She stepped closer and started to fasten the button on his pants, and he looked down at her, bemused. "I suddenly feel like I should at least ask your name."
"Cybele," she said, laughing.
"You're one of the harem."
"Whatever gave me away?"
He smiled. "Does Mother Miriam still live in the palace?"
"Yes."
"And she's well?"
"I don't see her all that often, but when I do she seems fine. Why?" she asked, buttoning up his shirt.
"I'm her son."
Cybele stared up at him. "You . . . yes, I suppose I can see it. She talks of a son sometimes. It sounds as though she misses you when she does. I'll tell her you're all right."
"Not sure that's a good idea. You even supposed to be out here?"
"Oh, fiddle," she said. "That's right. And speaking of, it's far past the time when I intended to get back. Here," she said, handing him the poultice and the flask of water. "Are you all right with this, or should I stay longer? My sister or Fiametta would gladly distract the Prince for me, that is if Alice doesn't start cursing at him the instant he walks in the door, so--"
"Go on home," he said. "And thank you."
"Thank you," she said, giving him a tight hug. "I hope our paths cross again."
Chapter Four
Once Upon a Time...
She found the abandoned room purely by accident. She wasn't really looking for anything in particular; it was just that the thought of another day in the library didn't seem quite as appealing as it usually did.
That might have something to do with the fact that her brother and his harem had taken it over today. He'd apparently decided to listen to her suggestion of expanding his mind-- and now he was lying on a chaise lounge in the library, listening to one of his girls read books of fairy tales.
Snow wasn't sure whether she should laugh or cry.
Either way, spending time in the company of the harem wasn't her favorite thing. It wasn't that they were unpleasant people-- far from it. When they weren't showing her brother exactly what he wanted to see, they were clever, funny women. Some of them, she was certain, even drew close to her way of thinking about the way Faerietale was currently run. It wouldn't take much, she was certain, for her to fall in love with one of them.
And wouldn't that be a wonderful thing to tell her mother. 'Hello, Queen. Would you like to know the real reason I never accepted the harem you offered me? Because the one I actually wanted is the one my brother has. By the way, don't hold your breath waiting for a successor to the throne from me.'
The palace itself might implode from her rage.
Unable to help a quick smile at the thought, Snow slowly opened another door, and then for a long moment she just stood in the doorway, staring in astonishment.
It was the White Rabbit's old office.
The room enchanted her just as much as it had when she'd been a little girl-- she'd never seen such an assortment of clocks before or since. Clocks and game equipment and wooden figurines and medical equipment and books, all scattered haphazardly around the small room.
She walked inside, squeezing past the assortment of oddities, and then she saw the mirror. It was still here. The frame was enormous, ornate, and beautiful.
She sucked in a quick breath. The Door.
Tentatively, she poked a fingertip towards the glass. It went right through.
Eager to see if it still led to the odd realm she remembered, she stepped toward the glass, and then paused. She'd heard tales of where some Doors led-- she didn't want to get trapped in one of the worse worlds.
Untying the sash from around her dress, she tied it to the doorknob of the room. Then she searched the room until she found something usable-- a huge spool of fishing line. Attaching that to her sash, she held on to the spool, and then jumped through the glass.
Everything around her seemed to have been painted in shades of gray. The long houses were drably painted, and situated almost ten feet up off the ground, with ladders providing the only access. The people she could see milling around up there-- they were gray, too.
This was where the Shadows went.
She felt dreadfully out of place in her bright blue dress, but couldn't make herself turn around just yet. She needed to talk to these people; see what their crimes had been-- if any. She needed to know who dwelled in this disowned part of her realm.
Snow White knew it was a little premature to think of it as 'her' realm, but Faerietale was her world. All of it. She'd been finding passages out of the castle for as long as she could remember, borrowing clothes from sympathetic maids to disguise herself and going out to the Villages, talking with her people. Finding out what changes had to be made as soon as rule was hers. On one occasion she'd even gone to the edge of the woods, but had stopped before the shadows could fully envelop her. She wanted to live to rule Faerietale someday, after all.
And though she hadn't trusted Little Red or even liked her all that much, she had believed the other woman's stories of some of the things she'd encountered out there. There was a man who could control the wolves, she'd said. He was as heartless as the animals he controlled, and he would dearly love to find a Royal wandering around out in the forest. Red had looked directly at her as she'd said the last part, and Snow wondered not for the first time if Red had known more than she let on about her wanderings.
Then she spotted a young man on the ground, pulling up some form of vegetable from a garden, and she quickly approached. "Hello," she said quietly. "I would like to--"
He looked up at her, startled, and then his expression morphed into fear. He turned and ran, scrambling up one of the ladders.
"Oh dear," Snow White murmured. She hadn't meant to frighten the poor lad.
Turning to see if anyone else might be at ground level, she saw that she wasn't the one who had frightened him at all. Stalking toward her was an enormous-- thing. It looked almost like the dragons that Mother had brought through a Door once, but those had been small and almost cute. This thing came up to her waist, and its claws were as long as her palm.
"Nice . . . whatever-you-are," she said, backing away slowly. The fishing line unraveled as she did so, and she got an idea. Not much of an idea, but then, she didn't have much in the way of weaponry.
