst part was the Prince would never pick Ella over the refined and beautiful Evangeline. Violet felt a tear creeping down her cheek. Rose had been right to ban her from interfering. Now things were so messed up there would never be a happily ever after for Ella.

  10 – THE GREAT FOREST

  Ella looked around in awe. Trees towered above her, climbing high into the air, their great trunks covered with moss and lichen. The trees were so close together she could no longer see the sky, their thick limbs entwining to create deep shade underneath. Ferns and moss covered the forest floor; tiny white flowers peeked up through the deep moss providing little bright spots among the luxuriant, green forest floor. She heard the birds high up in the branches and occasionally caught sight of a furry critter as it skittered across her path.

  Their destination was the city of Aurelia, the golden heart of the Elfin forest. It took very little time to reach the city gates once they entered the Great Forest. Ella stared at the tall, intricately woven silver gates set into the high snowy-white marble walls. She remembered hearing tales of the city and its beauty from her mother. The tales did not do it justice. The city sat high on a hill with the forest surrounding it like an ocean of green crashing up against the pristine walls.

  Wide avenues swept up toward the castle at the heart of the city, lined with carved marble buildings that resembled trees, waterfalls, and waves. Flowering trees full of fruit bordered delicate walkways, and herb gardens hid behind corners of buildings, wafting the sweet scents of lavender and rosemary to passersby. Intersections held magnificent fountains that filled the air with delicate music as water cascaded down chimes, landing gracefully in pools at the feet of beautiful statues. Trash did not litter the alleyways, and there were no beggars on street corners. The citizens moved at a leisurely pace through the city, nodding politely to each other, gathering in cafés and courtyards to debate philosophy or create works of art. No one was in a hurry, and everyone appeared content.

  Ella stopped, staring in amazement at a man seated near a fountain. He cupped his hands to catch a thin trail of water, glowing with silver light as it filled his palms. The water danced, twisting and turning, to the music of the fountain until it formed a crystalline bird perched upon a thin branch. The bird opened its delicate beak, trilling a heartbreaking song.

  Ella approached the man shyly, unsure of what to say. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  He smiled gently, holding the bird out to her for closer inspection. It was perfect in every detail. Ella held out a finger and carefully stroked the bird’s chest. The bird cocked its tiny head to the side, changing its mournful song to one of joy.

  “Here, take it. It would seem I made her f
or you.” The man offered the bird to Ella.

  Ella held her hand out hesitantly. “Thank you. What do I owe you?” The bird rested on her palm, turning to glass the second it touched her skin.

  The man gave her a quizzical look. “Nothing. I make these for any who pass by.” He smiled. “When you want her to sing again, simply stroke her like this.” He demonstrated by stroking the bird softly on her breast. The bird came back to life and began singing again. “To put her back to sleep, touch her on her back like so.” He carefully touched the bird between her wings, causing her to dip her head and return to her unanimated state.

  Ella repeated his gestures, amazed by the little bird’s response to her touch. “That’s amazing,” she breathed. The man dipped his hands back in the water and began to make another object. Ella turned to Jarret and Evangeline to show them what he had given her. “Look.” She held the bird out to Jarret and demonstrated what it could do.

  Evangeline clapped her hands in delight. “Ooo, that is so lovely. The last time I was here, I got a baby dragon hatching from its shell. I could watch it for hours.”

  Jarret laughed. “I’ve never gotten anything like that. Maybe he only gives them out to pretty girls.”

  The man chuckled, giving Jarret a small bow. “Of course, sir. It is the ladies who truly appreciate my work.”

  Jarret grinned. “It is fun to watch.” The man smiled with pleasure at the compliment and went back to his work. They watched for a while longer before moving on to find an inn.

  Jarret picked an inn shaped like an enormous oak tree, its branches spread out over a café. The trunk housed a door that led into a large room with a staircase that spiraled up the middle. The rooms were above, filling the trunk and then spreading out into the branches. Ella was surprised by how cozy the inside was. Thick carpets covered the floors, vivid tapestries lined the walls, and a large fireplace occupied the entire back wall, filling the room with warm, comforting light.