by Diana Flame
As the dawn brightened, and the sun began its slow ascent, light filtered through the trees. Sunbeams reflected from the dewy plants. Water droplets glistened like crystals, creating a breathtaking kaleidoscope of colors.
About an hour later, Cinderella stopped to breathe the fresh morning air. She could smell the oferacs and knew she was close the first bush. However, as always, she would venture further and picked her way back. She passed a few large bushes and went deeper into the green. The further she went the thicker the trees.
The crunching of dry leaves made her pull up short. They didn’t sound like her own steps. However, when she halted, the sounds stopped. Looking around her, she tried to make out anyone following her in the early morning light, but saw nothing.
As soon as she moved off again she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. The crunch of dry leaves was evident that she not alone. Deciding on not going deeper into the woods, she stopped at the next oferac patch.
With tremoring hands, she quickly pulled as many of the sweet fruits as she could and placed them in her basket. No use leaving the forest without the precious fruit, she told herself. Her fingers felt cold while heat burned her belly and her heart thumped heavily, a sure sign she was afraid. However, she continued picking, not wanting to reveal her fear.
A light breeze rustled the dry leaves on the forest floor, but the trees remained still. A chill ran up Cinderella’s spine as her eyes darted around. She knew of the legend of the forest, that many creatures resided there, including magical beings and ghosts.
She turned and there before her was a shadow hovering mid-air. Was it a ghost? Her breath caught as her hand trembled with the basket. Gripping the handle tightly she faced the thing. She would not let it scare her, even though her heartbeat deafened her.
“Who is't art thee? What art thee?” she asked in a quivering voice.
Trying to remain calm, she stared at the shadow as it quickly vanished into the air. Letting out a breath, Cinderella started moving along the path she came.
With wobbly knees, she hastened her steps as much as she could. She found she was breathing heavily and her heart hadn’t calmed. When she had trotted a long way, she paused to catch her breath. Her legs couldn’t carry her much further either. She leaned against a tree, closing her eyes only for a second.
When her breathing slowed and her heart rate returned to almost normal, she opened her eyes. Cinderella was about to move off, but her heart skipped a beat, before galloping down the path. Her mouth opened for a scream, but nothing came.
The blood drained from Cinderella’s head upon making contact with big wide yellow eyes, brown fir and large snout. Her eyes widened, then she felt herself slowly sinking to the leafy forest floor. Blackness descended as her eyes closed. The last thing she saw were the eyes of a humungous bear an inch away from her face.
* * *
“Thy wish hast cometh true. But he won’t consume that lady, not the way thee wanteth,” Olga giggled.
“How so?”
“Just ye watch.”
Both pairs of eyes stared at the images in the water, watching as the large brown bear lifted Cinderella and started moving through the denser area of the forest. When it was some distance in, it paused at a large thicket. Looking around, the animal then made a step towards the golden lily bush.
A puff of wind swirled the colorful leaves upward. The wind speed tripled, stirring the leaves in a circular motion. The circle widened in front of the bear creating a vortex. The circular entryway gaped giving a hint that some place different existed beyond. When it was wide enough, the bear stepped through, after which the hole closed as though nothing was there.
“Well I’ll be,” Olga exclaimed. “I kneweth it!”
“What?”
Olga rolled her eyes at her younger sister. “Thou knowest nothin’, dost thee? That’s the portal to the Enchant’d Kingdom.”
Isolde’s eyes bulged. “The Enchanted Kingdom?”
“Aye. The Enchant'd Kingdom might not but be enshielf within Black Thorn. This bear wilt be charm'd to moveth back and forth through worlds. Haply, he’s not very much a bear.”
“Not a bear?”
“It couldst be the creature.”
Isolde looked confused. “The creature?”
“Yes, the child monster who is't did disappear a long time ago.”
Isolde could not believe it. “Aye, everyone knoweth the story. But some sayeth t’is not true, yond Tobyn is Reginald’s real son,” Isolde commented.
