#➳ 𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 & 𝑠𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 ➳ ; 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 ; ❨tales❩

[starsallalight]

@ve1ljumpers : Ella & John

Keen hazel eyes scanned over him. His face, his posture, his clothes. He was lying, something in the back of her mind told her. But it was faint, soft as a spring breeze.

With every passing day since she'd woken up after the accident, it seemed that he lost a bigger and bigger piece of himself. Sunk further and further into himself. Ella may not have spoken much since then, but it didn't mean she didn't see. Just because she was quiet didn't mean she didn't observe, as she always had.

And she could only imagine that this was so very hard for him. After all, she'd been told her that they were married. That she was mistress of this house. He was her husband and she his wife. But she had no idea. She couldn't remember the wedding. She couldn't remember the house. She couldn't remember him or their time together. She couldn't even remember the accident. It seemed that the last thing she could remember was coming to Milton with the Tremaines. Everything after that was a fog. Not to mention her stepmother and the girls were nowhere to be found; though even if they were, they certainly wouldn't try to help her put the pieces back into place.

It couldn't be easy watching someone you loved so deeply hurt, only to have them wake and not remember you. Of course he wouldn't want her near. It was very painful for him. She could understand and empathize with that.

"Mr. Thornton," she began before quickly correcting herself. "John, I... I know this must be very difficult for you..."

Rubbing her lips together, and aware of her staring, she lowered her gaze. "I am trying to remember..."

[starsallalight]

@lucianasolaria sent : "I was just admiring your gardens. They're beautiful, reminds me of home, of walking in the gardens with my grandmother."

Smiling as she came up to the garden entrance herself, the queen gazed around before turning back to the princess.

"Yes. They're quite peaceful, aren't they? I spent a lot of time here myself when I first came to the palace. Taking care of a garden, at least, was about the only thing that was familiar. I'm glad they can give you a taste of home as well."

[starsallalight]

@amaranthblooms sent : "Hello, Your Grace, I am Leanora your new lady-in-waiting." When Leanora's mother had heard she had earned a place as the new princess' lady-in-waiting Madame de la Tour had been over the moon. Since the Mystery Princess had been found many courtiers were clamoring to get in to the future queen's good graces.

Smiling softly at the young woman, Ella couldn't quite resist the instinct to curtsy and bow her head. She needed to get better at remembering that she was no longer required to do so. She'd already earned quite strange looks from several of the older ladies this morning, and even seen a few of the lords whispering as she approached.

"It's very nice to meet you. Rosamund has told me about you. I hope we can be good friends too, like she and I seem to be on the path to becoming."

[starsallalight]

@havecourageandkindness sent : "What do you think of your new ladies-in-waiting?"

"Rosamund and Leanora are wonderful. They're like the sisters Lady Tremaine's daughters never were. Daphne is very kind and considerate. She almost reminds me of how Flora and Helen were with me when I was girl. And Beatrice is very patient with me. She doesn't push and she's willing to let me try things my own way." Ella answered surely before pausing and giving a slight sigh. "I worry sometimes that I'm disappointing Prudence, though. That I don't meet her expectations. She's never cruel, but she can be quite stern if I'm not doing what she feels I should."

[starsallalight]

With a soft hum, Ella closed her eyes. As a little girl, she thought she knew her parents so well. She'd thought them on the same level as the perfect, infallible heroes from stories. But now she knew that they were just people who had tried their best. They'd make their mistakes and had bad choices the same as anyone else.

Her father may have been misguided to fall in love with and trust Lady Tremaine. But she knew that he never would have wanted her to live the life she'd had under her stepmother's thumb. He wouldn't begrudge her breaking free. He'd have wanted her to be happy. To be safe.

"He would have." Ella promised and assured her husband. "He'd be so glad that I'm happy. That I'm safe. Loved. That was all he ever wanted, I think. I just hope your father didn't think me too presumptuous for what I said to him at the ball... I was always so worried about that."

The confession was colored by a timid giggle. After all, she had admittedly spoken out of turn, after almost crashing into the late king in her rush to get away from the palace before the spell broke.

@starsallalight liked for a starter with Kit

"Ella, Darling, I have a present for you." Kit said, he'd just come from a meeting about their impending nuptials, and now seemed as good a time as any to give Ella his gift.

"Close your eyes."

[starsallalight]

@familyxxdutyxxhonor sent : ‘ shh. ’

"Ada?" Ella weakly stammered. Her head ached, and it hurt to blink. What had happened? She'd been on her way to the garden, to have lunch with her husband, her sister and her brother-in-law, and Rosamund. And that was the last thing she remembered.

What happened? And where was Kit?

"Kit... Wh-Where's Kit?"

[starsallalight]

@familyxxdutyxxhonor sent : "Lavender's green, dilly dilly; lavender's blue," Adara sang softly, gently running her fingers through her little sister's hair. "If you love me, dilly dilly, I will love you..."

Sniffling as she lay in her sister's lap, Ella curled her fingers gently into the fabric of Dara's skirts; a habit she'd had since childhood, during the few times her golden innocence gave way to distress.

"Do you think they're together again, Ada? Truly?"

She couldn't bear the thought that their parents hadn't been reunited. Hadn't been able to find each other in that next place. It was the only way that she could make it through this, knowing that her father was truly happy and at peace again because he was with his beloved first wife once more.

