On the way back, Ella was still on the white horse she had conjured through her peacock. She was riding side by side with Aston and James, still thinking about her past and Nathaniel's offer to rule Kingdom Eridanus. She motioned her horse to move faster and she caught up with King Desmond, who was in the front talking in hushed voice with King Raymond.
''Err... Father.'' Ella spoke.
''Yes Ella?'' he said dropping his conversation with King Raymond.
''I need to tell you something.'' she said looking at King Desmond.
''What is it?'' he asked politely.
''Nate asked me to come with him.'' she said looking ahead of her.
''Come? Where?'' King Raymond asked.
''To Kingdom Eridanus. He says that the two of us can live there now.'' she skipped the invitation part to keep it a surprise.
The two brothers looked at each other as though communicating through their eyes, then King Desmond looked at Ella questioningly and she spoke, ''I don't know. I am very happy and I really want to see the place where I was actually born.''
''You can go there to see your home palace, but I'm not so sure about you living there.'' he paused. ''I require some time to think about it.''
''Thank you so much, father!'' Ella exclaimed happily and turned her horse to join James and Aston.
*** *** ***
They all reached King Raymond's palace as Ella and the rest of them had to pack there things to leave for their palace.
Everyone was surprised to hear Nathaniel's request and they gave different compliments about it but Amber said nothing. She was quieter than usual. She did not talk to or looked at anyone, she gave short answers if was asked anything. On reaching the palace she went straight to her room without a word to anyone. Ella found her behavior very odd but thought not to ask her anything yet.
At farewell Ella kissed King Raymond's hands, hugged Queen Harriet who wished her all the luck and told her that everything will be fine. Then she smiled at Amber which she returned halfheartedly and Thomas pulled her in a brotherly embrace which she gladly accepted. Then she turned to Eric, first they looked at each other, then he slowly opened his arms and Ella happily jumped into his arms.
*** *** ***
Three weeks had passed since Ella and the rest of them moved back to King Desmond's palace. Ella received several letters from Thomas and he apologized her for not telling her anything. And he informed her that he told his parents that Nathaniel was the one who trained her, he had some tough time after that but he coped with it.
After a few days she got a letter from David, who informed her about his well being. Ella was really happy when she found out that he was safe. She did not want to waste a second chance that was given to her. David told her in the letter that they were preparing for Elizabeth's and Edward's coronation and he would visit her soon at Kingdom Eridanus.
She was amazed when she read that he would meet her in Eridanus. She wanted to know how he knew about it, but then decided to ask Nathaniel when she would go with him.
And not just that, Nathaniel also wrote to her regularly and asking if she was fine. Then one day she received the letter she was waiting for so long. Nathaniel told her to pack all her necessary things and that he will come next evening to take her with him. Ella was more than happy, she was really excited to see her true home. She started packing the moment she got her brother's letter.
She told that to her brothers but James was still not convinced, ''I still don't completely trust him. I mean... Yeah he proved himself innocent, but still...'' James had said this after he found out that Ella was going with Nathaniel.
''Oh Jamie, don't be so over protective. Nathaniel is very nice.'' Ella had replied to the unsure James.
''Whatever you say.'' he sighed. ''But be safe, okay?'' James said. But on the other hand Aston was happy about it, he did not over react like his brother, rather he wished Ella luck and everything nice.
By the end of the day Ella had finished her packing and went to bed after dinner. But she was too excited to sleep, thinking about all the things she would see in her real home. Next day she was dying trying to wait patiently for evening, but it was getting more difficult with every passing hour.
Finally what seemed like a century, Nathaniel arrived in the evening, by that time Ella was already waiting by the carriage with all of her luggage. She greeted him with a wide smile and a big sisterly hug which he quickly accepted. Everyone came down the front steps of the palace and greeted Nathaniel, except Queen Miranda who thought it was best to watch the scene from behind her husband. And Nathaniel didn't care to give her even a single glance.
As Nathaniel was about to climb his horse, Ella thought that it was better that he took seat with her in the carriage as she will feel alone during the journey. So he sat in the carriage after Ella.
*** *** ***
Ella fell asleep in the carriage as it was taking too long to get to their destination. Ella woke up to Nathaniel's voice who was gently shaking her. She caught some of his words like, ''We are here.'' Then she realized that it was morning and the gentle rays of morning sun and breeze touched her skin.
She got up rubbing her eyes as Nathaniel opened the door of the carriage and got out, then he held out his hand for Ella and she took it and came out of the carriage. What Ella believed she would see as her home was the same marvelous palace as she saw in the past. But instead what she saw was a.... Disaster.
It no longer looked like the palace as in the past. The pale yellow walls of the palace were now black , as though they were on fire for days and its windows which glowed with candle light at night were all shattered. The trees and the flowers on which butterflies danced and birds chirped and displayed a scene of heaven were now as silent as graveyard. The branches were weak like they would break even with a gentle touch and as for the flowers, they were withered but still somehow remained intact with the stems. The sea by the palace was also calm and quiet, as though mourning over the loss and the pain it witnessed.
Ella blinked hard to hold back the tears which threatened to come out if she spoke a single word.
''I'm sorry that you had to see all of this.'' Nathaniel's voice drew her attention away from the horrible scene. ''I was too angry and depressed, so it resulted in..... this.'' he said trying to hide the pain in his tone.
Ella reached for his hand and squeezed it gently with her little one, and smiled at her brother and managed to say, ''It's okay.'' with teary eyes.
''Don't worry I'll fix it.'' Nathaniel spoke and closed his eyes tightly as though concentrating very hard on something.
Then some noises caught Ella's attention. She took her eyes off from the concentrating Nathaniel and looked ahead of her to see the miserable state of her home. But now she noticed that it was changing.
The blackened walls of the palace were once more coming to their original color. Then Ella saw some things flying off from the ground and combining together, then she realized that they were the shattered window panes taking their place back in the empty frames. Then Nathaniel turned towards the trees and moved his hand upwards, Ella gasped as small leaves started to sprout from the dead branches and grew bigger to their normal size. Moving his hand away from the trees, Nathaniel looked at the flowers and suddenly their dangling heads started to rise till they were at their full height. The dead brown color fading away and their original colors filling in.
Ella took in now a completely change view with an open mouth. Then she turned to Nathaniel who was smiling at her childish expression. Ignoring his dimply smile she hugged him tightly and whispered, ''Thank you, you are so awesome.''
And in return Nathaniel patted her back and spoke, ''Welcome to the palace of Kingdom Eridanus, Ella. Welcome home.''
Ella broke the embrace still holding her brother's hand and looked at the great palace and spoke a single word, ''Home.''
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SAVIOR AND SURVIVOR #wattys2017 (Under Editing)
FantasíaElla's life as a princess was going very well until she met a boy and came to know about the truth which tore her family apart many years ago. Will she be able to mend what was broken...... Will she be able to undo the devastation which cursed her...
