Mad Ella's Cinder Syndrome - A Fractured Fairy Tale
by Ann Durand
by Ann Durand
Gislhere rose in disgust, her upper lip curling as her grown stepsister wiped the ashes over her face and
clothes like a small child playing with finger paint.
“Really Ella,” she said coolly. “Must you display such vulgarity?”
“Ooh! It’s so soft!” Ella cooed, rubbing a handful into her hair.
“I’ve never known anyone to insist on cleaning the chimney as you do. It’s simply bizarre.”
Ella giggled. “You try it, too, Gislhere! See?!” She held out a fistful of fluffy gray powder.
Gislhere turned stiffly and exited the room, wishing that this ill-mannered daughter of her mother's husband
would try just a little harder. Gislhere’s full-blooded twin, Ingild, met her at the doorway. They locked arms and
headed for the dressing room.
“I tried,” Gislhere moaned. “She doesn’t listen.”
“She’s such an embarrassment,” Ingild said, nodding.
“Yesterday, I took her to Etheldreda’s tea party at the lovely Caerphilly Castle, and even there, she would not
refrain…”
Gislhere gasped. “You mean…?”
Ingild nodded solemnly. “She disappeared and soon after, Etheldreda noticed her absence. Naturally, I
jumped up, volunteering to find and return her to the gathering, but all the ladies present insisted on
accompanying me.”
“Nooooo…”
“Yes, and as surely as a pig will snort, we found her inside, sitting in all her cinder splendor, smearing ashes
over the new dress I’d bought her for the party…and in the middle of the hearth for everyone to see.”
As Gislhere pondered the gravity of this scene, a silence settled between the sisters.
Finally, Gislhere spoke. “It’s a serious addiction—one that will endear her to nobody.”
“Such a shame. She’s actually quite pretty when she’s clean.”
“Which is next to never,” Gislhere added. “No one will ever marry her, and that means we must care for her
until our deaths!”
“It’s enough to frighten off our own suitors,” Ingild lamented.
“What is to become of us, dear sister?” Gislhere asked.
“Perhaps I should have accepted Prince Cuthbert’s proposal of marriage. Now, it is too late, and his Ball
tonight holds little attraction for me.”
“And why should it?” Ingild’s voice held an indignant tone. “You were not in love with him. He could not bear
the rejection. Now, he’s giving this Ball to spite you.”
“No, he is not.”
“Consider it, Gislhere. He asks you to marry him, and you refuse. The next week, he taxes our household at
triple the rate. Is that not a man scorned? Then, he announces he will choose a maiden from the Ball tonight
to marry. Tell me, what does he intend?”
“He merely intends to find a bride, Ingild.”
“If he doesn’t wish to punish you, then why did he order you to attend the Ball? No other maiden received a
summons…only invitations.”
“I don’t know…”
Before Gislhere finished her musings, a screech pierced the air from the foyer. The sisters hitched up their
skirts and scurried as fast as they were able toward it. They found their mother, Clothidle, next to the open
door, gripping an unfurled scroll of parchment.
“What is it Mother?” they chorused.
“I’ve been assigned work in the castle…starting tomorrow…as a scullery maid! Oh dreadful day! Why? What
have I done to deserve this brutal treatment?” She pressed the parchment to her bosom and wailed.
Gislhere and Ingild exchanged glances.
“Do you still think his only intention is to find a bride?” Ingild asked as she wrapped her arms around their
anguished mother.
* * *
two years later
Prince Cuthbert approached Gislhere on the path with his head and shoulders drooping—a defeated man if
ever she’d seen one.
Gislhere curtsied low. “Greetings, Your Highness. I do hope you’re faring well.”
The Prince merely grunted. Gislhere maintained her curtsy, but when he did not acknowledge her, she
straightened herself and looked directly into his eyes, smiling boldly.
“I say, dear Prince. How are you?”
“Miserable. You know bloody well that I am miserable. How could I have known? You did not warn me about
her.”
“Warn you? Whatever do you mean? The entire kingdom could see that you were in love.”
