And they lived happily ever after…..

Chapter 1: Snow White

The horse's mane felt soft as silk under my palm, a strange security blanket indeed, but one I clung to as our journey ended. I knew that no matter how tight I gripped his hair, this horse wasn't going to save me from what ever lay ahead of me; I pondered how in the past year, or so, how dynamic my life had become. My role as princess had always been dismissed by my, excuse my language, "witch" of a step-mother. I had accepted it and learned to enjoy the daily tasks that a scullery maid preformed, so when I had a huntsman nearly kill me my daily duties were soon forgotten; I instead ran for my life into a horrific forest, finally finding my way to a tiny cottage. Seven kind and generous dwarfs took me in. I happily provided my cooking and cleaning skills as a thank you. Though the dwarfs were nothing but enchanting and their friendship is one I will always hold dear, I still dreamed of the man I had met while in the castle. He had been sweet, caring and dare I mention it handsome. I knew that I was truly a fool to assume that love could be found in rags and even less sensible to think that I could know a man by the way he serenaded me. But that had not mattered when it was just a dream. As constant as the sun rises and falls, reality always catches up to dreamers. So when an elderly peddler woman offered me a wishing apple to make that dream I wanted come true, I had thought maybe it would. And in a bizarre turn of events, I suppose it did. The apple was poison from my step-mother, but the man who woke me from my "sleeping-death," he was the prince from the castle. So it's true I rode off into the sunset with my prince, but the second I had waved goodbye to my dear friends I wondered, who really is my, by that I mean, Snow White's Prince?

I could see the golden castle shimmering in front of us: a strangely symbolic image, one of pure happiness and joy. But my heart felt like led in my chest, I knew I owed it to this man, who had won me my freedom and my life to win one more thing, my heart. Only love's first kiss could break that spell: so if he was my soul mate, should my heart hurt so much? All I could think of was the time when I was a little girl and my father had caught a bunny for me. I loved that sweet, innocent little creature. But it was always so scared and every time I looked into its eyes I started to cry. So one day my father found its cage door open and asked me, "Snow White, did you care for that rabbit? Watch it, feed it and love it?"

And I answered truthfully, "Yes father, I did."

He looked slightly disbelievingly and commented, "Then why is its cage open?"

Well I had never been one to hold in my feelings, so I looked my father straight in the eyes as tears welled up in my own, and I said "Daddy, I loved that bunny, I cared for it so much. But I knew that I couldn't keep it. It had family and friends. I didn't want to be the one who tore it away from that." But that had been many years ago, and though very much like that bunny, I didn't have family to return to, and my friends, well I had been a burden long enough in their home. So I turned to the prince as he smiled and said "We're here, welcome my love, to my kingdom."

The mahogany doors swung open as we neared the entrance, a sweet servant asked if she could get me or the prince anything. I shook my head and I walked the length of a marble hallway, noticing the golden fixtures and ornate glowing candles. His palace was beyond just beautiful, words like magnificent and wondrous floated to mind. I looked around to see him and mentioned my pleasure of the surroundings. I tried to suppress the thought that no matter how beautiful this place was, it still was a form of prison to me. The prince looked at me, almost as he was trying not to ask what was wrong, but knew something was. "Snow White would you like to see your room?" he inquired.

I nodded and replied, "That would be wonderful, thank you." We walked in silence through countless hallways all with the same monotone gold and marble décor. We finally reached large oak doors covered in an elaborate show of carvings. Those I could make out were of flowers and vines wrapping their way around a tree. A maiden stared back at me from the foot of the tree, looking some what smug in a way beyond adequate description. The prince flung the doors open to reveal a splendor of velvet and satin in different maroon hues covering everything from the flamboyant wooden headboard to the stunning window seat, from which the chair's occupant could view the astounding grounds, including the rose garden and the stables. The room left nothing lacking, it held a whole dresser of striking gowns, a robust vanity and even had an exquisite powder room attached through another carved wooden door. I turned and smiled back at the prince, hoping that I convinced him enough to put his heart at rest. Though the room was superb, I don't think any material object could calm my nerves or disperse my fear. I slowly twirled around to look at the prince to see if my facade had worked, the way his eyes tore through me and the downturn of his supple lips gave the immediate response of no. When he finally spoke his voice was like chocolate, rich and smooth flowing from his lips, "Snow, I want you to be happy here, so please ask for anything you wish." I turned away, ashamed of how rude I had been, the prince had been nothing but kind and generous and I had taken it all for granted, I truly was juvenile.

But I did have one question: I looked the prince straight on and queried the one question I had always longed to know, since the day we met near the well. "Dear Sir, I have one thing to ask: though it may not be of physical nature, I wish to know your name." He looked some what pleased, a smile coming to the corners of his mouth, a chuckle escaping his lips. The way his eyes shined as he laughed was one of the most captivatingly beautiful displays. I felt almost like I was witnessing a miracle-- to see this dashingly handsome man, giggle.

