by R. L. Weeks
A Novella
by
R. l. Weeks
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual events, or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.
R. l. Weeks © 2017
All rights reserved
Books by R. l. Weeks
Haunting Fairytales Series
The Enchanted Kingdoms (Book one)
Journey to Neverland (Book two)
Into Wonderland (Book Three)
Into the Myth Series
Into the Myth (Book one)
Horror stories
One Way Out
See No Evil
You’re Next
Struck Three
Anthologies
Once Upon a Cursed Time
The Unforgiven
Christmas Nightmares
Things only the Darkness Knows
Note from the author
An adult fairytale
This short story is a spin-off from the Haunting Fairytales Series where we get to know Snow as a teenager and then a young-adult. We meet this incredible character throughout three books, lost in Neverland, her first real love, and as The Queen of Hearts. This tells the story from Snow’s perspective, from when she found out that her mother died, then watched her evil stepmother take her throne. It mainly tells the story of Snow and James, the son of Belle in the Haunting Fairytales Series, and the behind the scenes conversations and meet ups between the pair.
We hope you enjoy learning more about Snow White and her relationships.
Into Wonderland is out February 4th, which features Snow as a main character in the standalone series.
Poem by Linsey Matthews
Endless deaths in darkest nights tears stream long as she fights to stay composed, to assume the throne, but misdeeds lead her to freeze to the bone. Seven men went to bed and never woke due to evil causing Snow to quickly call for a simple, messy retrieval of the head of the one who murdered her friends for she was too far gone to allow any amends. Love lost turned cold as the dwarves’ demise caused her to spiral, so she soon decides treason would call for death to those who disagree with how she ruled; so she now decreed.
The carriage ground to a halt. The blizzard had hit Northmanni with fury, hiding the prince and princesses’ way home. White swirled densely, covering the trees that surrounded either side of the road, and the way ahead. Prince Charles placed his hand on top of Mary’s and looked down at her swollen belly. It took them only two months after their marriage for Mary to fall pregnant and Charles hoped it would be a little boy, an heir to the kingdom. They shouldn’t have been travelling, not in Mary’s condition, but the king and queen had left them little choice. It was a tradition for the royal baby to be born at the palace which meant they had to leave their own little manor house in the countryside for the cobbled streets and grand buildings of Northmanni. The carriage door opened and Thomas, the head of the Royal guard poked his head in, snow covering his moustache and beard. ‘Your highnesses, I’m afraid we cannot continue on this road. The blizzard is growing stronger.’ Mary thought about the poor guards on horseback following the carriage and sighed.
‘Of course.’
Charles cleared his throat. ‘No. We must continue.’ He leaned in to the guard. ‘She is almost due and it would be a disaster for the Princess to have the royal baby on a common road. The King and Queen would be most annoyed.’ He ran his finger along his throat in threat and the guard nodded stiffly.
‘We will continue,’ he said and gulped, closing the carriage door.
Charles turned to Mary and smiled. ‘We will be home shortly.’ She nodded but said nothing. Her husband, although a fair and courageous man, could be pompous, inconsiderate, and harsh. He would be Northmanni’s next King and she was glad that it was her birth right and not his, for at least she would have power equal to the king. Charles came from Sirani, a proud kingdom and a man’s kingdom. Women were made queens over there, but the king would have all the power. Women were expected to cook, to clean, and to bear children, while men were expected to toil the fields, fight in wars, and rule. Mary knew that Charles resented Northmanni, although bigger and richer than his country, for its equality. Northmanni was just simply more modern than most of the other kingdoms and Mary loved that. She was happy too to remain in her manor house and bring up her child, whereas Charles couldn’t wait for the King and Queen to pass so he can take their place.
The carriage grated and the door on Mary’s side flew open as the carriage rolled onto its side. It rolled and rolled, white swirling around them as snow poured through. ‘Please,’ Mary cried out, but the wind carried her voice faster than she could speak. Pain shot through her stomach and she grabbed her husband’s hand, squeezing hard. The carriage stopped rolling and she could just about make out Charles’s voice calling out for help.
‘The baby’s coming!’ he screamed. Mary was lifted out of the carriage and heard them say that it was a wolf on the road that had caused the accident. She felt wetness cover her legs; her water had broken.
An hour passed and a beautiful baby girl was delivered into the snow captured land. Charles took a deep breath. ‘Plenty more time to have a boy.’
Mary’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘She’s so beautiful, her skin is almost as white as the snow and those blood red lips contrast beautifully.’
Charles nodded stiffly. ‘We shall name her Anne.’
Mary shook her head. ‘No.’ She looked down at the face of her beautiful daughter. ‘We will call her Snow.’
‘Snow?’
Mary nodded, smiling. ‘Snow White.’
Seven years later
Snow looked down at her pile of books and frowned. ‘I want to play outside!’ she ordered.
The maid smiled. ‘No, not today Princess.’
Snow stomped her foot. ‘The other children play!’ She looked out the window. ‘They always play.’
The maid giggled and kneeled in front of the little seven-year-old princess. ‘You’re no ordinary little girl, Snow. You’re a Princess and your duties must come first. One day you may be Queen.’
