Once Upon a time

There lived a lovely little Princess named Snow White. Her vain and wicked Stepmother, The Queen, feared that some day Snow White’s beauty would surpass her own. So she dressed the little princess in rags and forced her to work as a scullery maid.

Each Day, the vain Queen consulted her magic mirror. As long as the mirror answered, “You are the fairest one of all” Snow White was safe from the Queen’s Cruel Jealousy.

In a palace of shining white stone, sitting atop a hill overlooking a lake surrounded by a forest. Inside a window overlooking the castle courtyard, in a dark stone cold room with the drapes tightly closed. The tiniest draft blew into the room as the Queen entered. Shutting the heavy oak door behind her. She turned and locked it with the golden key she kept around her neck.

The room was dark, as she liked it. The only light came from the stone stage where an ornate golden mirror glowed and cast light down the steps. The Queen picked up her skirts and walked slowly toward the stage.

Every single detail had been carved with her mirror in mind. It was her most prized possession. With a mural of the sun on the ground before the mirror and astrological signs bordering the mirror. A moon carved above the mirror and star patterned drapes tied around the stone pillars.

Slowly, as the Queen stepped up, her reflection looked back at her in the mirror. Creamy porcelain skin with pink rosy cheeks. Her eyes lined in black and royal purple powders to show off the olive green of her eyes. Her lips were painted in a bright red. Her hair was tied back under a black wrap that hid her hair and wrapped down under her royal purple dress. Her dress had a white tall collar that framed the key sitting on her collarbone.

Her dress was velvet with long draping sleeves that melded into her equally velvet black fur lined cape that shrouded her in mystery and elegance. The only hint to her figure was a satin red cord tied loosely just above her hips. Atop her brow was the simple golden crown adorned with freshwater pearls that were found in the lakes around the palace.

She stopped atop the sunlight mural on the ground. Stood poised so she filled the mirror entirely from top to bottom.

“Slave within the mirror, come now from the farthest space.” The Queen spoke the incantation and the mirror responded instantly. A crack of lightning broke from the other side of the mirror. Though outside the skies were still clear. “Now. Let me see thy face.” Fire sparked and burned within the mirror and white smoke obscured the view.

The fire died down and the smoke swirled. Blown by an invisible wind. Taking shape into a pale white face. The face was missing eyes and angular as if chipped from marble. It saw all and saw nothing. Upon seeing the face the Queen felt at ease. AS if visiting a friend, though there was no indication the spellbound creature could feel familiarity for anyone.

“What wouldst thou know?” The mirror said. Speaking with a gravely echoing voice deep as the rumble of thunder.

“Magic Mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all?” The Queen said, pride swelling in her chest and a pink bubbly feeling tinging her cheeks. Waiting to hear her favorite words.

“Famed is thy beauty, your majesty. But hold. A lovely maid I see. Rags hide not her grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee.” The mirror said. The pink feeling faded from the Queen and a sneer curled her lips.

“Alas? Alas for her!” The Queen spat. “Reveal her name.”

“Hair black as the night, lips red as blood, skin as white as snow before the spring.” The mirror answered dutifully. The Queen’s hand flew to her chest as she gasped. Her corset creaking under her shock.

“Snow White!” She hissed. Suddenly remembering what the girl’s job for the day was. The Queen lifted her skirts and stormed to the nearest window.

“What else wouldst thou know?” The mirror asked.

“I have no further use for you.” The Queen said, she opened the drapes and looked down into the courtyard.

“Release me, your majesty.” The mirror said.

“Fine. Magic mirror now be gone, Back again to the beyond.” The Queen said and with another crash of thunder, the face in the mirror vanished. Once again the mirror became mundane.

But the Queen’s attention was taken by the courtyard, and the single figure down below.

In the courtyard, a young girl barely in her teens and lovely as the first thaw of spring sat on the long winding steps from the courtyard up into the palace. This was the princess Snow White.

All around her the signs of spring were unfolding. The trees were filled with luscious green leaves and bright pink blossoms that were falling and dancing in the wind.

A petal fell and landed onto her pale hand as she scrubbed the stone. She lifted her hand and blew the petal off and watched it fall. Smiling at the sight. She turned back to her work and hummed as she worked. Palace doves flew from their nests in the eaves and landed around her. Feeling completely at peace with her gentle company. Snow White scrubbed until her back began to ache. She sat up and looked at the rest of the stairs. She drew in a long sigh and then looked at the doves. Snow White smiled and stood up. Picking up her bucket and tossing the water over the steps.

