“My little Snow White,” Lord White in sun-bright white armor placed rough hands gently upon Marguerite’s shoulders, “how you have grown.”
“I miss you,” Marguerite tried to touch her father’s hand, but could not. All she felt was her own shoulder, and a cool numbness from where he touched, “How will I ever hope to live up to the greatness that you yourself accomplished?”
“One light is compared to a second, there is no equal,” Lord White released his grip. Marguerite fought back tears, “you will lead how you will lead, my love.”
“Father!” Marguerite turned to find herself alone in the chamber. Her voice echoed into the eternal darkness until it died away into nothing.
Deep breath and Marguerite began to make her leave. Though not before the strange broken statue caught her eye. A statue she never paid much mind to in the past. It had been hacked away, or unfinished, Marguerite could not say. It lay across from her father’s tomb. No torch lit it, which is why it could have been easily missed.
Marguerite stood staring at the unmarked tomb, which belonged to a forgotten Lady of White, as spouses normally were laid to rest across from their significant others. Her stare lingered, but thought it could have been her mother, as she did die in the palace. There would be reason enough for her not to have a statue created. Another breeze through the darkness brought Marguerite to her senses. A sniffle of her nose, and she wiped away a tear. Marguerite paid it no mind as she made her exit from the damp tombs.
Back in the world of the living, the sun felt good upon Marguerite’s ice-cold flesh. She took her time to return to her quarters, as the wind felt good dancing upon her flesh. But when she arrived the unfiltered afternoon sun had warmed her quarters considerably. Marguerite sat once more upon her chair.
Her eyes gazed upon the many towers of Ashok Orai. Her heart wept, though no tears fell. She wished to return to another time, one in which the reality of Saledii’s death did weight not so heavily upon the realm. She thought of the magic cave years ago. Her mind urged her to go, but her body would not move. It became heavy. Marguerite did not remember closing her eyes, or falling asleep in the sun. But she slumbered as her wandered to Saledii.
The Tale of Snow White and Rose Red
Once Upon a time…
Two young girls, one with skin white as snow and hair darker than a raven’s feather and the other, hair redder than fire, and eyes the color of pumpkin decided upon an adventure into the woods. An adventure when they learned of a magical cave, near the ocean. Two best friends, near sisters, were not far into the woods near Ashok Orai, when they found a mighty brown bear attacking a short, ugly old man. His long, straggly grey beard was trapped in the log he attempted to jump over. The bear growled and prepared to strike the ugly old man.
“Scoot you bear!” Rose Red barked louder than the bear roared. The Bear ignored the girls and raised a paw in the air. Rose Red growled, “Scoot I said!”
The brown Bear rushed away from his prey with a huff.
“Do you need help sir?” Snow White asked the ugly man, who tried in vain to free his beard from the stump of log he was standing upon. He tugged and tugged with all his might.
The ugly creature pulled away from the two young girls, “I do not need your help, land creatures!”
He threw a crooked hand into the air. He was missing his ring finger at the lower knuckle.
“Land creatures? What a curious thing to say,” Rose Red stated with a smile.
Snow White approached the creature with her tiny hand extended outwards as he strained more, “Here, let us help you.”
“Do not touch me!” He struggled more as Rose Red came closer too, “stay back I said!”
With that the Ugly Little Man threw a sharp finger into the air, and disappeared in a bright flash of putrid green fire, which danced upon the log like waves that crash upon the shore. Both young girls were intrigue by the fire, but quickly covered their noses as the smell of the burning log reminded them of rotting fish. The smell dissipated rather swiftly upon the gentle blowing Winds. Both young girls shrugged off the thought of the strange ugly man, grabbed each other’s hands and disappeared deeper into the sunlit forest. They went back searching for the cave. A cave said to possess great magic.
The log burned with the putrid green fire for several hours.
