Previous Contests - Snow White Retold

[nelodra]

Entry 1

Snow White Retold - Entry 1


There was once upon a time a woman that was as white as snow, her breasts were small and as round as apples and she had a naturally wide forehead. She was, after all, an aristocrat and a model of beauty of her time. A time where your race, your gender and your social position made all the difference.

You might think that her being an aristocrat and as beautiful as she was, she would never have any serious trouble in life, but if you really thought so, you are very very wrong, because it was her type of beauty and her position in life that brought her so many disgraces.

The misadventures of Snow White began when she was about to become a sister, her mother had a difficult delivery and within a few days she died of what we would now call complications at childbirth.

Even though losing her mother was very hard for Snow White, her father was very relieved at the baby boy; a boy also as pure as snow and he was everything a father would want on a boy. Unfortunately, death wanted that boy too, as he was born with a blood disease that only affects boys and he died at a very early age. Snow White’s father was never the same; he began to drink and he turned abusive on her. She was as beautiful as her mother and maybe that was why he turned his resentment on her, as his own wife had failed in giving him a male heir.

Eventually he married again. There was no love in that relationship; she knew he only wanted a male heir and she only married him for his wealth and social position, and from the very beginning Snow White was a hindrance to her plans.

One day the pope called a crusade to recover the holy land of the east, and so Snow White’s father had to go on a journey known to bring death and ruin to many noble houses, and his would not be an exception. Things would soon get ugly for Snow White once he went away. He left without even saying goodbye to his daughter, as if he didn’t leave anything important.

Her stepmother didn’t like Snow White very much. Actually, if Snow White’s father died in the crusade, as it would surely happen, Snow White would be the heir, and that didn’t please her stepmother, who made a devilish plot to get rid of this unfortunate annoyance.

When Snow White went hunting with some of her father’s men, her stepmother ordered them to kill her in a very discrete way, so that it would appear that she’d had a hunting accident. If someone ever wondered why Snow White went hunting, the answer is that she has tried to take the place of her dead brother since she was a little girl, to gain the esteem of her father; a love that she always had for her father and she always sought the slightest bit of approval from him, a love that so far never came.

While she was hunting, she noticed that a hunter “accidentally” aimed at her, and being no fool, she figured her stepmother’s plan and she took her horse and galloped away as fast as she could. The hunters brought back a boar’s heart to prevent the wrath of what in modern day versions is called the “evil witch”. She thought that Snow White was dead and she rejoiced in the fact that soon she would be a wealthy and very powerful noble. She was only waiting for news of her husband’s death, and in case that delayed, she was making plans to make death knock on his door a bit early.

Snow White ran away as far as her horse could take her, as her horse was too tired and died soon after of cold and fatigue. She was in the middle of the woods in a pitch black night, which is as good as saying that she was dead already or about to die, as the woods in the night are perhaps more dangerous than stealing the king’s gold in front of him.

Seeing smoke not far away, she went to investigate and she found a small log cabin. There was no lock on the door, and she came in uninvited. There, she found food and a warm place to stay. That was the very best thing that happened to Snow White that night; it was the most fortunate happening - or perhaps, the worst, as that cabin was inhabited by seven lumberjacks who also happened to be thieves since they lived in a part of the woods that went unpatroled by the local authorities. The seven thieves were returning home, and what a surprise they would find when they saw a noblewoman sleeping on their bed.

How did they know she was noble? Her dress, the type of jewellery she wore, and most of all, because she was as white as snow, a very distinctive feature of a very well bred woman, no doubt nobility, and maybe worth a good ransom…

In the coming days Snow White was made a plaything of the seven thieves, a servant. Her nice dress was all rags now; her jewellery, including a very beautiful locket that was the only memento she had from her mother, and her father’s ring, stolen. These thieves were not very bright and could not distinguish to what noble family she belonged to, and Snow White would be very quiet about her origins, as it would only bring her to her stepmother’s clutches.

The arrival of Snow White to that household made her uneasy; not knowing if she would live another day, as maybe the thieves would get tired of not getting the monetary reward they were expecting from her family, so she devised a plan that no woman in her right mind in this day and age would think of, unless she was in the most dire of needs. But those were different times, and a woman had to be resourceful against men who would have no consideration for her.

What did she give them to keep herself well fed and safe? I will leave it to your imagination dear reader, but before two months went by, she was pregnant and nobody knew who the father was, and that was exactly what she wanted, that would guarantee her continuous survival.

Why? Because the seven thieves each dreamed of becoming rich and noble. By giving away Snow White they would only have money to split among the seven, but since she was expecting now, her family would be obliged to grant the father a nobleman’s status, with all the wealth and commodities that implied. But who was the father? This question brought suspicion and conspiracy between the seven thieves, and to Snow White the very opposite. Since they couldn’t afford to have her lose the baby, she used her pregnancy to eat double rations, to sleep and to slack off and to have a safe shelter against her stepmother, in case she ever found out where she was.

One day, one of the thieves got drunk at the city, and said very interesting things at the tavern about a certain noblewoman they kidnapped, about his dreams of becoming a nobleman, and the fact that she was pregnant. Rumors venture far and wide they said, and soon the stepmother figured that the noblewoman that was in their possession was Snow White. After all, the thief was quite eloquent. Once she invited him to her castle, treated him more wine, gave him a few gold coins and some other incentives to make him talk, he was so drunk that it didn’t take long before he told her everything she wanted to know. Now she knew she was alive, expecting, and before long, her hiding place as well, as the thief was not too careful when returning to his home drunk and he didn’t noticed he was being followed….

Four days later Snow White was alone in the cabin, as the thieves were busy thieving and drinking at the city. They knew they could leave Snow White alone; she was smart enough not to try to run away, as the woods would kill her, especially now that she was expecting she would not try to run away. And they were right about that, although they were wrong was that she was safe in the house. An old man showed up. A man who served as a soldier for Snow White’s father, and he brought with him his father’s ring and an apple, and said:

“Your father has returned from the holy land and he was worried to death by your disappearance. I am glad I finally found you. Take this ring, recognize that it is his and come with me, take this apple as well, as you must be hungry and the road we must travel is long.”

Nowadays any supermarket sells a wide variety of apple products and very cheap apples. Where Snow White lived apples were quite pricy and rare. Only nobles had access to apples, and she missed oh so dearly her days as a noble. She took the apple and gave it a bite without hesitation, and also without hesitation she fell to the ground, as the apple was poisoned.

The ring that man had was the stepmothers ring. Snow White’s father gave her one as she was part of his family now, and that man was a soldier of his father, more of a sold out I would say, and he was ordered to kill her. Having some poison’s lore from his travels, he poisoned the apple, as he decided that was a cleaner and better way of dying than killing her with his sword. At least, she died in peace.

When the seven thieves returned they found her. She was dead, or so she appeared to be, as the poisoner was not so good at his trade, and she survived, but left in a near death state, barely alive, and maybe not alive for long.

The thieves dug her a grave and were about to bury her when they stared at her for the last time. She was so beautiful that they couldn’t bury her, and they took her to the cabin to watch her everyday, until the corruption of the dead took away her beauty. They couldn’t let her go, not yet. Not because they cared about her, but to cling to their foolish dreams of wealth and nobility a bit more.
The next day, a prince who also heard the rumors of a captive princess came to this area, killed the thieves and found Snow White in her near death state. As he was a noble, he could afford to bring her to a good doctor and he cured her; he also found out she was pregnant.

The prince was not pleased by this. He wanted her to have his son, so he could marry her to gain her wealth and whatever lands and noble status she had. He ordered the doctor to give her something to get rid of the baby, and when she woke up, she was not pregnant anymore.

She married the prince in order to be safe and to take away everything from her stepmother, the prince claimed her father’s possessions and even won his approval once he got back, as Snow White had a boy from the prince; the heir her father always wanted.

And so, this way, the prince lived happily ever after, Snow White’s father lived happily ever after, the thieves died, the stepmother lost everything and died too after her husband found out she wanted to kill Snow White. But was Snow White happy ever after?

I leave that question, oh dear reader, for you to answer.

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 2

I’ve always been very beautiful, with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and my long hair is as black as the ebony. But this appearance has earned me the stupid nickname of Snow White. Ever since I remember, my father had called me Snow White. How I hated it! The nickname soon caught up, and everyone started calling me Snow White. No one seems to remember that my real name is Heather.

After only a few hours that I was born, my mother died, leaving me in the care of my father. I loved my father, and he loved me with all his heart. We were very rich, and our house was full of luxuries – and I guess I grew up pretty spoilt. I was by far the prettiest girl around – and everywhere that I went people were always admiring me, and telling me how pretty I was. Sometimes my father would catch me checking out myself in every reflective surface available, and he would call me vain – but I could not help it. It wasn’t my fault that I was so beautiful.

Then when I was almost sixteen, my father met Lucy. She was an out-of-towner, and to be quite honest, their relationship didn’t bother me that much. I thought it was just another one of my father’s flings. My father was quite handsome, and he had many women interested in him, but he hopped from one relationship to another, and broke many hearts along the way. It never bothered me at all. I never knew my mother, and although I knew that I should love her, I simply could not bring myself to feel any affection for a faded image in a hallway portrait.

And then disaster struck. Somehow, my carefree father fell head-over-heels in love with this Lucy, and started talking about marriage. I tried my best to talk him out of it – I wasn’t ready to share any of my father’s wealth with this stranger. I tried to make him believe that she was only after his money – but when I learnt that Lucy was even richer than us, I knew I had lost. So I braced myself for the dreaded day, when I was going to meet her for the first time; just a few days before the wedding took place.

And I had the shock of my life! Lucy was absolutely beautiful! I hated her from the first time I set eyes on her.

That dinner was a terrible nightmare. I could see the admiring looks that Lucy was getting from the other clients – and I was green with envy. Usually it was me that people stared at, and admired. But it was quite obvious that to these people Lucy was more attractive than me. After all, I was only sixteen years old, and a child, while here was this beautiful woman, who was still extraordinarily beautiful despite her age. To make my life more miserable, Lucy lost her heart to me almost immediately. Well, I can’t say that I didn’t expect that, because people were always falling in love with me – I was so pretty. And if she had been another beautiful woman just passing by, I would have glowed in her admiration. But this was going to become my stepmother, and live in the same house as me – and worse than that, in the same town. I was never going to be able to live with that.

I didn’t even try to smile for my father’s sake. I made it very obvious that I was unhappy with the whole situation. But for the first time in my life, my father ignored my pleas, and I didn’t get to have my way. And this made me even more angry than before, so when Lucy turned to me and asked,

“So how’s school, Snow White?” I turned to her, and answered coldly,

“That’s none of your business. And my name is Heather, not Snow White – or are you that stupid that you can’t even call people by their proper names?” My father looked up, and was startled by my reply, but that stupid Lucy just patted his hand, and said,

“It’s all right, Albert. I guess every child is upset to find another woman in their mother’s shoes. She probably thinks I want to replace her mother.” I snorted at this remark, and replied,

“I never cared about my mother; I didn’t even know her. So if you truly believe that I am ever going to care about you, you might as well get that idea out of your head right away, because it’s never going to happen.”

That evening my father tried to talk to me about my behaviour at dinner, and I was so angry at him for taking her side. But I knew how to manipulate my father – I had been doing it for sixteen years after all – so I immediately burst into tears, as I said,

“Oh dad, I know she means a lot to you. And that’s what scares me most. I am afraid of losing you. I love you so much.” My father looked shocked at my words, and hugged me close to him to reassure me that everything was going to be all right. And as he told me the next words, I smiled in triumph,

“No woman on earth shall ever come between you and me, or ever take your place.” I knew I was holding the winning cards now.


* * *

They got married, and Lucy moved in with us. I could see that my father really loved her, and I knew that if I was going to win, I had to pretend that I liked her, in front of him. But when he was not home, I was anything but nice to my stepmother. I hated her with all my heart. Everywhere that I went, there was someone talking about her, and about how beautiful she was – and I couldn’t take it anymore. To make matters even worse, Lucy really doted on me, and treated me like I was her own daughter. The more horrible I was to her, the more she tried to make me happy – and she didn’t even complain once about me to my father. Not even once had I heard her speak badly of me.

And then the final straw came when I was around 18. I had invited my current boyfriend to the house, and the minute he met Lucy, I could see that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. I burned with jealousy. He always used to tell me that I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and now here he was, lusting after Lucy. Later on, as we were together, I cuddled up to him on the sofa, and asked him,

“So, who do you think is the most beautiful lady in town?” He smiled and asked,

“The truth?”

“Of course, I want the truth,” I said, as I prepared myself to hear his flattery. He smiled,

“Up until today, I would have said you. But now, I have met your stepmother. Wow, is she beautiful! She is definitely the most beautiful in town.” I stared at him. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I flew into a rage. I threw him out of the house, locked myself in my bedroom, and would not speak to anyone. I suddenly took a bold decision. I called Anne, one of my friends, and asked her if I could go and stay with her and her roommates for a while. Anne accepted just as long as I shared the rent, and the housework. At that moment, anything seemed perfect, just as long as I was away from that witch.

