Author's Notes:

The story of Cinderella and Walt Disney's Cinderella are being used purely for my entertainment. No infringement is intended.

I've pretended that Cinderella 2 and 3 never occurred, though I do plan on using the character of the baker Anastasia falls in love with.

The young girl raced down the hallway, hoping that the sound of her hurried footsteps wouldn't betray her location. Her heart pounding, she pushed open the door to the nursery, her favorite room in her home. Once she was in the large room, however, she was at a loss for where she could hide. Looking behind her, she knew she couldn't go back out again. It was simply too much of a risk of being discovered. Scanning the room again, she decided to hide behind a massive wooden trunk sitting near the window that was full of linens. She wedged herself between the back of the trunk and the wall, pulled the drape over it slightly, and waited.

She couldn't hear her pursuer's footsteps approaching, and that made the girl all the more nervous. She almost would have rather heard them, so that she could at least know how much time she had. Maybe she wouldn't be discovered, she told herself. Maybe this time…she'd escape and win.

Nearly a minute passed, and the girl was still safely hidden behind the trunk. She began to wonder then: had she left the door open to the nursery or not? If she had, then it would be a red flag that she was in there. But perhaps she'd closed it behind her? She couldn't remember now. The girl tried to piece together her actions again in her mind. She'd run up the stairs, down the hallway, to the nursery, opened the door, and-

"Gotcha!" a voice called out, while two hands simultaneously grabbed her from behind. The girl screamed as she was pulled out from her hiding space and turned around to face her pursuer.

Ellie grinned. "Mama, you found me! How did you know?"

Ellie's mother laughed gently and tickled her. "Your brother and sister always used to hide here too, sweetheart. And your father too, from what your grandpa had told me. I guess it's just everyone's favorite."

Ellie climbed into her mother's lap and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Did you used to hide here too, Mama?"

Her mother smiled, but there was just a hint of sadness in her eyes. "No, dear. I didn't grow up in the palace like Papa did. By the time I came here to live, I was already grown up."

"Where did you grow up, Mama?"

The queen stood up while holding on to her daughter. "Oh, a very lovely chateau not too far from here."

"Did you live with your mama and papa too?"

"For a time, yes." The queen carefully made her way down the hallway and walked down the grand, sweeping staircase.

Ellie played with a dark gold lock of her mother's hair. "Did you play hide and go seek with them too?"

"I think I played it with my father a few times. I don't remember playing it with my mother. She died when I was very little – even littler than you."

"Oh." Ellie felt bad for her mother. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, the queen set her daughter down on the ground and took her hand.

"Come, dear. Let's go find Robert and Sarah. It's almost lunchtime."

Queen Cinderella and Princess Elizabeth walked hand in hand through the lush, well-manicured royal gardens in search of Prince Robert, the heir apparent, and Princess Sarah, second in line to the throne. Their mother knew they were probably in the gazebo taking their lesson from their tutor. Sure enough, once the queen and the princess passed the sparkling fountain, they could see Robert and Sarah sitting with Lord Evington, listening to a history lecture.

Lord Evington heard their approach, and stood to meet them. He bowed to Queen Cinderella. "Your Highness," he greeted her.

"Your Excellency," the queen replied with a dainty curtsy, then held out her arms to embrace her children.

"Hello, my darlings! Have you enjoyed your lesson?"

"Yes, mommy! Lord Evington was telling us about ancient Greece!" Sarah piped up.

"Oh, yes, how exciting! You know their culture had a tremendous impact on ours."

"That's exactly what Lord Evington said!" Robert added.

The elderly gentleman smiled. "They have been quite attentive today, Your Highness. You should be quite proud of them."

"Oh, I am! But now, I think it would be nice to take a short break and have some lunch. Does that sound good?"

"Oh, yes, mother!" all three children said at once.

"You will join us, won't you, Your Excellency?" the queen asked.

"It would be an honor, my lady," Lord Evington replied with a bow.

