Fairy Tales Retold

by Jamie Campbell

  “I want my kingdom!” Snow yelled, her voice echoing through the large room. My heart instantly started hammering away in my chest, I hated confrontation and Snow was the best at it.

  To be honest, I was a little scared by her. Her eyes burned with rage, all directed at me. I knew there would be no reasoning with her. She wouldn’t listen to a word I said, even if I was telling her why she couldn’t have her kingdom yet. It was only for her own good so she didn’t have to deal with the burden at such a young age.

  “Snow, you are still so young. You can have the kingdom when you are ready for it. You know I only want what is best for you,” I replied, trying to keep my tone of voice soothing. The last thing I wanted to do was antagonize her.

  She stomped over to the side table and proceeded to pick up and throw each of the expensive antiques onto the floor. One by one, they were shattered into a thousand pieces. I let her go, despite how much money she was throwing onto the ground.

  With the last one still in her hand, Snow turned to me. “My father never loved you! I want you to die like him!” She aimed the vase and threw it at me, aiming directly for my head. I ducked at the last moment, narrowly avoiding taking the direct hit. The vase smashed into the wall behind me, sending shards in all different directions.

  Her anger was not normal for a sixteen year old girl. I feared there was something seriously wrong with her. I had heard stories of demon possession before, or even witch’s curses that took all the sweetness from a child. My stomach was sick just thinking about what was causing her to burn with such rage.

  “Snow, you need to calm down.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do!” She screamed my way before leaving as abruptly as she had arrived.

  I found the guards and gave them orders. “Please make sure Snow is okay and not in danger of harming herself or anyone else.” They nodded their understanding and left, heading in her direction.

  I dismissed all my advisors for the day after that and sat alone in the room, cleaning up the mess myself. There were already so many whispers in the palace about what a terrible step-mother I was to Snow. I didn’t need anyone to witness the fallout from my latest attempt. They all thought I was mean to her and that’s why she hated me so much. Some of the gossip I had heard brought tears to my eyes and I’m sure it was Snow that was the one spreading them.

  I spent countless days and nights agonizing over what I should do about Snow. My conclusion was that it seemed the palace wasn’t a healthy place for her. She needed to live without the burden of court life. She needed to find herself again, rediscover the little girl that her father loved so much. She had to be in there somewhere.

  With a heavy heart and at my wit’s end, I called for my friend, the Huntsman. He and I had got to know each other quite well after my husband died. If I needed anything, he would help me in any way he could. I appreciated the way he never judged, only aided me. He was the only one I had confided in about Snow and her treatment of me. I knew my secret was safe with him.

  “My queen, what may I do for you?” He asked, bowing low to me. I wasn’t a fan of the formalities but I couldn’t stop them.

  “I need you to take care of Snow White for me,” I said, knowing I was putting the wheels in motion for her to get better. I had to do something, everyone in the palace was starting to think I was evil and I wasn’t. That was the opposite of what was going on.

  “You want me to kill her?” He looked at me with his eyes wide open.

  “No, of course not.” My eyes were equally surprised at that notion. “I want you to take her into the woods and find a new home for her. I want her to have some time to think clearly. She will soon remember who she really is. She needs refuge, not a kingdom full of eyes watching her.”

  He nodded. “I understand. I will do it immediately. You have my word, my queen.”

  “Thank you, Huntsman,” I said sincerely. He bowed again before he left.

  I started pacing, praying I was making the right decision. I loved Snow. Every time I looked at her, I saw pieces of her father reflected back at me. I know he would have wanted me to do this. If she continued on as she was, she would have a nervous breakdown. Hopefully my actions would circumvent that happening.

  I felt nauseous until I saw the Huntsman again. A full day and night had passed since our meeting. As each moment passed, it only made my nerves even greater.

  “Huntsman, please tell me what happened,” I pleaded nervously. My fingernails had all but disappeared from my anxious biting of them.

  “It is done. Snow is in the woods, she will find refuge there,” he replied.

  “Did she go willingly?”

  He shook his head, I should have known. “She said she was being banished so you could rule the kingdom forever without her. She called you many terrible names that I could not repeat.”

  “As I expected. In time, she will see this was the right decision. I am doing this for her and not myself. I will more than gladly give her the kingdom when she is ready for it.”

  “Yes, my queen.”

  “We must not tell anyone about this,” I continued. “We cannot have anyone finding her until she has recovered. When she is rested and her true self again, then we will bring her back and celebrate.”

  “That will be a joyous day,” he agreed.

  “It certainly will be.”

  I dismissed the Huntsman and breathed a sigh of relief. It was done, Snow would be fine. But just to be sure, I would check on her regularly. We would both know when it was time for her to return.

  CHAPTER4

  My mirror had more magic in it than just speaking to me. I could also see things in it, things that weren’t just a reflection. When I concentrated hard enough, it would show me images of things that were going on in the world. Most of the time I used it to check on the kingdom and make sure people were still happy. Unfortunately, it’s how I heard the gossip about me too. For that reason, I tried not to do it very often.