I packed my things, and without even saying goodbye to my father, I left that night. But the moment I walked in that house, I knew I had made a mistake. Anne shared her house with six other people, and everything was a mess. I was used to living in luxury, and now I had to share my bathroom with seven other people, and my bedroom with two people. But I wasn’t going to go back home – no way. Not unless I got rid of that Lucy, anyway.

Anne and her friends were not very well-off – they had moved to this area to be closer to college, and that was the reason why they were all sharing this house; because they could not afford anything else. Also, they had to go to work to sustain themselves through college. So in the mornings they were at school, and in the evenings they went to work. So in general, I had the whole house to myself. I didn’t need to work, and I never wanted to keep on with my studies – so I just lazed around the house, and lived the easy life here too. Then in the evenings when they came back, they would start cleaning, and cooking, and I would eat with them, and then go to bed. They never seemed to complain; at least not to my face. They knew who I was – and what’s more they knew that I was too beautiful to do such common chores. I used to call them “The Seven Dwarves” – they were such hard-working, and plain-looking people. So although I didn’t have as much luxuries as I did back home, I can’t say it was totally unpleasant.

And then one day, I heard that my father had gone out of town on work, for a week. This was my chance to throw Lucy out of our lives forever. So the next morning, I went down to the sweet shop round the corner, bought some really good muffins, and set out to put my plan in motion.

I knocked on the door, and the maid opened. I walked in without a word, and found Lucy sitting at the breakfast table. She looked up, and was surprised to see me there. I immediately burst into tears, and through my sobs, I said,

“I was so stupid. I’m sorry. I have always felt less than my friends, not having a mum and all. And I know I was horrible to you – but you were right that first day we met. I felt like you were replacing my mother. And all you gave me was love, and I was horrible to you.” Lucy stood up, and put her arm around my shoulder.

“Heather, nobody on earth can ever replace your mother. I never wanted to take her place. I only wanted us to be friends.” I nodded, and sobbed,

“I know, I know. And I was so horrible. I know that you can never forgive me, but at least you now know how sorry I am.” Lucy smiled, and that smiled made me feel nauseated.

“Of course I will forgive you. Come sit down, and have some breakfast.” I sat down, and offered her the muffins. She smiled again, and took one. I watched in silence, as she ate the first one. And I did not speak a word, when I saw her hand flying to her throat, and kept watching her intently, as her eyes bulged and she looked at me at the realization that I had just poisoned her. I smiled at her, and nodded. As she was falling to the floor, I stood up, and said,

“And now we’ll see who’s the most beautiful woman in town.” I cleared the remains of the muffins, picked up her cup of tea, and poured some poison in it. Then I stacked the vial away in the kitchen cupboard, and started screaming my head off. The maids rushed in, and when they saw Lucy on the floor they panicked. I sat down on the sofa, hugging myself and rocking back and forth as if in terrible shock, and would not talk to anyone, neither the doctors nor the police. It was only when my father came home late that evening that I got up and ran over to him, crying and shaking all over.

He took me to my bedroom and asked me what happened. I told him that ever since Lucy had walked in the house, she had mistreated me, and often threatened to kill him, if I ever told him what she did to me. I told him that she said she was only after his money, and wanted me out of the way. Then one night, after seeing me so happy with my boyfriend, she had come to my room with a knife, and wanted to kill me. So I ran away to a friend’s house, where she lived with her six other friends. And those seven people knew that I had nowhere to go, so they mistreated me too, making me clean and cook for them while they were at work. My father was horrified to hear this, but I knew that he believed every single word.

“And what happened today? Why did you come back?” I cried a little more, before I answered.

“Yesterday, I received a note which said that you had been looking for me, and wanted to see me. I knew that with you around she would not dare to touch me. I didn’t know you were away. When I came here, she was all nice to me, and told me to sit down and have some breakfast. She had even prepared some muffins. She handed me the cup of tea. But as I was pouring in the sugar, I poured two teaspoons instead of one. You know how I hate sweet tea, but I knew that Lucy loves it, so without thinking I switched the cups, and poured only one teaspoon in mine. At that moment she wasn’t looking, or I would have guessed there and then. She was about to pour the sugar, when I told her I had already poured it in for her. She smiled, and drank the tea. And then, oh, oh…” And I started crying again.

And that was how I got rid of Lucy. My father believed me, and was so sorry, and he vowed never to get married again. I found a new boyfriend, and we were so happy, because he adored me, and every time I asked him,

“Who is the most beautiful woman in town?” he always answered the same,

“You, my love. You are the most beautiful woman in town.” And of course I am. The wicked witch is dead, because I killed her.

And that’s my true story. The version you have always known is the version I told my father, which of course kept on growing longer and fancier every time it was told – such as for example how Anne and her friends became real seven dwarves – and I don’t know whose idea it was to add the glass coffin – or the prince rescuing me from them. Although I must admit, I am not totally against being preserved in a glass coffin after I die. After all, it would be such a shame to put such beauty under the earth, wouldn’t it? For so many years, people have believed a fantasy, and I have laughed at them all each time the story was told.

But now you know the truth. I don’t care. You can do nothing with it. It’s not that easy to change people’s minds, when they believe so strongly in a myth, is it?

* * *

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 3

Once upon a time, there was a land of constant "Happily Ever Afters". A land where no matter how bad things got, it always turned out better than your wildest dreams. A place where the outcome always remained the same, day in and day out, never changing. And in this land was the most fairest of them all. Her name was Snow White.

Ahem, er ummmm, boring! Don't you think?

My name is Blood Red. And I am Snow White's never before mentioned half sister. You see, my Mother was the second Queen. The one you all have judged evil and wicked. And I can tell you first hand, that Little Miss Snow White isn't as perfect as she is made out to be. I should know, I have had to live in her shadow my entire life!

Now before you decide to execute me for treason, at least give me the chance to explain myself. I know this is supposed to be about Snow White. And it is, in a way you have never seen her before.

You see, my esteemed half sister is the one responsible for the death of her beloved mother. Let me explain. The First Queen was a very superstitious person. She heavily believed in all of the bad luck that could occur if you didn't take preventative lucky counter measures. And sure enough, that day when she had finally discovered her pregnancy and was embroidering herself silly, she lost control of the needle and pricked her finger. And so she quickly crossed herself and said a prayer that all would be fine. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something awful would come to pass. She put down that piece of needlework and took herself off to her bed in the castle tower. No one could console her, or convince her otherwise. She never left that room again. And as the expectancy progressed, she grew heavier and heavier, meanwhile never getting any exercise, and never letting the court physician near her person, and eating a lot of food, but not a lot that was good for her. She became so paranoid that when it was finally her time, she never summoned anyone. She went through hours of labour, and the baby was very large. Finally the Queen realized something was very wrong, and just barely managed to pull upon the bellrope that was there for her to summon help. By the time her servants arrived and were able to summon the court physicians and all of her midwives, it was too late for the queen. Father was pacing anxiously outside the chamber, and the servants still whisper to this day, of the look that crossed his face when the physician informed him of the tragedy. He was told that both had not survived the ordeal. He pushed aside the body standing in his way in disbelief, and rushed into the Queen's suite. It took him a moment to realize that all had given up too soon, for the Queen's belly had taken on a life of its own. The babe inside was struggling wildly to extricate itself from the womb. In that moment, Father had to choose, lose one, or lose both. And in a lifeless voice he issued the order to take the drastic measure needed to save the child. All were stunned when he decreed that they rip the babe from her mother's womb .But indeed, they did so and with great speed, even though they were sure that Father was out of his mind with grief, and none of them expected the child to survive. And to top it all off, the babe was a girl.

Now most of you would say it was the first Queen's faulty logic that caused her own demise, but I assure you that was not the case. For it was the very size of Snow White herself, and the ensuing selfish struggle to remain within the only haven of safety she knew, that caused the strain on the queen's body, that led to the tearing and all the bleeding.

But I do have to admit, if it weren't for that, my mother, who was looked down upon by the entire Kingdom even then, for it was well known that she had willingly become the King's mistress, many years ago. She had given birth to myself, and with ease I might add just before this tragic event. That made for a very handy wet nurse, to feed the newborn Princess. And Father himself, who was a very honourable man, saw his chance to make things right. So when the mourning period was officially over, he married my mother and gave me my birthright as a Princess of the land.

Needless to say, this made many very unhappy. For all had assumed my mother had planned even this. But so it was that this came about. I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but I feel I must speak the truth.

Even though I am the elder sister, I have played second fiddle to Snow White, the Perfect Child born from that night of horror. I have silently stood watch and waited for the day to arrive when finally I would come into my own. I witnessed all of the things my mother tried to do for her, to help her. For father had turned a blind eye to everything his precious little girl was capable of. He showered her with all the attention, all the love he could not give his first Queen. I think that was a mistake, but who am I to speak against her, she who would succeed as the new Queen of the Land eventually upon Father's death.

Now do not get me wrong, Father loved me also, but I was not the apple of his eye. And Mother loved me, she made sure to let me know in all the ways a mother could. For every instance that Father heaped praise upon Snow White, Mother praised me twice as much. But there are times when I caught flack from Snow White. She was jealous of me. My mother was alive. And because of this, she made my life a living Hell. Always a pinch here, or a slap there, delivered surreptitiously and with extreme vengeance. I was constantly covered in bruises where no one could see them. And never once did Father notice. I would show them to Mother, and she would make over me as if it were the worst thing ever. But she could not get Father to believe her. Not even when we showed them to the physician. It was ceremoniously concluded that I was a hoyden and was obtaining these wounds myself, while I was out and about riding the horses, or playing with the village children. I never lowered myself to their station, they were beneath me and not to be tolerated. It was Snow White that was out there with them everyday. She claimed to be giving them food and clothing, for their families, and this made Father even more blind towards her actions. But I know the truth.

As the years passed, and both Snow White and I attained a marriageable age, Father called us both into a private audience with him. He informed us that soon he would be arranging alliances for us, and as his daughters it was expected of us to honour his wishes. Snow White slid a glance at me when Father wasn't looking, and I saw that it was filled with such malice, and I knew things were about to get even worse. But as Father turned back to us, Snow White had an innocent expression plastered on her face, but I was still reacting to the malicious glance she had trained upon me. I was horrified and it showed. Father was very stern with me yet again, and all because of her. As soon as we were excused from his presence, I ran to my chambers and began bawling. Life was so unfair! How does she always manage to do that to me? Why does she never get caught?

Mother came to me as quickly as she could, and tried to console me, but I would not allow it. You see, I had already fallen in love. And together we came up with a plan to ensure that I would marry the man of my dreams.

But Snow White quickly realized that we were up to something. And she did everything she could possibly think of to thwart us. Including running away. I swear on all that is held Holy, she did this on purpose! Just to make me miserable! After she went allegedly missing, Mother sent out all of her best trackers to find her, to no avail. I spent considerable time myself looking for her, but she was no where to be found. Father was so upset at this, that no one was granted an audience, not even I. And I was the one still here! No one could reach him, not even Mother. And even though we were aware that he didn't love Mother like he did the first Queen, I figured that he would draw the rest of his family closer about him. No, it was not to be. I was going to try to persuade him to choose my lover for me as best I could.

Did I say lover? I meant my love. This has all been so distressing for all of us. Please excuse my unfortunate slip of the tongue, everything has become so stressful that I am not thinking too clearly.

Father became so despondent, and agitated, that he took ill. Mother wasted no time, and all of the best physicians in the entire Kingdom were summoned, but not a single one of them could find a reason for his illness. They concluded that because of the toll of the loss of his first Queen and now the disappearance of his beautiful daughter Snow White, the King was suffering from a broken heart. And we all know that there is no cure for a broken heart. It was a similar fate I was hoping to avoid.

In desperation, Mother offered a very large reward for any information that would lead to the 'rescue' of Snow White. And Hunters from all over the Land arrived to offer their services. They left no stone unturned, but she was no where to be found. I felt sure that after all this time, Snow White had finally shown her true colors. I began to realize that maybe, just maybe, now everyone would see her for who she truly was. A spoiled rotten, conniving little wench, with an attitude that needed to be adjusted. Eventually, when she felt that she would get her way, and ruin my life for the last time, she would come running home to Father, with a tearful face and a horrible tale of her misadventures.

Despite my misgivings, and all of the awful things she did to me, I didn't want anything bad to happen to my sister. I wanted her to come home, so I could finally prove myself to Father, and disprove her to him. Maybe then I would become the apple of his eye.