The queen decided to have lunch on the south balcony, overlooking the lake. After everyone had partaken of the tarts, soup, and rolls that were served, the children took off to the gardens, running wildly together in search of little adventures. Their mother and tutor followed slowly behind them, taking advantage of the time to chat together.

"Thank you again for tutoring Ellie in the autumn. I hope it won't be too much of a burden. You will tell me if it is," Queen Cinderella told Lord Evington.

"It is no burden, my dear, none at all," he insisted. "You know I love Christopher's children as though they were my own, as I loved Christopher as well."

The queen gave him a sympathetic smile. Lord Evington had been her husband's tutor when he was a child, and retired shortly after the king no longer needed lessons. Not long after Robert was born, however, Lord Evington's wife passed away. Knowing firsthand the empty pain that comes with losing a loved one, the queen insisted that her husband ask his former tutor to return to the palace and resume his duties, correctly assuming that the work would help ease his grief. Lord Evington first tutored Queen Cinderella, preparing her for her future role as the wife of the King. Once Robert was old enough to begin lessons, the lord's attention shifted to him, and then to his younger sister Sarah.

"In any case, Ellie will fill the place that Robert will leave once he begins military school," Lord Evington pointed out.

"Ah, very true," the queen replied with a sigh. When he turned 12, Robert would begin military and strategic training at the same academy that both his father and grandfather attended. It was a tradition in their family, and it had been instilled in Christopher that a king should always be ready to defend his land, even taking up arms himself if needed. Their kingdom hadn't been to war in nearly eighty years, but it was nonetheless a prudent course of action. Queen Cinderella would miss her son desperately, but at least she had another three years with him before he would have to leave.

Just then, there was the rushed footsteps of someone running behind them. The queen and Lord Evington turned to see one of the royal couriers, coming to meet them.

"Your Highness!" the courier cried breathlessly. "I bring you a letter!"

"Oh? Thank you," the queen told him as he handed it to her. When she told him she needed nothing else, the courier bowed and ran off as quickly as he'd come.

The letter was in a simple cream-colored envelope, with her first name scrawled hastily over the front. This was odd, for it had been many years since anyone had addressed her simply by her given name. Frowning, the queen opened the envelope and read the letter inside.

Lord Evington stood away slightly, wishing to give his queen her privacy, but the startled look on her lovely face that quickly turned to horror compelled him to approach her. "What is it, Your Highness? Is something wrong?"

Slowly the queen turned to look at him. "It-it's a letter…from my stepmother, Lady Tremaine. She's…she's very ill, and….she has sent for me."

Lord Evington darkened slightly at the mention of the woman's name. It was well known in the King and Queen's closest circle that Lady Tremaine's treatment of her stepdaughter had been monstrous. The queen never complained directly about the treatment, but the circumstances surrounding her life with Lady Tremaine provided more than enough evidence. The stately chateau the family lived in had been the queen's father's, yet she'd been forced to work as a servant – cleaning, cooking, and otherwise waiting on her stepfamily hand and foot. Lady Tremaine had taken drastic steps to keep the Grand Duke, who'd been sent to find the girl the prince had fallen in love with, from discovering Cinderella. It was for these reasons that Lady Tremaine and her two daughters were considered pariahs in high society. The queen had tried to dissuade those members of the royalty and nobility from excluding her stepfamily, but it was for naught. Ironically enough, it was Cinderella's kind-hearted forgiveness and willingness to forget the past that made society all the more eager to cast out Lady Tremaine. After all, why would anyone wish to have sympathy for someone who could treat such a wonderful, gentle lady with such cruelty?

"I am sorry to hear such news," Lord Evington replied as diplomatically as he could. "Do you require some time to yourself? Shall I take the children for the rest of the afternoon, or perhaps…call for their nurse?"

The queen did not answer, as she appeared to be reading the contents of the letter over and over again. Lord Evington frowned. "Your Highness?" he inquired gently.

