"Regina, dear, isn't it time for your riding lesson?"
Regina shuddered at the sound of her mother's gruff voice. She had been hearing it all her life, and yet she still wasn't used to its disapproving tone.
"Yes, Mother, I know. I'm meeting Daniel in the fields in a few moments."
Regina scrutinized her image in the large mirror next to her bed. She was wearing a nice white tunic underneath a sky-blue cardigan, with tan trousers and dark brown riding boots. Even though today was no special occasion, Regina wanted to look perfect for Daniel.
"You know, Regina," began Regina's mother, her tone of voice becoming impatient, "when I was a girl, I didn't have the privilege of riding lessons."
Regina sighed and turned around to face her mother. "Mother, I-"
But her mother pushed on.
"I was just a miller's daughter. I was just Cora. But I moved up; now I'm not Cora; I'm Lady Cora. In fact, I could've been so much more, had certain circumstances not occurred. And Regina, do you know what I would've done had I been able to take riding lessons?"
"Do tell, Mother."
Cora ignored her daughter's sarcasm. "I would've done my best to show up early to every lesson. Regina, don't you agree that by not trying your hardest to show up early to your riding lessons, you are being ungrateful for them?"
Cora pursed her coral-colored lips as she looked at her daughter expectedly. She looked very similar to her daughter; Regina had always loathed their resemblance to each other, what with their matching brown locks and eyes. She hated being compared to her mother.
Regina sighed again. "Yes Mother, I suppose that I am, but I am only trying to look my best, and don't youalways say that one should always look their best?"
Cora said nothing for a moment, and Regina sharply inhaled. Had she gone too far? But no, she had not.
Cora gave her daughter a small, artificial smile. "Why, I do always say that, now don't I?" she chirped. "Now, do hurry along, I do I need to transport you myself?"
"No, no, that's fine, Mother! I'm going right now!"
Regina dashed from her room before her mother could take matters into her own hands. She didn't want Daniel to be reminded of her relations to Dark Magic.
As Regina reached the stables and clambered onto her horse, she wondered why her mother had been in such a rush this morning. Sure, Cora had always been strict when it came to punctuality, but she wasn't usually in such of fuss over it. However, none of that mattered now, because for one whole hour, Regina would be free to spend time with one of the only people who she truly loved: Daniel.
As she rode, Regina reached into her pocket and flipped open her pocketwatch; a gift from her father. She was indeed running about five minutes late. Regina snapped the horse's reins and broke into a gallop for the highest hill in the fields, where Daniel would be waiting.
At long last, Regina reached the hill where Daniel waited, smiling broadly at her. She slid off of her horse and wrapped her arms around Daniel's neck, kissing him happily.
When they broke away, they both wore giddy grins. "It's so great to see you," Regina murmured. "It's getting so much harder to be without you."
"Every moment without you is like a moment without air," said Daniel, grabbing Regina's hand and squeezing it. "I look forward to this hour each day, for it is the only time when I truly feel complete."
Regina stared into Daniel's eyes, and he stared into hers. She leaned in again, longing for Daniel's affection.
"YOU TWO!"
Regina stumbled backwards, a startled yelp escaping her lips. Two soldiers were approaching her and Daniel, with someone walking behind them, blocked from view. The soldier stepped apart and revealed the man behind them.
He had shoulder-length grey hair, as well as a grey goatee on his chin. A lion-skin coat was draped over his shoulders and trailed behind him. To top it off, on top of his head lay a golden crown, shimmering in the morning light.
"Your Majesty!" gasped Daniel, caught by surprise. He dipped into a bow, and Regina followed suit, stunned by the sudden appearance of royalty.
"As you were," growled King Leopold, his voice edged with impatience. "Have either of you seen my daughter?"
Once again, Regina was unable to speak. "Princess Snow?" asked Daniel. "No, Your Majesty, we have not seen her."
King Leopold snarled. "You may still be of use. I need both of you to search for her. Report to me if you find anything." When neither Daniel nor Regina moved, Kind Leopold narrowed his eyes. "Now!"
Regina jumped into action and hopped onto her horse, and Daniel climbed on behind her. She flicked the reins and her horse started into a quick gallop, taking off through the hills.
"Did that really just happen?" asked Regina, bewildered.
