I just want to make this clear right now... this is a SHORT STORY. I don't plan on it being more than 4 or 5 chapters, max. So if there is a huge time jump or two, that's why.
Snow White sighed as she gazed around the deep forest. She didn't want to be here – she really didn't. It had only been about a year since her mother's passing, and yet her father was determined to find another mother for her. While the thought of having someone to call 'mother' was appealing to the eleven year old girl, she also knew that no one would be able to take the place of her mother, Queen Eva.
She knew her father wanted what was best for her, but she also wanted to be happy – like her mother wanted for her.
"Johanna, when are we going to go back to the palace?" she asked softly, not wanting to interrupt what her father was doing with the guards.
"Soon Snow, I'm sure… just don't worry about it."
The ebony-haired girl sighed again as she adjusted her grip on the reins. She was growing bored – but she didn't want to seem like a brat. Since her mother's death, Snow had been working on getting better, to be a kind and gentle leader. She did not want to be angry or brash now, especially because she knew her father was still mourning, and trying to move on.
Her horse jolted, and Snow White screamed as it suddenly bolted away from the group, the forest becoming a blur around her as she tried desperately to stop her loyal creature. She didn't understand what was going on – her horse was always so well-behaved. She never freaked out like this, and Snow hadn't heard anything that could have spooked her…
The girl screamed again, hoping that by some miracle, someone would be able to hear her, and stop the horse!
They burst out of the forest, into a wide expanse of land. Snow whimpered. "HELP!" she screamed, seeing two figures she thought were people. "HELP ME PLEASE!"
Suddenly, a woman appeared on a horse next to her. "Jump! I'll catch you, I promise!" she said, holding out one of her arms.
Snow took a deep breath, whimpering a little. What if the woman dropped her? What if she missed?
Then again, she had a high chance of dying on the runaway horse as well – and the woman was giving her the opportunity to be safe. She needed to take it.
So, taking a deep breath, Snow forced herself to let go of the reins of her horse, jumping into the woman's awaiting arm. She felt herself be pulled against the woman's chest, and she sighed in relief as the horse stopped, Snow jumping to the ground – nearly kissing it with relief.
"Thank you," she breathed as she looked at the woman, who had crouched down in front of her in concern. "You saved my life…"
"Are you alright?" the woman asked. "Not hurt?"
Snow nodded. "Yes… I'm okay… are you?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Good. I wouldn't want you getting hurt for me…" Snow replied.
"Oh, don't say that! You were in danger!"
A man ran over to them. "Are you both alright?" he asked.
Snow nodded at the man and smiled. "Yes, thank you… I'm Snow. Snow White."
The woman smiled. "It's very nice to meet you Snow. I'm Regina, and this is my… my… friend, Daniel."
Snow tilted her head, confused at the way the woman had said the word 'friend'. She'd chosen the word carefully, like something would happen if she dared to say anything else. However, her mother had taught her not to pry into other people's lives, so she didn't ask.
"What happened anyway?" the man – Daniel – asked.
Snow looked up at him. "I don't know. I was in the woods with my father and… all of a sudden she just took off like that. I didn't see or hear anything that would have spooked her…"
"That's really strange," Daniel mused, frowning in confusion at what she'd said. Snow felt nervous at the fact that this adult seemed to be concerned at why the horse had suddenly decided to go seemingly insane.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Snow asked of her horse. "She's always been so loyal…"
Daniel nodded. "I can go find her. I'll be back."
Snow and Regina nodded as Daniel took off on Regina's horse to find Snow's.
"You are in love with him, aren't you?" she said to Regina softly.
The woman stared down at her in shock. "How… how did you guess that?"
Snow smiled at her. "I see the way you looked at him… the way you watched him as he left to go find my horse. I've seen it before, with my… my parents…" She looked down, a sudden wave of sadness crashing over her. She missed her mother so much, and Regina reminded her of the woman.
"Are you alright, Snow? You look so sad…"
Snow looked away, but Regina knelt down to look at her anyway. Snow blinked away the tears that were in her eyes and nodded a little. "It's just… my mother died… and I miss her so much…"
"Oh…" the woman whispered. "Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry… what was your mother's name?"
"Eva… she was Queen Eva…"
Regina stared at the young girl as she stated her mother's name.
She'd saved the princess.
The princess.
The reality of what she'd done hit her like the runaway horse Daniel was currently chasing after.
"You… you're Princess Snow White?"
The young girl nodded, frowning a little. "Is everything alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost…"
Regina couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Oh sweetheart, I'm fine. I just… I never saved a princess before. You're much prettier than the posters announcing your birthdays depict you to be."
Snow White smiled. "Thank you… that is very kind of you to say."
Regina smiled. "Come, Snow. Let's relax on the hill. Daniel will know where to meet us."
The older brunette led her young friend to the top of the hill she and Daniel had been having a picnic on before the horse had appeared out of nowhere. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "Daniel packed plenty of food, and I don't think we'd be able to eat it all."
Snow nodded. "Thank you. I am pretty hungry…"
The two settled down onto the blanket to await the arrival of either Daniel or someone from the palace to come and get Snow and take her back to… wherever she'd been when the horse went wild.
"Snow, what were you doing out in the woods?" Regina asked curiously. It wasn't normal for young princesses to be out in the woods alone.
"My father is traveling the kingdom, looking for a woman to be my new mother…" the girl said, her head tilting downward again. The look on her face pained Regina, who instantly regretted asking the question.
"You don't want a new mother, do you?" Regina asked softly.
The girl didn't look up this time, but still shook her head. "No. I want my mother back. Eva. Not a step-mother… although… if I may be frank, Regina?"
Regina nodded, not wanting the girl to have to force back her opinion if she was hurting due to her mother's death. "You may say whatever is on your mind, Snow."
"If I could choose anyone to be my new mother… I would choose you. You saved my life, Regina. That's not something I can pay you back for."
The woman was touched, she really was. "Oh Snow…" she said, leaning over to embrace the girl. "That is very sweet of you. I bet your mother is looking down on you right now, and is so proud of you… but you must understand that I'm in love with Daniel, and not your father." Hell, she didn't even know Leopold – just of him.
"I know. And you deserve to be happy," Snow said with a slow nod. "But… when I go back with father, will I be able to see you again?"
Regina smiled at the young girl. "Of course you can." She felt a connection to the girl somehow, and really wanted to stay in contact with her.
"SNOW!" a woman's voice suddenly cried. Regina looked up sharply as an older woman riding a horse appeared from the forest. "Snow! Oh thank the Gods!"
"Johanna!" the girl said, springing up from where she'd been seated. "You found me!"
Regina stood as well, looking at the older woman curiously, who shared the look at her.
"Regina," Snow said. "This is Johanna, my caretaker. Johanna, this is Regina. She's the one who saved me…"
"You saved Princess Snow?" the woman – Johanna – asked.
She couldn't help but give a sheepish nod and shrug. "Yes, I am…"
"Thank you…" the woman breathed, getting off the horse and giving Regina a crushing hug. "You have no idea how grateful the king will be to hear that his daughter is safe…"
Regina's smile grew. "Anyone would've done the same…"
Well, maybe not her mother, but even so…
Johanna and Snow left soon after Daniel returned, Snow's now-calmed horse in tow, and Regina smiled as she watched them leave, Snow refusing to ride alone.
She had saved a princess. She should be having wonderful thoughts right now.
So why did a small feeling of apprehension seem to be blocking those from her mind?