  I was still worried about Snow so I sat in front of the mirror one morning and concentrated on the girl. Within seconds, the mirror started a wave of activity, slowing down to reveal where she was.

  It appeared Snow was adopted by seven little people. All men, she was their housekeeper of sorts. Each of the seven little people had their own personality, one appeared very happy, another bashful, one looked to be sleepy, one a little dopey, there was one who sneezed a lot, a grumpy one of course, and one that appeared to be healer or doctor of sorts. They looked like one big, happy family.

  I was so pleased that Snow had fallen on her feet. She looked happier than I had seen her since her father died. I knew right then that I had done the right thing. When she was ready, she would return and I would gladly hand over the kingdom to her. I’m sure she would make a wonderful queen one day, but only when she was ready.

  I wanted to do something nice for her, considering everything seemed to be going so well. Her progress restored my optimism that perhaps we could still be a family, perhaps my dreams weren’t completely lost.

  I called for the royal tailor and ordered a dress be made. Nothing fancy, just something that Snow would be comfortable in while in her new surroundings. The tailor got straight onto it and I had it before the week was out.

  “Madeleine, please deliver this to Snow in the woods and make sure she sees the note,” I explained, giving my maid instructions. I had to tell her where Snow was and why, but I knew she would keep it to herself. I trusted Madeleine, she had been with me even before I was married.

  I waited in front of the mirror, guessing my maid should have been there before noon. I was so looking forward to seeing the smile on Snow’s face when she got the dress. I’m sure she would appreciate the gift and accept it with the love I sent it with.

  Madeleine arrived just on noon, as expected. I settled in front of the mirror, eager with anticipation. She handed Snow the gift, including the note, and then left with a curtsy.

  Snow opened the package an
d took out the dress. I’m sure I saw a smile on her face when she admired it. The tailor had done a wonderful job, it truly was a beautiful dress.

  She moved onto the note next and that smile turned into a frown. Much to my absolute horror, she held my note of encouragement and love over a candle and let the flame set it alight. The entire thing vanished into a cloud of ashes.

  My heart broke, I had such high hopes for that gift. I guess it would take more than a dress to repair our relationship. I wasn’t going to give up though, not when she was doing so much better.

  I continued to watch as Snow put the dress on. It fit her perfectly. I was surprised to see how grown up she was getting. All I could see was a beautiful young woman instead of a precocious child. I wouldn’t have long before handing over the palace.

  Standing in front of a mirror, Snow pulled the corset on the dress tighter. She was trying to make her waist smaller, I guessed. She kept tugging at the laces until they grew far tighter than they were ever intended to. She passed out, falling to the floor as she tried to gasp for breath.

  I panicked, that wasn’t supposed to happen. She should have known to loosen the dress once it started to get so tight that she couldn’t breathe. I jumped up from the mirror, unsure how I could get to her in time. Even if I sent help, it would take longer for them to get there than she had.

  I needed to do something but I couldn’t think of what. My eyes kept flicking back to the mirror and her lifeless body on the floor. I had to act, I needed to do something and quickly.

  Suddenly, the little people returned and found Snow on the floor. They quickly helped her, loosening the corset so her lungs could be filled with much needed air again. I held my own breath as Snow gasped for hers. She was alive, she would be okay.

  I collapsed onto the chair, my hands shaking. I concentrated harder so I could hear what they were saying, I needed to hear her speak to know she was indeed alright.

  “Snow, what happened?” The happy one asked. They were all crowded around her, concerned for her welfare.

  They helped her sit up, her cheeks rosy from the effort. “It was the queen, she tried to kill me. My dress was enchanted, it strangled me.”

  They all exchanged worried glances while I gasped with surprise. My shock then turned into anger.

  “She must be stopped.”

  “She’s so evil.”

  “We have to do something.”

  The nasty comments continued around the circle of little people. “I didn’t do that! It’s a lie!” I yelled at the mirror. I knew they couldn’t hear me but I couldn’t hold it in. Snow was framing me, telling anyone who would listen how evil I was.

  My anger subsided into sadness once again. I had tried everything. I thought I was doing a good deed. I just wanted Snow to like me but it seemed like it was never going to happen.

  But I would not be dissuaded so easily. I picked up my favorite comb off my dressing table. It was my mother’s and I loved it dearly. Snow would know that, she would see that I was really trying to do the right thing.

  I called for my maid once again and instructed her to take the comb to Snow. I would gift it to her and just wait for our relationship to be repaired. She could then return to the palace and we could rule together. I would teach her everything I knew.

  After all, Snow White couldn’t hurt herself with just a comb like she did with the dress, right? It was just a comb. How wrong I was.

  CHAPTER 5

  I was on tenterhooks until Snow received my gift of the comb. I was excited for her to understand what it meant, that I loved her like a daughter. My mother had given it to me and I had given it to her. She wouldn’t say anything nasty and mean about me ever again.

  I watched in the mirror all day, waiting for the moment when my maid reached her. It happened at noon, just like the day before. She received the comb, looked at the card, and then went inside the little home she shared.

