Cinderellion (bxb)

Epilogue: The Hazel Tree

Henri and I walked through the gardens of the palace at dusk. I had a cane in my hand, helping me walk without pain. I hated myself more than ever for not getting my ankle properly set.

It had been about four months since Lord Tremaine had been hung for his crimes, and life was so peaceful. I had never realized how stressed I was, it had just become my life. All consuming and taxing on both mind and body. Being at peace was an amazing feeling that I never wanted to let go.

I didn't go to Lord Tremaine's execution. I wasn't interested in seeing him at all, and I definitely wasn't interested in watching someone die.

I had gotten my inheritance from Drury not long after his father's hanging. It was enough for me to live comfortably with for the rest of my life. I was so thankful to Mother for it.

I was staying with Henri at the palace, mostly in his room, though I had my own in The Prince's Wing. Everyone thought we were just best friends, very few knew our actual relationship. But we were completely fine with it. We would have to hide it for the rest of our lives, but if it meant being with him, I was happy.

We knew that Henri would have to get married to a woman, to have a queen to carry on his line. I didn't like it, but I would have to deal with it. Henri liked me, he would never have anything more than platonic love for his future bride, and I trusted him.

I was excited for the future.

I looked around at the garden as the sun was setting, my shaky thumb absentmindedly rubbing the glass-bird that made the head of my cane. It was a beautiful place, my favourite one out of the whole palace. Henri's too.

"I really like these flowers," Henri said, holding a red rose carefully in his hand.

I snorted. "That's so generic."

He pouted at me. "They're pretty, and they mean 'passion'. I like that."

"Of course you do, because you are so passionate." I said this sarcastically.

He frowned. "I am passionate. I'm passionate about my kingdom. And about you," he said with a smirk.

I made a gagging noise and he laughed. He took his time snapping off the rose and then handing it to me. I took it with my still shaky hands and cursed when a thorn drew blood. My hands were always shaky now, and I could barely do anything with them without them hurting. The palace physician said that they would likely be like this for the rest of my life, but If I continued to use them regularly in small increments, they would get stronger.

Henri laughed as I sucked on my wounded finger and then angrily picked off all the thorns.

We walked around for a bit; I didn't let go of the rose until my hand got a bit tired, so I put it in my shirt instead. Henri sent me a sweet smile when he saw I wasn't letting go of the flower. Damn him.

A few minutes later, I saw a tree that looked familiar. It was really more of a large bush with bright green, fuzzy looking leaves, and light brown nuts growing among them.

A hazel tree...

****

My mother walked up to me as I played in the backyard. She had a small tree in her delicate hands, the roots wrapped in a burlap.

"Look what I've got, Elli."

I looked up at her sweet voice. "A tree?" I asked.

"It's a hazel tree sapling." She knelt down next to me and placed it in front of us. "Look at how cute it is."

"Trees can't be cute. They're trees!"

My mother laughed, and the sound overjoyed me. My mother had rarely laughed since father had died, and it had gotten worse since she married

Stepfather. I was always joking to try and make her laugh, I wanted her to be happy, not sad.

"Well, I think its adorable. Of course, not as adorable as you." She caressed my chubby cheek. "Hazel trees are my favourite tree; did you know that?"

"No. Why?"

"Because they make Hazelnuts! And I love hazelnut snacks."

"Really? Like those cookies that we used to eat at the old house?"

"Yes! And when this tree is big, it will grow the hazelnuts, and we can make cookies again."

"Yay!"

Mother laughed again, I grinned at the sound.

"Now, let's plant this, Elli. Can you fetch the shovel for me?"

I ran to get the shovel and when I got back Mother was standing in a different spot. I went over to her eagerly.

She looked up and smiled at me. Her blue eyes were tinged with a lingering sadness beneath the joy and calm. "This looks like a good place to plant it, doesn't it, Elli?" I nodded. "Good, hand me the shovel."

I did, and I watched as she quickly tied her brown hair back with a ribbon before digging a small hole in the fresh ground. We placed the sapling into the hole after taking off the burlap, then we pushed the dirt back into the hole to cover the roots. After packing the dirt down, Mother smiled at me and I smiled back.

"Ella!" Lord Tremaine's angry voice called from his office window, "what are you doing playing in the dirt, Ella, you crazy woman. Come inside and wash yourself before someone sees!"

"Yes, Mayson!" Mother called back.

Gods, I hated him.

"And clean up your delinquent son while you're at it!" He yelled with a tangible disgust ringing clear in his voice.

"Of course, Mayson."

The window slammed shut, my mother flinched.

Mother turned back to me; her eyes were dull again, though she tried to seem happy. "Come on, Love. Let's go wash up."

I took her hand and she pulled me up along with her. She grabbed the shovel and we walked back to the house.

Back into the clutches of Lord Mayson Tremaine.

****

I came out of my memory when Henri called my name, he was giving me a concerned look. "You alright, Ellion? You were staring at the tree for a few moments, there."

I smiled brightly. "I just had a memory of my mother."

He raised his eyebrows, he looked happy. "What was it of?"

I smiled and looked at the hazel tree. "My mother's favourite trees are hazel trees. We planted one on the Tremaine property so we could make hazelnut treats together." I had maintained that tree over the years, I found it odd I didn't remember planting it all the times I spent trimming it and picking up fallen nuts.

Henri smiled too. He squeezed my hand momentarily. When he tried to pull away, I drew him in and kissed him. He gave me an incredulous look when he stepped away.

We weren't supposed to show affection where others could see us.

But no one was around—

And I had to rebel in the small, unnoticeable ways.