Cinderella's Tale

Chapter Five

When I wake the next day, I think about when the ball is. It’s in three days, actually. So that would mean Helena and the twins will be leaving the day before, because I’m sure they want to get there before so they have a chance to showcase Cassandra around as their soon-to-be queen. God, how idiotic are those three?

“Briana, go fetch us some meat from the town,” Helena says. I mentally groan. That’s about a half a day’s walk, and I know I won’t be able to get a horse.  So I’ll be gone for about a day. And then when I get back, those three are going to complain why everything is so dusty and dirty.

“I’ll be back in about a day then,” I tell her. Helena doesn’t acknowledge me at all, and I just grab my coat, which won’t do much now. I grab my shoes, and some money that Helena threatens will earn me a flogging if I steal any. I quickly walk through the falling snow to the path in the forest.

I walk in silence, glad I’m at least gone from Helena and the twins for at least one more day after they were gone for so long. However, that means walking in this freezing cold. I just walk with my arms tightly crossed, heading towards the well worn path towards the town.

I hear horse’s hooves in front of me, so I move to the side of the road to let them pass. It’s the royal guard, and at the top of the pack is the familiar horse I recognize as Prince Matthew’s. And sure enough, on the horse, is the prince himself. I bow low, shivering when they stop.  I look up at Prince Matthew, remembering the morning spent together yesterday. He smiles easily, and I smile slightly back, still shivering.

“Good God, you’re freezing!” Prince Matthew dismounts, and takes off his coat. Despite my protests, he wraps the fur lined coat around me, and I can’t help but bury myself more in the warmth.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” I say past my shivering.

“Why are you walking in this weather with that thin coat?” One of the guards asks.

“My mistress wished me to buy some meat from the town,” I answer him.

“Well, we can bring you there and back within a day,” Prince Matthew offers. I shake my head.

“No, no. I’m fine,” I tell him, going to take off his coat even though my shivering has not yet subsided.

“Nonsense, mid winter is no time to be making long journeys,”  Prince Matthew uses my words against me. I almost glare at him, but the royal guard is looking at us with an amused expression. Prince Matthew can see I’m beat, and he mounts his horse. He holds a hand for me to climb on behind him, and I grab it. I hesitantly grip his shoulders lightly.

“You’ll have to hold me tighter than that, Briana,” I can hear the humor in Prince Matthew’s voice, and I wrap my arms around his stomach, unconsciously scooting closer to his warm body. I hadn’t realized how freezing I was until I was wrapped in this coat, and sharing the prince’s warmth.  

We ride back to the town, and I thank them for the ride, but Prince Matthew insists on seeing me home after he finishes his duties for his father.  I nod, too tired to argue, but I still insist that he take his coat, and when he doesn’t, I throw it back over his horse’s saddle, so he has to take it. I smile at him, and he gives me an answering grin before riding away with the royal guard, who is no doubt perplexed why Prince Matthews would assist a simple servant girl.

I quickly buy the meat I need, the store owner surprised why I would be out during weather like this with a thin jacket like mine. I just hand him the coins, and he hands me the meat. I thank him, and wrap the meat tightly in a bag I filled with snow. This way, it’ll keep the meat cold.  I walk towards the exit of the town, and keep walking, not paying attention to Prince Matthew’s pleads before he left for me to wait by the gate. I just keep walking, half running so I can get home quicker. I don’t care what he might say, I just hurry home.