Mother saw how upsetting this was for me, so we decided to take a day for ourselves. Normally we would send a servant to market for us, but this time we went by ourselves. Just Mother and me. It was so good to get away from all the sorrow that had befallen us. While out on our journey, we came across a small gathering of people. This raised our curiosity, so we went a little closer to see what it was all about. It was then we found that some of the villagers were blaming us. Oh no, as if things could've gotten any worse! If word got back to Father...we would be banished from the Kingdom. And I would never be with my love. Oh how horrible was Snow White for doing this to me!

A few days later, one of the hunters came back, he was the last to return, and he had news of Snow White. Seems she had been living with all these men, all this time. She insisted that they take her with them wherever they went, and they worked deep inside the earth. Mining gems and stuff. Called themselves dwarves. Went by the names of Sneezy, Itchy, Scratchy, Crabby, Stinky, Dumbass, and Wadsworth J. Longfellow. But he was sad to report that Snow White was dead! A tragic ending when the mine collapsed. She suffocated in all the dust and dirt. The hunter said the dwarves did all they could but they couldn't save poor Snow White. Father was so devastated that he collapsed on the spot, and then he never woke up again. I felt so badly. Snow White had managed to ruin my life one last time from beyond the grave. Now she was responsible for the death of Father too. And life became a whirl of very dark events. A funeral was planned for the both of them, and the procession was led by Mother and myself. All the People of the Kingdom arrived to mourn with us. It was a very dark time indeed.

And as time passed I began to realize that maybe, it was time to come into my own. I know it sounds so very terrible with all that has happened, and I cannot stress enough that I hate to speak ill of the dead......

Excuse me? What was that? Did you just say that Snow White is alive? And that they are on their way here? The dwarves are with her? They have proof of what? But how can this be....Oh look! Over there is that a dust cloud? Could that be them? I think I will quietly take my leave now. Must inform Mother and all that you know. Pardon me, please. No! Don’t do that! Take your hands off of me this instant.........NOOOOOOO!

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 4

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a world much like our own, a young man stole through the dark streets of the City at night. His skin was whiter than snow, his lips redder than blood and his hair silver as the moonshine. His movements were graceful and elegant as he confidently made his way through the labyrinth of murky, desolate alleys until he quite suddenly found himself on a broad, well lit boulevard. Keeping to the shadows, he hurried along, obviously ill at ease now.

Tic-toc-tic!
The young heiress to the Cesstan fortune sat upright in her bed immediately, her heart beating wildly in her chest. What was that sound? Tic-toc-tic! There it was again.

"Pssst!" a voice whispered just outside the window, "pssst!"

Cautiously, she got out of the bed, tiptoed to the window and opened it by no more than an inch.

"Furea," a muted voice greeted her, "are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she whispered back, opening the window just wide enough to let her through.

"I thought you'd never come, my love."

She looked at him expectantly, her full red lips slightly parted in anticipation of his kiss.


"We should go now," he let go of her reluctantly, "we want to be as far away from here as possible by daybreak, or we'll be in more trouble than you can imagine."

The car that stood waiting for them in a deserted part of the forest just outside the city was old, and probably not very good, but as long as it would get them away from the danger they were in, that was all they could ask for.

They drove all night, into ever more deserted land until they arrived at a rundown old brick manor, early in the morning.

"I'm sorry; it's the best I could do," he apologized as he opened the door to their new home, "but at least we can be together here."

"It's alright, Fessar. We'll turn this gloomy place into a real home, filled with warmth, happiness and joy."

Furea and Fessar got married that same day. There was no party, and nobody witnessed the event, except the g-ddess of love -- The Invisible One -- but they were happy to be husband and wife now.

They didn't mind that they'd had to leave everything behind because both their families had disapproved of their love for each other.

Unlike her parents and grandparents, she didn't care that Fessar and his family were the outcasts of society.

And unlike his many relatives, Fessar didn't mind that she wasn't like them and didn't have the gift of long life. He would just love her for as long as they were given to be together, and after that -- well, he didn't really want to think of the "after that" yet.

They made love to each other often, and with such passion as was seldom seen between ordinary mortals. A passion so divine, the g-ddess of love decided to bless the young couple with the perfect gift: a very special child.

A year later -- their house had become a warm and welcoming home -- the product of their love was born: a girl with a skin white as snow, hair black as ebony and lips red as blood.

Feanna was the most beautiful baby they'd ever seen, and way too soon she grew up into an even more beautiful little lady. A girl of an almost angelic beauty - and yet, that wasn't even the most special gift that had been given to her.

***

Furea and Fessar enjoyed their own little family so much, they often forgot about their sad past. The family could be heard singing and laughing together -- the high, silvery laugh of little Feanna rising up to the heavens, from where the g-ds looked down on them. Most of them happy to see such love and harmony amongst mere mortals; yet one of them did not approve of what he saw: the g-d of chaos.

Furea got pregnant again, and both Fessar and his wife were delighted that they were going to have another child.

But only a few weeks before her due date, Furea got severely ill and died -- the babe in her womb died with its mother. They were buried together under a tall tree in the family's garden.

Fessar was inconsolable. He didn't eat, didn't sleep. He wore the same clothes day in day out; never even thought of taking a shower or comb his hair. He even forgot about his beautiful daughter, who needed him so badly now that her mother had died.

Little Feanna who would sit quietly in her room, talking to an imaginary friend. She never cried, but her eyes showed a grief that went beyond ordinary human comprehension. A grief that would eventually awaken the special gift that had been given to her before she was born.

And the g-ds looked down on the broken hearted father and daughter and cried. But the g-d of chaos smiled his wicked smile, happy that his plans were finally working out. It was time for him to put the second part of his devious plan into action.

***

As the weeks turned into months, the state of the once beautiful house deteriorated. Leftovers and dirty dishes littered the kitchen counters and the dining table; the litterbin spilled its contents to the floor, dirty clothes lay everywhere and the vermin that was attracted by the garbage made Fessar and Feanna susceptible to all kinds of nasty diseases.

When Fessar finally realized that his grief was going to get himself and his little girl killed, he decided he needed someone to look after the house and his daughter. A live-in nanny, that seemed to be the answer. He put an ad in the national paper, and waited.

Several candidates applied for the job, but after they'd been on an interview with Fessar they all phoned to tell him they had changed their minds. All, except for the beautiful Yelena.

Yelena with her skin whiter than snow, eyes green as olives and long, curly hair red as copper. Not that Fessar noticed her beauty -- not immediately anyway, but as time progressed and his grief subsided, things between him and Yelena began to change.


***

Feanna was ten years old when her father got married to Yelena, and although it was supposed to be a happy occasion, Feanna always remembered it as the saddest day of her life. Even sadder than the day her mother died.

She didn't like Yelena. Never had and never would; and she couldn't understand why her father would let that horrible woman take her mother's place. But Dad didn't seem to have noticed how unhappy his daughter had always been in the presence of Yelena.

Yelena. Something was wrong about her. Feanna just knew it, from the day she first met her. The way Yelena looked at her! It made her feel as if she was in the way. A nuisance that should be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

Not that Yelena had ever actually been unkind to her. Not at all. She'd been sweet, gentle and caring. But those looks when Dad wasn't around. They always sent cold shivers down her spine.

Why did her father have to get married to that horrible woman?

After the wedding life went on as usual, and Feanna avoided her stepmother as much as possible. She would spend more and more time alone in her room, with her books, her pens and paper... That's when she was happiest.

As time got by however, and Feanna grew older, she noticed how her stepmother would stand in front of the mirror for hours, looking at her reflection. Her mouth forming words she never really spoke aloud, but that seemed to sound like:
"Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of us all?"

***

One day, as Feanna came home from school, she saw two big suitcases in the hall. Wondering what was going on, she went to look for her father and found him in the study.

"Dad, what's those suitcases doing in the hall?"

Dad turned to look at her, got up from behind his desk and said, "I need to go on a business trip to the Myracene Continent, and will be gone for a couple of months, my dear."

"To... to Myracene?" she looked at him in shock. Everybody knew Myracene was the most dangerous country in the world. Why did he have to go there? When he'd never even been on a business trip before! What in the name of the g-ds was going on?

"Yeah, to Myracene," his voice sounded a bit hoarse, "I'll be leaving within the hour. Be good, okay?"

"I will, Dad. Please, take care. I don't want to... to..." she didn't finish her sentence; couldn't bring herself to say those dreaded words.

"I'll be fine, I promise," he said, "don't worry about your old man, sweetie."

She wrapped her arms around him; held him for a long time, making sure he couldn't see the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. Then she let go of him and ran to her room, where she fell down on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

A few days later, as she was on her way to the library, she heard voices from the living room. Her stepmother talking to a stranger.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's nothing more than a nasty bug, and I need to get rid of it now."

"How much will you pay me?"
The stranger's voice sounded cold, detached. Threatening even, but Feanna didn't care. She was fine with anyone threatening her step mum.

Humming to herself contentedly, she went into the library and promptly forgot all about the conversation.

***

That weekend, early Saturday morning, Yelena had some news for Feanna.

"Since your Dad is away on this business trip, and you seemed a bit down, I thought you should go out and have some fun. There's a hunting party in the woods this afternoon, and I think it would be an excellent idea for you to join it."

"I don't know," Feanna looked at Yelena uncomfortably, "I think I'd really rather stay home."
"But my sweet girl, I know how you enjoy to go hunting. There's no point in your moping around here all day just because you miss your Dad. Don't you think he'd want you to enjoy yourself?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so. But I'm so not in the mood..."

"I understand. Believe me, I understand completely, but hanging around the house all weekend will only get you more depressed.
"Anyway, I've arranged for an old friend of mine to pick you up by noon, and accompany you to the hunt. I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine, and you'll enjoy yourself."

Seeing that she had no choice but to do as her stepmother told her, she got up from the breakfast table and went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed.

***

Osar, her stepmother's friend, didn't seem too bad at all, and when she was completely honest with herself, Feanna had to admit that she actually even liked him.

Yet, she couldn't shrug off the uneasy feeling that she should know him. That they had met before. He seemed so familiar.

It wasn't until she found herself all alone with him, deep in the woods and somehow completely separated from the others, that it finally dawned on her: he was the man her stepmother had ordered to get rid of the bug.

Her eyes suddenly wide with fear, she looked up at him and said, "You're not Yelena's friend, are you? She... she just hired you to get rid of me, didn't she?"

He shrugged.
"I'm a hitman, yes. It's my profession, and I'm pretty darn good at it too. I never screwed up."

"Great," Feanna whispered before she fell to the ground; her entire body shaking.

Osar knelt down beside her.
"Look," he said, "I don't know why she wants you dead, but I do know that I've never killed an innocent person, and I have no intention of changing that. I do have morals, you know."

"A killer with morals," Feanna shrieked, "how touching."

"Feanna, we all have morals -- even if we kill people for our living. I'm no different from other people there."
His voice sounded soft and soothing now.

He helped her to her feet.

"Listen to me closely, girl. I need you to run now. Run away from here as far as you can. Get out of the country if at all possible, and don't ever come back here."

He pressed a $100 note in her hand and urged her once more, "Go now, Feanna. Run!"

***

Feanna ran, without looking or even caring where she went. She ran for as long as her legs would carry her -- and they could for a surprisingly long time, but eventually she had to give up.

She sat down under a tree to rest for a while. Her eyes grew heavy and she fell asleep.

When she woke up again, she was no longer sitting propped up under that tree, but lying in a small, wooden bed.

Scared, yet curious as to where she might be, she got up and had a look around. The room in which she found herself, was small and dark. The air smelled mouldy, the curtain in front of the window had an indistinct greyish colour and the damp blanket on her bed was rough and patched.

She left the room, went down a flight of narrow stairs and opened the door to what she figured would be the living room.

Seven pairs of dark eyes looked at her as she stood frozen in the door opening.

"Welcome to our little home, Snow White," spoke one of the Seven, "please make yourself useful, and we will harm you in no way."

"Holy shit," Feanna thought as she looked at the ugly creatures, "now I've been captured by a gang of Dybbukim -- and certainly not the good ones. Just my luck!"

"Sit down and eat, beautiful lady," the Dybbuk continued, "we can't expect you to work on an empty stomach."

***

Feanna's life with the Seven Dybbukim wasn't entirely bad, but it certainly wasn't good. She felt lonely and scared all the time, and hated the things she had to do to keep them content.

It wasn't just jobs around the house they made her do. Those, she didn't really mind, but the other things! Things that haunted her in her nightmares, and made her feel dirty during her waking hours.

Often, she wanted to run away, but deep down she knew this to be impossible. There was no escape. The Dybbukim would hunt her down and find her, and then her fate would be even worse.

And so she found herself going down to the little stream behind the Dybbukim's cottage several times a day. There she took off her clothes and bathed. Tried to wash the dirt and guilt away, but it was never enough, so she kept coming back.

One day, as she was just about to enter the stream, she saw her father's face in the water. As she looked at him, and his reflection became clearer, she noticed he had changed.

