Snow White: A Story Retold

It's been about a month, yes. I've been horrible. I'm sorry.

But here's something--a little story--you might enjoy. It's the first chapter of my retelling of Snow White, in case you're wondering.

This cannot happen. The thought pained Tess, for she knew it just had.

Tess staggered through the creek, barely able to make it across the water. She had to go on. Events were in motion--unstoppable motion, like that of a fall down the stairs. Only this was a farther fall. Much farther.

The forest pressed in on her and darkness fell on Landrail Forest like a boulder on the foot. The plant life, all of which was a brilliant silver color, seemed ghostly in the light of the full moon. Tess shuddered and staggered on, her head throbbing from the blow she had received only a few days ago. Her face, already alabaster, grew paler. She cast her silvery-blue eyes about the forest, trying to pierce the silver haze.

It was hard for Tess to believe that the blow had come from the hand of her own employer, an innkeeper. The woman had been kind enough, not amply kind, but Tess still found it hard to believe the woman could be so cruel. The woman had caught her singing. She hated singing, so she turned Tess out into the night, threatening to send her hounds after her. Tess believed the threat. She had seen the hounds, too. Big, slobbering brutes with barrels for chests and ever-lasting springs for legs. Not to mention knives for teeth. She brushed her long ebony hair out of her face and kept running.

Her feet grew slower with each step. Her every breath became a chore. Finally, her body would no longer listen. Eyes ceasing to see and ears ceasing to hear, Tess gave up and fell soundlessly into a deep lake.

"Oh. Oh, my. Summon the king! Quickly! Hurry! She wakes, and with her comes a long-forgotten hope!" A bell-like voice rung with sparkling anticipation. Fear shot down Tess's spine. Where was she?

Yes. She had fallen into the lake. She had fallen into the lake? She should be dead. She would be quite disappointed if she were dead. But she heard voices, so she probably wasn't dead.

Tess opened her eyes. She was inside a silvery room on a soft, silvery bed, surrounded by strange people. Their faces were paper-white, their eyes silver, their bodies tall and graceful, and their hair brilliantly colored. They're elves! Tess could scarcely believe her eyes. A tall, black-haired man came into the room wearing a crown. Everyone bowed to him and whispered, "My king." He nodded to them, and they stood. They cleared away from Tess's bed. The king took one look at Tess and his eyes widened with joyous surprise.

"Daughter!" He rushed to Tess's side and enveloped her in a strong embrace. What?