A knock woke Ella up. "Yes?" "It's Arthur." "Is there something you want?" "I was wondering if you had anything planned today?" "I don't particularly know. Why do you ask?" "Do you want go horseback riding with me?" "At the moment, no. I'm still a bit tired. Maybe later if that's alright." "Okay then." Ella fell back to sleep until a servant came in to fetch her for breakfast. I didn't sleep long, did I? I should have just stayed up from when Arthur woke me up. After a quiet breakfast Ella went to the library balcony to relax, what a beautiful day. It is so nice out that I may eat out in the garden.
Ella mostly read without any disruptions, as mid-day approached Ella saved her place in the book she was reading and went looking for the kitchen. Ella made herself a picnic basket lunch and asked the waiter or cook to serve the majesties but to give the letter to Henry. As Ella entered the garden everyone else was being served. "So grandpa who sent the letter? Where is Ella, isn't she joining us for lunch?" "Where is Ella? Son you didn't hurt her feelings or offend her, did you?" "Mother! No I didn't do anything." "Father where are you going?" "I'm going to eat lunch with Ella." "Ella! Where is she?!" "Arthur you seem excited to know but I suppose your mother and father is also wondering. Ella is having a picnic outside in the garden, if you please excuse me I'm going to join Ella. You're welcomed to come, I'm sure Ella would love it." Henry was out in the hall when Sophie, Alvin, and Arthur came out to go with Henry. "Can we join you?" Ella was surprised to see everyone there before her. "I only sent the letter so you don't worry about me." "Does that mean you don't want us to join?" "Henry it's not that. I'm just surprised is all. Of course you guys can join, please sit." "Thank you, Ella." "My pleasure Henry. It is beautiful out, so nice for a picnic." "Indeed." They all sat eating, even after lunch was over they continued sitting underneath a tree talking.
"Ella." "What is it?" "Would you like to walk with me?" "Well uh." "Please." "Go ahead, don't worry about us." "Are you sure Sophie?" "Of course." "Alright I'll take a walk with you." As Arthur and Ella walked Henry, Sophie, and Alvin silently talked. "I think our son is in love. Isn't it nice?" "It is but what about princess Raina? We had planned for him to court her before prince Ralph does... What do you think father?" "I think it's up to him and not us." "Your father is right, let him do what he thinks is best. Besides we all like her, don't we? I know I do." In unison Alvin and Henry sad "Yes." A messenger came out for a moment then left. "Should we call Ella over to let her know that the swordsman is here?" "No dear, let them walk." "Your wife is right, I'll tell her later." Ella was walking back to the shaded tree fast, "sorry but please excuse me." "Wait Ella I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" "Uh for offending you." Ella still walked away; saying "bye, I'm going inside." "What did you say to make her so?" "Nothing just talk."
In the library Ella was relaxing when she heard Alvin. "I apologize for startling you but I thought you'd like some company." "Just company?" "Well not completely true, I do want to know what my son said to upset you." "It's just... he doesn't think of the commoners as nothing more than that, low class as if they're trash and not as important than him or his family." "I see." "That's not all. He said that if I was a princess that he'll court me but-" "That part is our fault, before we wanted him to court princess Raina but now we don't care who he likes or court as long as he is happy." "Even so he sounded unsure what he to apologize for. If you don't mind I wish to be alone." "Of course. I'll see you later." Ella just nodded, Alvin continued walking even after seeing his son, Arthur followed him back outside to the garden. Alvin explained looking mostly at Arthur. "I know, I heard you talking with her."
Henry stood and was walking away, "father?" "I'm going to talk with Ella, she may not want but I'm sure she can learn or take out her anger through sword lessons." Henry left without another word said, "seems your still here. I thought after talking with my son you'd be in your room." "I guess everyone knows why I was so angry? Yes I know I should somehow be like that considering my family and such but when you actually live among and spend time with them then you see it different. Learn to trust, make friends, and maybe even learn new skills." "A new perspective." "Yes!" "A new perspective can change how you look at things and the decisions you make." "Thank you, Henry." "You are welcome. Are you feeling better?" "Yes I am." "I guess you won't need blow off steam anymore but I can still introduce you to the swordsman." "The swordsman is here! When did he get here?!" "My you're excited, he got here when my grandson and you were walking." "Oh.." "Lets go welcome him and introduce ourselves." "Alright." "Here we are, his room."
Only one knock and the swordsman opened the door; "Ella this is Gus from Richard's Kingdom. I'll let you guys get aquatinted." Gus motioned for Ella to come in and take a seat. "I don't recall King Alvin having a daughter?" "That is because I'm not his daughter, I'm just a friend to Henry and now probably the family... My family was friends with Henry before I was born." "I'm not asking. This is your personal matter, I have no right to ask." "You do have a right, so if you want to ask anything go ahead." "I think I'm alright. Thank you though... When do you want start your lessons?" "I would like to do it now but you probably need to settle in and your tired right? So tomorrow will be fine." "I am a little tired and still need puta few things away, we can start later though." "Really?" "Of course." "Okay then, see you later."
Sometime later Ella came back to Gus' room to see if they could start. "We can start. All we need is a big room of sorts or outside in the yard." "We can go to the activity room for now." Gus followed Ella to the activity room, got started with lesson.
"Dinner last night and breakfast was quiet. Was it not?" "Yes it was. Is this your first time visiting this town or the castle?" "Yes. This town as well as the castle is quite beautiful." "It is beautiful." "Alright miss. Ella lets start your lesson." "Gus you don't need put miss in front of my name, just call me Ella." "Okay."
