Disclaimer: I (obviously) do not own the fairy tale "Cinderella", but I do own all the basically all the characters in this story. If you want to use them just tell me. Thanks.
Author's Note:
Thanks to my sister for editing this chapter (her endless nitpicking *does* have a use!), but any mistakes are entirely my fault. Feel free to point them out in reviews. I really appreciate any and all comments.
Also: *text* equals italics because my computer is evil.
.
Before Cinderella: The Story of the Glass Slippers
Chapter 1
About twenty years before once upon a time there was a glassblower. He was known throughout the land for his skill. He didn't care about how much money he earned. In fact he wasn't very rich at all because he very often made pieces for those who could not afford them and gave them away as gifts. He was known for being compassionate and kind but even more stubborn - especially some one rubbed him the wrong way.
He and his wife, Lorelei and daughter, Marie, lived in a small city (more like a town) that was basically in the middle of nowhere. But people still came to buy his work. The townspeople were quite happy to have him there - he brought business to the town.
For a traveler had to have horses and horses and travelers had to be fed, meaning stables, hotels and restaurant businesses boomed. Also all the gossips quite up-to-date on who was married to whom, what fashions were "in" and what the latest news was in court - thanks to the travelers and buyers that came through.
So when Lord Majre came to town in all his grandeur, he didn't get the big welcome he was expecting - and deserved in his opinion. He was a proud and ambitious man and he thought that he deserved these peasants' awe and respect, but all he got were whispers of the town gossips behind his back.
It was common knowledge that he and his family had their sights on the throne. There was an almost endless supply of gossip on how they would achieve their goal. He and his family were known for their pride and they were convinced that they deserved to be royalty.
His wife and daughter were also known for their beauty and delicate feature's - especially their dainty feet. They were stuck up, vain and always dressed in the current fashion. The very latest being (ridiculous looking) peacock feather skirts. Lady Majre and her daughter flounced around in front of mirrors for hours, harassing the palace seamstress to add more feathers and frills. This caused the seamstress to sniff (out of their hearing):
"Feathers on skirts, what will they think of next? Glass slippers?"
Unfortunately Lord Majre heard her and thought "Why not?" After all no one has had a pair of glass slippers before. His wife and daughter would have something that no one else had ever thought of before. It would set them apart and above those other ladies of the court - maybe even gain the attention of the prince.
So the Lord Majre traveled several days to find the famed glassblower before he arrived in the Small City. During the trip his horse had been startled and thrown him spraining his ankle, they lost half of their supplies and just that morning the waitress in the Bunchberry Inn had spilled porridge all over his shirt.
So he was understandably not in the best of spirits when he came into the glassblowers shop. Slapping the piece of parchment that contained the plans for the glass slippers on the table he told the glassblower in his most noble and commanding tone:
"I, Lord Majre demand you make this!" The glassblower looked down at the piece of parchment then looked back up at Lord Majre.
"I'm sorry. This can't be done."
"What!"
"What you ask is impossible. To make a shoe of glass? They would break as soon as any weight was put on them. Besides I'm busy with another project. Come back later. Maybe then I'll have the time."
Lord Majre stared at the man until his face turned deep red with rage. How dare this mere *peasant* defy him.
"If you will not do it in your shop now, perhaps I can help you think in my dungeons!" He hissed angrily.
Lorelei, who had more tact than her husband tried to pacify the situation.
"Please understand milord that my husband is a very busy man. Do not be offended if he rejects your offer. He does not have time to do all the requests that people make." Lorelei said trying to sooth this prideful lord's wounded pride and make him see reason. Unfortunately it had the opposite effect.
"Are you implying that my time and money are inferior!?"
"No, Milord. It's just that there is an order to this."
"An order? AN ORDER!? I am above your petty ''order''! I DEMAND you make these slippers - understand?"
"Yes, Milord. We understand," The glassblower cut in. "but I will not make them. Your request is just as important as everybody else's. I do not follow your orders. *Understand*?"
Lord Majre was practically steaming. No one - especially not a mere peasant -- snubs a Majre.
"Very well" He said, "I understand that you will not work on the shoes. I also understand that you will acquire a permanent residence in my dungeons. Guards!" At the last word four guards entered the glassblowers and took the couple away.
Lord Majre smirked. Nobody disrespected the Majre clan.
*Nobody*.
.-._.-:*:-._.-.
Marie, the glassblower's daughter was out in the vegetable garden weeding the carrots viciously and wishing desperately that she was old enough to leave for the city.
"Only 437 more days until I can leave this sleepy mudhole." She muttered as she stabbed the dirt with a trowel.
She didn't want to spend her whole life in this town - she wanted to go to the big city. She wanted to live her life. Carpe Diem - seize the day was what her mother always told her. But in this small town there was nothing to seize! She wanted - no, she needed to at see least the city. And she would as soon as she turned sixteen… in four hundred and thirty-seven days.
A clatter came from around the front of the house and she stood up, brushed the dirt off herself and went to go check. Thinking that maybe one of Lord Majre's horse had gotten lose and maybe caused something vaguely exiting in this dreary town.
But instead of a stray horse she saw her parents on the back of Lord Majre's carriage. Running after them she called to her parents but it was to late.
