25All of Frell thinks me simple-minded. More accurately, they think my kind simple-minded. This is the generally accepted human view of centaurs.
The people of this opinion are very much mistaken. Centaurs have, since ancient times, been brilliant stargazers. In old, people would come to centaurs for advice on even the simplest problems; they had to know what the stars said before they could make any decision.
Centaurs never really answered the people's questions. It was not a centaur's place to interfere with what the stars foretold.
This is where the stories begin to differ. Some say people tired of only receiving hints and guides. They moved on in search of more reliable sources. Others say one centaur divulged too much, changing the course written in the stars. This resulted in many centaurs refusing to even converse with humans.
In any case, the fortune telling days of centaurs ended. Humans stopped coming for advice and soon forgot that their lives and the lives of their ancestors had once been at the mercy of centaurs. They began to think of centaurs as imbecilic because they strayed from the technologies of the time.
Centaurs, in fact, maintained their intelligence. We speak to each other, though humans have never witnessed this. Only fairies are privy to the secret.
One human actually thinks he owns me. He sometimes speaks of how difficult a catch I was. I ran from him only until I realized he is Prince Charmont.
He rarely speaks of this matter; I suppose it hurts his pride. Mostly he speaks solely of a female of his species—Ella. Before he left to battle ogres, he would spend hours talking of this Ella.
After handing me an apple, he would begin speaking of her immediately. He could spend an hour on simply her eyes or smile. More than once he'd wonder aloud what her reaction to me would be.
I didn't have too long to wait. Shortly after the prince left to chase ogres, Ella appeared. I like Ella. She brings food, but more importantly does not waste all speech discussing one being.
She speaks of her stepfamily. Though her stories, I have begun to hate Olive, Hattie and Olga. She speaks of her mother and I hold back tears. She tells stories involving her two true friends: Areida and Mandy. I long to meet them.
She once spoke of her life at home: "Hattie hates me and makes me do things, never mind why. Olive likes me, which is hardly an advantage. Mum Olga is odious. You and Mandy are the only ones who love me, and you're the only one who will never order me about."
I smiled secretively. Ah, if only she knew what I did. The stars needn't have told me of the Prince's love for Ella, it was obvious. She knew nothing of his love, ignoring blatant signs of his affection.
These two people, for which I was confidant, were in love, yet neither could sense the others feelings.
Now I ask, which species is simple minded?
A/n: I have never read or written Ella Enchanted fics before, so please be kind. If you feel the need to flame, please try to put it in terms of constructive criticism. Also, I hope I didn't go too stereotypical with my centaurs.
Disclaimer: I in no way claim to own Ella Enchanted.
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