Close to the sandy coast, the two girls found a young woman. Wavy, crimped sunset red hair spun-out like seaweed to the middle of her back. Almond skin, delicately sun kissed, looked almost translucent. Her skin glistened like scales. The woman danced most beautifully in the center of a tiny glade. The young woman was silent, and danced to a song only she could hear. She danced to the sounds of the crashing waves, and the rippling tides. She danced to the sounds of the ocean. She twirled and spun, though the two girls could see great pain cross her face with every step taken. Pain, as if every step she took, a thousand knives stabbed her feet. When the woman finished, she collapsed, covered in sweat. Tears fell from her eyes in heavy streams. She rubbed her legs tenderly while she rocked back and forth.
Both Snow White and Rose Red clapped from where they hid behind several bushes of the most beautiful pink flowers they had ever seen. The children came out into the glen. Startled, the woman rose swiftly and ran off. Tears fell rapidly from her eyes, and glistened in the sunlight.
“I wonder why she ran away?” Snow White asked of Rose Red.
“She was beautiful, and her dancing—” Rose Red stopped talking as bushes behind them rustled.
“She is very beautiful,” a deep males voice called from behind them.
Startled as well, they both fell back as a large brown bear parted the bushes, “Do not be afraid, I will not harm you.”
“But are you not the same bear from earlier?” Rose Red scampered back with Snow White close in hand.
“That I am,” the Bear walked into the light of the sun and shook off some leaves that became trapped in his brown fur.
“You were going to attack that ugly little man earlier,” Snow White held fast to Rose Red’s hand as he spoke. “How can we trust you?”
“He cursed me to this form, and to kill him would solve all my troubles,” the Bear spoke.
“Is there no other way?” Rose Red asked.
The Bear grumbled and sat down, head rested upon his paws. A loud snort escaped his nostrils. Dust clouds danced outwards “I have to guess his name. Which is beginning to prove to be more impossible with each passing day.”
“How difficult can it be to guess a name?” Rose Red asked.
The Bear let out a sigh, “more difficult than you realize my little pets.”
“Let us help you,” Snow White said, running her small fingers through the Bear’s fur.
“I cannot ask that of you, children,” The Bear looked down at the children, “This is my task, not yours.”
“But, surely with three heads, guessing will be much easier to accomplish,” Snow White snuggled up to the Bear, enjoying his soft warm fur. He was quiet for a moment as he contemplated what Snow White offered to him.
“I think you are right,” the Bear smiled and nodded his round head at the thought.
“Why were you watching the young lady dance?” Rose Red snuggled up to Snow White.
“She reminds me of someone who saved my life, not too long ago,” the Bear stated, adjusting his paws and stretching out.
“How romantic,” Rose Red yawned, snuggling closer to Snow White and the Bear. Her eyes began to grow tired.
“Gross, romance!” Snow White yawned as well, her eyes heavy.
“Nothing is gross, or disgusting about love young one. True loves kiss, will overcome any Evil,” it was the Bears turn to yawn as he spoke. His body released a great roar, and his body quaked ever so mightily. And when he finished, all fell asleep under the warm early afternoon light.
While the children slept soundly, the rustling of bushes and the cool sea breeze awaked the Bear. A strange smell hung upon it. It enticed him.
He thought he could hear signing upon the currents. Within the shadows of the trees, the Bear saw the grey-aqua mist pulsate and swirl. Rising as gently as he could, the Bear wandered off after the mist. He was caught in its strange spell, for he had never seen anything like it before. It seemed to call to him, as if by magic he heard its voice, which beckoned him to follow.
Rose Red and Snow White eventually awoke to yelling and cursing coming not a long ways away from where they had fallen asleep. The sun did not seem to have moved. Rising with a stretch, the two girls decided to investigate, for the voice sounded like the ugly little man. A great noise rumbled through the brush. Walking, they found the source of the noise and commotion,
“Well look there Snow. The ugly little man again!” Rose Red pointed through the shrubs with a whisper.
“Is he not the one, whose name the Bear must guess?” Snow White wondered. Rose Red nodded in agreement.
Both girls approached the man, whose long bristly beard was again caught in the crevice of a yet another log. He struggled and strained to release himself, but to no avail. He was out of breath and sweating.
