The Dark Queen of White 1.24

24.

The Dwarfs of Mirg were the elite members among the dwarfs; they were reveled for their crafts or skills, but they were not warriors unlike some of the other Clans. During the last war with Queen Helena, the dwarfs fought hard but they were outnumbered. When the truce was called, the dwarfs were almost extinct, with the Mirg Clan took the biggest blow. The Ten Heroes of Mirg was the strongest bastion against the Queen then, and was feared by Man and Ogres. Together they were formidable, but with their group broken down by one third, they lost their edge.

Soon after the death of Queen Morgana, Queen Clarity renewed the war with the dwarfs, and the later went into a deeper retreat into the mines. Her army routed the unlucky ones but the dwarfs went in deeper, and finally Man had to stop the hunt.

“He does not know.” Influence washed his hands of the blood that was sprayed on it. He looked to one of the senior leaders there, and sighed. They were his friends before in a time era when they were part of the Clan.

“Gertrud does not know, the other heroes of Mirg are truly hidden from them too.” Killer remarked back. He still harbor the vengeance on Doc for banishing him. He looked to Greed who was counting the treasures they discovered at the mines. He missed the old home, the heroes including Dopey. He was not a mute then but a well spoken one with the words of wisdom from his mind. Dopey was the strategist in all the planning but the Queen’s tormentors had him tortured to the level where his mind snapped and went mute.

“So you lost the heroes?” Queen Clarity asked out directly with a tone of disappointment.

“I got thousands out there to hunt for them, and you cannot tell me where they are.” Queen Morgana voiced towards the dwarfs. “So what good are you to me then?”

“Your conflict with the Ogres and the Elves, have diminished our relationship with them. They do not extend the same assistance as before, and more to it, they found out that you may be a nemesis that had to contend with in the future.”

“What have I surrounded myself with? Soothsayers and fortune tellers? You were assigned to track down the errant dwarfs, and do it or I may find some else to do it.” Queen Clarity dismissed the dwarfs of her own. It was then Gaerth walked in.

“My Queen, the scouts have nothing to report.” Gaerth had bowed to the Queen and await her reprisal.

“Fool! All of you are fools!” Queen Clarity shouted. She then saw Snow White who had grown to be a young girl with a pretty expression. The young Princess had followed the Queen on her trips, and had found companionship with her.

“Queen Clarity,” Snow White had refused to call her mother despite the Queen’ request, but remained with her ranking. She did however on occasion call her Clare. “I was in the corridor and heard your shout. Are you fine, my Queen?”

Queen Clarity composed herself and excused the guards including Gaerth to speak to Snow White alone. She stepped off her high back throne and approached the Princess. She had hidden her stronger qualities from the Princess and also the King. The later had been kept busy by the Queen with the Picts skirmishes and the regular Lords’ conflicts. Both of these were the works of the Queen with the assistance of the Dwarfs servants.

“How are you today, Snow White?” Queen Clarity hugged her care. “Your King would be back before the new moon.”

“King had not been with me. I would not speak of him now.” Snow White had found her solace with the Queen, who taught her many games. The Queen herself had taught her how to communicate with the animals; from the rabbits to the horses. She also learned how to write and read, and played some musical instruments.

“I was on my way to the stables. Care for a ride?” Snow White asked the Queen. After the ride, both the Queen and Princess stopped at a stream to let the horse rest. They walked along the stream, and have a small picnic there.

“Clare, I was talking to Red….You knew her as Rebecca.” Red was the daughter of the kitchen chef, and the same age as Snow. “She told me that as a lady, we need to be pretty.”

“Am I pretty, Clare?” Snow White blushed on her cheeks when she asked it. She was at the age, when her freckles were disappearing into a clear white complexion.

“Yes, my dear. You are the prettiest girl in the lands.” Queen Clarity replied. “You would grow up to be the prettiest one in the lands, with many suitors who would asked for your hand.”

On that last statement, Snow White blushed deeper and said she would not wed anyone.

“I would only marry the Prince who is both charming and handsome, and ….” Queen Clarity cut in.

“And make you a mother of a dozen children and make your body bloom into a barrel shaped.”

“No!” Snow White raised her tone. “You shall not tell me of this.”

Queen Clarity held back her reply. She had raised the child for some time. Despite her portrayal as the sweet Princess, Snow White had the hard personality of her father. She was head strong on being known as the Princess, not any, but the pretty one. She detested the comments on her freckles and most of all, about the ladies being fat. She felt that beauty was an inherent quality of the ladies and should be retained at all times. She had spent much of her time in improving her vanity display to the others, and expected none to overtake her in any. Red or Rebecca was the daughter of the kitchen chef, whose mother was rounded and robust in build, with the extra helpings of the leftovers, and over cooking. Red however was a thin scrawny girl with the picky food taste. She was like Snow White, lamenting on beauty being her toll to get out of the kitchen and be with a charming man in a large house and lots of servants. Their day dreams had shaped their thoughts on the life, with one blessed by it and the other blessed to have it.

“I am sorry, Snow White.” Queen Clarity told the young Princess. “Look at me. I am as pretty as I was when I wedded the King. You shall be like myself soon, when you are married.”

Snow White smiled and hugged her step mother. They understood each other very well.

Well, not necessary.

Soon after the ride, Queen Clarity reflected on herself. She was the Queen for some time, but in her, emptiness ruled. She harbored the child she had given up, the love of the one man she had loved, and the pretentious life she lived here was killing her inside. She had not affection for the King, but due to obligations, she had surrendered herself to him. She had found that despite his fondness for his Princess, he was not altogether faithful to his Queen. She heard of his tryst with the other noble ladies after their wedding. His thoughts were that he was not obliged to wed any.

But her insecurity, made her looked for other avenue to seek her comfort.

“Mirror, mirror on the tree, who am I?”

“The Queen of the lands. And the pretty of the Queen in the land.”

“Tell me who else would replace me?”

“Lady Carlene of Dune.” The mirrors of Wendell replied. “But not soon. She will fall into the well this evening.”

Queen Clarity smiled to herself.