Not only was he older now, but his once handsome face was covered in scars. And he was in pain. A lot of pain.

"Dad!" she cried out, "Daddy, what's happening? What have they done to you?"

She reached out to touch her father's face, but as soon as her hand made contact with the water, his face was gone, and she was left with the unbearable knowledge that she'd never see him again. He had died.

A grief, greater than the one she had felt when her mother had died overcame her. Why did all these horrible things have to happen to her? Why did she have to suffer so much? It was not fair.

That night, when one of the Dybbukim was enjoying himself with her as usual, she suddenly turned upon him and bit him in his neck.

She didn't know what had come over her, but it felt so good. So right. She sucked up his blood, which to her tasted better than the best wine she'd ever had. What a delight!

No, the Dybbuk stood no chance against her, and from now on the roles were reversed. Gone were the days that she had to work for the Seven. The nights that she had to spend fulfilling their lusts.

She made the Dybbukim pay for all they had done to her, and enjoyed every minute of it. Not only did she make them slave for her all day, but she feasted on their blood every night.

***

Finally, after all those years, Feanna began to feel some happiness again. Even though she still missed her father and mother, and the beautiful house where she grew up, her life wasn't so bad anymore now.

With the Dybbukim serving her as if she were a queen, and the creatures of the forest adoring her because of her unsurpassed beauty, life was finally worth living again.

Never once did she expect what happened one day while the Dybbukim were on a journey to buy her the most expensive silk from the Land over the Sea.

Dressed up as an ugly old gypsy, her stepmother showed up at her doorstep, trying to sell her some apples.

"Great g-ds," thought Feanna, "this is just too good an opportunity to pass up!"

"Oh, those are the most delicious apples I've ever seen. They smell heavenly, and their skins are so red! How much do you want me to pay you for them, sweet lady? Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you."

"My dear child," Yelena crooned, "I'm just a gypsy, I live of the fruits of the forest and need nothing else, but if you insist..."

"Oh, yes, I insist. You should be paid well for those glorious apples. Look at them! Their skin is so red -- red as wine, no red as blood. The purest, noblest blood I've ever tasted."

She dug her teeth deep into her stepmother's throat and sucked delightedly until Yelena finally died.

"There, that serves you just right for sending my father to his death and trying to kill me. Did you really think you'd get away with that?"

She kicked her stepmother's corpse. Then she turned and walked away.

***

When Feanna got back home, she redocorated the house and removed everything that reminded her of Yelena, the evil witch.

She hung beautiful portraits of her father and mother in the hallway and enjoyed what was rightfully hers.

Eventually, she met a kind and handsome young man, who helped her overcome her past -- the unspeakable things the Dybbukim had done to her.

They married and had several children, all as beautiful as their parents, and all blessed with the gift of long life.

***

What ever happened to the Dybbukim or to Yelena's corpse?

Nobody knows, but it is whispered that upon returning home from their journey, the Seven found the corpse of a beautiful woman and built a glass mausoleum over it, to preserve its beauty for ever.

It is said that they serve the corpse as if it were a g-ddess and they make love to it whenever the moon is full.

But those are only whispers. Old wives tales, and who would believe them?

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 5

Not so long ago, on a winter day a child as white and pure as the snow was conceived. She was the fruit of a love like no other. A love humanity had never seen before.

This story takes place in an Era of Catastrophe, a war between Angels and Humankind.

He was an Angel of Destruction and his mission “exterminate human race”. Four Angels striking the world causing death, destructing and erasing the sinful from the Earth

She was a soldier and her mission was to fight and protect those she loved, defend the world were she was living so tomorrow the children could continue to play.

And for the first time in history, mankind forgot about race and color, money and power, they forgot their differences, their cultures and became one, one fighting for the same reason, fighting to survive.

They joined together; one race, Humankind, one heart.

Four Angels were enough to destroy everything in the blink of an eye, but they were surprised by the love and unity humans were showing, “A Love” humans were not capable of.

The four Angels wanted to know where the Power of Love was coming from. They have watched human race for centuries and they never fought like that before, they never cared for each other at all. They had never become one.

Cassiel – Solitude; Leliel – Night; Ramiel - Thunder and Uriel - Fire and Salvation. The four Angels stopped the darkness, the thunders, and fire; they flew to the four corners of the Earth searching for something they didn’t even know what it was.

They came back to the same place, a castle in the middle of the sky.

Cassiel was holding a black man, Leliel had by his side an Asian lady, Raniel held a young boy, and Uriel was holding a woman. Everyone was speaking in a language no one but the Angels could understand.

“What is your name?” Cassiel, the oldest Angel asked.

“Joseph”

“What are you fighting for?”

“To survive”

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

Cassiel was disappointed he had flown to one corner of the Earth to search for someone or something that would give him a reason to stop this war, but instead he just found another selfish human who was just fighting for himself.

“What is your name?” Leliel, the second Angel asked.

“Chiyo Emiko”

“What are you fighting for?”

“I’m too old to fight!”

“Everybody is fighting.”

“Our destiny is written on the Sacred Book. Nobody can change what is already written.”

Leliel thought about what the lady said, “Nobody can erase what is already written”,

“Why are we hesitating? We should just go ahead and destroy everything. After all that is our mission; destroy humankind and open the door to a New Era. Everything has been written.

“What is your name?” Ramiel, the youngest Angel asked.

“Thomas”

“What are you fighting for?”

“I want to see what tomorrow looks like”

“Is that it?”

“Tomorrow is everything. Today will be gone, and Tomorrow will always bring hope.”

Ramiel was surprised by that answer. That young man was not even in his 20s, and he was already talking like he knew everything.

“What is your name?” Uriel, the fourth Angel asked.

“Blanca”

“What are you fighting for?”

“For tomorrow…”

“Is that it?”

“No.”

“I’m fighting for the old, the young, and the children.”

“I’m fighting for the ones I love and hate. I’m fighting for the ones I know or knew, the ones I will meet or have met.”

“I’m fighting for The Earth, for its soul; for my soul.”

“Are you scared to die?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m scared to live in world of destruction, of war, where children can’t play, where there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.”

“I want to live in a world like the one I grew up in, where children can play and sing to the sky.”

“That was not the question, are you scared to die?”

“No. If I die today, or tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, it would mean I fought for my dreams; my dreams of a world of freedom, love and peace.”

Uriel closed the door and walked away.

“Who is this woman?”
The power and love that were emerging from her soul were the kind that only come from high above.

The four Angels gathered together.

“Kill them all; let’s complete our mission.” Cassiel said

“We can’t do that.” Uriel opposed

“Why not?”

“They deserve another chance.”

“You are out of your mind. They deserve nothing. They are selfish. They don’t deserve to live.”

“But that woman - she has a power that goes beyond humankind. She is different; I can see the light.”

“That’s non-sense; there is no light inside the humans.”

“If there’s no light inside the humans, then what is that power?” Ramiel asked.

“There is no power; they are just scared to die.”

“But that’s understandable, even we ourselves would be scared to die.” Leliel added.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We are Angels, we don’t die. We have the power and we have a mission.”

“At least we should try to learn from them, we should try to understand them.”

“We know everything. We understand everything.”

Cassiel was the oldest, and he was determined to finish the mission.

Leliel and Ramiel were confused; they had seen the light, and the strength of the humans; they noticed how everyone was becoming one. But they didn’t want to upset Cassiel.

Uriel wanted to learn more. That woman in the middle of the white room had a beauty he had never seen before. She had the light to change the world, and she possessed the power to erase what was written.

He went back to the room and looked at her. Without saying anything, they talked, and when she closed her eyes, she was able to show him her planet. The world looked so different from her side; he had seen the oceans and the sky and the fields a million times, but here in her heart and in her mind, they looked so different. They had a soul of their own.

The children, the young and the old were becoming one. They sang the same song and they ran to the same path, a path that would bring them freedom, peace and love.

Can you see? She said.

“Who are you?” Uriel asked.

“I’m just a human” she smiled.

And when she smiled, he wanted to hold her tight, he wanted to learn from her. He caressed her face, and when he touched her, there was a sensation that he never felt before; he felt the necessity to press his lips against hers.

He wanted to touch her with his own hands and wrap his wings around her body and become one. He wanted to see the world trough her eyes.

The darkness, the thunders and the fire were stopped for three days and three nights. The Angels were trying to find a logic explanation to the “light” that was emerging from the humans and from the Earth itself.

But Uriel, he was trying to understand a woman, her heart and her mind. He saw her dreams and her fears. He knew her thoughts.

And by the second night, he already knew he wouldn’t be able to be without her. He couldn’t see the world without her eyes, and couldn’t fly without her hands supporting his wings.

She was human, but she was as pure as an Angel itself, she had the light and the power to change the world. She was indeed a wingless Angel.

Cassiel wouldn’t understand. Uriel knew that the only way to delay the mission and save Blanca and her kind was “betrayal”.

So, on the second night, he held her in his arms and took her to the highest mountain on the face of the Earth.

If it wasn’t for him, she would have died right away, but he wrapped his wings around her body and kept her warm. She could hear his heart and he could tell she was scared, not of him, but of what was about to happen.

“Please Father, Forgive me, and forgive us all!” Uriel, prayed.

And for the first time he kissed her lips and as soon as they touched, he knew he was doing the right thing.

And right there, on the top of that snowy mountain, with G-d as their only witness, they became one, and shared a love like no other. A love humanity had never seen before.

The Third night came, and Cassiel couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“What have you done?”

“I have loved a woman.”

“What you are saying cannot be real, an Angel and a human cannot become one.”

“She is bearing my child. Now you can’t complete the mission, for it would mean you go’d against your own kind.”

“That child cannot be born.”

“You cannot touch her. I will kill you.”

“You are willing to fight your older brother for that human?”

“Since the moment we became one, if you go against her, you will go against me. If you hurt her, you will be hurting me. If you despise her, you will despise me as well.”

“Uriel, you are possessed!”

“Ramiel, Liliel, it’s time to finish our mission. Let’s go.”

There was a thunder like voice that broke the silence and tension that were in that room.

“Uriel, you have betrayed your own kind.” G-d said.

“You were willing to kill your own brother.”

“Father, I beg forgiveness, but I am not sorry for what I did.”

“Father…”

“Uriel, you have changed what was written. That woman will have a special child with the power to create or destroy. Just time will tell what path she will choose. Just time will tell if what you did was right or wrong.” G-d added.

“Cassiel you will return to my side.”

“Ramiel, Liliel, you will stay in this world and protect that child, but you are not allowed to interfere with her decisions, choices or needs.”

“Uriel, you and that woman will perish as soon as that child is born.”


*-*-*-*-*-*

And on the fourth night, there was peace and hope around the world. Everything was slowly coming back to normal; the streets were filled with lights and workers trying to build the city that had been destroyed.

The children were playing in the streets, and singing a song. And the birds were back in the skies, flying as if nothing had ever happened.

Nine months later a special child was born. She was as white and pure as the snow, her hair was black as ebony and her lips were red as blood. They called her Little Snow White.

As time passed, Snow White grew up more and more beautiful. Her beauty came from the inside out.

She possessed a divine voice, she sang like an angel and every time she sang her favorite song the birds, rabbits, mice, butterflies, men, women, children and every one who was around would come to listen to her voice. Just the echoing of her song would bring them peace and hope. Her voice was able to transport everyone to a different world, where there were no worries or problems at all.

She grew up believing Ramiel and Liliel were her parents, but on her 15th birthday a man showed up. “Cassiel”

“I came to show you the truth; I came to show you where you come from. I will show you the past and the present; the future will be in your hands.”

“You can’t do that.” Ramiel and Liliel tried to stop him.

“Father sent me, and you must remember you are not allowed to interfere with her life, with her decisions.”

“Mother, father, who is this man?”

“They are not your parents! You are a child born from a sinful relationship. Your birth condemned your father and your mother to death.”

“Please stop it!” Ramield begged.

“She has the right to know.”

Snow White couldn’t believe what that man was saying, she ran away from the house, and ran and ran as fast and far as she could.

When she finally stopped, she noticed she was in a place she had never seen before. It was dark, so dark that she was scared. She was trembling, she was hungry and tired, but she couldn’t go to sleep, not in that wild wood. She closed her eyes and sang her favorite song. When she opened her eyes, she saw seven fairies. She was frightened when she saw them, but they smiled at her so she smiled back.

“What is your name?” one of the fairies asked.

“Snow White.”

“And how did you come into this wood?” another fairy asked.

“I don’t know, I was just running, and running and when I opened my eyes I was here.”

“Would you like to stay?” the younger Fairy asked

“There is someone following me; he is not a man, but he looks like one. If I stayed here, and he found me, you would be in danger.”

“And who is that man?” the older fairy asked.

“My father and my mother called him Cassiel.”