“Ha, they be wrong.”
It started many moons ago. The story had it that King Reginald’s third cousin was the only existing relative to the royal family. Should anything happen to the king, his cousin Hughoc would be king. Hughoc tried everything to get rid of the king, even rising the people against Reginald, but he could not oust him because the people loved King Reginald. Hughoc even tried poisoning him, but failed.
When the queen, Grizelda was with child two years later, Hughoc saw that his plans to get rid of the king may not happen and an heir was about to be born. The evil cousin employed the services of the most powerful witch in all the land of Taucia to get rid of the child. She could not kill the infant.
She casted many spells but nothing worked. Then she casted one last spell that would see that the baby boy would be banished from the kingdom like he never existed. The king and queen kept him hidden in a secret room in the palace. The story had it that while locked in the secret room, the fays administered to him. When the child was ten years old, he disappeared. Everyone believed that the pixies took him away.
“Those meddling creatures,” Isolde cursed. “They interfere in everything. But the prince, the king swears he is the coronet prince and Reginald’s son.”
“I canst not be sure, but I believeth the real prince is out thither somewhere, and yond knave in the palace is an imposter. The king hast fool'd the people and if it be true yond knave is did accept as coronet prince, then Hughoc shall has't control of Izadel until his dying day. Word has't yond he did sell his soul to Marge in exchange f'r longevity.”
It took a long time for the previous king and queen to die. Marge casted her evil spell to make them sick for a long time while Hughoc took control of the management of Izadel affairs. The queen could bear no more children and they both died five years ago.
“I knoweth the story well, but is the bear the coronet prince?”
“Haply, I knoweth not.”
“It doesn’t matter. It means anon the bear hast did capture Cinderella, I can returneth to the house. Oh aye,” Isolde twirled, her coat falling from her shoulder. “I has't to wend, the ball is tomorrow.”
“Wait!”
“What? I toldeth thee, I doth not has't wage.”
“Thither might not be a ball.”
Isolde gave her a sharp look. “What dost thou sayest?”
“Prince Tobyn hast hath found a bride… and hath lost that lady. So anon he searcheth f’r that lady.”
“How doth thee knoweth this?”
“I keepeth gaze on everythin’, unlike somebody I knoweth,” Olga replied, eyeballing her from the corner of her eye.
Waving her hand over the stone bowl, a light breeze troubled the water once more. Olga and Isolde stood trancelike, staring into the bowl as the images slowly materialized. The royal soldiers were going about the kingdom with a sketch of a woman, knocking down doors and inquiring about her.
“I wish to behold that lady’s visage ,” Isolde requested. “Prithee.”
“Very well.”
Olga blew upon the surface and the image zoomed, bringing up one of the soldiers holding the portrait in his hand. Isolde gasped, as the face of Cinderella presented itself.
“Nay!” she staggered back. “Nay!”
“Aye, me sista, t’is so.”
“Thou has't to doeth something. The lady canst not be queen!”
Olga cackled. “Thou seemest like thou art about to taketh a shit, ha-
ha. Thee shouldst see thy own visage!”
“Thee has't to prevent yond from happening.”
“The bear did get that lady, didst ye forget?”
“Oh aye. Olga, doeth one thing,” Isolde gripped her sister’s shoulder. “Maketh me to be like that lady.”
Olga threw her head back and roared with laughter. She could barely get the words out in her next sentence. “Nay charm can maketh thee appeareth yond quite quaint (beautiful).”
“Thou art cruel and jealous just because thou be not as quaint as I.”
“Jealous, of a mistress who is't can’t hold a sir? Depart from hither!”
“Prithee, giveth me something to attract the prince and at which hour I becometh queen, I shall maketh thee rich. I knoweth thee can holp me. Thou art the most powerful beldams in all of the land.”
Olga smiled. “Well, if it be true ye putteth it yond way.”
