by Jenni James
“Mhmm… And why the wardrobe will provide you with a never-ending supply of your most favorite gowns, even dresses you would not have ever known were your favorite until you tried them on.”
“It does spoil me to have so many choices, especially when they are all equally desirable.”
“Well, you are Snow White, my dear.” Joy grinned as she placed a pretty white rose into her hair, securing it with pins.
Snow shook her head. My goodness, this much attention toward one girl cannot be fine. “I am just a girl. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Joy met her gaze in the mirror. “Does it bother you to be so pampered?”
Snow dropped her gaze a bit. “It has not been an easy life.” Her eyes met the fairy’s again. “I do not mean that I am ungrateful for it. I only want to clarify that sometimes I would like to know how it would feel to be judged upon my own merit, the integrity of my heart. To have someone love me because they know me, not because of a silly enchantment clouding their perception.”
Joy’s hands stilled while placing a pink rose next to the white one. “Oh, I see. I have never thought about it that way before.” She quickly tucked a few pins around the bottom petals of the rose. “It must be vexing, certainly, never to know if you are actually loved for who you are.”
Snow sighed and grinned ruefully. “It can be painful, yes.” Her heart lurched before she confided quietly, “I cannot even trust the instincts of the men who come to pay court to me. I do not want to be caught by a man who does not really know me or see me.”
Tucking in a yellow rose to form a pretty trio in Snow’s hair, Joy said, “You say you cannot trust the instincts of men, but have you considered that perchance you are already smitten by one and so cannot be bothered to accept the advances of anyone else?”
“Who?” Snow asked as she felt her face turning red. Did Joy know? She refused even to glance at herself in the mirror. She knew how silly she must look.
“And you do blush! That is the most color I have seen upon your white skin since you came here.”
Snow smiled.
“There is a prince you speak of often, you know.” Joy brushed one last ringlet into place and leaned down to hug Snow from behind. “Mayhap he is the one who has already captured your heart.”
Biting her lip, Snow met the fairy’s eyes in the mirror. “You know, I believe you may be correct.”
Joy pushed away from the vanity, laughing a tinkling laugh. “Oh, we fairies are always correct, dear. You pretty human girls can be read quite as easily as any book. Now, look at that glorious hair!”
“Thank you,” Snow said as she stood and examined herself. “You do wonders.”
“I am only making sure you feel like a princess while you are here, Your Highness.”
“Joy?” Turning around, Snow stepped up to her. “Do you think if I asked agreeably, you and your sisters would consider removing this spell from me?” She clasped her hands. “I want to know what it is actually like to live within the world.”
Joy looked at her closely and then nodded. “We will discuss the possibility,” she promised.
Snow smiled and threw her arms around the beautiful woman. “Thank you! I could not be happier with anything else.”
“Nothing?” Joy teased. “Are you certain? Not even if perhaps a certain prince were to lose his curse and come waltzing up to our cottage—even that would not make you happier?”
Snow blushed again.
“I thought so!” Joy walked to the door and opened it. “Now I feel like some breakfast.”
The smell of delicious buttered honey buns wafted its way down the hallway and into Snow’s room. “Oh, I do not think I will ever want to leave this cottage.”
“And you did not wish to be spoiled. Ha!” Joy said as she walked out of the room.
“Oh, you mistake me completely. I have no problem being pampered with my choice of delights. Nay, I only wish to come by it all honestly.”
“Well, you are honestly loved here, so for now, do not worry about anything else. And enjoy. We guarantee we will keep you safe until your father returns.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TERRANCE HALTED IN CLEANING up the breakfast things at their campsite in the forest when he heard the sound of a voice coming their way. He quickly threw an arm out to let Raven know there was trouble heading straight for them. Her eyes flew to his and then she nodded, silently scrambling to put the things into her pack and duck out of sight. He quickly tamped down the fire, though there was nothing they could do about the smell. Whoever was coming would know they had been there. He gathered his blankets and pack in a pile and headed through the shrubbery to hide next to Raven.