  Standing in front of the mirror, Snow pulled her red bow out of her hair and started pulling my comb through. She looked so beautiful, so grown up now. My heart swelled with images of her running home and into my arms. We would be an unstoppable force together.

  The little people soon joined her. I concentrated so I could hear them.

  “The queen sent me this comb,” Snow explained. The men all exchanged worried glances. I tried to ignore it. “Apparently she thinks I need to look after my hair better.”

  “She’s so mean,” the grumpy one mumbled. “We should cut off all her hair while she sleeps.”

  “How can anyone think you’re not the most beautiful of them all?” The bashful one asked. “Your hair is lovely, just as it is.”

  “I guess she just doesn’t like me,” Snow replied, shrugging. If she really thought that, it didn’t seem like she was affected by it at all.

  “She should leave you alone,” the sleepy one said before yawning. He was having trouble just standing without nodding off. I should have sent a doctor for his narcolepsy and see if there was anything that could help him. They were dressed like they were miners, that couldn’t be safe deep in the ground.

  “We should stop her,” the sneezy one added, wiping his nose on his sleeve. Snow used to do that when nobody was looking too.

  “Ow,” Snow suddenly cried out. She pulled the comb away from her head with a great clump of hair still attached to it. “This comb is poisoned, look what it did to my hair.”

  All the seven men examined the damage, shaking their heads and then their fists. They were angry with me, just taking Snow’s word that I had sent her a poisoned comb. Apparently I was evil enough to do that.

  I waved my hand over the mirror, not wanting to see anymore. So I was wicked and evil and only wanted to harm Snow White. That’s what they all believed and who knows who else she had told? The whole thing was a mess that I needed to fix. Otherwise Snow would never return and take her rightful place on the throne. Her father would be so disappointed.

  I paced around my room, desperately trying to think of a way to repair our relationship. I had to do something and the longer I waited, the more people would hear the horrible gossip.

  Besides marrying her father, I didn’t know what I had done to incur such wrath from Snow. As far as I could remember, I had never treated her anything but nicely. I tried so many times to include her in everything the king and I did so she would never be left out. I tried to give her space so she wouldn’t accuse me of replacing her mother, and I made her father very happy. I had done everything right, so why did she accuse me of being so very wrong?

  My hopes for having a family were dashed. I suddenly realized that Snow would never be my daughter. She didn’t love me and would never accept me. But that didn’t change the fact that she needed to return to the palace and take over the kingdom one day. If I didn’t teach her what she needed to know, the people would suffer. And it would be much harder for her to understand her duties. I had to keep going. If not for Snow, then for my husband.

  My eyes fell on a fruit bowl placed in the centre of my table. It was full of fresh fruit; bananas, pears, apples, and grapes. Perhaps if I sent her some fruit, she would enjoy the sweet tastes of home? She couldn’t accuse me of doing anything to the fruit, could she? I couldn’t go wrong.

  This time, I wasn’t going to leave it up to my maid to send the gift. I would go myself, ensuring Snow knew that my intentions were only pure of heart.

  I dressed for my travels quickly and took one last look in the mirror. I barely recognized myself these days, I looked old and aged. The years spent ruling the kingdom, the loss of my beloved husband, and the stress of dealing with Snow had definitely aged me prematurely. Staring back at me was nothing more than an old woman.

  I sighed, asking the mirror one last time. “Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the most beautiful of them all?”

  “Snow White, my dear. While lovely of spirit, you cannot compete with a beauty such as she.”

  So even my mirror was now turning on me. I s
hould have known better than to expect anything else. Seeing all my wrinkles, I tended to agree with it anyway. Snow White was young and beautiful, I couldn’t deny it and I wouldn’t want to. She was going to catch a very handsome husband one day. They would make cute little children together and be picture perfect. That is what I hoped for her anyway.

  CHAPTER 6

  The journey was long and arduous. My poor maid, what I had put her through. I was going to have to give her a holiday for forcing her to deliver Snow’s previous presents.

  A chill ran through the air, going straight to my bones and freezing me from the inside out. I wrapped my cloak around myself, holding it closed in an attempt to keep the wind out. With my head down, I struggled through and kept going. Every footstep was an effort.

  But I actually felt excited about seeing Snow White again. We hadn’t been parted for too long, but with the little people she seemed to be a different person. Perhaps she would not be able to call me evil when face to face? I hoped so, both of our futures depended on it.

  Maybe our reunion would go so well that she would travel back to the palace with me? We could then start ruling together. I could send a message out across the lands that she was eligible for marriage and they would send their most handsome princes to compete for her hand in marriage.

  If that happened, the kingdom would be filled with joy, laughter, and dancing. There wouldn’t be any sadness or sorrow. And all those rumors about my poor treatment of her would be hushed. Everything would just be wonderful from that moment forward.

  The little people’s house finally came into view. I was so relieved I almost ran to the door and knocked. I waited patiently, butterflies in my stomach with the happy anticipation.

  Snow answered, she looked me up and down. There was no recognition in her face. I probably looked like a haggard old woman to her, considering I had aged so much with the stress of everything.