Chapter 9
E lla began her trek from the tiny cabin through the snow that already had footprints, making it look as though there was a path. With the forest on her left, she followed the path. Every now and then she’d pass another cabin.
It felt like hours as she walked in the cold, her hands tucked into the pockets of her dress under the cloak and the flour sack banging against her hip with every step. As she neared what she suspected was the main village, the houses increased in number. The forest was still to her left but now there were houses in front of the trees.
No one was about along the row of houses. It seemed as though most everyone was in the village. Ahead, she saw a giant decorated tree twinkling with lights. Atop it was the largest, most beautiful glowing star she had ever seen. Even in the daylight, it twinkled and sparkled with its inner radiance. Her heart skipped into a happy beat and she had an overwhelming feeling of joy. A sign in faded red letters welcomed her to Rovenheim.
She paused to examine it, then glanced at the village beyond. It was a bustle of activity this morning with people hurrying along the thoroughfare. People entered and exited the shops at a frenzied pace. It was not unlike the one she frequented to purchase goods for the household. Perhaps someone in the village would be able to tell her where in the world Rovenheim was and how to return to her own small village.
She entered the fray with the throngs of people, her head swiveling from one shop to another. There was so much to see and hear. She paused to admire the huge Christmas tree rising into the morning sky wrapped in gold garland and topped with that lovely, twinkling star. It reminded her of her smaller version on the tree in her room back home.
People called to each other with waves of hello. And though the village square had festive decorations, there seemed to be a somber mood hanging over the people. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She listened for snippets of conversation.
“…poor woman is beside herself,” someone said.
“Her eldest daughter, too,” another said.
As Ella made her way through the square, she saw the sign for the apothecary. Agnes mentioned her daughter had married the apothecary. But when she made it to the shop, the sign on the door read CLOSED.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” a deep voice announced.
All those in the square stopped their activity. Ella turned to see a man standing in front of the huge Christmas tree. He was dressed in an emerald green jacket with gold buttons, black boots and a thick cloak.
“As mayor of Rovenheim,” the man said, raising his voice so all heard him, “I have come to the difficult decision to cancel tonight’s festivities in light of recent events.”
A few gasps rippled through the crowd. Nearby, someone sniffled.
“I have also decided there will be a strict curfew for all residents at dusk for the remainder of the season,” he said. “Please make sure you get your shopping done and are home before then.”
Ella’s brows drew together as she wondered what events occurred to cause the mayor to cancel the celebration and enact a curfew. As she pondered that, a woman brushed by her in a rush.
“Pardon me, my lady,” she said on a breath and continued on in her haste.
“It’s all right, but, please, before you go.” Ella hurried after her, doing her best to keep up. “What event was the mayor referring to?”
The woman cut her a shocked glance. “Why, what happened last night, o’course.”
“What happened? I only just arrived,” Ella explained.
She stopped and turned to her, grasping her shoulder and leaning in. “A young girl was taken from the village by the queen.”
Ella blinked surprise. “The queen?”
“The apothecary’s daughter,” she said, her voice near a whisper. “Something about slippers.” She glanced around as if worried someone overheard.
The apothecary’s daughter . Her heart clawed its way to her throat at the mention of that and the slippers.
“What about the slippers?” Ella asked.
The woman shrugged. “I don’t know. I have to go.” And she dashed off without waiting for a response.
Ella turned back to the shop and looked up at the closed sign. The queen had taken Agnes’s granddaughter. All because of her slippers? That didn’t make sense. Why would the queen be looking for the slippers?
Unless…
Unless the slippers were magical. She swallowed hard as she thought of the way she was whisked to the ball when she put them on. And again, when the clock struck midnight. Noella told her to remove the slippers before the last stroke of midnight . She hadn’t. They had somehow transported her to Rovenheim. If she were transported here by the slippers, then that meant no one would be able to help her.
She turned from the store, pausing to watch the village square as people went about their business. No one seemed interested in her. She stood there, lost and alone trying to figure out what to do next. A foolish idea came to her. What if she took the slippers to the queen in exchange for the girl?
She didn’t know where to find the queen, though.
How would she find out? How would she find this queen who had taken the apothecary’s daughter? And, more importantly, who was the queen?
A quick glance around the bustling market told her she was not going to find answers here. No one paid her any mind as they went about their business. She worried her lower lip, fighting off the tears that sprang to her eyes.
When she was home with her stepmother and stepsisters, loneliness pressed through her then. At least there, she had someone who acknowledged her presence. Here, she was completely ignored and it cut her deep, isolating her.
Blinking furiously, she turned away from the shop and hurried back down the street. She hadn’t any idea where to go other than perhaps back to Agnes, but then would she be able to help her? She had her own situation to worry about with her granddaughter captured by this queen who seemed to want Ella’s slippers.
She never saw the man heading toward her until she bumped into his shoulder. She gasped, his dark coat nothing but a blur as he captured her by the upper arm.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered and tried to wrench free but he held fast.
“Ella?”
The familiar friendly voice made her snap her head up. She looked into Nicholas’s handsome face. No longer was he dressed in his formalwear. Now he wore a dark brown tunic over padded pants tucked into black boots, gloves, and a thick wool cloak. A sword was strapped to his side and she thought she saw a dagger on his hip. He was well armed and looking even more handsome in his rugged clothes. Though, she admitted, he was handsome in his formalwear, too.
Relief punched through her as she sagged against him and then, without thinking, she threw her arms around his waist and hugged him.