Queen Cinderella looked up, startled. "Oh! Lord Evington, I apologize. Yes, it would be lovely if you could take Ellie to her nurse and finish your lesson with Robert and Sarah. Thank you."

"Of course, my lady." Lord Evington bowed, turned and began to walk away, but hesitated. He turned around and walked back to his queen. Leaning in confidentially, he said softly, "Cinderella, my dear, you will forgive me for overstepping my bounds, but…I feel I must say something, if you'll permit me." Cinderella nodded.

"You are a kind-hearted, sympathetic lady, and that is a tremendous thing. But…not all creatures are worthy of such kindness and sympathy. Please take care…that it is not taken advantage of."

The queen sighed. "I do appreciate your concern, Your Excellency – truly. And thank you for minding the children. I shall leave you to it."

Cinderella waited for a moment, watching Lord Evington gather her children and take them away. They were her treasures, the cumulative symbol of all the happiness she'd found. The letter in her hand was a grim reminder how easily all of this could have never been. She turned and reluctantly made her way back to the main building to find her husband.

King Christopher was in a meeting with his council as per the usual hour, and the queen did not wish to interrupt him. She waited patiently in the adjoining sitting room, which was open and allowed her a view into her husband's chamber. As the King sat at the very end of the table, she was able to see him clearly from across the room. At thirty-one years old, Christopher cut a very handsome, very dignified form that was softened by a still-dewy youthfulness. He sat just slightly back in his chair, legs crossed, listening intently to the concerns of his counselors. He had only been King of their land for two years, ever since his father had suffered a heart attack and died, but he had already shown the makings of an excellent leader.

In spite of how much she came to love and adore her father-in-law, and as much as it pained Cinderella to admit it, even to herself, she understood that the reason her husband made such an excellent king was that he was so little like his father. Physical features aside, Christopher possessed an even temperament and the capability for impartial, rational thinking that his father never did. The old king's bouts of passion, while often very romantic, also took a toll on his health. Therefore it was very little of a surprise that when it was discovered that a trusted member of his court had been selling secrets to a rival kingdom, the king exploded in such rage that his heart could not bear it.

The entire kingdom had grieved the loss of their old, beloved monarch, but most found comfort in the knowledge that his young, handsome, charismatic son and his lovely, charming wife would be their new rulers. And Christopher had proven he was more than prepared to handle the pressures of the throne. She could only hope that he would react with the same calm rationality when she came to tell him her news.

Just then, Christopher turned in her direction and their eyes met. He smiled gently at her, then turned back to the meeting. "Gentlemen, I believe this would be a prudent time for a short break. Let us return to our meeting after two hours," he announced. The council agreed, and all got up to leave the king's chambers.

Cinderella entered the room as they left, accepting their bows to her with a graceful nod. The Grand Duke, who sat in on the king's council as he had when his father was in power, took Cinderella's hands and smiled warmly at her.

"How are you, my dear?" he asked her. The Grand Duke had always been fond of Cinderella – ever since he'd found her and put the glass slipper on her foot, effectively saving her from a life of misery and saving himself from the wrath of the king.

Cinderella smiled kindly at the Grand Duke. "I'm very well, Your Grace, thank you. I must speak with my husband."

"Of course." The Grand Duke bowed to the king as he approached them, then left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Hello darling," Christopher greeted his wife with a kiss.

"Hello, my love," Cinderella replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. She loved being in his arms, but Christopher could clearly see that something was wrong.

"What has happened?" he asked.

"And so, she has asked for me," Cinderella explained, after reading the letter to Christopher. They sat in the drawing room in two stuffed chairs by the window, overlooking the grounds.

Christopher sat quietly in his chair, staring out at the winding path that led to the bridge where he'd taken Cinderella that fateful night when they first met at his father's ball. Finally he asked, "You wish to see her?"

Cinderella hesitated, searching for the right words. "I believe….it is the honorable thing to do."