As the voice drew closer, it sounded like an old woman.
“Stop, you fool dog! Come back here! You have to wait for me.”
They heard a whack and then Raven jumped as a dog yelped in response. Terrance placed his arm around her and drew her back a bit farther into the shrubs.
“What do we have here?” the old woman asked as she stepped into their line of view. She carried a covered basket and a little bag.
They remained as silent as possible as she searched around their small campsite.
“Dog, come here. Tell me if you smell Snow White.”
Raven covered her gasp with her hand.
“Shh…” Terrance reminded in her ear. Who was this woman? How did she know Snow?
A large brown dog bounded into the area and began sniffing around. It halted on its back legs and then tilted its head before moving and sniffing some more. He came up to their bush, but then after sniffing a few moments, continued on.
“Well? Who has been here?” the woman asked as she prodded the ashes with her cane. “Do you see that smoke? This fire is still hot.” She stood straighter and scanned the area, her gaze settling upon the bush where they hid.
Terrance had never seen a more hideous woman in all his life. His arm tightened protectively around Raven. When the old woman began to walk toward them, they stiffened.
“In fact, I do believe they have not gone very far at all,” the old woman said, walking ever closer.
Just then the dog barked.
“What is it?” She turned her head. “Have you found Snow White?”
The dog barked again and began to run away from their camp. The old woman was quick to follow. “Corlan!” she shouted. “Get back here. I told you to wait for me!” The dog returned only to receive another whack with the cane. “Now stay with me. And do not proceed faster than I can walk or you will be killed as well. Take me to her. It is time we end this.”
Terrance’s heart pounded and he could feel Raven’s quivering form beneath his arm. In the tight space, they looked at each other. “Melantha and Corlan,” he whispered so silently, it was as if he mouthed it.
Her brow furrowed as she pressed her lips together. He could see her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. They could still hear the queen shouting her commands.
He pulled her toward him and allowed Raven to release her emotions into his chest. After her mother’s voice grew more distant, he spoke. “Raven, I know how terrifying this must be for you. I am sorry.”
“Oh, Corlan and Mother!” She pulled back and sniffed as she wiped her eyes. “What has become of them? I abhor that cursed mirror! I despise it!”
“I know.”
“Why, oh why must it be a part of us? Why must it destroy everything I love?”
How he wished he could take this from her. “I know.”
“And now they are after Snow!” She put her hand over his mouth. “And if you say ‘I know’ one more time, I will throttle you.”
He grinned beneath her hand. “I know.”
Raven rolled her eyes and pushed his shoulder. “You are so aggravating.” She sighed. “Now what do we do?”
He brushed off her harsh words and answered, “Well, I say we stay out of sight and track them, letting them lead us to Snow.”
“Is there a way
out of this mess?”
He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Yes. I promise there is.”
She shook her head, a flash of irritation going across her features. “Terrance, do not humor me. I am not in the mood to be humored.”
“I am not humoring you!” He stood up, his own flare of anger at her easy dismissal coursing through him. As quickly as possible, he folded the rest of their blankets and shoved them in his pack. Picking up her pack as well, he said, “Let us go.” Then he stepped from behind the bush, ready to put some distance between them.
“Wait, Terrance!”
He turned. She looked so lost and confused and agitated.
“Forgive me,” she said.
He could tell she was pulled as tight as she could get, her fragile hold stretched to the limit. “Come.” He held his arm out, not able to bear seeing her this way. “There is nothing to forgive.”
“No.” She did not budge. “I have been discourteous to you over and over again, and I need to stop. I will stop. This is not your affair, this is not your fault—none of it is! And yet, you remain to help me through it, although I continuously barb and wound you. I am truly sorry. Please forgive me?”
Did he hear her properly? Was his Raven admitting fault and accepting that her actions were harmful?
“I am truly sorry,” she said again.