The fairies’ eyes changed completely when they heard that name. Just to hear his name was frightening to them.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”
The fairies were talking to themselves and so fast that Snow White couldn’t understand what they were saying.

“Do you know him?” she finally asked.

“We have heard his name, and we know who he is.”

“Please, tell me about him.”

“He is an Angel.”

“An Angel of Destruction, that is…”

The oldest fairy didn’t say anything since she had heard Cassiel’s name.
“Why is he searching for you?” she finally asked.

And Snow White explained everything she had heard while her parents were talking to Cassiel. She explained what he told her.

“So you are the Wingless Angel,” the Oldest Fairy said, “that’s why your voice was able to bring us out into this forest. Nobody in this world would be able to see us, but an Angel.

“Wingless Angel?”

“Snow White, your mother and your father erased what was written in the Sacred Book. Now you have to decide what to write in it. Humankind, fairy kind, every single living being in this world depends on you. Your destiny, our destiny is in your hands.


What would she decide to do?

*-*-*-*-

“This has to be a dream, I’m just a fifteen year old girl.”

“Come with us, you need to rest.”

So Snow White followed the fairies into the deeper woods, everything was dark, she could barely see what was in front of her, but for some reason, she completely trusted those little strange beings she had just met.

They reached a little cabin in the middle of the woods. “Please stay inside the cabin, don’t go out side without one of us accompanying you.”

Snow White was so tired that she went to sleep on a little bed that smelled of roses. But in her sleep she could still hear the fairies talking. Most of them were scared and confused.

“We shouldn’t be protecting that girl” She is going to bring destruction to this world, humans will perish and we will die with them as well, everything is written.”

“She has the power to erase what is written,” the oldest fairy answered.

“Cassiel would never let her do that. He would do everything he can to complete his mission.”

“Snow White would never harm her own kind.”

“We don’t know that. She has been living in a fairy tale land, where everything is perfect, every one is happy, but when Cassiel shows her the world like it really is, she will be disappointed.”

“Wars, destruction, assassination, power, desire, sins, weapons, plagues, global warming, terrorism - do you really think she will protect or want a world like that?”

“For every bad person in this world, she will find a million that are worth.”

“Cassiel is close by, I can feel his presence,” the youngest fairy announced.

“It’s no surprise. That’s why he is known as the strongest Angel of all, not even the barrier that is surrounding this cabin will stop him, our magic won’t work against him.”

“He is holding an apple in his hand,” the youngest fairy said confused.

“That apple holds the past and the present. And now Snow White will have to decide the future.”
“Open up the doors, He is here!” The oldest replied.

“Snow White it’s time to wake up. The time and date appointed in the Sacred Book has finally arrived.”

Cassiel entered the room without even looking at the fairies; he had no business with them.

“You cannot run from your destiny Snow White,” He said smiling.
“Wherever you go, wherever you hide, I will always find you; you are one of my kind”

“What do you want from me,” Snow White answered.

“I don’t want anything from you. I want to show you the past and the preset, so you can decide what to do with the future.”

“This apple, which I hold in my hand, will show you everything you need to know. Please eat it.”

Snow White looked at the fairies, trying to find support from them, but their faces were terrified.

“I don’t want to eat it.”

“Snow White, you need to know, you have the right to know, please do as he says,” Tana the fairy Queen said.

And Snow White bit the apple; it was sweet and sour, and with ever bite a tear came down her cheeks. When she was done she closed her eyes and images from before came to her mind.

War and destruction. Humans trying to be G-ds killing their own kind for power and money.

What she saw could change her heart and her mind.

What would she do when she woke up?

Would she live happily ever after, or would she go against her own kind?

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 6

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, lived a King and Queen. They were very happy together and soon they found out that their love brought them new life. It was a beautiful winter's afternoon; the Queen was sewing some baby clothes, when she pricked herself with the needle. A drop of blood fell on the snow on the black ebony. The Queen saw it and wished her baby would be beautiful with a skin white as the snow, lips red as blood and hair as black as ebony.

When the baby was born, it was soon shown that the Queen's wish had become true. The baby had a skin as white as snow, her lips were red as blood and her hair was black as ebony. The King and Queen were crazy about the little princess who they named Snow White. The best was not good enough for the little princess and she grew up having everything she wanted. When she was a little girl she was adorable, had her own staff to make her every wish come true. She grew up to be a beautiful young girl and she knew how to get everything she wanted. No one ever told her no, because nothing was impossible for her.

But one day, the Queen got ill. No matter what the doctors did, there was no cure, and after a short sickbed the Queen died. Snow White was devastated. She screamed at everyone, no, ordered everyone to cure her mother; make her well, but there was no one who could cure death.

Her father, the King could not believe his beloved wife had died. He didn't want to live without the love of his life, he didn't want to rule over the country and he couldn't bear to spend any time with his daughter. Snow White didn't understand. The whole world had to obey her, and now, in just one day, she had lost not only her mother, but also the attention of her father, who grieved. And no matter what her staff did for her, it was never good enough anymore.

Now, in the neighbouring kingdom there lived a king, who had a sister. She had always been secretly in love with the king, but as he was married to the Queen, she admired him from a distance. When she heard of the death of the Queen, she was shocked. Sure, she loved the king, but as her love was fair, she only wanted his happiness and cried for his loss.

But as it was in those days, a kind without a Queen was not done, and when the time of mourning had passed, the king of the neighbouring country came to visit the king.

"You should look at the future," he said. "I have a sister, who is beautiful and not yet married. She could be a good wife to you..."

The wise men of the king convinced him to marry her. That he didn't love the woman was no problem, a lot of people married without loving each other. Their social status was what really counted.

Finally the king agreed. There was a major wedding party and a feast in both countries. The new Queen saw Snow White and immediately she loved the girl, as she already loved her father. But soon after her marriage she found out that the king didn't want her love, didn't want her attention.

The Queen cried at night, alone in her room. She had sooo much love to give, but since her husband wasn't interested, she gave her love to the girl, with her beautiful skin, as white as snow, her beautiful lips, as red as blood, and her beautiful hair, as black as ebony. But the princess wasn't a nice person, as she always got what she wanted, her entire life.

The Queen was the first person who ever dared to tell her no! It was not because she didn't want to give things to Snow White, but to teach to accept no, which is probably the most important lesson in life. But when the Queen said no, Snow White's eyes narrowed, just for a split second.

"So, you think you can boss me around?" Snow White mumbled to herself, looking at the new Queen. "No one tells me no, no one!!!"

She went to her room and thought of a plan. She didn't appreciate everything she already had; she just wanted the impossible, and now someone told her that she couldn't get it???

She would have revenge and in the days that followed she hid in the Queen's room to spy on her. Every night she saw the Queen cry or sitting in front of the mirror, looking at her own reflection.

"What should I do? The King doesn't love me and his daughter hates me... I want to give the girl valuable lessons in life, like my mother taught me. How could the King an Queen spoil their daughter like that?"

An evil plan entered the princess's mind. If no one gave her the things she wanted, the only thing she could do, was to take revenge, and so she did.

"You know?" she told cook, when she was in the kitchen. "I once was in the room of the Queen, and there was a mirror, and when I looked into it, I saw a face, and it was not mine... Later the Queen came in and she sat in front of the mirror and started talking to the mirror, and the face in the mirror told her all sorts of things... The face in the mirror was mentioning my name... I couldn't understand it, because it was in a different and strange language and it sounded evil..."

Cook was commonly known as the gossip of the castle, and a mirror with a face was well known as witchcraft... Now, Snow White only had to be patient.

She didn't even have to wait that long, because just a couple of days later, when she was back in the kitchen, the Queen came in to make arrangements for a royal feast.

"Ow Cook, will you please give me your fresh cookies? You know how much I love them," and she looked up at the cook with her most charming smile and innocent eyes.

"No Snow White," the Queen replied. "No cookies for you, they will spoil your appetite!"

Snow White looked frightened from the Queen to Cook, and pretended that she was very scared of the Queen. Cook put an arm around the girl and looked at the Queen with an angry eye.

The Queen looked surprised at the cook and wondered. When she left the kitchen, one of the pots fell to the floor with a loud bang. Snow White jumped and acted shocked.

"You see? You see what the Queen did? She used her witchcraft on you, just because you wanted to give me some of your cookies..." No one would suspect her, even if she was the one who pushed the pot.

Her next opportunity came very soon after. The Queen sent a letter to the hunter to order a load of the finest meat of deer from the woods.

"Shall I take the letter to the hunter?" she asked the courier smiling her sweetest smile. "I wanted to take a walk in the forest anyway..."

And as everyone was ordered a long time ago never to refuse Snow White anything, he handed the sealed letter to the girl. She put the letter in her pocket and went into the woods. But when she was out of sight, she took another road back to the castle and went to her room.

She knew all the tricks there were to break a seal without destroying it, and read the letter. From the table she took another piece of parchment and her pen and in the beautiful handwriting of her stepmother, she wrote:

I order you to take this girl, who brings you this letter, to the woods, kill her and bring me her meat, so I can eat it.

The Queen...

She sealed the letter, went to the hunter and gave at to him... The man read the letter; his face turned white and he almost had a heart attack.

"What is the matter?" she asked him, looking up at him innocently. "It is a letter from the Queen... She orders you to catch a lot of deer for the feast?"

The hunter shook his head. "The stories were true... The Queen is evil. You should run, Snow White. Run while you still can. The Queen wants you dead... I will give her the meat of the deer and tell her it is the meat she ordered, so you will be safe..."

Snow White thanked the hunter and did as he said. She went in the woods and walked. That should teach her stepmother a lesson, and her father as well, to marry that evil woman...

She walked and walked until her feet hurt and she sat down, fell asleep on the soft grass and woke up early the next morning. Some of the forest animals stood around her, looking at her curiously - such a beautiful girl, almost a woman, lying on the grass. She opened her eyes, looked at the animals and....

"What do you think you are doing? Shoo, go away, filthy animals!" The animals ran back into the woods and Snow White stood up. She walked on and in a clearing in the woods, she saw a sweet, cosy little house. She tried the door and it was open.

Inside she saw a table and seven small stools. Seven little bowls were on the table with the remains of the porridge that had been in the bowls. There was also a little porridge left in the cooking-pot, hanging over a cold fireplace.

The girl, who hadn't had a proper meal in a day (because she ate too many cookies in between meals the day before) was starving and tasted the porridge. She ate all of it, and because she was still hungry, she also ate all the food she could find in the cupboards.

When she had finished her 'meal' she looked at the rest of the house. Upstairs she found seven little beds, and as she didn't sleep that well last night, she became very sleepy. The beds were much too small for her, but when she put them all together, they made a big enough bed for her. The beds were not soft like hers, and they didn't smell of roses and lavender, but she fell asleep anyway.

That night, seven dwarfs came home from the mines. It had been a good day and they had found a lot of gemstones. They stopped singing when they saw that the front door to their little house was open. They looked at each other and approached the house with a little more caution. There was no porridge left in the cooking-pot and when they checked the cupboards, there was nothing left in them either.

"The food is stolen..." said one of them. "What must we eat?" said another.

A third went upstairs and gave a great shout. The other six ran upstairs and looked at the beautiful girl on the beds. She woke up, and looked at the little men in shock.

"Who are you, what are you?" she asked.

The seven dwarfs looked at the girl and told her they were dwarfs. "We work in the mines to harvest gemstones," said the youngest of the dwarfs, before the others could stop him.

"Gemstones?" the girl said and her eyes started to shine. She loved gemstones. She smiled on of her sweet smiles at the seven little men and all seven were under her spell.

"And who are you?" the oldest dwarf asked the girl. She managed to bring a tear to her eyes and looked at them innocently.

"I am a princess..." A tear trickled down her white, soft cheek. "My stepmother wanted to have me killed. I don't know why she hates me so much..."

The dwarfs, who'd also heard the rumours about the Queen were shocked. How could that evil Queen want to have this beautiful, innocent, young woman murdered?

"You can stay with us," said the youngest, and again he was punched in the ribs.

"We will have a gathering and decide together if you can stay," said the oldest.

"I don't know if I can stay..." she said and pouted. "This house is cosy, but it also is very filthy and a princess can't live in a filthy house."

The dwarfs decided Snow White could stay. They bought all the food the princess wanted, cleaned the house and worked day and night to give her all the gemstones they could find. They gave the princess everything she wanted.

Meanwhile in the castle the King became ill. The loss of his daughter was too much for him... There was no doctor in the country that could cure him, no medicine could make him feel better and his Queen was kept away from his quarters. The only thing she wanted was the love of her husband and she couldn't stand the thought of loosing him. She knew a lot about herbs, but every time she made a herbal tea to help him, it was thrown away.

She didn't believe the stories that Snow White was dead, and didn't understand why the people were talking and looking in her direction, as if it were her fault.