Chapter 4
Cinderella’s eyes fluttered open. Slowly, the haze cleared and she became fully awake. For a moment, she had no inkling where she was and thought she was in her own bed. The place where she slept was soft and warm and smelled of lavender.
Something felt different from what she was accustomed. What she now laid in was soft cushiony fur, but there were no furs on her bed. Her eyes widened and darted around.
“Whither is this lodging?” she muttered, springing from the bed.
Still looking around, she made out candles in the center of the floor, illuminating the space. The walls were grey rock as well as the floor. The large circular chamber was definitely a cave. Realizing this, Cinderella made a mad dash for the entrance when she collided with something hard. The impact threw her off balance and someone reached out to steady her.
The grip on her upper arms was firm. Looking down she noticed how long the fingers were. Her eyes traveled upward, along lean forearms and bulging triceps. Moving along broad shoulders, her heart drumming a slow heavy beat. She cruised defined pectorals then lowered to muscled torso.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she thought she must have been dreaming. Stepping back and cracking one eye open, she peeked to see if the figure was still there. A sharp intake of breath resulted from what she saw. It was a man’s protruded member… erect and pointing directly at her. Her heart galloped as her cheeks burned.
Unwittingly, her hands came up to shield her eyes as a blood curdling scream wrenched from her.
“Prithee, I shall not harm thee,” a rich smooth voice said.
Halting her screams, she counted from one to ten, inhaled deeply and moved one hand. He was still there. Inadvertently, she cruised his muscular physique. By the time she reached his face, she’d stopped breathing. His strong chin jutted sharply. Her eyes moved along his angular jaw, noticing his stubble. Long loose brown hair fell below his shoulders.
She was almost afraid to continue her perusal as she thought this was an apparition. Nevertheless, if she was in the presence of an ‘apparition’ in birthday suit, she must know who he was and what he wanted. She’d also have to fight to the death if the need should arise.
Continuing her examination, she rested on his aquiline nose. Then her eyes darted upwards, connecting with cobalt blue ones. His eyes held hers that she felt trapped by them. Startled at the magnetic effect between them, she stumbled backwards.
“Who is't art thee?” she asked, her voice hoarse and her breathing short.
“I am Galien, and thou art Cinderella.”
His warm tone was unintimidating. Cinderella was taken by surprise that he knew her name. This made her wary. Galien was standing there in the nude as though it was the most natural thing.
“How dost thou knoweth mine own name?” she demanded, backing away.
“I knoweth many things,” was his cryptic reply.
“Would thou be so kind as to put on thy robe?”
With a bashful smile he turned away, picking up what appeared to be a wrap made of sheep skin. His large hands worked nimbly to cover himself, tying a knot at his narrow hip.
Cinderella had never seen a more beautiful specimen, but she was beginning to feel caged in. He was standing in the entrance and she wanted to leave. The small twinge of fear that kept twining its way to the surface was making her jittery.
“Am I thy prisoner?”
He quickly shook his head. “Nay, thou art not mine own captive.”
“Then, alloweth me passage.”
“Stayeth a while, I gage thou art safe hither.”
“Whither am I?”
Galien’s eyes twinkled, his luscious lips curving into a sunny smile. “The Enchanted Forest… at the edge of the Enchanted Kingdom, of course.”
Cinderella’s mouth hung. How was that possible? From what she understood, the enchanted forest was not in her dimension and was unseen by human eyes.
“Nay, yond is impossible,” she voiced her thoughts.
Galien moved close to her and she backed away, her back hitting the rocky wall.
“Doth not cometh any closer,” she warned, holding out her hand defensively. “Stayeth whither thou art.”
Looking around for an escape, she estimated the distance from where she stood to the entryway. He was blocking her path, his height also towering by about three heads. Her eyes traveled over him once more, coming to rest on a leather string around his neck, from it dangled a glistening gem matching the color of his eyes.
“I shall not harm thee,” he said. “But I doth not lie, this is the Enchanted Forest. I shall prove it to thee.”