"Oh Snow, your question would seem more then normal in any other instance, but you see I have a joke of a name, truly a cruel thing on the part of my late father, but still. My name, is Princeton or more commonly known as Prince. You see my name and title are the same I am Prince Princeton."

I had learned many things, one of them was to never flat out laugh at your host; but sadly my manners were thrown aside in this moment. My laughter trickled out; I could feel some tension lifting, "So truly dear Prince" I stopped to smile again "I have known your name for some time!" I couldn't help but giggle again. The Prince, who truly showed his gentleman nature only smiled and giggled along, rather then pointing out my horrid etiquette.

"Well now, that we have had our proper introductions, Snow, would you like to meet some more people?" He pondered softly.

I was still smiling when I replied "Yes that would be wonderful, may I ask who?"

He gestured down the corridor we had come from, and as we started walking he answered. "Well you see, before my father died he told my mother that he wished me to be king, over my older brother. He thought Kane's heart was too full of anger to rule our kingdom. But my mother couldn't stand to see her eldest son disgraced by his own father, so once my father died and she was ruler she proclaimed that the first son to find and marry a princess she approved of, would be crowned king. So you see, we are going to meet my mother and brother." My pace slowed as took in this shocking information, I was about to meet his mother. A woman who had disobeyed her husband and king so she could pit her sons against each other, in a battle of the quickest to the altar! I had known that after being saved by the prince, we would most likely be wed, but being my idealistic self I had presumed it would be because we truly were a match, one worth breaking a magic spell. I also knew that politics, especially those concerning an angry mother could be disastrous, and I truly did not wish to have another queen cross at me. So I decided to make the best of the situation and gain his mother's love and respect.

I finally nodded slowly to show my comprehension as we continued walking until we got to an open door, inside I could see walls lined with books. Dusty volumes covered all the walls except one, which was a large window, its shimmering glass gave way to scenic view of the kingdom's hills and rivers. But my gaze was torn always from the vista and upon the man sitting on the chesterfield. He held a book which he seemed oddly interested in, he looked very much like the man standing beside me, with a few differences such as the build of his chin and his hair was slightly shorter and darker, but truly they were easily spotted as brothers. "Snow, I would like you to meet my brother, Kane." the prince chocked out, seemingly very abrasive to his elder brother. I curtsied and smiled up at Kane as he looked up, presumably for the first time since we entered the room. As I looked into Kane's eyes for the first time I felt the urge to run screaming from the room. His eyes were those of malevolent and vile snakes, a true fright. His mouth turned up in a cruel rendition of his brother's smile. His voice was nothing like chocolate, any sweetness seemed to be squelched from his whole person, instead in was replaced with a snarl of a voice.

"Ah, at last, I meet you Snow White." The way he spoke my name seemed to rip something inside me, a warning rung loudly in my ears it screamed "Run, hide, go!" but my feet held me in Kane's presence and he continued "My brother has spoken very fondly of the princess in rags he had met. You see I made a wager with our duke that Princeton couldn't find you again, but alas he has. And more so it looks as though he plans to keep you. But don't worry my brother always seeks things that aren't his but fails to obtain them." His remarks were so cold, I almost felt Prince cringe next to me. My mind reeled, trying to formulate some sort of polite reply to such a wicked comment.

"Oh Kane, please mind your manners round our new guest." A woman remarked as she stepped out of the shadows behind the door. She appeared quite lovely, strawberry blond curls enclosed her face, her eyes were gentle and kind but slightly weary, her thin pale lips turned up into a papery smile. "My dear, it truly is lovely to meet you, oh and I see Princeton didn't lie, you are quite beautiful." Her voice seemed to float out like broken chimes. "I would formally like to welcome you to our home and kingdom, Snow White."

A serving maid softly knocked and entered followed closely by a scrawny man, his stick-like features made more predominant by the odd goatee he wore. "Your majesties" he spluttered out and bowed. "I beg a word with you Sir Kane." He, I presumed must be the wagering duke, who Kane had spoken of. Kane abruptly stood and walked over to the duke and just nodded as a goodbye and left.

The queen sat, and looked up at me "Snow White, would you please sit and talk with me for a moment?" my heart skipped a jump, but thankfully I remembered my etiquette and replied "It would be my honor your majesty." As I sat down on the velvet chair across from the chesterfield, the prince went to sit next his mother. She looked at him and steadily said "Princeton would you please go check that the maids have prepared a roast like I asked of them for the evening meal?"

He looked slightly abash but quickly responded "Yes, of course, is there anything else I can do for you mother?"

She shook her head as he left the room closing the door at her instruction. My heartbeat quickened even more as I sat in silence with the queen. She finally spoke, her tone was slightly husky like it pained her to say it but she was determined to anyway. "Snow White, there is something that is of dire importance you need to know."