Stories travel fast and one day her brother told her the story of a beautiful young woman who lived in a small house, over the seven hills, with seven dwarfs. Immediately she understood and went away; traveled to the little, cosy house in the woods. She knocked on the door, and Snow White, surprised that there was someone at the door, opened it.

"Your father, he is very ill, you must come home," she said and Snow White started to scream. The seven dwarfs, who were working not far away, came running towards the house and saw the Queen in front of their house.

"You..." they cried out. "Go away, and don't you ever come back!!!"

They would have killed her if she would not leave and the Queen ran for her life. She didn't understand; it was as if everyone hated her. What had she done wrong?

She came back to the castle. She wanted to tell her husband the great news, but as always her entrance to the King's quarters was refused to her. "Tell my husband that his daughter, Snow White, is still alive. I saw her today!"

The story that the Queen spoke with the ghost of the poor Snow White spread through the castle. People acted even more afraid of her now than ever before. The Queen went back to her quarters and sat in front of her old mirror. She looked at her own reflection.

"What should I do? I found Snow White, but she didn't listen to me. What must I do?" And looking at the reflection of her own beautiful face, she knew what to do.

She went to the kitchen, and without Cook noticing it, she grabbed some of the cook's clothes that were hanging on the clothesline. She made her face dirty with mud, put on the cook dress and made a grey wig out of some wool. Finally she put some pillows under her clothes and her disguise was complete. No one would recognise her anymore. With a basket filled with Snow White favorite apples she went back to the little, cosy house of the seven dwarfs.

"Nice apples, very nice apples," she shouted in a cracked voice. Apples were Snow White's the favourite fruit and she couldn't resist them, especially when she saw they were her favorite kind of apples.

"Oh, sweet dear child," the old woman said. "You can have an apple for free..." But when she gave Snow White the apple, the girl noticed that the old woman's hand wasn't old and wrinkled, but young and clean. She looked up, pulled the wig from the Queen's head and started screaming again. Now the Queen didn't dare saying anything anymore, nor staying any longer than it took to pull up her long skirts and run away, as fast as she could.

She came back to the castle, and heard things were even worse with the King than before. If no one could help him, he would surely die. Life at the castle was terrible for the Queen, and as she was not allowed to see the king, she packed her things and went back home to her brother's castle, in the neighbouring country.

Her little nephew had grown up to be a handsome prince, and the Queen hoped the prince would help her. When he heard about the beautiful princess, he was willing to go to the cosy house of the seven dwarfs to see if he could talk to the princess. He went away on his white stallion and drove day and night to visit Snow White. When he came to the cosy house, he saw no one. The dwarfs were working in the mine and when he entered the house, he found Snow White, sleeping upstairs on the seven beds.

The moment he saw her, he was in love with her and without hesitation he kissed the beautiful red lips. She opened her eyes and looked into the most beautiful brown eyes and the fairest face of a young man.

"Snow White," he said in a deep voice. "Your father is very ill, and if you don't come home, he will surely die. Come, I will bring you back."

Snow White didn't have to think it over. She called the dwarfs and ordered them to pack all her gemstones and come to the castle.

She came to the castle, and everyone, big and small, old and young, rich and poor shouted "hooray", when they saw their beloved princess, alive and well. She wasn't dead!

The King heard the cheers of the people in the streets and came out of his bed to see what everyone was so excited about. His eyes fell on his only daughter, his Snow White and he grabbed his dressing gown, and on bare feet he ran down the stairs. The King was well again and all the people cheered when the King took his daughter in his arms.

The prince smiled and in the presence of all the people he asked for the King's permission to marry his daughter. The King asked who he was, and the prince told him that he was the Queen's nephew.

Snow White looked at him and felt guilty of the evil things she did. It took a lot of courage, but she confessed all the wrongs she had done.

And somewhere in the crowd a woman smiled, and was very proud of the young princess. Finally the girl had learned her lesson, and she would be all right. She came forward and took of her cloak. It was Snow White who saw her first. She smiled at her stepmother, went over to her and grabbed her by the hand.

"Now I know how much you love my father, and I am sorry for doing all these horrible things to you..."

She also took her father's hand. "I know it was hard for you when my mother died, and you were forced to marry another woman before you got over my mother, but father, this woman is the best woman for you. Well, after my mother that is..."

The King looked at his Queen, and saw her fair face, the love in her eyes and at that moment he fell in love with her.

A few months later there was a royal wedding and there was a feast in both countries. The Queen was proud as she looked at Snow White, as proud as if the princess were her own daughter. In the middle of the festivities she took Snow White apart.

"I want to tell you something. Something even your father doesn't know yet. You will have a little brother or sister in a couple of months."

Snow White hugged her stepmother. "A brother or sister, that is great news. I know you will be the best mother a child could ever wish for, even if you say no all the time..." she smiled. "But promise me one thing, allow the little child go to cook for her cookies, because those are the best!"

Then it was time for Snow White to leave with her prince. She stepped into her carriage and drove of.

All of them lived happily ever after...

PS. Why you don't know the whole story? Well, a part of the story was lost in a fire, so everyone knew only a part of it...

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 7

Once upon a time, there was a girl.
She had skin white as snow, lips red as blood and hair black as ebony; her name was Snow White.
Snow White had a father and a mother, who happened to be the king and queen of a far, far away land.
Everything in her life was like a fairytale, all good and nothing bad.
Ah, who am I kidding?

'Snow White' ran into her room, slammed the door behind her and started her computer.
Today had just been the worst day of her life so far.
Her stupid stepmother was being her stupid self again, saying stupid things and making stupid decisions!

That wicked witch had just told her she was grounded for at least a week, only because she went to her mothers grave without telling anyone.
What did she think? That she was her 'new' and 'better' mother?
Hah! As if she'd ever call her mom.
She logged into her instant messenger account.
Witch hadn't said she was computer grounded too.

'Pling. New message has arrived.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Mabelle! Where were you? I waited over an hour and you didn't show up!'
Mabelle frowned, before typing a reply.

Snow_white says: 'Sorry Laila, witch grounded me.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'You're kidding, right?'
Snow_white says: 'No, I'm not.'

She bit her lip.
Tonight she would have spent the night at Laila's house, but with the whole 'being grounded' thing, that plan was probably dead.
It was just so unfair! Dad would never ground her, but of course he had to work late, again.
And even if he were home right now, Amy would just make up some story about how bad she had been.

Dark_B3auty says: 'Why don't you just ditch the witch and come anyway?'
Snow_white says: 'Easier said than done; you know my stealth skills.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'You can always try…'

Laila was right, she could always try.
Maybe she should; it would be nicer at her friend's house than here anyway, and that witch had to learn that she didn't rule over her.

Snow_white says: 'Okay, I'll give it a try. Can you pick me up at school around 22:00?'
Dark_B3auty says: 'That's my girl! Of course, I'll be waiting for you.'
Snow_white says: 'See you there, hug & kiss.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Later, hug & kiss back to you.'
'Pling. Dark_B3auty has logged off.'

With a sigh she logged out of her account.
How on earth was she going to get out of the house with her stepmother analyzing her every move?

One double click later she was on the google homepage.
Another moment later she was at the 'teenswithproblemsforum.com'.
Being a member of that forum already, she logged in and started posting a new topic in the 'Help' board.
Once she was satisfied with her topic, she clicked submit.

'Hi guys, Snow_white here, I have a big problem…
Tonight I really want to go to my best friend, but my stepmother, you know, 'Witch', grounded me for a week or two.
But I don't think I deserved getting grounded in the first place, and going to my friend's house is better than staying at home.
Anyone got an idea how I can get past my stepmother's nose and out of the house before 21:30?'

Within minutes someone called 'eViL696DaRk' replied.
After she had read his post, she wrote back a quick 'thank you' and logged off.
She looked at her alarm clock; it was already 20:36.
Just one hour to prepare her big escape.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, she went downstairs.

The witch was sitting at the table in the living room, looking in some beauty magazines.

"Amy?" Mabelle said softly, almost like she was shy. What a joke.

Her stepmother looked up from her reading.
"I'm really sorry for what I did today…"

"You better be," was Amy's short reply.

Mabelle looked at her feet; this wasn't that hard to do, right?
"I… I could go and make you some tea, if you'd like…"

There was no way she'd say no to that, Amy loved tea.
Her answer was a small nod combined with a hand movement towards the kitchen.

Without commenting on how rude she was, Mabelle walked into the kitchen and started heating some water for the tea.
A while later, she walked back into the living room with two cups of tea.
When she had put down one cup for her stepmother, she sat down on the other side of the table.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." Cold words with no real meaning to them.

Her stepmother took a few sips from the tea, then asked, "Where did you get this tea?"

"From that new shop, 'Herbs and Nature', I don't think they sell this tea anywhere else…"

She nodded as she took another sip from her cup.
As Mabelle put down her own cup, which was empty now, her stepmother shook her head a little.

"Is something wrong?" Mabelle asked, making sure to sound worried.

"I'm suddenly feeling a bit tired, that's all… I think I'm going to bed."

She stood up from her chair and almost collapsed.
Mabelle ran over to her stepmother, "Would you like me to help you upstairs? You could fall."

"That would certainly be nice," she replied.

Once she had helped Amy to bed, she sat down on the chair next to it.

"Thank you for helping me, Mabelle, I didn't think of you as such a kind person - I was clearly wrong."

Mabelle nodded, "you're welcome."

When her stepmother had fallen into a deep sleep, she stood up and walked out of the room with a wicked smile on her lips.

Back downstairs again, she wrote a little note for her father, explaining what had happened and where she would be tonight.
Of course she left out the part about his sleeping pills, which he had been using since her mother's death.

With a quick glance at the clock she walked into the hall; it was now 21:17.
She put on her shoes and coat, grabbed her set of house keys, opened the door and went outside.
It was raining.

After locking the front door she pulled the hood of her coat over her head and started walking.
The school wasn't very close to her house, unfortunately.
It took her more than thirty minutes walking, everyday.
When her mother was still alive they used to walk together; Amy never did, that stupid witch.

Of course she had asked her, many times, but the answer was always 'not now, Mabelle,' or 'I can't go out, it's raining and my hair would be ruined.'

There were only a few things that mattered to her stepmother.
Beauty and money.
Finally she could see the school, and walked a bit faster.

"Mabelle!"

There was Laila, standing in front of the school and waving at her.
Feeling relieved to finally see her friend, she ran the last bit.

Two days later she walked up to the front door of her own house, tired but happy for the first time in ages.
As soon as she was inside, her evil stepmother had found her again.

"Where have you been?" Amy immediately asked, looking beyond angry.

'Oh dear, I'm in some serious shit now,' Mabelle thought.
She tried to walk past Amy, but that witch just stepped in front of her, blocking her escape.

"I don't know where you have been, or what you have done in those two days," she continued.
"But you, my dear, are going to tell me all about your little adventure."

Ignoring her was getting harder every second, and Mabelle had already thought of over twenty ways to tell her stepmother to shut up, going from the polite 'could you please' to the not-so-polite 'shut the hell up'.

"So, let's go to the living room and have a little chat," the witch said, and for once Mabelle thought that was a good idea.

They sat down on the chairs, and for a minute sat there, staring at each other.

"You know, I don't really like you," Amy said, being the first to break the silence.

"I kind of guessed that months ago," was her reply, not skipping a beat.
Witch nodded, bit her lip, crossed her legs.

"I don't like you at all, you are such a nosy kid, and underneath that smile it's all fake."
Bam. That hurt a little, but not all that much.

"Yeah, and look at you. You're all make-up and money, like that isn't fake."

To her surprise Amy laughed; a dry laugh, but it was there.
"Make-up and money, you got that one right, brat."

Brat, now that was the wrong nickname, kid was bad enough.

"So you just married my dad for the money, huh? You're a real witch," Mabelle shouted, didn't care if the whole world had heard her, or if what she had just said was true.

"You're really smarter than I thought; funny, I thought you were all talk and no brains."

Wait, did that witch just admit she married her father for the money and nothing else?

"Now, I can't have you tell daddy dearest that, so I'll have to get rid of you, but don't worry, I won't be the one to get my hands dirty."

Mabelle was shocked.
She knew her stepmother didn't like her, but kill her?

"Now, I'd like you to go to your room and stay there, because I have some phone calls to make."

Amy didn't have to tell her twice; within seconds she was in her room.
When she'd made sure to lock the door she started her computer.

This was dangerous, not like in some random teenage story, real danger.
Quickly she clicked to the 'teenswithproblemsforum.com' and logged into her account.
With faster fingers than ever before she started typing a new topic in the 'Help' board.

'Guys, big problem here!
The witch just kind of said she'd get someone to kill me!
What should I do? I really have no idea, please help!'

After clicking 'submit' she logged into her instant messenger account.
Thankfully Laila was online.

