I Can't Forget the Melody Chapter Two

 Chapter Two

To Every Corner of the Earth

    Far, far away, Cinderella sat alone in a garden, looking moodily at the book she held in her hand and not comprehending a word of it. She had not turned a page in nearly half an hour. Her heart was aching with loneliness. She had thought, hoped, prayed that the ache would go away with time. But it only intensified. She knew only that she could no longer bear being so far away. Her decision was made in an instant. Perhaps if she had considered it for longer than an instant, she wouldn't have made a decision that later on seemed rather foolish. But the fact remains, she made it and acted upon it.

    When darkness fell that night, a girl could be seen, wrapped in a dark cloak, and slipping soundlessly down the garden path, through the gate, and on to the road that would lead her out of the country of her exile. She hardly knew why she was leaving, she only knew that she could no longer stand the distance. Even though all chance for her happiness was gone, she felt that just by being near him, just by seeing him-even if only from a distance-would be comfort.

    The court mourned the death of the Princess in official, stately style. After all, everything must be protocoligorically correct. But Prince Edward did not allow any more time than was necessary to pass before he began the search for his lost love. Reluctantly, the king informed him that she had been sent to the country of Sylvania, which lay across the bordering country of Snodden. Not trusting the task to couriers, the prince set out himself at once, accompanied by Sir John and the required retinue of soldiers. The journey was a long and difficult one and every mile that brought him closer to Sylvania filled Edward with indignation that his darling had been sent so far over so rough a terrain.

    Frightened and confused by the maze of roads she was confronted with, Cinderella made her slow and painful way back to Euphrania. In spite of the rugged and difficult pace of the journey, she was determined. The melody in her heart would surely lead her home.

    She stopped at little farmhouses along the way, asking for food and shelter in exchange for any work at all that she could do. Often she found herself scrubbing floors, cooking for large families, and sleeping in hay lofts. Once, as she moved through a little village, she heard trumpets announcing a royal procession. Not waiting to watch the procession go by, she hid in the shadows. She did not hear the whispered rumors flitting through the village: "It is the prince of Euphrania searching for his lost love!"

    "What do you mean, she's gone?!" Prince Edward thundered angrily. After weeks of traveling, he had at last arrived at the home of Lady Delanoy in Sylvania, where Cinderella had spent the last three unhappy years.

    "She just disappeared, your Highness!" Lady Delanoy insisted, shaking her head in bewilderment. "The maid went up to her room one morning and she was not there. The bed hadn't even been slept in and some of her clothes were missing.

    "Did you send anyone to search for her?"

    "Yes, your Highness, of course. We searched for days without a trace of her. I expect she ran away to get married."

    "Don't you dare say such a thing!" the prince cried, gritting his teeth. "Something must have gone wrong! Did you mistreat her? Was she unhappy here?"

    "I know she was unhappy," Lady Delanoy faltered, her face gone white. "But she was always given the best of care, her every comfort was seen to, as befitting a princess."

    "She's out there somewhere," Edward threw back his head defiantly. "And try as they might, they can't keep me from finding her. I'll search for her to every corner of the earth!"