“Nicholas! I’m so glad to see you.” When she pulled back, she quickly swiped the tears from her eyes. “What are you…how are you here?”
“I’ve been looking for you. Are you all right?” He looked her up and down as if to inspect her.
“Yes, I’m fine. But I don’t understand any of this.”
He took her by the hand, leading her back to the village square. “It’s a lot to take in, I’m sure. I’m glad I found you before anyone else.”
“You mean the queen?”
He halted so quickly she came to a jarring halt. “What do you know about her?”
“I know she kidnapped a girl from the village. Is she looking for the glass slippers?”
“Shhh.” He glanced around, concern creasing his face that someone may have overheard. “I’ll explain as much as I can, but not here.”
Taking her hand again, he hurried through the streets to the local tavern. The creaking sign over the door read The Merry Elf Tavern and something about that made her stifle a grin.
It was warm inside the tavern. On one side, a roaring fire in the hearth to keep it that way. The bar was on the other with a few patrons perched on stools nursing their ale or mead. Tables scattered around the rest of the place, which was busy with more customers who were enjoying a meal of bread and stew.
Nicholas led her to one of the tables at the back of the tavern in the corner, pulling off his cloak and draping it over the back of the chair. Ella did the same, sliding the sack off her shoulder in one fluid motion so no one would see it. Not even Nicholas. She placed it under the table at her feet just as one of the tavern maids bustled up. She placed a bowl of bread on the table in front of them.
“What’ll it be?” she asked.
“Beef stew and ales for both of us,” Nicholas said.
She gave a nod and hurried away. He reached for the bread in front of them and tore off a hunk while Ella waited for him to explain.
When no information was forthcoming, she finally said, “Well?”
He chewed, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I’m trying to decide where to begin.”
Ella reached for the bread and tore off a piece. The soft white interior steamed with its freshness.
“Perhaps with how you got here,” she suggested.
Leaning forward, he said in a soft voice, “By magic.”
She lifted a brow. “Magic?”
“You doubt me?” He leaned back in the chair and popped a small piece of bread in his mouth.
The tavern maid returned with their ales and plopped the wooden steins down with a slosh. Then she dropped a slab of butter next to the somewhat demolished bread. Ella contemplated his words as she reached for the butter knife and swiped it through it, then slathered it on her bread. It had been so long since she’d had butter to go with her bread, her mouth salivated at the thought.
It made sense he was here by the use of magic. Surely, that was how she arrived because she was certain the glass slippers at her feet were magical and brought her here.
“I do not,” she said at last.
He reached for the butter knife then and added butter to his next bite. “Do you…still have them?”
“The slippers?” she whispered.
He nodded.
“Yes, of course.”
“But you’re not wearing them,” he pointed out.
“No,” she agreed. “They’re safe.”
“Where are they?”
“At my feet,” she said.
He stared at her with uncertainty, his brows drawing together in question. She smiled. “In a flour sack.”
He looked her over again, as though seeing her for the first time. “Where did you get those clothes?”
Another bite as she chewed, savoring the sweet buttery taste. “When I arrived, it was nearly dark. A kind couple took me in, gave me food, and a place to sleep for the night. The next morning, the woman…” She paused, thinking of Agnes and her granddaughter. “Agnes was her name. She gave me the clothes, the boots, the cloak, and a flour sack to carry…well, you know.”
He seemed twitchy about her saying the words glass slippers aloud, so she refrained.
“Agnes…her granddaughter was the one who was taken last night,” Ella said.
“How do you know that?” he asked.
“Agnes said her daughter married the apothecary. His shop was closed today. A woman on the street told me what happened. That the apothecary’s daughter was taken. I managed to put the pieces together,” she said.
Before he replied, the beef stew arrived. The woman didn’t linger at their table as she had other meals to deliver. Nicholas picked up the wooden spoon and stuck it in the thick stew.
“It’s true,” he said. “I saw it happen.”
Ella stared at him from across the table, surprise flickering through her. “You were here last night?”
“Yes. Looking for you.” He tore off another piece of bread and dunked it in the stew. “I’m glad I found you.”
“Me, too,” she whispered.
She picked up her spoon, unable to resist the delectable aroma of the beef stew. She didn’t want to admit to him how relieved she was to see a familiar face. Everything she wanted to say to him sounded much too pathetic even for her own ears.
“Where is here, anyway?”
“Rovenheim,” he said.
“It’s quite a festive place,” she said.
“This is the place where Christmas magic comes to life.” He sounded proud when he said it and it gave her such a brilliant smile, she couldn’t help but return it. “Ella, I’m afraid the queen will not stop until she has what she wants.”
She swallowed the bite of stew and reached for her ale. “You mean, the slip—”
“Yes,” he said cutting her off. “No one can know you have them.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone knows she’s looking for you.”
“Who is she ? This queen.”
“Malvina. The Queen of Darkness and Shadow. Self-proclaimed, of course. Not a true queen. Not the ruler of Rovenheim.”
“Who is then?” she asked.
“Why, the royal family, of course.” When he smiled, something inside her lit up.
She liked him. A lot more than she should. She hardly knew him. But he was nice to her and seemed to really want to help her. He’d come looking for her and found her, though, one question still remained. How did he know she was in Rovenheim? She was about to ask him when the tavern door burst open. A man stood in its doorway looking frazzled.
“She’s back!” he announced, and not like he was happy.
“Who does he mean?” Ella asked.
Nicholas swallowed hard and his face turned grim. “The queen.”