My great heavens! Terrance knew then that he loved her, that he would always love her. He retraced his steps, and, wrapping her up in his arms, he kissed her like he had never kissed her before. When he pulled back slightly, he said, “My dear, thank you.”
Her mouth was such a sweet O of surprise that he had to kiss it again. When he pulled back a second time, she grinned, her eyes sparkling. She clearly forgot all their troubles for a moment. “If that is what you do when a girl apologizes to you, how much fun it will be to beg your forgiveness continuously.”
A chuckle escaped from him. “Are you saying you mean to plague me forever just so we can make up afterward?”
She stepped back and raised an eyebrow, giving him an arch look. “Precisely.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SNOW LAUGHED AS SHE kissed the cheeks of Monday Truth and Wednesday Love. All the fairies were on their way to prepare the area for the coming autumn. They were supposed to leave a quarter of an hour ago, but they hemmed and hawed within the doorway instead. They were such mother hens.
“Now remember to stay inside the cottage while we are away,” Love said as she tucked her long red hair behind her ears.
Truth’s enchanting silver eyes captured hers. “You are welcome to cook anything you wish or do any sort of activity, like paint, or read, or whatever, as long as it is done in the home.”
“Yes, I promise, I will not leave the house!” Snow said for the hundredth time. “All shall be well. You will see.”
Grace frowned slightly. “I do not know. For some reason I do not feel at ease leaving you here alone. And yet, we cannot do what we must if we bring you.”
“Do you really not feel this is wise?” asked Peace, her blue eyes concerned.
Taking a deep breath, Grace answered, “I do not know. No. Yes. Mayhap I am just too overprotective of her.”
Peace wrapped an arm around Snow. “If she locks the door and does not go out, no one can come in, either.”
“Aye!” Truth said. “It is correct. With the magic over the cottage, no one can come into this home unless one of us lets them in. You know this. We all know this.”
Joy frowned. “I feel uneasy as well. Grace is not the only one.”
Snow smiled. “Whatever you decide is fine. But I vow not to allow anything harmful to come in here.”
Brave sighed. “We have already lost three days’ worth of autumn preparedness. If we do not hurry, the farmers may not have the harvests they planned this year.”
“What if just one of us stays behind?” Love asked. “Could we make up the work for them together?”
“I could stay home,” Hope said. “My chore is the fastest in the fall, as it is just allowing the green to leave. I am not attempting to make things grow.”
“Very well.” Grace nodded. “Tuesday Hope shall stay here and watch over Snow.”
The fairies smiled and Joy took a deep breath. “I feel better already,” she said.
“Now, goodbye!” Snow giggled as she opened the door and began to push them out. “I shall be safe. Hope and I will get into lots of mischief and maybe have a surprise for you when you get back.”
The women transformed into fairies the second they stepped outside. Taking on their naturally small forms and spreading their gossamer wings, they hovered and waited.
Grace was the last to leave. “Lock this door,” she said to Hope and then, turning to Snow, said, “We love you so much. Be ever vigilant.”
Snow kissed her cheek. “I will. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
With that, Grace stepped outside and twinkled into a stunning fairy again. “We will be home soon,” she called as they flew off.
“So what would you like to do for their surprise?” Hope asked as she locked the door behind them.
“Do you really have paints?” Snow asked. She would love to create something for the empty wall in the parlor.
“Certainly. I will get them.” Hope grinned. “And afterward we can make some apple pie for supper. I know you have been asking, and today is the perfect day to show you how they are made.”
“Today is wonderful!” Snow could not believe she was as happy as she was. Quite truthfully, she was positive she did not deserve such goodness in her life. If only she could share it with Corlan and the others.
The women toiled away for a few hours with the paints. Snow created a stunning vase of roses on a stretched piece of canvas and Hope repainted an old wooden box, creating a pretty woodland scene upon it.
As they were finishing up, there was a knock upon the door.