As Gus and Ella started their lesson Prince Arthur came in. "Ella we need to talk. Sorry Gus but can I take Ella away for a moment?" "Of-" "No. I don't have nothing to say to you." "Gus why don't you go to your room or the library?" "Good idea." Gus looking at them and thinking they must have had a good argument before I arrived. "I know I apologized yesterday and stuttered when you ask what I was apologizing for. Father told us. Now I see what happened. Of course you should be mad, I offended you." "It's just not me whom be mad, it'll be everyone in town if they heard what you thought of them. You probably won't even have a town if they heard that, some maybe all would have left. People in your town in some way represents their king and queen, it shows others how well the majesties care." "I see that now, thank you. I should be apologizing too, I should have realized yesterday... Mhm, my apology to the townspeople. I know they weren't there but it feels like I should include them." A smile appeared on Ella's face, Arthur knew she accepted the apologies which made him smile as well. "Wait! Also I want to apologize about the princess thing." "I understand about that, your father talked to me... I also want to say sorry for maybe over reacting." "You didn't... I'll personally go find Gus and tell him we're done talking." "Yes, thank you. Arthur." "Yes?" "Never mind, it's nothing." "No. What is it?" "Thank you for apologizing, I too am sorry. I'm the guest here and probably caused a lot of problems." "You are a guest and a friend but you deserve to voice your opinion. Also you have feelings that everyone including myself needs to consider." "Thanks Arthur." Arthur indeed went and brought Gus back but instead of leaving Arthur asked for lessons as well, in amount of time Arthur caught up to Ella.
"Ella I need some of your time." "Of course, Gus Arthur I'll be back as soon as possible." Gus and Arthur nodded as Ella and Alvin walked out the door to the empty conference room. "I've been thinking awhile about what you said that day in the hall; when I asked about the punishment and so forth." "I remember." "I have a small problem-" "You don't know how to tell who would be lying and who wouldn't if you ask them right?" "Correct!" "Send someone to the town/village, ask them to act like a new commoner then that person can talk and ask around. So then you'll get a truthful answer without them knowing or being scared of your soldiers." "Good plan but who?" Alvin looked at Ella. "I know who, leave it to me." "Alright do what you have to." "Thank you. I got go; bye."
Ella hurriedly left for the library and called for a servant to send a letter to Orson. Ella then went to the activity room; "Gus we need to talk, right now. Arthur please excuse us for a while." Ella and Gus vanished before Arthur could finish saying okay, they went to a pond outside behind the castle. Gus sat on a rock listening to the story and plan, "that indeed is rather interesting but I won't be able to do it alone. That town is big." "Yes I know, which is why I sent a letter to my friend earlier. Seems he's here too... Hi Orson." "Hello Ella." "I thought you would be here later because of work." "No, my day off." "Well best I show you all the map." "Map?" "Yes, I thought you'd be here late so I got a map and made it into two big groups or circles which you and Gus will split up." "Wait! Aren't you also coming?" "Sorry I can't, I have a reason. Which you'll hear in a later future." "Better be a good reason miss. Ella." "Yeah Ell, after all this is a lot work. Alright I'll take this side, Gus that side. Is that alright?" "Yes... We'll meet up back here." "Instead of here why not the throne room?" In unison Orson and Gus said "fine" and "will do."
They left immediately, Ella as well left but to the activities room to apologize to Authur. Authur whom was not there but in the library. "Hey Authur; I'm sorry about earlier. Gus had to do something so I guess our sword lesson might be done for today. If I tell Ella that I followed and listened to her and Gus I'm sure she'll be mad. I better not say anything about that; although I wonder more about her past and if Orson knows anything.
Dinner was near when a servant went to find Ella and Alvin. Alvin and Ella went to the throne room, Ella explained to Alvin what she had Gus and Orson do and such. "I'm indeed impress. For both of your hard work some money. I know you didn't expect it but this was hard work and my way of thanking you. Orson was it?" "Yes sir?" "Why don't you join us for dinner?" "Are you sure?" "Indeed." "Orson stay for dinner... I actually have something to give you later." "Later?" "It's a letter." "You can say it now." "No, lets just wait till later, please." "Okay." Alvin, Orson, Gus, and Ella went to the dinning room for dinner.
"Orson." "Right your letter." "Letter?" "Sorry guys but Orson and I need to leave for a moment or a while depending how long it takes for me to find it. Good night everyone." Ella and Orson left immediately to Ella's room, "you can always send it later." "I would but it's important for you to read it plus it's the reason why I couldn't help you and Gus earlier... Here it is." "That was fast, I thought it would take longer." "I said that because I'm sure we'll end up talking once you read it." "Okay."
Orson took the pages out of the envelope and started reading, when he finished Orson dropped them and looked up at Ella. The only thing Ella saw on Orson's face was questionable and maybe a little mad or irritated. "Now you know why I cut my hair, if you ever saw my insignia on my sheath, and why I couldn't go into town with you and Gus... Also the reason why I'm in the palace. Henry knew who I am, he knew the moment he saw me in town on one of his strolls. Henry is allowing me to stay and sent for a swordsman to teach me. The other here don't know my real identity even the king, queen, prince, and Gus." "This is incredulous that know one knows who you are, let alone seen you before." "When someone is like me you wonder whether that person is actually your friend or pretending. It's just not that" guards, unable to do some amount things, and so forth." "I see what you mean but it's dangerous too without someone to protect you. Remember when we met?" "Yes I remember." "Ah, I guess I have to condone it plus I'm involved, and we're friends." "You mean we're still friends?" "Of course we are! Whoever you are we will still be friends." "So you won't tell anyone including the soldiers in town?" "No, I won't tell anyone." A smile and tears surfaced, "I'm so happy about that." "Now don't cry, we don't need to alert someone here." "True. Best get going, you need sleep for work tomorrow. The letter?" "Throw it away here or burn it if you don't want anyone else to know." "Okay. Good night Orson." "Good night."