Through the Mirror and Into Snow

by Ann T Bugg

Valerie walked over and told Wilhelm they were going further down the road a bit, and not to worry.

  “We may have found someone that can help us find who we’re looking for. I promise we’ll be back before it gets dark.” She hated fibbing to him, but she wasn’t ready to explain everything.

  He knew there was more to the story than what they were telling him, but he simply nodded and let them go. They didn’t need his permission; he was happy they took the time to let him know of their plans. He hadn’t meddled with them so far, but he was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to let them wander alone; they were too young. He would have to find a way to ask them about their troubles. Wanting to be helpful, as well as make sure they did, indeed, return to him, he took hold of Otter’s rope. “I’ll keep an eye on your pooch for you.”

  “That would be great, thanks,” Val said.

  When Valerie returned from talking to Wilhelm, Sam was resting her head on Snow’s while she gently stroked her back. Valerie sat and placed her hand on Snow’s shoulder. “We’ll find a way to get you through this, Snow.”

  “She hasn’t stopped crying,” Sam whispered to Val.

  Snow finally straightened up and brushed the tears away from her eyes with the bottom of her dress. “What am I going to do now? I have no one!”

  “That’s not true. You have us.” Sam wrapped an arm around her, trying to offer her comfort.

  “But you two don’t belong here. You can’t stay here forever. You need to return to your own time and families.”

  “We won’t leave until we know you’re okay,” Samantha assured her. “I don’t think your stepmother knows you’re still alive. No one has tried to follow us, or at least that’s how it seems for now. We’re safe with Wilhelm. Maybe we should ask him for help and tell him our whole story.”

  “No, not yet. I have to figure out what I can do on my own. I can’t be a burden to such a nice couple. What if my stepmother shows up? I couldn’t bear it if any harm came to him or Dorothea because of me.” Snow stood and walked away. Sam and Val followed her.

  Snow walked out of town and up a hill. The girls kept their distance and remained quiet, knowing Snow needed to gather her thoughts. They couldn’t begin to imagine how alone she felt. Sam stopped.

  “What is it?” Val asked.

  “Listen. Snow, hold up a second.”

  Snow came back and joined them. “Is that someone singing?”

  “Sounds like it,” Sam said.

  The girls followed the sound until they found a very pretty woman at the bottom of the hill they were on. She had an enchanting voice that captivated the animals around her. Birds were sitting in trees watching her, squirrels ran around, and field mice nibbled on corn thrown about for chickens. There was even a deer standing among the trees close by. The girl sat by a fountain, and sang a lovely song about dreams.

  “She has an amazing voice,” Sam said as she pointed. “Look. She’s just a teenager.”

  The girl was dressed in clothes that looked like no more than rags sewn together, but that didn’t take away from her beauty. The clothing made her look poor, but the house in front of which she sat was very grand.

  “She must be one of the servants,” Snow said.

  The young girl noticed them, and waved as she called out. “Well, hello there. Are you girls lost?”

  “Um, no,” replied Valerie. “We were just wandering around. We have never been here before. We’re…uh…looking for berries.”

  The group walked down the hill toward her.

  “Oh! You’re in luck! We have a lot of wild berries growing by the stream. I was going to go there myself. I’ll get a basket and join you.”

  The girl was out of their sight for a moment, then came running over to them with a small basket in her hand. She frowned when her eyes focused on Snow. “Are you okay? You look sad, as if you have been crying.”

  “I’m okay. I received some bad news today, that’s all.”

  “I hope it’s not too terrible.”

  “I’ll be all right.” It was obvious Snow wanted to change the subject. “Which way to the berries?”

  “They’re right over here. Follow me.” As the girl led them toward the stream, she tried to spark conversation. “I don’t ever get visitors. What brings you girls to our kingdom?”

  “We just tagged along with a friend,” said Samantha. “He’s selling produce in the market.”

  “I have to sell some of the vegetables we grow at the market, too. Who is your friend? Maybe I know him.”

  Samantha thought about it for a brief second before she answered; she didn’t see the harm in telling the truth. “His name is Wilhelm.”

  “Oh! I know him. He is a wonderful man! I don’t get to talk to many people. My stepmother doesn’t permit me to leave the cart, but he always comes over to say hello. He often gives me the most wonderful wildflowers. His wife is a very lucky woman.”