Hope glanced over and her eyebrows rose. “Who could that be?”
Snow’s stomach dropped. “Perhaps we should pretend we are not here.”
“You are very wise.” Hope snapped her fingers, and instantly the table cleared. Brushes and paints were tucked back into the closet and their projects were drying on the kitchen counter. “We will go to the back parlor,” she said.
“Hello?” called an old woman with a kindly voice. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
Hope froze when a shadow fell across the kitchen. The woman stared at them from the open window at the side of the house.
“Oh!” she said. “There you are! May I come in and rest my weary feet? I have been traveling for miles when I happened upon this cottage. Thank goodness you are here. I am simply exhausted.”
Snow looked at Hope. How could they resist?
The fairy took a deep breath and unlocked the door. “Come in,” she said. “Come rest yourself at our table. Oh! And you have a dog with you.”
“Yes. Do you mind overly much if he comes in? He is extremely obedient.”
“I, uh…” Hope glanced at Snow, who shrugged. “I supposed it will be fine.”
The old woman hobbled into the house. Spying a chair in the kitchen, she promptly sat down upon it. Snow watched as her large dog hesitated before coming into the home. He stepped over the threshold and then hunched down near the door, his eyes staring intently at Snow.
“My! You are a pretty little thing,” the woman exclaimed as if she had just noticed Snow.
“Thank you.”
“My dear,” Hope said, “Could you please fetch our guest some water and perhaps a few scones?”
“Oh, that would be lovely.” The woman smiled, revealing blackened teeth.
Snow quickly did as she was asked and set the food upon the table.
“Come here.” The woman beckoned to her.
All at once the dog growled from the doorway.
“On second thought, perhaps it is best if my dog stays outside,” the woman said.
Hope opened the d
oor again, but the dog would not move.
“Go!” commanded the woman a little too fiercely.
Jumping to his feet, the dog barked wildly, staring right at Snow. Strangely, she was not afraid of him. It was not as if he was attempting to scare her. It was more of an insistent bark of some kind.
“You will obey me!” the woman shouted, her shrill voice ringing through the cottage.
The dog whimpered, his eyes looking as though he were pleading with Snow. Was he trying to say something to her? “He is fine, I am sure,” Snow said. “Are you hungry, boy? Is that what you wish to say?” She quickly went into the kitchen and collected a couple of scones for him and a bowl of water before the old woman could object. Walking over, she placed both in front of him, but he did not look down straight away. Instead, he kept his gaze directly upon her. “What? What are you attempting to convey to me?”
He whimpered and nudged her hand.
“Yes?” she asked as she turned it over for him to sniff.
He began to lick it.
“Enough!” shouted the woman. “Get out of this house now!”
The dog gave one bark at Snow and then ran out the open door.
Concerned for him, Snow collected the water and scones and followed him outside. “Here you go. Now you can have something too.”
She set the bowl on the ground and then gasped when she saw his paw drawing a design on the ground. It almost looked like a letter. She turned to the side. It was a letter! An R. Glancing at him, she noticed he was already writing something else—U. And then another—N. RUN.
She met his gaze then. What was he trying to say? “Run? I should run?”
The dog barked.
Snow’s heart began to pound. “Are you under a spell?”
The dog barked again and looked at the letters upon the ground.
“You want me to run? Why? What is it?”
“Oh, dear!” the old woman called from the door. “Is he playing his RUN game with you? He just loves that game so much! He must really like you to include you in it.” She wagged a finger at the dog. “No, no, sir! She does not have time to play your games with you. And you are in trouble for barking anyhow.” Then her voice changed significantly. “You will obey me and never bark again!” She pointed her finger at him until he cowed and whimpered. When he was lying upon the ground with his head between his paws as if he were frozen, the old woman smiled and then beckoned to Snow. “Now come here, dearie. I have a gift for you.” Her voice was sweet as she held out a shiny red apple. “I have already given one to your charming friend. Now this one is for you.”