‘Don’t want to be Queen,’ Snow mumbled.
‘Enough,’ the maid, Sarah, said. ‘And don’t mumble.’
Snow pouted. Why couldn’t she play? She huffed, making sure her unwillingness was known. Mary walked into the room dressed in a matte black dress corset style dress with a black birdcage veil covering half of her petite face, and a black shawl covering her shoulder. She gestured for the maid to leave. The maid curtseyed and left the room. Mary sat on the bed and patted the end of the bed. ‘Come here baby girl.’
‘Why are you dressed in black, Mama?’
Mary sniffed back a sob. ‘You know when I told that you sometimes God needs angels?’
Snow nodded.
‘Well,’ Mary said, her voice breaking, ‘God needed your papa in Heaven.’
‘Oh,’ Snow said smiling. ‘That’s nice. When will he be back?’
Mary lowered her head. ‘He won’t be coming back.’
Snow’s lips twisted as she thought over what her mama had said. ‘Does he not want us anymore?’
‘No.’ Mary grabbed Snow’s hands, tears cr
eeping down her cheeks. ‘He loves you so much, but he can’t come back, he isn’t allowed too.’
Snow stomped her foot. ‘I want to talk to God.’
More tears crept down her cheeks. ‘Baby, your papa is gone. He loves you and you can talk to him in your prayers, but you can’t bring him back. I’m sorry.’
Snow’s bottom lip trembled. ‘But… who will teach me archery?’ She asked. He’d been taking Snow out for a year now, teaching her how to shoot a bow and arrow, even though it was unorthodox for a girl to play.
Mary bit her lip. ‘One of the guards can teach you to play, or Robert? You like Robert,’ she said, referring to the earl.
‘No!’ Snow shouted. ‘I want Papa!’
‘I’m sorry.’ Mary pulled her daughter to her and stroked her soft hair. ‘He loves you and I love you. He didn’t choose to go.’
‘I hate God,’ Snow sobbed.
‘Don’t say that,’ Mary cooed. ‘He didn’t do this to hurt you. Sometimes things are out of our control.’
Snow sobbed harder. She thought of how she would look up at her handsome, strong Papa. He would tell her how to do things properly and always made sure that she behaved appropriately at her appearances. Who was going to teach her that? Who would protect her? She nuzzled into her mama’s shoulder and closed her eyes. This was indeed a most horrible day.
Eight years later
Snow awoke smiling for once. No studying, no appearances, nothing. It was her birthday and that meant a big party and hundreds of nobles attending from different lands, all to wish her a happy birthday – how wonderful.
She stepped onto the hard floor and put on her slippers and wrapped her silk dressing gown around her which clung to her curves. The door creaked open and Mary stepped inside. ‘Baby girl,’ she said, holding out her arms, ‘happy birthday sweetheart. Here, let me do that.’ She took the hairbrush that Snow had just picked up and ran it through Snow’s luscious ebony waves. ‘You are so beautiful. You will make a wonderful Queen one day.’
Snow smiled modestly. ‘Thank you, Mother.’
Mary pressed her lips together. ‘Unless, of course, I marry and have a son. Then you would be sister to the King.’
Smiled nodded. She would, honestly, prefer that. Being Queen wasn’t something she had ever wanted, even though she had been groomed to be one from a child. She looked at the frown lines on her mother’s face and few silver hairs that mixed in with her black hair. She was getting older and hid her sadness well. Her mother wanted to marry for love and kept it no secret, but as a princess, that was out of the question.
The King and Queen would pressure Mary to marry unless Snow did it first, then the pressure would be off. They would be happy to have Snow as a Queen, married, and producing heirs.
Snow felt it her duty to take the pressure of her mother to be Queen and to enter a loveless marriage. Snow vowed that she would give herself to the kingdom so her mother could live out her older days happy.
‘I met someone,’ Mary admitted. ‘A man, well a dwarf.’
Snow’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Who?’
‘Henry,’ Mary said, smiling.
Snow bit her lip, she had seen that hazy, dreamy look in people before. ‘You like him.’
‘Yes.’ There was no point in denying it. ‘It matters not, though,’ Mary continued, ‘He is not royal, I cannot marry him even if he did want me.’
‘A dwarf… isn’t that a bit, well, odd.’
Mary laughed. ‘It matters not what someone looks like, it’s about what’s in here,’ she said, placing her hand on her chest. ‘Never settle for less than complete love, Snow.’
Snow shook her head. ‘It matters not if they are not royal, I cannot marry them,’ she said, mimicking her mother’s own words.
Mary rolled her eyes. ‘Well, you may get lucky. Now, let’s get you into your dress. Nobles have been arriving from all over.’
Snow grinned. ‘How many do you think will be there?’
Her mother’s eyes sparkled. ‘Hundreds.
*****
Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, glistening against the white stone roof. Along the side of the room were several tables, decorated with ice sculptures. Bowls of delicious foods, including the finest oysters shipped in from Forosh, juicy venison from Dolorom, and spiced foods from Agrabah. Up on the balcony, overlooking the room, the King and Queen sat on red velvet thrones. The flag of their kingdom hung down the front of the balcony.