Hoping that she could run faster than this thing could turn, she circled back around it, wrapping the fishing line around its thick neck. It snarled at her, then let out a hiss that revealed rows of very, very sharp teeth. She wondered if this was a 'crocodile'; she'd heard many tales of them but had never been to the Lagoon herself.
And wouldn't get a chance to go if she didn't get out of here. The closest ladder was about the same distance away as the Door; she wasn't sure if she could make either one in time.
Then the dragon-crocodile-thing bit through the fishing line, and she removed her hair comb, pressing the small jewel that would activate the blade. It was only about as long as her index finger, meant to protect her in a close fight with another human. But this animal was hissing again, and then a dark green ruff of scales erupted up around its neck and the scales rattled loudly as it shook them.
She'd never seen the behavior before, but she doubted it meant, 'I forgive you for trying to strangle me, please pass by'.
Crouching down, she held the knife out. If she could get it in the eye--
Then a hand grasped her shoulder and pulled her back, and she caught her balance again just in time to see a man in full protective armor shove a sword into the charging dragon's chest.
The animal snapped at him as it died, but the jaws closed ineffectually onto the metal protecting the man's arm. He shoved the beast away and then turned back to her.
"What in the hells are you doing out here, Princess?"
"I--" She recovered quickly, gave him a frightened, confused look. "I was just exploring around the palace and then I tripped and fell through this strange mirror and found myself here, I'm so dreadfully sorry--"
"That act usually work?" he asked, taking off his helmet.
"Yes." She didn't recognize this guard; he must spend most all of his time here instead of the palace. He reminded her a little of her mother's favorite. He and the Huntsman were both rough in appearance, gruff-voiced. But then the dragonslayer shook his head and smiled, and she revised her opinion. She didn't think she'd ever seen the Huntsman smile.
Then she took in the color of his eyes, the odd, too-bright blue, and realized. He was more than a guard; he was one of the Knights. Small wonder he hadn't fallen for her attempted lie.
Taking a chance, she continued to speak. "I would like to spend time with my subjects, if I may."
"Your subjects?" he asked, still smiling. "Wasn't aware the Queen had passed on her throne to you."
"Not yet," she said. "But no one is immortal, even my mother. One day I will rule, and I wish to be prepared."
"Well, there's better ways to prepare than going to talk to criminals with nothing but a hairpiece to protect you," he said, nodding to the tiny knife.
"True. It would be much better if I took along someone who knew this land and its dangers."
"How much do you know of this realm, Princess?"
"I know that the process involved in becoming a Shadow is a long and painful one. I know that some who are turned do not deserve such a fate."
"Then know that some do deserve it. You are fond of your books, I've heard. Go back to your library. Look at what this place is, not just at the parts your ideals want to see. Then, if you still want to, come back."
Alice yelped as she felt a light tickle on her shoulder, and glanced down to see the palm-sized bug making its way down her arm. Shaking her arm frantically, she began chasing the insect around with her book.
“Stop right there,” Fiametta said, taking the tome from her. “If you're going to smash that thing, it won't be with my Introductory Potions manual.”
“Fine,” Alice said, eyeing the buzzing insect as it finally landed on the wall. “Cybele? You have any combat boots?”
“Any what?”
“Didn't think so.”
It lifted off again, wings making a high-pitched humming sound as it circled, coming close to hitting most everyone in the large room before it went through a doorway and into the bathroom.
“Ha!” Alice exclaimed, charging for the bathroom door as a knock sounded at the main entrance. “Got you cornered now! Wanna torment me for three days? Payback's a bitch, my friend.”
“Don't you think you're getting a little worked up over a bug?” Wendy asked.
“And who screamed loud enough to wake half the palace when it landed in her hair?”
“Point taken,” Wendy said, watching as Estelle went to the door and opened it. She'd been expecting the Prince, was pleasantly surprised to see his sister there as well. “Princess,” she said, bowing.
Snow White bowed her head slightly, and when she raised it again, the look in her eyes and the tight set of her chin told Wendy that this wasn't a casual visit. “What's wrong?”
“Wrong? Nothing's wrong,” the Prince said, smiling. “The Queen and Mother Miriam are back a couple of days early, is all. I can't wait for you to meet them! They'll be quite fascinated by your stories, Wendy. And Alice's, as well. So long as she doesn't insult them.” He looked past Wendy and Estelle toward the rest of the harem. “Where is she? I need to tell her to mind her language.”
Then they all turned, eyes widening in shock, as a loud banging noise came from the bathroom.
“DEATH has come for you on this day, O Misbegotten Creepy Bug!” Alice shouted. “Death wearing the visage of Alice Serafina, furious and unmerciful, who has smote thee with the Holy Toilet Roll of Vengeance! Mine is a victorious laugh!”
As she let out a triumphant cackle, Snow White, Wendy, and Estelle all moved to the doorway. Alice proudly held up the toilet paper roll, which was currently quite covered in smashed bug, and then she caught sight of Snow White and her mouth dropped open.
“Um . . . I--” she stammered, quickly tossing the remains of the bug into the trash can. “Hi?”