Her parents were gone.
.
To Be Continued
Author's Note:
Thanks to my sister for editing this chapter (her endless nitpicking *does* have a use!), but any mistakes are entirely my fault. Feel free to point them out in reviews. I really appreciate any and all comments.
Also: *text* equals italics because my computer is evil.
.
Before Cinderella: The Story of the Glass Slippers
Chapter 1
About twenty years before once upon a time there was a glassblower. He was known throughout the land for his skill. He didn't care about how much money he earned. In fact he wasn't very rich at all because he very often made pieces for those who could not afford them and gave them away as gifts. He was known for being compassionate and kind but even more stubborn - especially some one rubbed him the wrong way.
He and his wife, Lorelei and daughter, Marie, lived in a small city (more like a town) that was basically in the middle of nowhere. But people still came to buy his work. The townspeople were quite happy to have him there - he brought business to the town.
For a traveler had to have horses and horses and travelers had to be fed, meaning stables, hotels and restaurant businesses boomed. Also all the gossips quite up-to-date on who was married to whom, what fashions were "in" and what the latest news was in court - thanks to the travelers and buyers that came through.
So when Lord Majre came to town in all his grandeur, he didn't get the big welcome he was expecting - and deserved in his opinion. He was a proud and ambitious man and he thought that he deserved these peasants' awe and respect, but all he got were whispers of the town gossips behind his back.
It was common knowledge that he and his family had their sights on the throne. There was an almost endless supply of gossip on how they would achieve their goal. He and his family were known for their pride and they were convinced that they deserved to be royalty.
His wife and daughter were also known for their beauty and delicate feature's - especially their dainty feet. They were stuck up, vain and always dressed in the current fashion. The very latest being (ridiculous looking) peacock feather skirts. Lady Majre and her daughter flounced around in front of mirrors for hours, harassing the palace seamstress to add more feathers and frills. This caused the seamstress to sniff (out of their hearing):
"Feathers on skirts, what will they think of next? Glass slippers?"
Unfortunately Lord Majre heard her and thought "Why not?" After all no one has had a pair of glass slippers before. His wife and daughter would have something that no one else had ever thought of before. It would set them apart and above those other ladies of the court - maybe even gain the attention of the prince.
So the Lord Majre traveled several days to find the famed glassblower before he arrived in the Small City. During the trip his horse had been startled and thrown him spraining his ankle, they lost half of their supplies and just that morning the waitress in the Bunchberry Inn had spilled porridge all over his shirt.
So he was understandably not in the best of spirits when he came into the glassblowers shop. Slapping the piece of parchment that contained the plans for the glass slippers on the table he told the glassblower in his most noble and commanding tone:
"I, Lord Majre demand you make this!" The glassblower looked down at the piece of parchment then looked back up at Lord Majre.
"I'm sorry. This can't be done."
"What!"
"What you ask is impossible. To make a shoe of glass? They would break as soon as any weight was put on them. Besides I'm busy with another project. Come back later. Maybe then I'll have the time."
Lord Majre stared at the man until his face turned deep red with rage. How dare this mere *peasant* defy him.
"If you will not do it in your shop now, perhaps I can help you think in my dungeons!" He hissed angrily.
Lorelei, who had more tact than her husband tried to pacify the situation.
"Please understand milord that my husband is a very busy man. Do not be offended if he rejects your offer. He does not have time to do all the requests that people make." Lorelei said trying to sooth this prideful lord's wounded pride and make him see reason. Unfortunately it had the opposite effect.
"Are you implying that my time and money are inferior!?"
"No, Milord. It's just that there is an order to this."
"An order? AN ORDER!? I am above your petty ''order''! I DEMAND you make these slippers - understand?"
"Yes, Milord. We understand," The glassblower cut in. "but I will not make them. Your request is just as important as everybody else's. I do not follow your orders. *Understand*?"
Lord Majre was practically steaming. No one - especially not a mere peasant -- snubs a Majre.
"Very well" He said, "I understand that you will not work on the shoes. I also understand that you will acquire a permanent residence in my dungeons. Guards!" At the last word four guards entered the glassblowers and took the couple away.
Lord Majre smirked. Nobody disrespected the Majre clan.
*Nobody*.
.-._.-:*:-._.-.
Marie, the glassblower's daughter was out in the vegetable garden weeding the carrots viciously and wishing desperately that she was old enough to leave for the city.
"Only 437 more days until I can leave this sleepy mudhole." She muttered as she stabbed the dirt with a trowel.
She didn't want to spend her whole life in this town - she wanted to go to the big city. She wanted to live her life. Carpe Diem - seize the day was what her mother always told her. But in this small town there was nothing to seize! She wanted - no, she needed to at see least the city. And she would as soon as she turned sixteen… in four hundred and thirty-seven days.
A clatter came from around the front of the house and she stood up, brushed the dirt off herself and went to go check. Thinking that maybe one of Lord Majre's horse had gotten lose and maybe caused something vaguely exiting in this dreary town.
But instead of a stray horse she saw her parents on the back of Lord Majre's carriage. Running after them she called to her parents but it was to late.
Her parents were gone.
.
To Be Continued