[starsallalight]

@amantesmultorum : Ella & Kit

"I guess I'm just nervous." Ella sighed, giving her husband's arm a light squeeze. "I've never left our little island before. And I've certainly never gone on a diplomatic visit before. I'm anxious about doing a good job. Anxious about being on the sea. I can't swim, and I'm afraid that if I happen to start sleepwalking again, I'll wander right off the ship."

[starsallalight]

His sympathy was a great comfort, and reminded Ella of her own father. It left a full ache in her heart to think of him, but she knew that he was at peace now. That he'd found her mother and was happy- truly happy- once more.

"Oh!" The girl gasped in surprise. "Oh, I've done nothing, sire. If anything, Kit has been of far more help to us than we, or I, have been to him. I fear I've been nothing but a burden to him, if I'm to be honest. I'm sure there are those who look down on him for wanting to make a commoner, the near penniless daughter of a minor noble, his bride and future queen."

If she'd known, or realized, who he was that day in the glade... Would she have changed anything? Deep in her heart, Ella knew the answer on her end was no. She loved the prince, more than she'd ever thought it could be possible to love another person. But if it were in her power, she probably would have tried to change things v so that it wouldn't be so hard on Kit, and by extension, his father.

@starsallalight liked for a canon Disney muse starter

"So the mystery princess has been found," the old king said with a warm smile upon greeting Ella at the castle shortly after her return. "Its wonderful to meet you officially, my dear, and to welcome you to our family. Kit has told me a lot about you."

[starsallalight]

@familyxxdutyxxhonor sent : “no one’s ever going to hurt you again. i promise you that on everything i believe in.”

Try as she might, Ella couldn't find the words to either thank or properly respond to her aunt. It hurt more than she'd expected... If she didn't know better, she could almost trick herself into thinking that it was her mother come back to life.

And thinking of mother now, knowing that she'd failed to keep her promises... Well, that made everything so much harder.

"I'll work for my keep." She swore instead, as that seemed like what she should say. "I won't be a burden on you, aunt."

[starsallalight]

@happinessnamed : Ella & Felicity

"Oh, Felicity! I knew you'd come." Ella beamed, reaching her arms out to hug her old friend, as if they'd seen each other only last week and not years ago. "It's so good to see you again. You've been well, I hope?"

[starsallalight]

@amantesmultorum : Ella & Marcel

"I do hope you'll forgive me, sir," The queen began with a timid smile. "if I was frightened of you at first. Rosamund's told me about you. Kit and Camila as well. But I'm afraid when you came across us in the garden, I didn't know that it was you. I'd been told you fell in battle, you see. And everything happened so fast..."

Rosamund seemingly going into a trance, Kit running up, calling for them, and freezing himself. Rosamund fainting, and the rush to get her seen to. It had all been a little too much for Ella to handle, especially given she was still adjusting to a life free of abuse but full of new responsibilities and duties.

But now things had calmed down. She'd had time to reconcile the fact that the stranger who'd startled her husband and friend so was a friend, not a foe, and Ella felt increasingly guilty about that initial fear. "I hope you'll allow us to start over? To let us be friends?"

[starsallalight]

"Oh, you don't have to do that!" Ella insisted, despite being sure it would fall on deaf ears. After all, it had with Rosamund.

And as agreeable and kind as she usually was, that girl could be right stubborn when she set her mind to it. Rather like Kit.

Ella was beginning to wonder if her husband had called in her ladies to be extra supportive and available, given that this would be her first time running things in her own while he was away.

"But if you'd really like to, feel free. Rosamund insisted on making cookies and picking up this special candy she said you, her, and Kit adored that I 'absolutely have' to try."

❛  do you want to come over and watch movies tonight? i could use some company.  ❜ {Ella & Lea} @starsallalight

Leanora smiled, she and her sisters had movie nights but that wasn't the same as watching movies with a friend not to mention a queen. But the sound of a movie night with Ella sounded amazing.

"I'll bring snacks, is there anything specific you want?"

[starsallalight]

@magicalbeings sent : [STAR] The sender and receiver discuss constellations and share stories under the night sky.

Turning her head to gaze over at him, Ella smile peacefully. Kit had promised to make this night special, and he certainly had. A moonlit picnic and cuddling under the stars was something right out of a book! The fact that there was a meteor shower that night only made it better.

"Tonight has been wonderful. Thank you." She whispered tenderly as she brushed the back of his hand with her fingertips.

[starsallalight]

@familyxxdutyxxhonor sent : ‘ you’ll have to get through me first… ‘

Biting her lip while her eyes traveled to and fro between the lords, Ella's hazel eyes teared up and she cradled her middle protectively.

She still wasn't quite used to anyone besides her brothers and Kit coming to her defense, and part of her still feared any ill befalling those who did try to defend her; despite the fact that her stepmother and the former Grand Duke were far away and unable to sink their claws into her life any longer.

Ella longed to find Edward or Kit, and seek comfort and safety in their arms. But she had to learn to stick up for herself again. For Declan's sake. For her unborn child's sake...

[starsallalight]

@magicalbeings sent : "You look beautiful."

Turning from the mirror, Ella's smile grew. "It's not too much?" She asked, looking down to smooth out the skirt of her wedding gown.

It was true that this dress was much more to her style than the gown her fairy godmother had given her for the ball. But still. Ella wasn't used to silk and organza, let alone one that was hand painted! She had hoped that Kit would like it, but she was worried that it was all too extravagant for the likes of her.