The Dark Queen of White 1.30

30.

Snow White was in her chamber when Red, her good friend came barging in. Red was her source of gossips and most of it was on the evil Queen, as they had named her. Snow was growing into a beautiful lady with her complexion glowing white like the shade of snow. She had lost much of her younger tantrums but she retained her hatred for the step mother. It was also partially fed by the chubby friend of her from the servant quarters.

“Snow, I just heard from the best.” For Red, the best means the Queen’ maids who were never short of gossips. Red was her only friend in the castle, who would speak freely with her. The others were courteous but they dare not whispered anything on the Queen. Nor for Red, who living then with her step mother and spend most times with Snow White.

“The Queen had argued with Lord Cornelius on his terms of alliance. He had stormed out and would probably waged war with us.” Red was a good at telling the tales, and relate everything to Snow.

“Alas! He would be the fifth since the King had died.” Snow White sighed. “If only King Thaddeus could the lands now, either in turmoil or in fear of the Queen. If only there was a hero like Arthur.”

It had been sixteen seasons since the King’s death, and every other season, the Queen was in some conflict with the Lords. She had won most of the conflicts and had retained much control on the lands, but the people on it had suffered. There were rumors of a young King named Arthur who was waging war across the continent, but he was so far away to the North.

“Yes, and one day Arthur would come here and rescued you. He would make you his Queen.” Red imitated a bow to the Queen for the Princess.

“Nay, I think not. If Arthur would to come here, it would be when my bones are weary and my body wrinkled.” Snow White replied. They both laughed.

“Snow White, you are turning eighteen in a few days. It’s also the time when the suitors would come.” Red reminded her of her coming new status. The other cringed at the thought.

“Yes, they would come. There would be Cousin Theodore.” Snow White remembered her cousin Theodore; the one with the tall frame body and was a member of the Royal Guards of his Queen, but he does walked rather funny given to the hours of riding he had done. She once commented that the birds could fly pass his legs like the loop in the branches.

“Or Lord Dune.” That one was a real Lord, and loud like the bellows of the horns of the Guards. He was also past his prime, with both his wedded ladies dead before him. They said he was insufferable with them, that they prefer death to his heavy weight on top of them, suffocating them each time.

“Don’t you forget Cousin Brier.” That one resembled more like a Hare, and with his resemblance, she might had a litter of ‘harry’s’ as he likes to call his pets.

“Please, Red. Spare me the dire thoughts. I would prefer to wear my red camisole in the bull pen, than with them.” Snow White retorted. Red laughed and remember her ‘bull’ sojourned earlier that day with the stable man. He was a raging bull although he preferred to named as Sullivan the Stud.

“Snow White, you must have a dream of the right man.” Red asked her.

“Yes, I do.” Snow White replied. “A charming man, of handsome built and no facial hair please. They tickled me. He would the one I see when I open my eyes.”

“Like this one.” Red held up the comfy bear that sleeps next to the Princess. “He does seem to be missing something.”

“Oh, Red. You are one mischievous lady.” Snow White blushed at her friend’s gesture to the bear that had accompanied her for such a long time.

“Oh! I got to go. I have to see my grandmother today in the forest. It’s the time of the season to bring her my basket of apples.” Red got up and reached for her red riding hood.

“Be careful of the Big Bad Wolf.” Snow White reminded her friend and the later replied.

“Big if he was, but I doubt it so. I‘ve seen most of them.” Red smiled with her fingers expressing her thoughts. With that Snow White threw her pillow at the departing friend. She then got up to clean her chamber. She began singing.

Just whistle while you work

Snow White picked up her bedding cover, and fluff them up.

And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune

The bedding cover dropped the last chemise she had on the day before. She smiled as she thought the men servant had stolen it from her chamber. Something that Red told her the men does for the ladies attire.
It won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace
And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom is someone that you love

Her mind shifted and smiled. Not that my dear.

And soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune
(Spoken: Oh, no, no, no, no! Put them in the tub)

She smiled more widely with her wilder thoughts.

When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work

With that, she dumped her soiled chemise into the wash tub. One thing good about washing your clothes, no one knew a lot of your personal secrets.

Across the castle passing by two corridors and up one level was the Queen’s chamber. She was seated in her chair there, while her feet were gently massaged by the servant. Her body was there, but not her mind. She had mentally projected herself into the bear at the Princess bedside. It was her view to the world of the Princess. She soon dismissed the servant and approached the tree with the mirrors. 

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

“The Queen of the lands. Who is the pretty Queen in the land.” That made the Queen smiled. She still retained her beauty despite the advancing age. She turned to step away, when the mirrors spoke out.

“When Snow White turned to be Queen, she would be the pretty one.”

The Queen heard that. She turned to the tree.

“She would not be Queen. Not unless it’s over my dead body.” Queen Clarity told the tree.

“The former may be true, but the later may happened before your body turned dead.” The mirrors replied. The Queen was infuriated with the mirrors.

“Corellian, if you are fighting to get out, you can forget it.” Queen Clarity told the tree. “I would not released you at all.”

With that, Queen Clarity stormed out. The tree left alone, voiced out in pain.

“I….would ….get ….free….”