  “That sounds like him, all right. He is very sweet,” Sam agreed.

  Someone bellowed from the house, interrupting them. “Danielle!”

  Valerie smiled. “Your name is Danielle? My middle name is Danielle. It’s the girl version of my uncle’s name, but when I was younger I used to think it was a word you used to get attention.”

  “How is that?” Danielle asked. She glanced over her shoulder, but she didn’t answer whoever was calling her.

  “Do you need to go?”

  “No. They can do without me for five minutes.”

  “Who?”

  “No one important. Please, tell me your story. I’ve never met anyone else with my name before.”

  “Well, you know. When your mother really means business and uses your middle name to make her point. I was around three years old; I got upset because my mother wasn’t coming over to me fast enough. I stomped my foot and said, ‘Mommy Danielle!’”

  Danielle laughed. “You remember that from when you were three?”

  Sam spoke up. “I think it’s more likely Val keeps overhearing it. Her mom loves to embarrass us with stories about when we were younger.”

  “I didn’t even get your names. I’m sorry. She’s Val and you are?”

  “Samantha, but you can call me Sam. This is Snow.”

  “Where are you, girl? Come here immediately!” A different voice boomed this time. It sounded much more forceful than the one that had called her earlier.

  “I’m very pleased to meet you all, but I guess I really must go before I get in trouble. Will you come visit me again tomorrow? I’ll be alone and I’ll have more time.”

  “I hope we can,” Val said, “but I don’t know how long we’ll be staying here.”

  “Please try to come back if it works out, at least to say goodbye. I’d really like to see you all again.” She ran off toward the house, then stopped after a few steps and pointed. “Keep going straight that way. You can’t miss the berry bushes.”

  “Thank you!”

  After she was gone, Val turned to Sam. “We might as well get some berries while we’re here, but we really need to get back.” Then she turned to Snow. “It’s time to ask Wilhelm for help.”

  Snow nodded, agreeing.

  When they returned to the cart, it was obvious he was quite distraught.

  “What’s wrong?” Samantha asked him.

  “I’m afraid my horse has thrown a shoe on the way. I didn’t notice it until a few minutes ago. She was limping, so I walked her over to the blacksmith. He cannot fit her until tomorrow. I’m afraid we’re going to have to stay the night. I’ve made arrangements with the blacksmith to stay in a small room off to the side of the barn.” He led the girls there as he explained the situation.

  “This room is not much, but it’s dry and warm and the owner has given us clean blankets. There is a grand ball going on tomorrow for the prince. Word around town is that he has to find a wife. The king wants him to take the throne soon and insists he be married.”

  Neither of the girls had a commen
t about that with their hearts so heavy with worry for Snow.

  “You girls do need to stay here tonight, don’t you? Or did you find who you’re looking for and have other arrangements?”

  “Yes and no.” Snow hung her head low.

  He looked closely at the girls. They stood there silently, not meeting his gaze.

  “I’ll get dinner set up for us. After that, we need to have a long talk. Dorothea always prepares too much food in case an emergency comes up. In this case, it’s a good thing she did.”

  After they got settled around the food, Wilhelm broke the silence. “Okay, who is going to go first?”

  Valerie told the story as far back as when she and Samantha snuck out of their house to hunt after the possum. Wilhelm believed them; he didn’t question the magic their land held. He had witnessed its wonders on more than one occasion himself. He remembered seeing the possum when he watered the horse, but he didn’t interrupt the story’s momentum with his recollection. When he heard what the queen tried to do to Snow, he was furious. A part of his heart broke for the little girl when he learned of her father’s death. He went over to give her a comforting hug.

  “Well, then, it’s settled. We will leave here tomorrow as soon as my horse is ready. I will see you two back to the place where the mirror let you in,” he said to Valerie and Samantha. “Your mothers will be frantic with worry over you. And you,” he said as he turned to Snow, “will live with Dorothea and me. I warn you now, young princess, I will not take no for an answer. Our cottage is far from the castle you have grown accustomed to, but you will be loved.”

  A smile spread over Snow’s face before she threw herself into him with a strong hug. She fought the tears that wanted to flow again; this time they were tears of happiness. The other two girls joined in and created one big group hug. Things seemed like they were going to turn out all right, after all.

 

  Chapter 12