“I needeth to wend home,” she said. Then a memory flashed through her mind. “Didst thou save me from the bear?”
“I gage thee, so long as thou art hither thee shall be safe,” was his reply.
“Cease from making me promises.” Cinderella’s voice raised a few decibels. “I am in need of leave, out of mine own way!”
“I cannot.” He inched closer.
There was nowhere she could run as he stood less than an arm’s breadth away, blocking her departure. Taking a lock of her hair, he brushed it against his own cheeks. His eyes toured her face and Cinderella swore she could feel the heat of them scorching her skin.
“Thou art much fairer than what the fairies toldeth me,” he murmured.
“Prithee,” she squeaked, her breath shallow. “Setteth me free.”
“Not until I has't did taste of thy lips,” he whispered.
Chapter 5
Prince Tobyn growled in frustration. Was she an illusion? No, he could still feel the soreness in his crotch where she slammed him with her knee. It hurt like nothing he’d ever experienced, but he could forgive her anything.
After having her images drawn, he sent his soldiers to search every home in Izadel. Anxious, to have her found, he’d asked the lower contingent commander to gather as many men as possible for the search. He was now conversing with the leader.
“Thou might not but findeth that lady,” he told the commander of the lower rank.
His name was Markus, a strapping young soldier about two years Tobyn’s senior who towered him by a head. Markus’ dark eyes perused him sharply, which always annoyed Tobyn.
“Thy Highness,” Markus said. “We has't did search every home in the kingdom. The lady is nowhere to be hath found.”
“Couldst the lady perchance be Padianite?”
“Pray pardon me, Thy Highness, but we cannot search the homes of the Padian kingdom. We doth not has't yond right.”
“Sendeth a message to the King Lutcher, beseeching his assistance.”
The commander of the guard shuffled. “My Prince, we might not but seek permission from King Hughoc, thy father, ere we can sendeth out a message to Padian. Yond is the law.”
“Then has't it done!”
“Then thy parents shall knoweth of thy plan to cancel the ball.”
Tobyn grimaced. “Thou art correct. We wilt findeth a way. Can we bribe someone from Padian to holp us, discreetly?”
“I shall check on yond f’r
thee,” the commander said with a bow.
The prince was not pleased. How could she disappear so quickly? Who was she and where was she hiding? She’d ran away without telling him her name. He would order another search before the ball following night.
“Search all the homes once again. Maketh sure they are not hiding anyone. Bid those folk the lady is not a criminal. They may be hiding that lady because thee has't intimidated those folk.”
“Aye, Thy Highness.”
“Taketh with thee gifts and payment. Bid those folk the prince wishes to have meeting with that lady.”
With that order, the commander left. Tobyn was nervous about what the king and queen expected of him. In addition to singing and dancing and doing all the princely things, he was anxious about some secret test.
His parents hadn’t yet told him about it, but rumor had it that once he was married, he would need to pass the princely test in order to be accepted by the people of the land. It was not something that Hughoc could get around since the land of Izadel belonged to the Kingdom League of Seven.
He must pass some stupid test and be approved by the Seven priests or risk being banished. In Tobyn’s mind, that was stupid. If he was his father’s son, then what was the problem? Why did he need to do some random test that he knew nothing about?
Forget the test, his immediate worry was somewhat vain. What if they did not find this girl and he had to sing and dance to entertain the females. Which lady would want to marry him knowing he had two left feet and he could not hold a note to save his life? He would become a laughing stock.
All he needed to do was convince her before the ball and then he would not need to entertain the others. He would think about the test when the time came for that. In his mind, there was no way he could fail.
* * *
Isolde dressed in the robe her sister fixed with the special spices and used the potion she gave her as perfume. Her makeup was splendidly applied and she was ready to fool the prince when the soldiers knocked the door. She knew the soldiers already searched for Cinderella, but if the prince was serious, he’d search once more. She was counting on the fact that the Prince did not know Cinderella prior to this. It seemed that no one informed the prince of the name of the one he sought.
