Mid-day, looking through the town for an inn and general store. "Hm a bed and breakfast." "Orson go and see if there is rooms available. I'll be in after I find a stable and see how long I can leave him." "Are you sure?" "Yes, go ahead." "Alrighty then."
"Excuse me miss do you have any rooms available?" "Yes we do young man. Each night is twelve gold pieces." "By the way is anyone looking for-" "Orson." "Over here Ella. There are rooms available, I'm asking if anyone is looking for hired help. Was there a horse stable?" "Yes, five gold pieces a week." The owner interrupted, "I'm sorry to interject, you want to know if someone is hiring?" "Yes." "Jarvis the blacksmith needs help." "Where is he?" "He's probably at the salon or Lily's restaurant after all its lunch time. Are y'all hungry?" "Yes, but we can't pay for that much for food." "This goes with staying here." "Well then we'll eat." "What ya want?" "Anything is fine." Orson and Ella wasn't much into their lunch when Ella asked "is there any swordsman here?" "I don't recall, maybe." "Thanks anyway... I'll browse around town." Orson and Ella finished their lunch and was about to leave, "wait your keys.?" "I'll take mine later." "Alright. Young man?" "I guess now is fine, thanks." "Welcome. If you ever need me my name is Arlene." Ella only nodded, Orson asked Arlene for directions to Jarvis' blacksmith's place; Ella asked around about a swordsman.
Orson found Jarvis and found work but to Ella's surprise no swordsman. Ella feeling despair went to the blacksmith, "hello miss. What can I do for ya?" "Is Orson here?" "Yeah, let me get him." Jarvis left and came back with Orson, "here he is." "Thank you." "What's the matter?" "Nothing, got bored so I came here." "I take it there's no swordsman." In a disappointing tone Ella said "no." "May not be a swordsman here but there's an archer." "Archer?! See you later Orson... Wait where does the archer live?" "Just down that road there." "Sorry got to go, see ya later Orson." "Wait!. Where you going?" "Tell you later, thanks Jarvis."
Ella ran down the dirt street looking for a house with practice targets or some arrows, nothing was seen until she saw a young boy with a bow and arrows go inside a house. Ella went up to the house and knocked on the door. "Yes can I help you?" "Sorry for interrupting but do you or someone here teach archery?" "My father does, let me get him." "Yes, thank you." A somewhat tall, black haired man came to the door, "my son says you want learn archery?" "Yes, I wish to." "Why would a young lady such as yourself find an archery teacher when you belong at home helping her mother?" "I may be a lady but I want adventure, to learn archery and sword fighting. This town doesn't have a swordsman but has an archer. I have lived a sheltered life; yet I still go and find adventure." "I admit you have a lot spirit... Do you have a bow and arrows?" "No, I do say I don't." "So how do you tend to learn if you have no such important items?" "Maybe I could borrow yours or your son's." "It's twenty gold pieces-" "I forgot to mention I don't have any money so maybe I could work and run errands for lessons." "No money? How are you keeping yourself healthy and alive?!" "I can and does that matter... So work and errands for lessons?" "I'm not sure. I don't like this but I do have things that I need help with. You got a deal missie. Got a name?" "Thank you so much! Ella." "Well Ella lets get started." "Wait, what's your name?" "Does it really matter?" "No I suppose not, course it'll be easy to call ya when I need to." In a sigh the man said "Cecil... I have two daughters and a son, they need help with school work but that's not all. Can you teach my daughters to knit, sew, and cook? They lost their mother, my wife." "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll try to help, so where are they?" "My son came back home to get something he probably left, they're in school." "So then what do you want me to do?"
Cecil made a list and gave it to Ella which kept her busy till the kids came home. Like any other kid(s) who enter their house to find a stranger standing in the kitchen had questions, the father answered all of them as best as possible. "Well Cecil I best get going, I too need dinner." "Indeed which is why you'll be dinning with us. You finished that list of mine so I guess I can give you a small thank you by letting you eat dinner with us." "I don't want to cause any trouble." "No trouble at all, right kids?" "Yeah." Said three kids, the youngest daughter got up, took Ella's hand and said "please eat with us." "Alright then. Thank you all." Once grace was said everyone started eating the Potatoe stew and bread.