"I guess so," replied Daniel, equally stunned.
All of a sudden, Regina caught sight of something black in the middle of the lush green grass. She jerked on the horse's reins and jumped off, Daniel doing the same.
"Did you see something?" he asked.
"I think so," Regina replied, looking around for whatever she had seen aboard her horse.
"Is anyone there?" called Daniel. "Hello?"
"Hello? Princess Snow? Are you there?"
"Help."
It was a weak moan, barely there, but Regina heard it. "This way!" she cried, running towards the plea for help.
And there she was, lying behind a tree. Her hair was such a dark ebony color that it shone, and her skin so pale that it was almost white. Her leg was bent at an unnatural angle, and blood was pouring from a wound on her left arm, but there was no doubt about it; it was Princess Snow.
"Help," she whimpered again. "My horse, it-it bucked me off."
"Daniel," whispered Regina urgently, "can you pick her up?"
Daniel tried to lift the young princess from the ground, but she let out a shriek and began to sob harder than she already had been.
"Go get the king," said Regina. "Bring him and the soldiers back here, and tell them she's injured. Hurry!"
Daniel didn't hesitate. He jumped back onto the horse and took off, leaving Regina with the wounded princess.
"I want my mother," moaned Snow. Regina bit her lip. Oh dear. Mothers were not one of Regina's strong suits, especially not deceased ones.
"Snow," Regina whispered, as delicately as she could, "would you like to hear a story?"
Snow gave a tiny nod. Regina swallowed, and then started.
"Once upon a time," she said softly, searching her head for ideas, "there was a young and beautiful princess. She had hair the color of the night sky, skin so fair it was the same color as the winter snow, and lips so red they were the color of fresh strawberries.
"The princess's name was Snow. Princess Snow was kind to everyone and everything she met. People came from all around just to speak with such a loving girl. Snow loved being around her people and her family, but she wished to go on an adventure. One day, Snow caught word of a magical flower that could grant the beholder one wish, and it could only be used once. It was called the Liebe. Snow decided to search for the Liebe, so she took her horse and went into the woods to find the flower.
"Snow searched for hours and hours, up until the sun was beginning to set. Just as she was about to leave, she found a magnificent flower sitting underneath the largest tree in the forest. It looked almost like a rose, except instead of red, it was a bright, shimmering gold. Snow plucked it from the ground and rode back home, all the while wondering what she should wish for.
"Snow returned to the palace just as the sun set, still pondering what she should wish for. Then, it came to her: she didn't need to wish for anything, because she already had all that she needed: a loving family and a wonderful life. But then Snow thought about all those people who were less fortunate than herself.
"Snow closed her eyes, held the flower close to her, and wished for all those whose lives had no joy to be filled with love and happiness. As soon as she said the wish, the golden hue of the Liebe began to disappear from its petals and float out of the window and into the night, granting Snow's wish. With that, she-"
"SNOW!" roared the bold voice of King Leopold. Behind him was Daniel on horseback and the two guards, this time carrying a large, white stretcher. The guards approached Snow, who shrunk away, whimpering.
"Snow," whispered Regina, "you have to let these men pick you up. It'll only be for a moment, I swear."
Snow sniffled a bit, and the guard came closer, and one put his arms under Snow's back and legs and lifted her from the ground.
Snow let out a cry of anguish and another sob. The guard, startled, immediately put her on the stretcher and backed away, not wanting to do any more damage.
"You there!" called one guard. "On the horse! Get off! We must use it!"
Daniel looked at Regina for approval, since it was indeed her horse. Regina nodded, and Daniel dismounted, and the guards clambered on, one steering and one carrying Snow.
"Wait," croaked Snow, her green eyes boring into Regina's brown ones. "What happened to the princess?"
Regina felt a tear roll down her face. "She, uh-she lived happily ever after."
From the stretcher, Snow gave the smallest of smiles before the guard cracked the horse's reins and took off towards the castle, leaving King Leopold alone with Daniel and Regina.
"You," he said to Regina, his voice wavering. "You were with my daughter, were you not? You took care of her?"
Regina nodded, unsure of what else to do.
"I am forever grateful to you," he said. "I must repay you. You must-you must be my queen."