Prince Cuthbert snorted. “In love? No. I sought only to make you jealous by marrying your sister.”
“Stepsister,” she corrected him. He looked at her, his face weary. “Does she offend you, Prince?” Gislhere
raised her fan to hide her smirk.
“Offend me? No, why should wallowing in ashes offend me? Stuffing them under her clothes so they spill into
our bedchamber? Endearing!” The Prince paused and lowered his voice. “There is something worse. Would
you care to know?”
Gislhere gave a polite nod, and he continued, waving his arms.
“She insists that a fairy godmother waits on her! She believes this witless woman is responsible for getting
us together. Got her a dress, she tells me… and a coach.” The Prince shook his head in exasperation. “Not
only is your sister a filthy mess, but she’s completely mad!”
He drew in a deep breath. “Look, I’ve returned your mother to your household to show my appreciation for
your services in tempering Ella’s addictions. Upon my bequest, my father has awarded you much new
acreage. Suitors now line up on your threshold...won’t you please help me once more? I need you to
convince my wife that a fairy godmother in a bright green dress with purple trim does not materialize from the
ether to grant her every whim!” His voice had increased in both volume and pitch.
Gislhere lowered the fan and smiled demurely. “I’ll see what I can do.” The Prince nodded and hastened past
her.
Gislhere waited until he was far down the path before she loosened her long coat and pulled out an old lady
mask hidden in the folds of her dress—her favorite dress these days—the green one with the delicate
lavender trim lining the bodice and sleeves. She would hang it up, retire it, along with the mask...at least for a
while. It was time to give poor Cuthbert a rest.
A Promise to Keep
a suspense with romantic elements
by Ann Durand
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
a suspense with romantic elements
by Ann Durand
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
____________________________________________________________________
The Muse On Writing, Edited by Lea Schizas
Kathe Gogolewski wrote the chapter on
Finding Your Voice in Writing
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
Kathe Gogolewski wrote the chapter on
Finding Your Voice in Writing
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
BIO - Ann Durand has written two books: A Promise to
Keep, a romantic suspense, was released from Double
Dragon Publishing in February, 2005. The other, TATO, is a
fantasy adventure for middle grade readers and will be
released in November, 2005 from Wings Press under the
name, Kathe Gogolewski. Ann is also the Romance Editor
for the new ezine for writers, The Muse Marquee and will
head up the column, Heart Beat.
Writing under the name Kathe Gogolewski, Ann is has won
contests for her short stories with Storyteller Magazine and
The Writer’s Journal, The Complete Writer’s Magazine.
Her short stories and poems have been published by
Penwomanship, JacoByte Books, and Long Story Short.
.
She has contributed to two anthologies: One, The Muse on
Writing, is due for release from Double Dragon Publishing in
2006. She wrote the chapter Finding and Writing in Your
Own Voice. She also wrote a chapter for the anthology
Spiritual Visitations due from Zumaya Publications in 2008.
Keep, a romantic suspense, was released from Double
Dragon Publishing in February, 2005. The other, TATO, is a
fantasy adventure for middle grade readers and will be
released in November, 2005 from Wings Press under the
name, Kathe Gogolewski. Ann is also the Romance Editor
for the new ezine for writers, The Muse Marquee and will
head up the column, Heart Beat.
Writing under the name Kathe Gogolewski, Ann is has won
contests for her short stories with Storyteller Magazine and
The Writer’s Journal, The Complete Writer’s Magazine.
Her short stories and poems have been published by
Penwomanship, JacoByte Books, and Long Story Short.
.
She has contributed to two anthologies: One, The Muse on
Writing, is due for release from Double Dragon Publishing in
2006. She wrote the chapter Finding and Writing in Your
Own Voice. She also wrote a chapter for the anthology
Spiritual Visitations due from Zumaya Publications in 2008.
copyright TRI Studio LLC 2005
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| MAD ELLA'S CINDER SYNDROME by Ann Durand TRI STUDIO BOOKS LLC |
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