Dinner was over, the kids started cleaning the table. Since it was still daylight Ella stayed and helped the kids with homework. "miss. Ella, we don't have school tomorrow." "Yes I know. Thank you though Lizzy for telling me." Lizzy who's the oldest and Rob the middle child, "it's getting late now. I best be leaving. I'll see y'all tomorrow." Rachel the youngest said "wait miss. Ella!" "What is it Rachel?" "Um can you tuck us in and read a story to us?" Cecil looked at Ella to Rachel and then said "miss. Ella might be sleepy." "Are you sleepy miss. Ella?" "No Rachel I'm not." "So why can't you read to us and tuck us in?" "I'd be happy to that but it has to be alright with your pa." Rachel looked up with puppy starred eyes, "it's fine, go ahead." Rachel grabbed Ella's hand and took Ella to Lizzy's and her room. "Can you tell us a story with fairies?" "No, not fairies" interjected Rob. "I have a story you all might like." All three children layed on Rachel's bed while Ella told them the story of Snow White's past leaving out the fact she is her daughter. "That's a good story miss. Ella." "Yeah." "Thank you, Lizzy and Rob. Seems Rachel fell asleep." Rob got off of Rachel's bed so Ella could get Rachel underneath the covers, then went over to Lizzy's side and tucked her in. "Thank you miss. Ella." Ella nodded, went across the hall to see if Rob wanted to be tucked in as well but he to was already asleep. Ella went downstairs to leave, "thank you. They haven't had a story like that for a few years." "Your welcome." "See ya tomorrow." "Indeed; good night."
"You're here, what happened earlier?" "I made a deal with a guy to do errands, help with his children, and whatever else." "I see. So you found an..." "Archery teacher... Arlene I don't have money can I pay for a room by working a little at night and early in the mornings?" "Ella you're gonna hurt yourself if you overwork." "What is this young man talking about?" "I made a similar deal with a guy named Cecil for archery lessons, and then do whatever you ask for in exchange for a room and food." "Your friend here is right, you'll exhaust or hurt yourself." "Ella seems you like making deals, so listen to mine. I found work that pays good money, enough for a room and food. You're welcomed to share my room and some food and I promise not to mess with you." "That's nice of you but I can't accept. You earned that money." "You are to but in lessons... The offer will stand as long as you're in this town. Good night Ella." "Good night." Orson left for his room, "Miss. Ella you should reconsider his offer. He seems nice, caring, and sincere." "Yes I know but as I said I can't." "Fine... Why don't you help me a little then go to bed." "Okay. Can you wake me up at dawn?" "Of course, remember though you don't want to overdo it." "I know, thanks for caring about me Arlene."
Arlene woke Ella up at dawn like Ella asked, for a few hours Ella worked until it was time for her to leave to Cecil's house.
The kids just woke up when Ella arrived, "miss. Ella!" "Good morning Rachel. How did you sleep?" "Very good. What are we doing today?" "Well what do you and your siblings want to do?" Rob and Lizzy came out as Ella finished asking. "I'm going to play with my friends." "Lizzy how about some needle work, maybe sewing or knitting?" Lizzy just shrugged. "I guess." Rachel ran back to Ella's side with a board game. "Lizzy I'll show you some stitches that you can keep going till you're finished or get bored." Sometime later Ella got up saying "alright time for lunch. And after lunch we're going to the store." "What are we having for lunch? Why are we going to the store?" asked Rachel. "We're having sandwiches, we need get some food and ingredients in this house."
After getting what they need they stopped by the books novelty (a library) and the blacksmiths. "Are you courting her?" "Lizzy we're just friends." "Well mister?!" "Like Miss. Ella said we're just good friends."
For a few days it has been the same. Work for Arlene a little, help Cecil, little lessons, and then help out Arlene. Ella was indeed getting tired so after Cecil's lesson Ella went to the blacksmith to see if Orson was there, he wasn't. Ella got back to the inn, "you a little late getting back?" "Sorry. I went to the blacksmiths to find Orson but he wasn't there. Is he in his room?" "Yes. Why were you looking for him?" "I was hoping that if his offer still stands. Sorry Arlene but-" "I'm glad you rethought his offer, I guess I'm gonna lose your help." "Yeah, sorry." "It's fine, I was getting worried for your health. I doubt Orson is awake he looked very tired." "I'll write a letter to him. Tomorrow still wake me up at dawn. The letter I write can you give it to him when he wakes up?" "Of course. Good night Ella." "Good night."
When Ella came downstairs, she went straight to Arlene. "Is Orson still sleeping?" "Yes." "Here's the letter." "Right! I'll give it to him when he comes down. Are you going to your lessons?" "Yes, thanks. See you later Arlene."
Ella was doing her lessons when the kids came outside saying that a guy named Orson was there looking for Ella, so Ella went to the front of the house. "Got your letter, yes my offer still stands." "So it'll be ok if you work and pay for our room while I get lessons?" "I told you before you are getting paid but in lessons." "So you're fine with this?" "Yes." "You'll be late for work. See you later." "Yeah, see ya."