“Do you need help sir?” Snow White politely asked like the first time.
“You two wretched girls again!” The ugly old man pointed a crooked finger at the two young girls. “You are the blame for my misery!”
“Why us? We have only just come across you,” Rose Red stated “Stuck for a second time, no less. That does seem to be your own fault.”
“Five days have I wandered these woods, and not until I fell upon you did this beard became stuck in anything!” The ugly old man pounded his foot upon the log in anger. He struggled. The more he pulled and tugged, the more he yelled out in pain.
“That is not our fault. Perhaps if you kept it neatly trimmed,” Snow White looked at the old man deeply. His milky black eyes stared at his beard. To her they looked like the eyes of freshly caught fish. The black void staring into eternity, “But since you are stuck, and will not like our help, may be try to guess your name?”
“To help the Bear? He would rather kill me to end his curse!” The ugly old man continued to struggle with a chuckle.
“We are helping so he doesn’t have to kill you,” Snow White looked upon the ugly old man, “is that not a better option?”
The ugly old man stopped pulling and tugging upon his beard. He sat upon the ground and thought for a moment, “I see no harm, for try as you may, you will never guess my name. And at sundown on the seventh day, her Soul will be mine to do with as I please!”
“Whose Soul?” Rose Red questioned.
“None of your concern—ugh—now guess!” The ugly old man yelled, “Quickly!”
“Is it Charles? No—May Bell? No?” Rose Red began guessing immediately before the ugly old man’s voice disappeared in the shadow of the brush that surrounded them.
“Terran? Remnan? Bastian?” Snow White guessed next.
“Try as you like, you will never guess my name,” the ugly old man chanted again, and again in a singsong fashion almost like a sea shanty. He tugged his beard a third time, “Now leave me be to this wretched fate that has befallen me!”
“At least let us help you. Or would you prefer the Bear to come and swipe you?” Snow White asked with a devilish smirk and chuckle.
The creatures milky eyes grew wide at the prospect of what could be, “very well. Do what you need.”
Rose Red, from a tiny bag she carried around her waist, produced a small dagger. With a slice she made swift work of the beard that was trapped within the log. The little man tumbled backwards several feet from the log. Strands that remained trapped, burst into green flame, and released the putrid smell of rotting fish dissolving away into sea foam.
“My beard! My beard! My precious beard!” The ugly old man jumped up and down as he screamed. Thick dust clouds billowed upwards. Into his wrinkled hand he gathered a swirling ball of black and blue mist. It glowed bright as a star that reflected upon the waves at midnight. Ready to throw it upon the two young girls, the talking Bear returned. He released a mighty roar as he bounded with a great leap from the brush. Startled, the creature dropped the swirling ball of mist into the nothing from whence he created it. And in a flash of putrid green flame, he himself, disappeared.
“What happened?” The talking Bear trudged forward from the woods.
It was then that Snow White and Rose Red recounted what had happened when they awoke from their short nap, and found the ugly old man stuck in a log, and cut his beard. They also informed him of all the names that they had tried.
“As I have said. It is impossible to guess this small creatures name.”
“Nothing is impossible,” Snow White tried to pet the Bear, who merely huffed and sulked away. They watched him fade into the shadow.
Not long later, Rose Red and Snow White came upon the silent woman, who danced, naked within the failing sunlight. Her red hair, redder now in the late afternoon sun, twirled and spun. A great and heavy sadness lay within her eyes. A sadness of pain, with every step she took, but even with all the pain, she continued to dance as if she never had another chance to. It was both sad and beautiful to the two young girls who lay hidden within the shrubs. Clapping caught their attention.
Snow White and Rose Red watched the ugly old man, sitting upon a log. He was the source of the clapping. His hair ragged like green seaweed. He looked to them much more ugly than before, more rotting and fishier in appearance. The creature’s skin was almost spoiled and very damp. He clapped and laughed at the young woman.
