Author's note: This is suppose to be similar to the movie 'Ever After: A Cinderella Story’.
All the characters are mine, though, the plot so far is quite clear to me, but at the moment, I’m sort of just...writing—seeing where my imagination takes me (it often carries me away xP). So, yeah. Hope you enjoy it!!

H.x.R

.x.x.x.

Chapter 1

Some say you can find the princess in a forest - hiding away in a dark cave, others say she’s in an unknown castle - locked away in the tallest tower, guarded by a dragon. But what the people don’t know, is she’s really among them, dressed in simple clothing — she looks nothing like a fairytale princess - just a simpleton, a poor maid.
What of the princess’ past, you ask? Why, I’ll tell you . . .

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The young princess was only seven years old-her name was Adlynn. She had no brothers nor sisters - just her parents, the servants, cooks and nurses. The king and queen decided they did not want to raise their child like a princess, but as a normal child, with only a few play things and dresses that weren’t too dressy for the young girl - so as not to make her a spoiled... brat. When Adlynn had turned seven, her parents had decided to choose a husband for her. His name was Lewis, he was also only seven, and the two children became fast friends. At the time, there was conflict between Lewis and Adlynn’s parents, and one day, while the two children were playing together, a stamped of rugged men with silver swords came barging into the castle. Lewis went running to see what was happening, while the servants quickly ushered the princess to a hidden escape door. While the princess was making her unknown escape, the men were slaughtering all that stood in their way — including the king and queen.

Now, after all this took place, the princess was far off with one of her nurses - Missie.

What of Lewis, you ask? He, over the next ten years, was made king - taking Adlynn’s father’s place since he had, had no sons to take over the throne once he was dead. Over the years, Lewis had become very hateful, not willing to marry anyone. His parents - while they were still alive, filled his mind with lies about the previous king and queen - how they hadn’t wanted him to marry their daughter at all, but to kidnap him and kill him because he was a threat. Lewis believed everything they said, so that when his parents died when he was fifteen, he made a silent promise to them that he’d one day find the former princess, Adlynn, and kill her - with no remorse held in him as he would slide his sword into her flesh... Unless, that is, she was already dead.

Now during these ten years, Adlynn wasn’t hateful at all, but very accepting of everything. Missie, her nurse, taught Adlynn many things: how to make a fire, catch her own dinner with the things around, how to cook, take care of herself and how to know when to hide from people you would rather avoid then converse with. For five years, Adlynn and Missie did live in a forest, till a rough group of hunters men found Missie inside a cave ; which Adlynn and she had called home - then killed her in cold-blood. Adlynn had been hiding in the bushes, then when the men left, she fled from her old home. Her whereabouts after that for five more years - or until she turned seventeen, are unknown. When she found that she was completely unrecognizable anywhere she went, she decided to go into the town in search of work - her clothes were ragged, and she was in desperate need of a good meal – and a bath.

When she found the home of an old woman - whom everyone seemed to avoid at all costs, unless they were deathly ill-for the woman made remedies and cures out of herbs that she got from her gardens.

The woman welcomed Adlynn into her home with open arms, and a warm smile. “What is your name, child?” she asked Adlynn.

Adlynn looked at the woman, her dark grey hair wrapped into a tight bun. “Addy.” she replied quietly - that’s the name she’d used for so long.

“Addy . . .” the woman said, as if thinking about the name deeply. “what an unusual name.” She grunted, then seated herself down upon a chair by the fireplace - a small flame burning. “Tell me, what are your symptoms? Chills? Fever? Aching body?”

“Oh...” Adlynn said meekly, looking at the floor, then back at the woman again. “I am aching . . . but not with sickness.” She bit her lip when she saw the woman’s surprised face. “I’m simply looking for a place to stay for a little while. I’d help with any work that needed to be done, and,” she swallowed, then continued, “I wouldn’t have to stay in the house with you either - I could sleep outside.” she paused then rushed on. “If that doesn’t suit you either, I could go somewhere else—?”

