Authors Note - Hello! It's me again! I'm so sorry I haven't been on for a while, been out of action due to one thing or another and I just haven't felt the need to write anything so far. Add to the fact it gets so cold in my house sometimes that I can't type it's not very good :/

This is Cinderella (2015) story. I watched it the other day and I'm just hooked! Although I've always love the concept of Cinderella and the happily ever after even though I know such things won't happen in real life.

I just loved Kit and Ella and I had a few ideas on where I wanted it to go. Such as what happens after they leave Ella's house and before the wedding.

Disclaimer - I do not own any of the things in my story just the plot line of what happens!

Chapter Three

Heavy steps followed by slightly lighter ones became more apparent the closer they got to the door. Kits eyes and hand never left Ella's face even as hers became more and more glazed with every passing moment. Kit's worry only showed in the crease of his brow and he was ever glad when the knock at the door announced the Captain was back with the Royal Physician. Calling a calm 'come in' his eye's slowly travelled over to the door and nodded before pulling his hand back from her face to let the physical do his work.

"My king, do you want to be here while I do the examination or do you wish to wait outside with the Captain?" the Physician had been in the family for years and he knew the Prince, now King, well enough that he wasn't over stepping any bound by asking such a question.

Kit looked to Ella and she smiled at him in a pained way before shaking her head. She knew that it was killing him enough to see her in this state never mind what it would do to him seeing what her wounds were like under clothing. Kit was reluctant but nodded his head in acceptance to what she wanted and let the Captain lead him out of the room.

"Now miss, let's get you out of these rags and see what we're dealing with, hmm…" His pleasant voice got quieter the more the door shut and soon the two men on the other side of the door couldn't hear a word of what was going on. Staring hard at the door for a moment, the King cleared his mind and then his throat before turning to his friend.

"What was done about those… Women?" he almost growled the word women as in his opinion no mere women could do something like what had been done to his precious Ella.
"They were taken to the castle dungeons where they will await their punishment. They did not go very quietly, My King, as I'm sure you heard and I'm afraid most of the kingdom heard them on the journey back to the Castle. However, no one seemed to realise just who it was that was in the carriage, just that they felt they were being unjustly imprisoned for something they believed to be their right." His voice came out calm but his facial expression gave away the distaste he felt for them.

"And has any body found anything pertaining to the late Lord Tremaine's will as well as Ella's Fathers will?" Kit felt old, far older than his years. He should not be stood outside of the door his beloved is in waiting for the verdict on her health. He should be happily introducing her to his father and preparing to be married. Cornelius's face told it all and Kit held in a groan of frustration. The door behind them opening bought them out of their thoughts and as one they both turned, hopeful questioned upon their faces.

"Well, how is she?" the irony of the question, that was so similar to what he asked of this man a few months ago pertaining to his father's health, was not lost on Kit but he refused to dwell on that.

"Her wound will heal over time, one or two may have gotten infected due to being in a cold place for a matter of time but with the right medication and dressing they will heal but not without scarring. The process might take longer than expected due to her malnutrition form and low immune system but it shouldn't be a problem as she will be living in the castle with the best care money can buy. I will make up a diet for the chefs to keep to so she can gain some much needed weight and her handmaidens will need to know how to treat the lash marks upon her back." The man was not unkind with his wording but also straight to the point, which he knew the King would respect and want.

Kits hart bled for the woman he loved but his face hardened at the thought of why she was in this situation in the first place. "May I know exactly what her wounds are. So I know what to do to avoid causing her unnecessary pain." He knew he was only torturing himself by asking but he needed to know so he knew how much revenger to get on her stepfamily.

The Physicians face was wary but he knew he couldn't deny anything of his king, especially as his patient had never asked for it to be kept a secret.

"She has seven lashed on her back, two which are infected, that she tells me to be caused by a horse taming whip of some kind. She is underweight, as mentioned, several small cuts littered upon her body, most likely from falling over or trying to protect herself. She has similar bruises but she told me that she had to do all the household chores so they latter two could appear from that. She has bad breathing, I'm not too sure what that could be from. Either breathing in coal or wearing too tight of a dress most of her life as she doesn't seem to have any cracked or broken ribs." He knew it was a slight information overload for the King but if he didn't tell him the entirety it would only come back to bite him later.

No one spoke for a moment or two as Kit visibly reigned his composure before asking a question. "Is she okay to be moved. I would rather her treatment be started at the castle where she will get the best care." The words spoken by the physician only made him hate the Tremaine's even more so than he did. Just to think that the horrible, vile creatures they were, harmed his beautiful bride to be.

"She is very weak but she can be moved. However, you'll need to be quite careful with her back, some of them are in the stages of healing but one wrong move and the scabs could be ripped open again, which is why I recommend a carriage and not horseback. And the stairs will be a challenge but as you cannot carry her you will just have to take it slow. I am going to go downstairs and bring up some water for her to drink as well as any easy food she can eat before moving her, so she has some energy." Nodding his head at both the king and the Captain her brushed past them on his was down the long and windy stairs. Feeling slightly bad he'd not thought about it, Kit pushed the door all the way open to see Ella laying on her side, head on a pillow with a light blanket over her looking peaceful with her eyes closed. Kit smiled, this was how he was meant to be seeing her, not her in pain. It appears the Physician must have given her something for the pain, as she looked the most relaxed he'd seen her. And even in her sleep, she still held onto the glass slipper as though it was her greatest treasure, which it probably was.

Moving over, he sat lightly down by her head and softly brushed his hand along her head, thinking all the while 'I'm so glad I found her. I wish it would have been sooner to save her from all this pain, but hopefully in the end it will be worth it. She will be my Queen and I will move heaven and Earth for that to happen.'

Authors Note –

So…. What do you think? I know it's been ages since I last updated, but I've been busy with end of year exam blah blah blah hahaha

I think the next chapters going to start up her in the carriage or entering the castle. I hope everything believable and if there's any errors or mistakes or inconsistencies, please feel free to point them out to me and I will change them. I've also updated the previous two chapters of any mistakes I've found but again if you do find any please tell me happy reading and enjoy, and please review to tell me what you think!

Kat