He took her hands. "Darling…do you remember the day the Grand Duke brought you to the palace? After you'd tried on the slipper and he knew you were the one I'd been looking for?"

Cinderella nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. "Of course. It was the day I'd been waiting for all my life."

"It almost didn't happen. Do you remember why?"

Cinderella's face fell. "Yes…my stepmother locked me in my room. And then she tripped the page so that the slipper broke."

Christopher brought his hand to his wife's face, to cup her cheek. "Darling, that…woman…has never cared for you. She did everything she could to keep you from being happy, to keep you…as low as possible. Why would you wish to return to her? Why, when—when you have such love here? I, and our children, our friends and our subjects, who all love you so dearly? What outcome could there possibly be from returning to that place, other than painful memories?"

Cinderella sighed, holding the hand that laid against her cheek. "I do realize all those things, I truly do. But, dear, she is dying! It has been ten years. Perhaps-perhaps she wishes to make amends. To ask forgiveness. I do have it within me."

"Of course you do, Cinderella. You are a good, kind-hearted person. That's why I fell in love with you."

"No, what I mean is...I've wanted so badly to forgive. It's difficult to explain—I will try. What I mean is, I've carried it around inside of me, the way a mother carries a child. I've wanted to forgive my stepmother, not just because she may need it, but because I need it too. But I've never had the chance."

"Is there no way that I can make you reconsider your decision?"

Cinderella shook her head. "I don't think so, dear. I plan to leave the day after tomorrow."

Christopher sighed, leaning forward to press his forehead against Cinderella's. "Darling, I love you and would never keep you from something you wished to do. I can only beg you to be careful. Please, be careful."

"I shall," Cinderella murmured, kissing her husband.

It was a cool, dreary morning when Cinderella left the palace. Christopher and the children said their goodbyes to her and the footman helped her into the carriage. Once settled in, she looked across from her to the Grand Duke, who had insisted on accompanying her on her journey. The old man gave her a warm, reassuring smile and she did her best to return it.

The drive wasn't going to be very long, she remembered. When she was going to the ball that fateful night, and when she was traveling to the palace when she left home for good, she could hardly wait to get there, and was grateful that it was such a short distance. Now that she was returning to her old home after ten years, she wished it was farther away so she'd have more time.

The neighborhood hadn't changed very much – a few houses here and there, a few more people traveling on the road – but otherwise it was the same as Cinderella had left it. She couldn't help but wonder if she would find the chateau in very much the same state.

Suddenly the carriage came to a stop, and at first Cinderella wondered why. She looked to the Grand Duke, who said gently, "We are here, my dear."

The Grand Duke helped Cinderella out of the coach, and she stopped to look up at the chateau in which she'd been raised and lived for the first eighteen years of her life. It had been falling into disrepair while she'd lived there, but it had only gotten worse since she'd left. The roof had holes. The paint had stripped away in wide sections – the result of a decade of furious rainstorms and snowstorms. The lawn – once well-trimmed, verdant, and neat as a pin – had now become a brown, stringy, weed-ridden mess. Cinderella looked up once more and noticed one of the windows towards the top of the chateau was broken.

Her eyes felt warm and wet, and then realized there were tears in them.

The Grand Duke offered the queen a handkerchief, which she gratefully accepted. As she dried her eyes, he told her, "Your Highness, we can turn back right now and return to the palace. You needn't venture any further into this—" he searched for the right words—"place. You needn't upset yourself any further."

"No, Your Grace," Cinderella replied with a sniffle. "Thank you for your concern, but I have made up my mind. This was once my home." She looked back at the house. "This was once my family. I was asked for, and I have decided to come."

The Grand Duke sighed. "Then I shall escort you to the door."

Carefully they made their way up the path and to the front door. Cinderella knocked three times, stood back, and waited for someone to answer. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she heard footsteps on the other side of the door, heard the latch lift, and saw the doorknob slowly turn…