'Pling. New message has been send.'
Snow_white says: 'Crisis over here, the witch just told me she wants me dead!'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Holy shit! You are joking, right?'
Snow_white says: 'I'm afraid not so… She really said she'd get someone to 'get rid of me''
Dark_B3auty says: 'I don't know, I have never been threatened by my stepmother.'
Snow_white says: 'Ha ha. Really funny, I'm serious!'
Dark_B3auty says: 'So am I. Don't have a stepmother, so she can't threaten me.'
Snow_white says: 'But really, what should I do? She's going to send me to mom!'
Dark_B3auty says: 'If you say it like that, it sounds really creepy.'
Snow_white says: 'You're avoiding my question! What should I do? Don't make me repeat myself.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'I absolutely have no idea, not a single one. Maybe she's just saying things.'
Snow_white says: 'Right. Maybe she's just saying things like 'I'll reunite you with momma'.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Maybe you should just wait and see what is going to happen…'
Snow_white says: 'Maybe not.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Okay… Good luck…'
Snow_white says: 'Yeah, thanks. I better go…'
Dark_B3auty says: 'See you, hopefully.'
Snow_white says: 'Don't make me think about what can happen… Hug & kiss to you.'
Dark_B3auty says: 'Hug & kiss back to you.'

With that she logged off and checked the forum.
Again, 'eViL696DaRk' had replied to her topic.
She quickly read the reply, send a 'thank you' and printed the page before logging off.
Paper in her hand, she ran into the bathroom and locked the door.

The next days she lived in fear, avoiding her stepmother and trying not to get killed by someone.

On a sunny Saturday her dad called her to the living room.

"I've seen that you are not as lively as you used to be, so I organized a nice day of hunting in the woods for you!" he said, looking happily at her.

Of course he didn't know what Amy had told her, so he couldn't understand.
But she felt better just thinking of being somewhere without Amy near her.
At least until she stepped into the car that was driving her to the woods.

There was Amy, standing next to her dad, waving at her.
She winked with a mean smile on her face, a smile that predicted no good.


To Be Continued

[nelodra]

Snow White Retold - Entry 8

The Intro

Once upon a time, long, long ago in a far away country, there lived a handsome king with his beautiful queen, ruler over the vast and fruitful land of Ysre Yrsa with its beautiful forests, high emerging tall mountains, the fruitful, fertile and high-yielding fields, orchards, groves, plantations, vineyards and gardens, and its beautiful vast beaches at the seashore with its clear blue water and beautiful white sand and the waves dabbling and plashing.

King Vererda’wodilna and Queen Soiasy’tria were ruling in their capital city Nahraft Nhak’nia and had all they had ever wanted: peace, prosperity, health, content citizen... they had it all – all except children...

The Past

As King Vererda’wodilna still was a young prince and his father reigned over Ysre Yrsa they often got visited by Frecount van Houlder, a good friend of the royal family and a nobleman. He visited the castle every other month with his family, his wife Mireloise and his daughter Soiasy’tria who was just a few years younger than Vererda’wodilna.

As the years passed Mireloise died of a mysterious sickness and brought grief not only to the little family but also the royal family for loosing a dear friend. After a year or two, Frecount remarried a widow woman who also had a daughter, which was just a few years older than his own.

Soiasy’tria was not happy about her father’s decision to marry that herb-woman. She told him, and talked to him about her several times and also how she was scared of her, but her beloved father did not listen to her, did not take her fears for real, and soon was fully under the sway of that woman.

Starting from there Frecount changed rapidly. He got sick, cantankerous and hardly left his home anymore. So the visits at the castle became rare and rarer.

But because he liked Soiasy’tria Vererda’wodilna now came and visited Frecount’s family. Every time he came there to visit he was greeted and welcomed by Sosaria and her mother who tried to get his attention. He more or less ignored them having only eyes for Soiasy’tria.

More and more, but ever so slightly with each new visit, he felt less welcome. Mainly from the stepmother and stepsister of Soiasy’tria, because they saw he still preferred Soiasy’tria and put no glance on Sosaria, regardless of the efforts they made. It also became clear and clearer that Soiasy’tria was been punished for that.

So Vererda’wodilna could not stand to leave Soiasy’tria there any longer and being mistreated by her stepmother and -sister. Her father now was just a shadow of his former self and always seemed to be absent. He did and could not see what was going on and how his beloved daughter was treaded. So Vererda’wodilna took Soiasy’tria out of Frecount’s house into his own home to protect and finally marry her, since she already was of age.

After a few years his parents retired and turned the issues of the country over to Vererda’wodilna as the new king and Soiasy’tria as the new queen. For the enthronement the royal family invited all nobles of the country and also of the neighbouring countries. They all came and there was hardly any place left in the royal yard for more cars. To the dismay of the royal family their dear friend Frecount could not participate at his daughter’s enthronement because he had died two years before. The enthronement was a moving and touching ceremony and even strengthened the bond to the neighbouring countries. After the enthronement they had set up a great feast - even for all the citizens.

Traitorous Treason

Unbeknownst to King Vererda’wodilna and Queen Soiasy’tria, her evil stepsister had gotten herself a job in the Castle Chamiol Shannjee, as a helping hand in the kitchen, as she and her mother saw that the prince was not interested in Sosaria but only in Soiasy’tria. Because she was diligent and sedulous and new her way with plants and herbs and seasoning she soon became the first hand of the cook, because her help proofed beneficial because she was circumspect and great in organizing all that was needed especially with the great festivities like the wedding and the enthronement of the royal couple.

So that Vererda’wodilna and Soiasy’tria would not by accident find out that she serves at the court and thwart or blight her vicious plan and make it null and void, she changed her appearance with make up and some herbal hair dye and a different hairstyle.

As she then got into her desired place she quietly worked towards her final goal. Having access to not only the whole castles kitchen but also to the garden and the farmers, butchers and huntsmen, she stayed busy and assiduous and learnt what she could from them and established contacts everywhere.

So, King Vererda’wodilna and Queen Soiasy’tria were happily married – but without children. They tried and tried but all they did was without success. They even visited doctors and physicists to find out what is wrong with them – but to no avail. Hundreds and thousands of tests they underwent – they even let the best specialists fly in from all over their world – to no avail. Nobody could find out why they could not get any children.

So years passed by and nothing changed. The poor queen was sitting at her window, it was a nice and cool winterday, outside the snow had covered the whole country with a beautiful white and shining blanket. She opened her ebony wooden window to get a better glance and a cool breeze from outside. As she leaned upon the frame of the window sill she suddenly shrieked back, because a splinter of the wood caught her finger. As she removed the splinter a small drop of blood fell down into the snow on the outside sill. She sighted, thinking of her fate and whishing that she would have a daughter like that: white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony.

At the same moment Sosaria fell at home in her room from a chair and broke her leg. She then was delivered into the hospital for the leg to be treated. After that she had to spend some more time at home – to treat her leg until it was completely restored.

Soon after the incident, it seemed almost as if a miracle happened, and the whish of queen Soiasy’tria was heard, queen Soiasy’tria got pregnant and was full of joy – as were all the friends of the royal family and the whole court.

After the time of nine months had passed the queen gave birth to a beautiful little daughter – her skin was white as snow, her lips were red as blood and her hair was black as ebony, and her eyes were like the eyes of a hind.

At that day all the kingdom celebrated. The little daughter was named Franžouoise Hajninijah Tyijaka but everybody just called her Snowwhite.

Efficacious Effects

As Franžouoise was about half a year of age, Sosaria returned to her job in the castle’s kitchen.

Not long after the birth of her daughter, Queen Soiasy’tria started to feel sick. After many examinations she finally was diagnosed with pregnancy. The physicians did not look for something as obvious as that because of the long time Vererda’wodilna and Soiasy’tria had tried to get a child before. Great was the joy of all who knew about it.

But the royal family chose to not make it public yet but to wait until the baby was bigger. Queen Soiasy’tria again and again felt sick, but was happily looking forward to her baby. She attended every examination she had to undergo but did not neglect to raise Franžouoise with joy.

Somehow Soiasy’tria continuously felt sick and sicker and at one fateful day the physician performing the examination told her the baby had died and she has had a miscarriage, a spontaneous abortion. This devastating news hit Soiasy’tria very hard. She now overprotected her only child to keep her safe, but she more and more fell into depression because of the great loss. It went that far, that only Snowwhite could raise a little smile from her.

Queen Soiasy’tria continued to feel sick but no doctor could find out what she had nor what could alleviate or sooth it. The queen got sick and sicker. Soon she avoided all public and official meetings. She always stayed at the castle in her rooms, where the only task she performed was the raising of her daughter.

Franžouoise grew and got bigger, more beautiful, and cleverer and became the joy of the entire castle. The best teachers of Ysre Yrsa and the most known researchers and professors came to the castle to teach her. What she also liked to do is spending time in the nature: walking and strolling through the gardens of the castle, also wandering in the coolness of the nearby woods – especially on hot days.

Since her very early childhood Snowwhite always was accompanied by her maidens and servants – she never had a chance to do anything alone, by herself – and she never had a chance to find and make friends... – ...real friends. This made her feel lonely and very alone. Even and especially when she was with her subordinates. They just were not friends and did not act like they were. They tried to please her in everything and protect her. She was not really alone but it seemed like she was. The personnel served her and all but there never was a close relationship, there never was a bond to anybody.

The weight of representing the kingdom and learning royal duties weighed heavily on her and burdened her.

Shortly after Franžouoise’s tenth birthday, which she celebrated with her whole family, the sickness of her mother became very sever. She could not even move a bit in her bed without the pain eliciting a painful sigh out of her mouth. The doctors and physicians being helpless in this situation and not being able to find the cause of the sickness nor finding a way to remove the symptoms of it just tried to sedate her to keep her free of pain.

Soon the tragedy came to its top as finally queen Soiasy’tria died of this mysterious sickness. The whole country was thrown into sadness of the early death of the beloved queen. Everybody left his home as soon as he saw the sad news to travel to the castle to say farewell to the queen and participate at the funeral.

The burial ceremony was held a week after her death attended by all citizens. The funeral was scheduled for the same day, but only for the royal family and servants to attend. To keep it a solemn and quiet event for them to say good bye and shed tears without being public.

It was hard for Vererda’wodilna to escort his beloved wife Soiasy’tria on her last way. Also having to tell his daughter that her mom will not come back, that she is dead now, was a hard thing to do for him. Franžouoise was drenched in tears, and Vererda’wodilna could not hold them back either. He could not leave the grave for a long time. And secluded himself into his rooms afterwards.

He daily visited his beloved wife’s grave. And even having to attain his duties as a king every servant and every citizen that came to him for an audience saw him as a broken man. The news media broadcasted a whole month of the sad news of the queen’s death, and recapitulated the life of their beloved queen. They even left the mourners alone and did not plague them in those hard times.

Because of the mysterious death of the queen there were many speculations and rumours about she being killed and conspiracies and complots, even treason and enemy interaction were speculated about. This resulted in suspicion and distrust against all foreigners. On several occasions the police had to rescue foreigners from an angry mob that blamed them for the deed.

Raise to Honour

Still serving at the court’s kitchen Sosaria now had managed to rise in ranks. She now was the pre-taster of the king’s table and she was also responsible for dressing and finishing the dishes, so that they are beautiful to look at. She also had made friends with the huntsman and his hands, she often asked them to bring besides their game also different herbs and plants from the woods which she needed for preparing the foods.

Sosaria was glad her plan worked out good that far – except of the one small mishap. Now she went on to the next step of her evil plan.

One day one of the servants serving the king’s meal became ill very shortly before his duty started, so Sosaria took his place to wait on the king. She had already prepared her best and most beautiful dress the evening before. And as she waited on him, she could see that he was pleased of her appearance. He often looked at her and she also caught some hidden glances he had cast in her direction.

The coincidences that they met now increased. When the king left the castle to go hunting with his huntsmen she crossed his way with some plants from the forest she just picked up from them. When the king left to drive somewhere with his Maybach, she crossed his way to pick up something out of the castle’s garden.

As the time passed king Vererda’wodilna found Sosaria more and more appealing. So one day, as she incidentally crossed the king’s path again, he invited her to join him on his trip. Soon they became a couple, and on Franžouoise’s twelfth birthday, to her dismay, they publicly announced their engagement and the date for their wedding.

The people wondered that the king was planning to marry again so soon after the death of his wife, it only was little more than one year and a half ago. Even Franžouoise wondered about the change in her father. One day she told him her feelings about her step-mother to be and how unwell she felt in her presence, yeah even that she is scared of her. But her father did not really listen to her need and answered to his daughter’s angst with flimsy empty phrases.

Soon Franžouoise got quite suspicious of Sosaria and started to really hate her for taking her father away from her.

Soon Snowwhite got sick and hardly left her rooms anymore. Strangely her father did not care, and the doctors and physicians called by the servants could not find the cause nor the remedy of the sickness.