She hummed and swang the bucket walking through the falling petals to the old stone well. The well had been in the courtyard for longer than Snow White had been alive. Vines had grown up and around the stone and over the wooden structure that held the bucket and the mechanism for cranking it.

Snow White stepped up the stone step to the well and put the bucket down next to the well and began drawing the full bucket from the bottom. The air was heavy with the scent of fresh blooming flowers and even the breeze was sweet smelling.

Once the bucket was at the top, Snow White saw all the doves looking into the well and smiled at them.

“Do you want to know a secret?” She asked, leaning close. The doves nod, cooing. Snow White grinned. “Do you promise not to tell?” The doves nodded again leaning as close as she had.

“We are standing by a wishing well.” Snow White whispered. The doves looked down into the well. “Make a wish into the well, that’s all you have to do. If you hear it echoing, your wish will soon come true.” Snow White leaned back she thought about what she would wish for before leaning back into the well.

“I’m wishing,” She sang, listening to her voice echoing back to her. The sudden disembodied voice scared all the doves away. Her smile only got bigger as she watched her reflection. “For the one I love, to find me!”

To find me

“Today.” Snow White sang. The doves trying to return but continued to be startled by the echo but slowly they returned to listen to the way Snow White sang about her true love.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“I’m hoping, and I’m dreaming of…” Snow White leaned on the well, “the nice things.”

The nice things

“He’ll say.” Her voice carried over the vine covered walls of the courtyard. Her singing reached the ears of a passing prince. Driven off track by the sound of her singing.

“I’m hoping, and I’m dreaming of.” Her voice continued wafting over the garden wall. Leading the prince closer. “The nice things, he’ll say.” He came to the wall and stood up in his stirrups to try and see over the wall. He could see much of the courtyard but not the singer. He dismounted and used the vines to scale the wall. Once atop he saw the sweet maiden at the well singing into it.

“I’m wishing, for the one I love. To find me.” Snow White sang, not seeing at all the way the doves around her flew away. “Today-”

“Today!” The prince sang over the sound of the well’s echo. Snow White gasped, covering her mouth as she looked at the stranger.

“Hello,” he said. Sweeping his feathered hat off of his head. “I didn’t mean to startle you. My name’s Florian, what’s yours?” Snow white shook her head before turning to run.

“Wait!” He called after her, but Snow White didn’t stop, slowing only for a second to find an open door to run into. She spied one and ran for it, Slamming the door behind her hard enough for the latch to lock behind her. She ran up the stairs, peeking out the windows to see if the stranger was still following her.

Prince Florian, for his part, did follow after the princess. Calling for her to wait but she’d shut the door and he was on the other side of it. He looked around at the windows and saw glimpses of her. Seeing a glimpse of something moving behind the curtain on the second story balcony. He hoped he could make her reappear.

“Now that I’ve found you, hear what I have to say.” He sang, hoping he could make her appear again. “One song, I have but one song. One song only for you.”

Snow White peeked out from behind the drapes to look at the prince. With the sunlight shining down on him, he looked truly dashing and Snow White found herself smiling despite herself. She stepped back behind the curtains and primped herself. Trying to push her curls into place and smooth out her dress. Pushing and pulling at her skirt to hide the patches or torn holes or rags. Once she felt she was presentable she stood straight and walked out onto the balcony to hear the serenade.

“One heart tenderly beating. Ever entreating, constant and true.” The prince sang, not seeing the Queen. Still watching from her window. She sneered and slammed the drapes closed. Not that either of the teens noticed.

“One love that has possessed me. One love, thrilling me through.” The prince sang. Snow White was completely enamored with the prince. She held out her hand and a dove landed daintily onto it.

“One song my heart keeps singing.” Prince Florian sang as Snow White kissed the dove and prompted it to fly down from her balcony. “Of one love. Only for you.” Prince held out his hand and the dove landed on it. Shyly shifting from it. Then giving the prince a peck on the cheek before flying off. Prince Florian looked up to Snow White and blew her a kiss. Snow White’s cheeks went pinker as she blushed. Turning back to the curtains and closing them as she took a last look at the prince she’d fallen completely in love with.

The Queen felt white hot rage in her veins. She needed to do something about that pest. She knew someday this would happen. Knew she needed to do something, but the girl was so beloved that any public attempt would threaten her own reign. She couldn’t have that.

The Queen raised a silent eyebrow as she considered something more quiet. Perhaps the girl could just disappear. Or even perhaps have a little accident? A plan formed, a perfect plan. The Queen smiled and left her private room. Locking the door behind her. She found her ladies in waiting clustered in the hall waiting with their heads down.

