Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales)
Page 20
I pulled back, confused by his question. “You wish me to be King’s Guard?”
With a chuckle he collected me once more, brushing his lips against my cheek. “No, Raelynn. I wish to have you as my queen.”
My head spun. Queen? Me? It hardly seemed plausible. What did I know about leadership or ruling or high society or politics? That was not a world I lived in.
“I love you, Raelynn,” he said. “Elegant gown or battle-worn uniform, you will have my heart forever.”
“Are you certain? I’m not—”
He kissed me again, stopping my protests with a surge of warmth and wonder inside the deepest places of my being.
“You are everything, Rae. If you tell me no, I would argue, but never force you to it. All I am is yours, and without you, I’m hollow. There is nothing you cannot do, and I want to be with you when you discover that for yourself. Will you grant me that?”
I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes as I stared into his. I knew, beyond all logic, that he would make any disaster bearable and give me every reason to defeat my own demons. Clarice spoke true when she told me love heals all things.
With him, I could be invincible.
“You know I’ll not hold my tongue if I have words to give?” I asked.
“I would be disappointed if you did.”
“And you know I’ll insist on Master Grey’s dismissal?”
He chuckled. “Consider it already done.”
“And you’re aware my sisters will visit frequently?”
Laughing loudly, he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. “I’ll begrudge you nothing, Raelynn. I’ll have them live here if it makes you happy.”
Relaxing into his embrace, I smiled to myself. “Then… Yes. As His Majesty wishes, so shall it be.”
“One request.”
“Hmm?”
“I reserve the right to ignore anything you say if you don’t call me Leo when you say it.”
I giggled, easing away to look at him. “Absolutely.” I paused, grinning at him. “Leo.”
Epilogue
And so, my tale comes to a close, with lessons learned and peace hard won.
We all eventually find that life is a series of adjustments, but anything can be overcome when there is love around you. One can be strong on their own, but there is greater strength in knowing when to rely on others.
I chuckle whenever I hear retellings of those days of my youth, as embellishments have crept their way into the story. I wonder sometimes if the truth of matters will fade into obscurity when I’m gone, perhaps stripped of all but the “once upon a time…” and the notion of a handsome prince and the princess who loved him.
There are many other tales I could tell that spring from the seeds planted in this story. In any life, the actions of one affect many who come after, giving way to a myriad of experiences, all weaving an endless tapestry of time.
As I brushed away the dark curls on the forehead of my granddaughter, I released a happy sigh, speculating on which story she might ask for tomorrow night.
“Such wonderful gifts,” she mumbled, the gentle embrace of sleep fading her words to quiet murmurings. “I would like to see them someday.”
I hummed thoughtfully, soothing her curiosity. “Hush now, little one. You may see them in your dreams. But, I think in time you’ll come to know them all.”
Standing, I left a little kiss on her cheek and saw myself to the door. Closing it behind me, I nodded.
An endless tapestry, indeed.
About the Author
A geek of all trades, Starla Huchton has been crafting stories in various genres since 2007. Her first novel, The Dreamer’s Thread, was released as a full cast audiobook podcast, becoming a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards, which opened the door for other audiobook and podcasting projects to which she lent her voice. Her steampunk adventure, Master of Myth, was the first place winner in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category of the Crested Butte Writers Conference contest, the Sandy, in 2012. A veteran of the US Navy, she took her service training as a Lithographer and applied it to a degree in graphic arts. She is decidedly a nerd with boundless love for superheroes, steampunk, British television, science, and hoarding craft supplies for projects she’ll get to “some day.”
When not writing, she trains three Minions, a black lab, and a military husband whilst designing book covers for independent authors and publishers at http://www.designedbystarla.com.
Connect with the author on the Starla Huchton Author Page on Facebook, @riznphnx on Twitter, or at http://www.starlahuchton.com.
Other Books by the Author
The Antigone’s Wrath Series
Master of Myth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MV4D93I
Master of Machines
(Coming soon)
Flipped Fairy Tales
Shadows on Snow
The Stillness of the Sky
(Coming soon)
The Dreamer’s Thread
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057QOCBU
The Endure Series
(S. A. Huchton)
Maven
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5JOC8O
Nemesis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES4IFT2
Progeny
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H17FJBA
The Evolution Series
(S. A. Huchton)
Evolution: ANGEL
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ITS86H4
Evolution: SAGE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K575U58
Evolution: HEX
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LKBMB4G