A small smile crept across the old woman’s worn face. “I do need help around here. . . weeds are sprouting in the garden. And now is about the time I need to make house calls - starting tomorrow exactly, actually. And have you sleep outside?! Never!” She stood to her feet, the chair creaking gently. “Come, come. I’ll show you to the attic, that’s where you’ll stay. There’s a little cot up there, you know.” And the woman kept rambling on about how no one ever came to visit-much less actually stay with her! -how everything went to a waist! -then at the mention of a bath, Adlynn perked up, and without thinking, said,

“Huh?” Then clasped her hand quickly over her mouth, realizing how rude she’d sounded, but the woman seemed to take no notice.

“Oh yes, I’ve lots of soap - I make my own bars, you know - you can’t ever buy soap in the town markets, you never know what’s in it! -could be maggots, for all we know!” Adlynn shuddered and the woman carried on. “But there aren’t any maggots or worms in my soap! Just my herby stuff, and just a touch of mint to make you smell real fine. You can take as many baths as you want-warm water is the only thing you can’t use too much of, only it’s real hot now that it’s summer, so it doesn’t really matter. So here’s the room you’ll be staying in! Hope it’s to your liking. I dust it everyday, so don’t worry about dust. I always knew someone was bound to come to me rather than just for a remedy!” she chuckled, then started walking away.

“Oh, please!” Adlynn called after the woman. “What’s your name?”

“I’d almost forgotten! I’m Agatha. Hope you enjoy your new room. . .” she paused as she looked over Adlynn for a moment, her eyes opened wide. “Is that the only dress you have?”
Adlynn nodded.

Agatha clicked her tongue and shook her head, then walked out of the room, then returned with a bundle in her hands-she held it out to Adlynn. “Here, a new dress-looks to be about your size. It used to be mine, you know.” She shook her head.

“You wouldn’t believe I could’ve been this small, now could you?” she smiled.

“Thank you! I-I’d hug you. . . but, I’m so dirty.” Adlynn said, blushing as she took the dress, smiling.

“Well! Take a bath, then! The soap is over there.” She motioned to a closed cabinet in a corner. “And the bathing tub is right there. And just watch this!” Agatha said, almost skipping over to the tub with glee. She took a small bucket out of the deep tub, tossed it to the side, then popped up a small square wooden floor board, then pulled on something - drawing up another bucket, which was filled to the brim with water. Agatha looked at Adlynn with shining eyes. “See? A man who couldn’t pay for his remedies did this for me!” She smiled, then dumped the water into the tub then held the bucket out to Adlynn. “Here, Addy, you’re most likely a strong girl, you do this. Heaven knows I’m much too old to haul water like this -though I could use the muscle.” she said to herself, looking at her thin arms. “But, I have to go mix our dinner!” And she stood to her feet and walk out of the room.

Adlynn closed the door behind the woman, sighed contentedly, then went to fill the tub with water.
After her refreshing bath, Adlynn put on the blue-grey dress Agatha had given to her, It fit perfectly. As she was tying an old ribbon around her golden hair, the door to her room opened, and the old woman walked in muttering words to herself, but when she saw the young girl, she stopped in her tracks, gaping at the girl. “Why, Addy! What fine hair you have! And look at the figure you have - you are a beautiful young woman. Only. . . you look quite familiar. . .”
Adlynn’s heart raced.

“Everyone says that!” she said quickly, not willing to reveal who she truly was just yet. “But, I think it’s just my hair.” She held her breath as Agatha’s puzzled gaze swept over her once more. She shook her head, then motioned for Adlynn to follower her––which she did willingly, exhaling her breath heavily.

A/N: So, what did you think of the first chapter?! You like it? If so, could you please review? ...I love reviews (lol).

Just to let you know, the next chapter starts off right away after where I ended in this chap. So, yeah! Hope you enjoyed it! I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as I can! And thanks for reading! :)

H.x.R

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