“Yes, dance. Dance my little mermaid! Dance! And with luck, you shall see that human you have fallen so in love with. Though the days grow less and he has yet to appear. Such a pity.” He watched the young woman dance and twirl, until at last she collapsed in silent tears, and wept into her hands. He approached with awkward hobble, as if the creature never walked upon the land before. His damp fingers grabbed the woman’s chin sharply, “it would seem your Soul will be mine, as was promised. Isn’t that right?”
The silent woman shook her head and removed his grip. Done with her, the ugly old man snorted, disappeared in a flash of green fire. An evil laughter, deep and bone chilling, remained for several more seconds after the fire died away.
As the young woman sobbed into her knees upon the ground, Rose Red and Snow White came from their hiding spot to console her.
“You are looking for true love too?” Snow White asked softly of the mysterious red headed woman. She wiped away tears and nodded softly, and rested her head upon her bony knees.
“Can you speak?” Rose Red kneeled before her. She shook her head. Fire red hair flung to and for. When she stopped, the girl opened her mouth and showed where her tongue used to be. A very sharp blade had crudely, but expertly removed it.
“Are you bound by the same spell as the talking Bear?” Snow White wondered. The mute girl stared at the girls, shrugging slightly.
“The talking Bear said he had only seven days to guess that Ugly Little Man’s name, and then he said that you had only seven days, it must be the same spell!” Snow White clapped her hands, before grabbing Rose Red’s arm, “Wait here—we will return with the talking Bear!”
The girl nodded happily, arms wrapped around her knees that were pressed against her breast. She rubbed her legs and feet tenderly until the pain ceased. A tear dropped from her eye. The two girls disappeared into the woods, skipping the entire way.
The two young girls having left the young woman behind traveled to find the talking Bear. They called for him, but it was very hard not knowing his name. They also did not want to attract the attention of the ugly old man. Through bush and shrub they found the Bear, who had been looking for them as well.
“Children!” The Bear declared, “I have wonderful news!”
Both children snuggled the Bear’s warm fur in a hug. Snow White let go first to talk, “As do we.”
The talking Bear turned away from them. His eyes seemed almost starry, and
glazed over, “Come I must show you what I found.”
“But,” Rose Red pleaded, but the brown Bear was now almost galloping away, back into the woods.
“Come, come,” the Bear continued on.
Unable to change the Bears mind, follow him further away from the young woman, who he so desperately sought. The Bear led them to a great rocky grey hill. In which a cave was naturally formed. Not far, the girls could hear the ocean crash upon the shore. From the small opening, crags pierced the ground and hung from the roof. So sharp and jagged that they resembled dragon’s teeth, both girls clung tight to the Bear. Dampness hung upon the stone teeth that made them glisten in the light. A strange aqua mist hung to the caves floor. It glowed and pulsed dimly.
“How did you find this cave?” Snow White asked both hands gripped into the Bears fur. Her little heart beat wildly. Her feet did not want to move, but the Bear led them ever slowly towards the cave.
The Bear stepped forward with glazed, glossy eyes, “A Fairy showed it to me.”
“A Fairy?” Rose Red asked curiously.
The Bear led them past the sharp-toothed entrance. A shiver ran through both children. The three trudged through the aqua mist, which was very thick. It almost stuck to the girl’s feet like muck. Inside, beautiful veins of sapphire ran through the blackened stone. The raw gemstones seemed to glow magically. They gave light, as the sun did not seem to penetrate the darkness of the cave.
“I don’t think we should be here,” Rose Red mumbled, leaning closer to the Bear.
“It is all right, children,” the Bear chuckled, “I will protect you.”
Deeper in still they traveled. The air was electric. It tingled the girl’s flesh. It gave them goose bumps that run up and down their arms. Chills would occasionally run through them. The cave was silent, aside from a slight hum, and chorus of whispers.
Snow White asked of it, “What is that noise?”
“There is no noise,” Rose Red replied. Both girls’ voices did not echo.
Bound by Roses (The Bound Series Book 1) Page 7