On the set date, Sosaria and king Vererda’wodilna married. They celebrated a big feast, bigger than the first marriage feast of the king. But since the people loved queen Soiasy’tria and thought it to be strange to marry again after such a short time and even with his daughter being sick, hardly anybody attended the festivities.

Shortly after the marriage Franžouoise recovered quickly. But now she could not even talk to her father in private anymore because now the false serpent, as she called her, was always around him and did not allow as much as one private word. As her mother was still alive she always could go to her father with her problems and he always had an open ear for her – but now, it was as if he was under a bad spell.

Getting Rid

Soon after the long desired wedding Sosaria visited her mother who had followed the whole event on television, because she already was old and weak. She was so happy that her daughter finally achieved their long sought for goal and became queen.

They sat together for a long time and talked. Near the end of the day her mother gave Sosaria her gift for the wedding. It was a small package forty centimetres times thirty centimetres and about five centimetres thick, wrapped in very nice wrapping paper. Of course Sosaria tried to feel what is in it - but there was too much filling in the package that she could not make out what was in there. Her mother warned her that it is breakable and she should wait until she is in her quarters before she opens it.

As she arrived back in her quarters in the castle she dismissed her servants and opened the present of her mother. She ripped away the carefully wrapped paper, opened the carton and…

…found a really old mirror inside. It was made of rectangle shaped carved chestnut-wood surrounded by a golden frame. In the centre of the wood was an oval deepening inlayed with some polished metal and covered by glass. This piece looked like it was several centuries of age – and also in use.

Sosaria now looked for a place where she could put that mirror as a tiny piece of paper fell down. It was written in an ancient font of an ancient tongue. She had a hard time to decipher it because the lessons of her mother were long time ago and not her favourite ones. But finally she made it and translated it into: “All knowing talking mirror, must hang on the wall to work properly, ask simple question in rhyme”. The second part of the description was an example about the question of who is the fairest.

Now every morning after she was dressed and had put on her make up Sosaria used her mother’s gift according to the description: “Looking glass upon the wall”, she would ask, “Who is fairest of us all?” And to her surprise and satisfaction the mirror answered her: “Queen, it is you; you are full fair, here and everywhere!”

A few days after her visit word came to her that her mother had died. Only having eyes for her goal now she did not even care about it and where her mom is to be buried but gave the servant who brought the death notice some money to scrape a hole and get her into the ground. She not even shed a single tear for her.

So, everything worked out well for Sosaria, until Franžouoise became fourteen years of age.

Of course nobody but her closest servants remembered her birthday. And because of that they chose to surprise Snowwhite on her birthday. They got her best dress and dressed her up beautifully. After they had picked up the ordered basket in the kitchen they went into the forest under Niwtdom’s guidance.

Niwtdom, the head of the royal huntsmen, lead them to a nice clearing. The glade was quite big and covered with soft grass. On the other side of it a small brook murmured and gurgled on its way. And every now and then some animals showed up to drink at the brook and they also eyed the strange company curiously and from the safe distance fearlessly.

Soon the place was prepared for the birthday-picnic. They enjoyed the beautiful sunny day, played games, ate and drunk, and were happy. They did all to make this a great birthday for Franžouoise.

In the meantime, getting up late, Sosaria asked the mirror again: “Looking glass upon the wall, who is fairest of us all?” But this time the mirror answered differently: “Queen, you are full fair, it is true, but Snowwhite now fairer is than you.”

Full of rage and envy she grabbed the next rapier from the wall, where it was as decoration, and stormed furiously into Franžouoise’s rooms to kill her right away. She looked everywhere but could not find her. Then, recovered from the first rage, she hid the rapier and asked the servants where Franžouoise is. But nobody of them knew, until she came to the kitchen there they told her that Franžouoise and her servants went somewhere for a picnic.

Unable to do something right now, she went back to her quarters to flesh out a plan how to get rid of her competition. So she spent the whole day thinking what and how and when etc. What was not so good for her was that she, being the queen now, did not work in the kitchen anymore.

During the next weeks she observed Franžouoise tightly and found out that she often went with the huntsmen into the forests. That gave her input for, what she thought, the perfect plan.

She now ordered the head of the huntsmen to report to her. Since she was known to them from her time as kitchen-help, Niwtdom thought she wanted to ask for some special herbs or a special game. So he came to the audience with the queen. He left her, still in shock about the special “game” she had asked him to get for her.

In the next weeks he could hardly sleep. And he also denied Snowwhite to accompany him or his huntsmen. Finally as the season for red-deer hunting came and as he hardly could deny her asking anymore, an idea grew in his heart.

The next time she asked to accompany him into the forest he gave his men a different task and went alone with her into the forest. With every step his heart grew heavier as he saw her light-heartedly walking and talking at his side. When they came to the deepest point of the forest, he stopped for a break and sat down with her and they shared their prepared foods.

As they sat there Niwtdom poured out his heart and told Franžouoise what made his heart heavy and that he could not harm her. He gave her his backpack, the second one that he had packed for her with some cloths and some food for her journey.

Dead

Then he told her that she now officially will be dead and that she has to go away as far as she could. After a short farewell and good bye they embraced each other with tears in their eyes and Niwtdom sent Franžouoise on her way into the unknown.

To make her death perfect Niwtdom lay in ambush and waited for the right moment. After she had passed by, he shot his rifle, and not for nought he was the head of the huntsmen, he hit his goal. Niwtdom felt so sorry for the dead of the innocent but it could not be helped, order was order.

The saddest thing came now. He cut her open to remove her heart, put it into a box he had brought with him for this very purpose. Then he ripped Franžouoise’s cloths into pieces and let them soak up some blood. Then he covered the bloody cloths in a plastic bag and put it also into his back-pack.

As he arrived back at the castle he was very sad. With a broken heart he announced the girl’s death and told a story about her death. “Snowwhite was exhausted so she sat down for a while in the mean time I went on a bit to check out the surroundings, as I heard her screaming. I rushed back to where I left her but did not find her. So I searched for her until it got dark but only thing I could find was this, some of her cloths. Look here.” And then he showed the cloths.

Finally he made his hardest way this day and reported to the queen. There he handed her the box with the heart. And then he also told her the “official” version.

After the huntsman had left, Sosaria took the heart, went into the kitchen, shooed the personnel out of it and prepared the heart. Then she took it into her rooms and ate it and enjoyed it there believing fully that it is Snowwhite’s heart.

Early on the next morning Niwtdom asked to be relieved of his duties, because that the princess was harmed and even killed while under his custody was too much for him. Niwtdom then left the castle and the country and looked for work in the neighbouring countries.

Hospitality

After leaving Niwtdom Franžouoise went the way he had showed her. She walked a long time on the path that became more and more stony and also steepened continuously. Slowly the sun set and dusk fell and Snowwhite was getting really tired.

Suddenly she saw a small light afar off. So she collected all her strength again and all her reserves to get to the light. Arriving there to her surprise she found a small inn. As she walked in into the guestroom she found it homey and nice. She was friendly greeted by three sisters Lirone, Arontie and the youngest Esionale. They had inherited the inn from their parents and were managing the inn together. Being quite tired Franžouoise asked for a bed for the night and soon fell asleep.

On the next day she awoke late and only found Esionale tending the garden of the inn. From her she learnt that Lirone was responsible for hunting, Arontie was responsible for the domestic animals they had, there were some horses, cows and chickens, and Esionale was responsible for the garden.

Esionale also asked her who she is, where she is from and where she wanted to go to. So Franžouoise told her name, but Esionale did not recognise her as the princess because in public she only was known as Snowwhite. Furthermore she now did not wear a royal dress but the simple cloths the huntsman had brought for her. She also told her that she came from Nahraft Nhak’nia where she had to leave but she does not know where to go.

So Esionale offered her to stay with them and tonight she would ask her sisters about if she could stay. Franžouoise was glad about that and asked what she then could do to help them. The only thing that Esionale could think of was cleaning the inn.

Therefore Esionale showed Franžouoise where the cleaning tools were and then Franžouoise started cleaning, washing the laundry and also doing the dishes and pots.

The sisters decided to keep her for company and to have a new person around here where only rarely somebody came that really was in need of food, shelter or help.

So the time passed and Franžouoise also learnt how to cook, arrange the food and serve food and drinks. In the evenings when all works were done they came together and played. Sometimes they played cards, sometimes board-games, sometimes roll-play-games and only rarely they watched TV on the old black and white TV-set.

Dead Again

After several months Sosaria asked her mirror again. She just did not do it because her immediate threat was dealt with and dead, at least that is what she thought. The more she was surprised as the mirror answered her question: “Looking glass upon the wall, who is fairest of us all?”, with: “Queen, you are full fair here, it is true, but Snowwhite far fairer is than you.”

Now she fumed in rage and rampaged through her rooms and smashed everything that came into her fingers to bits. She cursed and swore and rioted and destroyed all the equipment and furnishings of her quarters.

After she had calmed down she plotted a plan how she would kill her – once and for all. Yet the most important part was still missing: Where was Snowwhite?

To find out, where Snowwhite was, she sent out her spies. Day after day they reported in without any success. After some months had passed and the mirror told her every morning that ‘Snowwhite far fairer is than her’, she put out a reward of five hundred thousand gold-simoleons for her whereabouts.

Again some months had passed as one of her spies reported her that he met a girl that fits the description in a solitary inn in the midst of the forest near the border to the neighbouring country Ersy Asry.

Finally her evil plan could be put into action.

Sosaria closed herself in her rooms to prepare all that she needed. Then she dressed up like an old farmer-woman, got some old mares and an old cart, put some baskets of fruit on the cart and got on her way.

After she had arrived in the near of the little inn she hid the cart and the mares and lay herself in wait to spy out the daily course of the people there. After she had an overview as to when Franžouoise would be alone in the inn she took the cart and went on a detour that she would arrive from Ersy Asry’s direction.

Sosaria entered the inn to ask for a warm meal, which Franžouoise quickly prepared for her. As Sosaria went her way she thanked Franžouoise for it and wanted to give her an apple. But Franžouoise still being cautious and careful did not want to take it. So Sosaria cut the apple in half and ate the green side of it in Franžouoise’s presence. Then Franžouoise thankfully took the other half of the apple and ate it also. As soon as she bit into it she fell dead to the ground.

Sosaria now went back home to the castle.

As the sisters came back from their work they shockingly found Franžouoise lying dead on the threshold of their inn. After trying in vain to reanimate her they got her into the guestroom and sat sad around the table. They now discussed about what to do with her. Because she still looked so peaceful and beautiful they decided to build a coffin of glass and put her in it.

After the work was done Franžouoise lay in state in her glass-coffin in her chamber.

The next day Sosaria again asked her mirror again which surprisingly answered: “Queen, you are full fair, it is true, but Snowwhite in her coffin far fairer is than you.” Full of anger and rage Sosaria destroyed the mirror and burnt its remains.

Revival, Restoration, Restitution

Not long after the prince of the neighbour country Ersy Asry and his new huntsman came through the forest. And since the prince wanted to stay some more days in the forest the huntsman suggested the small inn he knew to be there. So prince Mira’coré and his attendance went to the inn to stay there for several nights.

As they arrived there they saw the sisters still being aggrieved and sad and asked for the cause. So they told them and showed them Franžouoise. Prince Mira’coré immediately fell in love with the beautiful maiden and his huntsman grew pale in shock. He told the prince that this indeed is princess Snowwhite from this country.

Because she still looked so vivid prince Mira’coré opened the coffin and tenderly picked her up out of the coffin onto her bed. His personal physician examined her, and since he was also known in the art of herbal admittance he thought he knew what was wrong. At the first step he emptied her stomach and then infused some tincture and laid some humid herbs on her forehead.

Soon after that Franžouoise awoke and after having eaten some she regained her strength.

With the help of Mira’coré and his men she returned to her castle and let the guard arrest Sosaria. Soon after the arrest Vererda’wodilna became clear of mind again, and embraced Franžouoise who was overjoyed.

The End

In her trial Sosaria got sentenced of murder, treason and tried murder to lifelong prison without pardon.

After Vererda’wodilna got normal again, he reigned over his kingdom several more years until he resigned and left Franžouoise in charge.

Franžouoise and Mira’coré met more often and visited each others. They finally married as Franžouoise was eighteen years old and as they became rulers over both kingdoms they put it together as one and named it Ylziz.

Niwtdom became head of the royal huntsmen of the united kingdom Ylziz and was decorated with the highest honours of both kingdoms

King Mira’coré and queen Franžouoise lived happily a long life and had many children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

[nelodra]

Participants were:

Entry 1: Pablo
Entry 2: Lorianne
Entry 3: Melissa
Entry 4: Leah
Entry 5: Sandra
Entry 6: Gracia
Entry 7: Lizzy
Entry 8: Michael

The winner was: Sandra