Himeldir paced the hallway, muttering under his breath as he held the glass slipper close to his chest. "I regret to inform you, my prince, but the young Elleth has disappeared into the night. We could only find her glass slipper," He practiced preparing himself for delivering the news to Prince Thranduil.
Being the king's advisor had many good aspects, this was not one of them. When the king doesn't wish to deliver news to his son, Himeldir has to.
Sighing, Himeldir knocked on Thranduil's door.
"Come in," Thranduil mumbled, writing out letters at his desk.
"My prince, I have terrible news," Himeldir began holding your glass slipper in his hand. "What news do you have for me, Himeldir?" Thranduil asked, concern filling his being as he looked at his father's advisor.
"The young Elleth that you danced with last night, vanished. We couldn't find her anywhere, the only thing we could find, was this," Himeldir held out your slipper carefully, for he knew if one miscalculated step were to happen, the slipper, their only evidence you existed, would shatter.
Thranduil looked out his window that looked out over the Woodland Realm. "She's here, she must be... I will not marry anyone until I find her, and only her will I vow myself to," Thranduil pledged, determination filling his eyes as he thought of possibilities as to why you ran off so quick.
"I will let your father know," Himeldir spoke softly while taking his exit, now wondering how he could face the king's wrath at this declaration of determination.
.
.
.
"Your majesty?" Himeldir knocked, the slipper firm in his grasp as Oropher responded, "You may enter, Himeldir."
"Your son has made his opinion clear, sire," Himeldir began, explaining the determination in Thranduil to find and marry the young Elleth that captured his heart only the night before.
"Marry, you say?" Oropher leaned forward, elbows on the wood of his desk as excitement filled his eyes. "Marry... My son wants to marry," Oropher grinned, "This is fantastic news!" He cheered, relief filling him that his son would marry and would be able to take control of the throne when he passed over the seas of his ancestors.
"Then we shall do it!" Oropher stood up, his robe swishing as he quickly made his way to the doors. "Do what, sire?!" Himeldir questioned, alarm clear in his tone as he followed his king. "We shall find that Elleth," Oropher clarified, calling out to his closest guard.
"How?!"
"You will take her slipper to every household in my realm. Everyone is to try it on, if it fits, then you know it will be her."
Himeldir's eyes widened as he thought of how many Elleth lived in this entire realm. Gulping, Himeldir looked down to the gleaming glass. "Yes, sire."
"We shall find her."
.
.
.
"(Y/N)!" Your stepmother screeched, racing up the stairs in a panic, "Where is that terrible child-- (Y/N)!" She continued.
"Here, stepmother!" You called from the bottom of the steps, stepping out of the kitchen with a broom in hand. "Oh goodness, there you are!" Your stepmother halted her steps.
"Where are Drizella and Anastasia?!"
"I believe they are still in bed, stepmother, I was told not to wake them," You muttered, not liking her screeching at you. "Oh for Valar's sake--- Get the breakfast tray's ready." She growled, continuing her storming up the stairs.
"What crawled up her---" You were cut off by the sound of their bedroom door slamming open. Wincing, you turned back into the kitchen and put their freshly prepared breakfasts' on the tray. "Maybe last night was just a dream," You told yourself as it was like that night never happened. You weren't whisked away by a prince, your life didn't change suddenly, it just continued like nothing peculiar ever occurred.
"Get up!" You heard your stepmother screech. "You two have a second chance with the prince!" She shouted.
"Wha?"
"How, it's obvious he fell in love with someone last night, not us!" Anastasia argued, grumpy that she was awoken for nonsense.
"The prince did fall in love, but the young Elleth ran away. The only thing they have from her is a glass slipper. The King's advisor himself is going to each and every home and making all Elleth try on the slipper. Whoever it shall fit, shall be the bride." She explained, waiting for her daughters to catch on.
"It could fit me!"
"Or me!"
'Or neither of you,' You wanted to say as you brought up their breakfast tray. "Oh! (Y/N)! We need this cleaned--"
"And this!"
"NO! Me first!"
"Clean this-"
"I need this polished for when--"
Their words drowned out as you thought of the slim possibility of you leaving this place. No longer waking up to chores every morning, but to a person that you were deeply in love with. Sighing happily you daydreamed as they stacked clothes upon clothes in your arms.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Maybe she's thinking she'll get a chance," Drizella scoffed, a nasal laugh coming from her as you slowly made your way out of the room.
Narrowing her eyes at your form, your stepmother tilted her head down at your feet. "Well, we just need to make sure that doesn't occur." She hummed with a sinister glint in her eye.