“They've returned early,” Snow White said. Alice didn't have to ask who because Wendy, of all people, looked scared.
“What do we do?”
“What?” the Prince asked. “What is there to do except get dressed for dinner?”
Snow White ignored him. “We hurry.”
Alice nodded, tried to smile. “Do me a favor. Say, 'come with me if you want to live'.”
“You're quite strange,” Snow White said, but for just a second there was something else in her eyes, something that had been there that day in the library, and for that second all Alice felt was elation.
Then the fright came flooding back, as Roxana stepped in front of Wendy. “You can't leave,” she said. “It's bad enough that you've been living amongst us. You will answer to the Queen now. She needs to--”
Wendy shoved her back, hard, and she collided with the Prince. Snow White and Alice raced out the door after her and Snow quickly moved to the front, leading them down a seemingly endless labyrinth of hallways. Then they reached a small wooden door and Snow White threw it open, motioning to the opposite side of the room, where a large mirror stood.
Alice didn't see anything particularly useful about it-- only her reflection, letting her know that she looked exactly as freaked out as she felt-- and then Wendy ran right for it and disappeared through.
“Okay,” she whispered, and started forward, only to have Snow grab her hand. Her heart leapt, wondering if maybe Snow intended to kiss her goodbye before she left, but then she spoke.
“It isn't safe for you to go through alone. You're still too mortal. With me.”
Which was an acceptable alternative, Alice decided, as the two of them pressed close to fit through the mirror together. They tumbled out the other side, landing in the dust, and saw Wendy facing off with a man in armor. The sword he held was aimed at her throat.
“Be still, Knight,” Snow said quietly. “She's with me.”
“Princess,” he acknowledged, lowering the sword. “You will not be able to hide here for long. And there are no ways out other than that Door.”
“Don't be too sure of that,” Wendy said, and then she ran.
Alice knew that she'd seen something, knew that she had to go now so they could go through the Door together, but it didn't seem fair that it was happening so fast. In the movies people who cared about each other always seemed to get a moment to say a proper goodbye.
Well, except in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and in Serenity, but that was because Joss Whedon was pretty much evil.
She wanted to tell Snow that she'd try to see her again somehow, tell her that day in the library would be her most treasured memory even when she was a little old grouchy lady, but she didn't have time. She just reached out and touched her shoulder briefly, and then she took off.
As soon as Alice took her hand, Wendy leapt forward and the two of them seemed to disappear into nothing.
“But there's not-- I can't see--” the Knight stammered.
Snow smiled. “Wendy has a different sight.”
He straightened his shoulders, regaining his composure. “You know I have to tell the truth of this to your mother.”
Snow White started to reply, and then the sound of feet hitting the ground behind her had her turning. Guards, one after another, came through the mirror-Door. They were followed closely by the Queen.
Her mouth tilting up in a bitter smile, Snow murmured, “I think she already knows.”
***
And here she'd thought traveling through the nature trail back home had been stressful. There she'd worried about whoever'd hurt Wendy catching up to them, yeah, but at least she didn't have to worry about wolves or evil garden gnomes or whatever the hell else lived out in this forest.
"Jumping at every twig snap isn't a good defense strategy, you realize," Wendy said, and Alice felt a blush come to her face.
&nbs
p; "How are you not freaked out?" Alice hissed. "Something could jump out of those trees and eat us at any minute! And I'm pretty sure that tree back there had an actual face."
"Probably just a carving done by the rebels to try and unsettle trespassers."
"Oh." Then she quickened her pace. "Hey, what do you mean 'probably'?"
"Shhh. We're almost there."
"Almost where?"
"To the White Rabbit. And remember-- he owes the Queen a great debt. There is to be no mention of your feelings toward her."
"Yeah, okay."
"Or toward her son."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. He lived in the palace once, and knew the Royal children when they truly were children. He is quite fond of them, and will hear no ill words against them."
Alice sighed loudly. "Fine." Then her face brightened. "What about Little Red? I can talk about how creepy she is, right?"
"That subject should be permissible, yes."
"Score."
Wendy's smile widened into a grin as they came within sight of a small house. A tall bearded man was sitting on a tree stump close to the front door, flipping through an enormous book. True to his name-- nickname? It was so hard to tell around here-- his hair and beard were both white.
He looked up, saw them, and jumped to his feet. Alice winced, anticipating the book falling into a mud puddle-- that thing looked old and was probably really expensive-- but as soon as it left his hands it vanished in midair.
"What the-- how--" she stammered, but Wendy didn't even blink, simply went up to the man and hugged him.
So apparently vanishing objects were normal around here. Okay then.
"And this is Alice," Wendy said. "She's been a great help to me these past weeks. I wasn't sure I would ever be able to get home."
"A pleasure to meet you," the White Rabbit said, giving her a small bow. Alice couldn't help a quick smile at that, but she schooled her face back into a normal expression immediately after, reminding herself that just because this guy seemed to have come straight from Coolest Grandpa Ever central casting didn't mean he was trustworthy. Hadn't Wendy just said he was on the Queen's side?
Faerietale Page 8