“Have my huntsman meet me in the throne room.” The Queen said. The ladies all chorused their yeses and curtsied. They all scattered, leaving the Queen to continue to her quarters with only one of her ladies following in case she had another request. The queen paused at her quarters to pick up something delightfully cruel before going to her throne and sitting upon it.

The throne was something to behold. She had it commissioned after the death of her husband. His throne still sat beside hers. But it was bland compared to the opulence of hers. It was made of gold and in the shape of a peacock. Inlaid with jewels of every kind. The satin cushions and upholstery made her comfortable for sitting for long hours if she had to attend court.

She hated being made to wait, and the time it took for her huntsman to show up had her very impatient and annoyed.

“You sent for me, your majesty?” The huntsman said. Bowing as he entered.

“Indeed. Next time I would appreciate more haste.” The Queen said.

“My apologies, your majesty.” The huntsman said. The man was heavyset with a common square haircut for hunters with dark facial hair.

“Now, to business.” The Queen sat back in her chair. Tapping her fingers on the arm of her throne. “I want you to take Snow White up into the mountains. Somewhere secluded, less traveled. Have her pick wild flowers. Then. When you’re alone. I want you to kill her.” Her voice was devoid of any emotion.

“What? Your majesty, the little princess?” The huntsman asked.

“Silence!” The Queen commanded, standing in her emphasis. “You know the penalty if you refuse my command.” The huntsman sunk his shoulders in defeat.

“Yes. Your majesty.” He said.

“Good. Know that if you fail, there will be consequences.” The Queen said.

“Yes. Your majesty.” The huntsman said.

“Oh. And one more thing.” The Queen turned back to her chair. And brought something back up. “I want you to bring back her heart. In this.” She held up a bright red box. Latched with a golden dagger going through a heart. The huntsman could only stare in horror.

“Take it.” The Queen said, the huntsman walked up the steps shakily. Taking the box in his rough leather gloved hands. “Now go. Take her and be back before nightfall.”

“Yes, your majesty.” The huntsman said, bowing before leaving the throne room. Once alone in the halls he stared in horror at the box. He tried to think how he would convince the young princess to go with him. He found her in her meager room. Trying on a beautiful gown. Dark blue velvet corset with red trim. Beautiful blue satin sleeves and a satin sunshine yellow skirt.

“Your grace.” The huntsman bowed. “Your step-mother has requested I take you to pick wildflowers in the mountains.” Snow White turned, her whole face lighting up.

“Really?” She said excitedly. “Oh, wonderful! Let me get my shoes, oh and a bow!”

“I will prepare a horse and cart for you, your grace.” The huntsman said. Bowing again and leaving. He took the horse and a modest covered cart up the path. Keeping the pace quick, the huntsman couldn’t bear to drag this out longer than he had to. It was just before noon when he got to a secluded part of the mountain. He tied the cart and opened the door. Snow White thanked him as she stepped out. Soaking in all the sunlight and the mountain top view.

“What beautiful flowers,” She said. Pausing to look at the huntsman. He nodded and she ran off to the nearest patch of wildflowers. The huntsman stepped back and let his horse graze freely. He kept a watch on the young teen trying to build his courage.

Snow White hummed the serenade the prince had sung to her as she picked the most beautiful flowers. Bouncing from place to place as she saw another and another flower. Her arms were brimming with flowers, and her thoughts were filled with how beautiful the prince’s eyes were. How lovely his smile was. She didn’t feel like she was walking, she was floating.

She moved closer to the mountaintop forest and her thoughts cleared as she heard sounds of something small in distress. Snow White looked around and put all the flowers down as she followed the sound into a little corner of boulders. Finding the tiny pop of blue and the crying of a baby bluebird.

“Hello there,” Snow White said, kneeling down before the baby bird. “Don’t be afraid.” She cupped her hand and held them down for the bird to hop into. The bird hopped up and Snow White raised the little thing to her face.

“Are you lost? Where’s your family?” Snow White looked up into the trees , looking for the bird’s parents. “They can’t be far.” She looked back at the baby and smiled.

“Come on now, perk up for me. Perk up.” She said, “Can you smile for me?” While she focused on the baby bird, the huntsman advanced. Stalking the girl as if she were prey to be slaughtered in the hunt.

Snow White was none the wiser. She searched the trees for a sign of the bluebirds parents and caught sight of them between the trees.

“There they are!” She cried as she stood up. “Go on, go see your family.” Still keeping her back to the huntsman, as he got closer and closer. Unsheathing his hunting knife and raising. Poised to strike as she called her goodbyes to the bluebird family. The shadow of the huntsman fell over her and she finally turned to see the man looming over her.

She screamed as she threw her arms over her face.

The knife was raised to strike.

And then.

It fell.