A band stood on a small stage overlooking the crowd of people dressed in their finest garments. They continued to play the beautiful music from their brass instruments.
A dwarf approached them and Snow guessed it must be the Henry that her mother had spoken of. Henry held onto the gift he got Snow that Edward, the prince who was cursed to be a frog, Henry’s master, had helped him get. Edward encased a snowflake in some strange, see-through substance, so it looked like an ornament, then shaped into a circle. It was small, the size of a gold coin. Edward had helped him turn it into a necklace. He peeked into the black box and looked at the beautifully encased snowflake on the sparkling, white gold chain, and smiled.
He walked over to the princess and bowed. ‘Majesty,’ he said.
Princess Mary smiled widely. ‘I’d hoped you come! This is my daughter, Snow,’ she said, gesturing to her beautiful daughter.
Henry bowed then handed her the box. ‘For you, Princess. Happy birthday.’
Snow opened the box and gasped. ‘It’s beautiful, thank you so much!’
Henry smiled sadly. ‘I would offer to put it on, but I wouldn’t reach,’ he admitted, embarrassed. He looked up at the beautiful Snow. She lived up to her name, her skin was as white as snow, but her lips were the colour of blood, and they looked striking. Her eyes were as green as the emeralds on her necklace, and her hair, which fell to the small of her back, was as black as ebony. Although only fifteen, she looked older. She walked with such grace and spoke quickly, yet clearly. Her eyes sparkled with wonder as she looked around the room, decorated with silver, white, and red.
Snow giggled. ‘Here,’ she said and kneeled onto the marble floor so Henry could reach her neck. He moved her hair out of the way, which he noticed was perfectly straight, and hung the necklace around her neck. She stood up and examined it. ‘It’s so beautiful.’
Her mother looked down at her. ‘Like you. Beautiful and unique.’
Snow loved when it was her birthday. It took her mind off everything. Her days were filled with lessons, greetings, meetings, more lessons, and appearances around Northmanni. This would be the only time in the next year where she could be free from her tasks and hoped that she and her mother could spend some time together in the evening.
Mary looked down at Snow and looked over to the Duke of Carlin, the largest town in Northmanni. ‘Snow,’ she whispered. ‘I believe the duke wants another dance.’
Snow sighed. ‘Last time he stood on my foot!’
Mary laughed. ‘He’s just a little clumsy. Go on.’ As Snow walked away begrudgingly to dance with the duke, Mary turned her attention to Henry. ‘Thank you for Snow’s beautiful gift. It really is one of a kind.’
Henry blushed. ‘My pleasure.’
‘Would you like to dance?’ Mary asked, biting her lip. She didn’t understand it, but she felt a warmth when she was around Henry.
Henry frowned. ‘I’m too small. Everyone will look at you and we won’t be able to dance properly.’
Mary looked around. ‘I do not care what people think, but if you would rather, we can go into the gardens and dance without everyone watching.’
Snow watched her mother walk onto the dance floor with Henry. Indeed, everyone did watch them with judgemental eyes, but Snow smiled. At least she was happy.
The Duke wrapped his arm around her and placed his hand on her back, then twirled her around. The Duke was ten years her senior but didn’t matter when you were royal or noble. ‘Beautiful party,’ the Duke said as they danced. He smiled, showing off
his dazzling white teeth. His eyes were bluer than the royal drapes and lips were paler than Snow’s skin. Still, he was a handsome man and seemed nice enough.
Snow caught her grandparent’s gazes and smiled at them. The music faded and her grandfather, the King, stepped out, looking over the balcony. ‘I want to thank everyone for coming to our kingdom on this most gracious evening to celebrate the fifteenth birthday of my granddaughter, Princess Snow.’
Snow beamed at him. He looked down at her with doting eyes. ‘Happy Birthday sweetheart. You’ll be a fine Queen one day.’
The last part cut through her. Queen. The duke took her hand and kneeled onto the marble floor. ‘Snow, happy birthday. When you turn sixteen I would find it most gracious if you would accept a marriage proposal from myself.’
Unorthodox indeed. Duke’s didn’t propose so personally. Snow half-smiled. ‘If the King wishes it then I will graciously accept.’
The Duke nodded, seeming pleased with the offer. Everyone in the room clapped and returned to dancing and stoking each other’s egos; the two things they did best.
*****
Snow watched as everyone poured out of the room, leaving behind a trail of half-eaten food, streamers lying on the floor, and half empty champagne glasses littering the long tables. ‘Where is my mother?’ She asked one of the guards who was making sure everyone was leaving the palace. Snow heard a fight break out outside the doors of the palace, clearly, some men had drunk far too much.
‘She was last seen in the gardens.’
‘Thank you.’
Snow walked out of the room with grace, thanking people as she left and offering a smile to the King and Queen. As soon as she was out of sight, she ran to find her mother. Her white dress flew out behind her as she pattered down the dark corridors until she reached the back doors. Opening them, she furrowed her brows at the strange sight. Henry was raging at a man who had disappeared with a flash of magic and had tears running down his chubby cheeks, but Mary was nowhere to be seen.
