Soot & Ashes

Sixteen: Closing Chapter

As soon as they arrived back at the palace, Ivan and Ethel had to go to present themselves to the King and Queen.

"Where shall we go?" Susan asked, staring around the grand hall, wondering what it would have been like if she had gone to the ball.

"You and I, as well as Sven, shall go out to the gardens and take a walk." Arabella smiled a crafty smile, her eyes brightening up. "Sven, would you lead me out?" She asked, he offered her his arm as she was to be Queen. He was reluctant but still glad to be near her again. It stung that he couldn't be there as more than an escort though.

They walked out into the gardens together, "Susan, you go over there amongst the trees, I think you shall enjoy the view." Arabella told her pointing towards the blossoming trees.

Susan frowned for a moment quizzically, but she did as she was told and wandered off in the direction of the spring orchard.

When Susan found her way into the deepest part of the orchard, white blossoms swaying in the wood around her, she smiled her brightest smile for the man that she loved. "Theodore?!" She exhaled.

Theodore was taken aback as he stared across at her. He'd become completely still, unable to move or breathe or think. Soot, his little Soot, at last standing in front of him. She was not dressed in muddy, torn rags anymore.

Her hair braided, her skin clean as freshly fallen snow. She was glowing lightly in the sun. The beauty that had lit her from within for so long now plain as the nose on her pretty face,  she was allowed to shine at last.

Theodore had seen many beauties, never before had he seen such warm, soft tresses, the yellow colour of the harvest moon. Never before had he seen a smile so captivating or eyes so silvery blue. He had known her beautiful heart, he had been studying it closely since he first met her. Now he was breathless at the sight of her.

"Are you really here?" He whispered. She nodded her head, her lips quivering as she held back tears of joy. He crossed the distance to her, taking her by the shoulders and let his lips touch hers. When it appeared she was real, his arms curled around her back and he kissed her again, ever softer, ever the more ardent.

"Soot." Theodore breathed, finally letting his lips part from hers. Tears were slipping down her cheeks as she couldn't contain her bright smile. He took a gentle hand to her cheek, wiping away the little droplets. "I'm sorry I didn't return... I promise you'll never be out of my sight again."

"But...wait...You're the prince...what about Arabella, the King and Queen?" Susan's eyes became pained all of a sudden as she realised who it was she was embracing and what that meant.

"Arabella is spoken for, she will be marrying Sven." Ivan's voice made them both look up and round at a gathering in the trees. Everyone, apart from Mary Cinders, was present.

Susan had to contain her laughter as she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"So you two have our blessing to wed." Said the King triumphantly.

Ivan and Ethel were the first to wed of the two royals, so the Throne was to be handed over to them when the time came. Ethel proved to be a good Queen, she understood what it meant to abuse power and strived always to be the voice of reason instead. She had learned so much from seeing life through both the eyes of the persecutor and the persecuted.

Arabella and Sven were married next, they had a new job on the palace grounds, caring for the horses. They were given titles, but they liked to pitch in and help. So Miss Ashes had both a soft bed, nice dresses and people who loved her, without compromising who she was or her voice anymore.

Theodore and Susan, after they married went to tour other kingdoms. They wanted to see everything they could and learn all that they could. Most of all they wanted to do it together. They were also the first to have a child. They named their daughter Cinderella in honour of Ethel and all that had befallen the family.

As for Mary Cinders, her fate was decided by Ethel herself. Many thought that perhaps after everything the woman had done she would be punished harshly. Only, Ethel chose to forgive her everything and allow her to go back to the Cinders estate. She was still invited to palace gatherings. But she was not a part of the family. She had made herself alone by her actions.

They all lived.

The.End 

[[A/N

I chose to write this because we all have flaws. You don't have to be the fairest to be the winner. Also sometimes hard hearts are made soft by the adversity we face. I was pretty tired of seeing a one sided story where Cinderella was always a victim and the implication that the three others were always to blame, always nasty, always ugly and idle. Possibly because I have personally been on the receiving end of this myself. 

I may also re-write this later in less of an old, simplified style. Who knows. 

x Caroline Ann LoVe x ]]