Regina stared at Leopold for a moment. She shot a fearful glance at Daniel, who was turning red. "Your Majesty," he said, "Regina is engaged to me." This was a lie, but Daniel was desperate to keep Regina from slipping away from him.
"Yes!" agreed Regina, stepping closer to Daniel. "I mean, yes, Your Majesty."
"I apologize to you, sir," said Leopold to Daniel, "but she is now engaged to me. She will be a wonderful mother to my Snow, and if my daughter . . . if she . . . doesn't make it . . . there is no one I would rather have than the woman who comforted my child in her darkest time." He turned back to Regina. "You have today to pack your things. Please be at the palace by nightfall."
Leopold turned and was about to walk away.
"Wait!" cried Daniel. "Your Majesty!"
Leopold turned back around and stared at Daniel. "Yes?"
"If my . . . fiance will be your queen, then may I request to be her royal guard? I know her well and perhaps she would be more comfortable with me than a stranger as her protection."
Leopold scrutinized Daniel for a moment. "Alright then," he said. "You may accompany her to the palace tonight. Remember: no later than nightfall."
With that, Leopold turned once more and walked away, back towards the palace. Once he was out of earshot, Regina swiveled to Daniel. "What are we going to do?" she cried.
Daniel, who was normally so sure of himself and his actions, was looking grim. "I don't know," he said. "I really don't know."
Regina sat solemnly on her bed, staring at her rucksack. She had packed the bare minimum: a necklace her father had given her for her twelfth birthday, a saddle and reins that Daniel had given her when she first learned how to ride, and one apple in case she got hungry while she rode.
Two soft knocks tapped her door. Regina stood up and opened it, revealing Daniel. Regina wrapped her arms around him without saying anything and just stood there, breathing him in. When she released, she said, "How did you get in here? Did my mother let you?"
"No. Your father did. Your mother's celebrating with a bottle of champagne in the parlor." Daniel sat down on the bed with Regina. "How could she be happy about this?"
"She's always wanted me to become royalty," replied Regina bitterly. "She thinks that it'll somehow bring her up as well. She's wrong. As soon as I get to the palace, I'm sending as much gold as I can to my father so he can leave her; he doesn't deserve to die with a woman like that."
Daniel nodded. "At least you'll finally escape her. And we'll be together."
"But we won't be together. Not really."
Daniel sighed. "You're right. That's why I brought you this." Daniel reached into the pocket of his tunic and removed a simple gold ring. "I was going to propose soon. I had saved up all of the money I had made, and we could've gotten away from here, from your mother. But even though it can't happen, I still want you to wear it. This way, we'll still be engaged, even if we can't get married." He gently took Regina's hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
Regina had tears brimming in her eyes. "It's beautiful, Daniel. I love it. But how will I be able to wear it? Leopold will probably force me to wear an engagement ring for him."
"Just say it's a family tradition. He probably won't care."
Regina nodded. She hugged Daniel one more time, and then kissed him like it was the last time she would be able to, and it probably would be.
Regina and Daniel left the room a few minutes later and walked out to the stables, where Regina's parents were waiting. Regina hugged her father tightly, unable to hold back tears this time. "I love you," she said. "I'll write to you whenever I can."
Regina's father gave her a bittersweet smile, unable to speak. Regina's mother stepped up to her daughter, a proud smile shining on her face. "Make me proud, darling," she said, hugging Regina, who stood stiffly in defiance.
Regina and Daniel climbed onto their horses and waved goodbye to her father. Then, they took off away from the house, knowing that that might be the last time they'll see it.
An hour later, Regina and Daniel reached the palace, where Daniel was led to the Guards' Quarters and Regina was escorted to her room. After the guard left her alone, she didn't even bother to look around. She sat on her bed, blankly staring out of her window. A while later, someone knocked on her door.
Regina slowly got up and opened the door, where another guard stood, his head hanging. "His Majesty wishes for you to know that Princess Snow has passed. There will be a memorial service for her after sunset. Your personal guard will escort you there. Please dress appropriately."
Without waiting for a reply, the guard turned and left, and Regina closed the door.
Regina began to cry, soft at first, and then harder. It was all too much. She had been forced to leave her father, and now that sweet girl had died. It was as if everything good had been sucked from her life.
Snow had fallen, and Regina couldn't help but feel like she had, too.