Snow White: A Story Retold, Part 2

So, before I continue, a little "here's why" about this series.

I was sick over the weekend, and over the weekend I noticed for the umpteenth time that when I'm sick my already pale face turns nearly white and my mouth turns bright red. I thought, I really do look like a zombie Snow White. Color balance goes downhill when I get sick. And then I had the idea to do a retelling of Snow White. So if you like this story, say thanks to my face's scary color tendencies.

Here it is. If you haven't read the rest or have forgotten where I left off, click here.

"Daughter?" When her question came out as a mousey squeak, Tess felt utterly embarrassed. Her she was, a youn

g human girl, in the midst of the immortal, graceful, powerful elves of Landrail Forest--the forest of silvery. Tess gnawed at her full lower lip as the elf king drew back and looked her full in the face.

"You were stolen from me, long ago," the king explained gently. "You were only a child, but the Fern king [Author's note: in this world, there are leprechaun-ish creatures called Fern people. I could talk about them at great length, but I'll say only this: they hate the elves; the elves hate them; fern people are capable of turning invisible; elves have great magic.] sent his spies into Landrail city to get vengeance--I had killed his son in battle. They stole you away, but the spies died in a snowstorm. You, being half elf, were resilient and were found by a more

or less benevolent person." The king paused, and Tess thought, Less. Definitely less benevolent. The king continued. "I knew your state by my magic. Where you were, of course, was hidden from me. But now, at last, I have you back. You even fell into Mirror Lake on the way. A pleasant turn of fortune indeed."

"I'm half elf?" Tess's voice sounded like broken tea pot's strained whistle next to the perfectly musical voices of the elves. Any pride she had in her voice vanished without so much as saying good bye.

"I fell in love with a human girl from the village of Urngoth when I was but a prince--not even crown prince. We married secretly, and I prepared to become mortal so I could live and die with her. But then

, circumstances tore us asunder. My father and my elder brother were killed by some of the Fern people. I came back to appoint a king so that I might then enter into mortal life with a clean conscience. Just before I announced my choice, I received word that my love had died in childbirth. I rushed to Urngoth. Upon her burial, I brought you here to be raised. But then you were taken from me. And now, here you are, recently hauled from Mirror Lake."

"I...took a tumble into Mirror Lake? THE Mirror Lake? Is it true what they say?" Oh, the stories that were told about the elves and their silvery forest. How many were true?

"Who are they, and what do they say?" The left corner of the king's mouth curled into a playfully mocking smile. Tess decided she liked that smile.

"They...the guests at the Silver Inn...they say that a being lives in Mirror Lake. They say that on a full moon, if you go into the lake, you are destined to become the fairest creature of all--at least for a time.

They say that the lake--or whoever or whatever lives there--can choose who can go into the lake--if I make sense." And that's a pretty big if. Tess was painfully aware that her sentences were convoluted and disorganized compared to the king's eloquence. She shot glances around the chamber and wondered if, behind the elves' perfect mask of politeness, they were thinking about what a tavern girl she was.

"It is all true," the king replied simply. "I'm rather surprised the facts were not blown hideously out of proportion."

Tess felt quite awkward about asking the next question. It seemed so infantile somehow. But then again, she probably appeared infantile already, so what was there to lose? "Since I fell into Mirror Lake, will I become beautiful?"

The king nodded. "You already are beautiful, but yes--you will become the fairest one of all. Your human vigor and--how do humans say it--your 'realness' combined with the ethereal beauty of the elves will undoubtedly lead to this fairness."

Tess decided that this next question was even sillier: "Will I live forever, like you?"

The king's eyes darkened. "Sadly, I cannot answer. There is no way to predict how long a life you will lead. Your features seem to say that you inherited more elf blood than human blood, but I cannot be sure. I can only be sure that you are my daughter, for none but the elvish royalty have that strange eye shape, and none of my relatives but my father and mother had any children."

Tess's alabaster cheeks flamed as red as her lips as she asked her final question. "What is your name, Father?"

The king laughed a merry, perfect laugh. "My name is Andrarie." The king halted and drew a tall, golden-haired elf to his side. She was the most beautiful lady Tess had ever seen. "This is my wife--your stepmother--the queen. She is Zelliana. May I ask what you are called?"

"Tess."

And so began the happiest days of Tess's life. She learned to read, write, ride, sing, and dance (or dance according the the standards of the elves). She learned diplomacy and courtly manners, war strategy and trading principles. For the first time in her sixteen years, she found freedom and learning and rhythm all in the same wonderful place. But then, her rhythm shattered and she realized that happiness can be as fragile as silence.

The king was murdered.

Look out for the next part!

In Christ,

Rose