Charming stared after the blonde girl for a moment, even after she had disappeared down the staircase and was no longer in sight. Who was that girl? I'm sure I've never seen her before. She must be one of the new servants.
Charming tried to just shrug her off, but he couldn't help being intrigued by her. He turned and continued down the hall. He didn't bother knocking before entering his step mother's private room. Gothel was in the process of writing something down on a scroll and looked up, annoyed, at the sudden intrusion. When she saw it was Charming, she offered him a smile. He didn't return it.
"I want to talk to you about the girl that was just in here," Charming stated.
Gothel dipped her quill pen in the ink and continued writing. "What about her?"
"She was unjustly punished."
Gothel didn't bother to look up and address him as she spoke. "Unjust? The servant girl tripped you and only received ten lashings. If anything, it was not severe enough. She got off easy."
"She didn't trip me, step mother; I slipped on the wet floor and fell. It was an accident."
"Nonetheless, it was her fault and we need to keep the servants in line; make sure they know their proper place."
"They may be servants, but they're still people," Charming said, the girl's words echoing through his head.
Gothel looked up at him, her pen poised mid-stroke. "Of course they are, dear. But, they are in a completely different class than you and I are. They are beneath us and must stay where they belong."
Charming wasn't sure what to say. He agreed with his step mother; at least, he had just a few minutes earlier. But, one brief encounter with the blonde had him second guessing himself.
Gothel turned her attention back to the scroll. "Is there anything else you need, Charming?"
"Yes. Do you know the girl's name?"
"You needn't concern yourself with her, young prince. She is unimportant."
o~O~o
Cinderella winced as Snow White gently cleaned her lashings. Snow White felt bad for her friend. Cinderella had done nothing wrong; everyone who had been in the foyer at that moment knew it. Even the prince. Still, servants were always the ones being blamed when something bad happened; even if they obviously had nothing to do with it. But, to the queen, servants were nothing but replaceable creatures who meant nothing.
"I'm sorry," Snow White said quietly when Cinderella winced in pain again.
"It's all right."
It was obvious that mentally Cinderella wasn't present at the moment and Snow White couldn't help wondering what she was thinking about. Despite being younger than Cinderella, Snow White still had the tendency of worrying about Cinderella. Cinderella was not mean or rude in anyway, but she was very opinionated and was not afraid to speak her mind. This occasionally got her in trouble. Snow White, on the other hand, did her best to keep to herself and stay out of everyone's away. She had been working in the castle most of her life and had never gotten in trouble. She preferred to keep it that way.
"The queen has a new servant girl," Cinderella said. "She can't be more that twelve-years-old and she had to watch the queen give me the lashings. How does a girl so young end up here and in this situation?"
"I'm not sure," Snow White replied.
"It's sad."
"It might have to do with money," Snow White said after a minute of silence. "Queen Gothel told me I'm here because my mother could not afford to keep me so she sold me to the king and queen as a servant in return for some money."
Cinderella looked at Snow White with wide eyes. "That can't be true."
Snow White shrugged as she removed the damp cloths she had put on Cinderella's cuts. "It would explain why I've been here since I was a baby and I don't know who my mother is."
A shadow fell over the girls and they looked up. Standing over them was Charming's younger brother, Ferdinand. He was only a year older than Snow White but acted mature beyond his years.
"Snow White, a moment please?" Ferdinand asked.
"Yes, Prince Ferdinand."
Snow White stood up and followed Ferdinand to a secluded corner. Snow White and Ferdinand had grown up together and had been best friends their entire lives. This was not commonly known, though; only Charming and Cinderella knew.
"Is everything all right?" Snow White asked, noticing the prince's solemn look.
Ferdinand slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"What's wrong?"
"My father has grown ill."
Snow White put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Ferdinand, I'm so sorry."
"The doctor is not sure of how serious it is. It may pass, but it may also be fatal. They're keeping him under watch for the time being." Ferdinand was trying to be strong, but Snow White could hear the crack in his voice when he said the word fatal and she knew he was scared.
Snow White pulled the prince into a gentle hug. "It'll be all right."
Ferdinand hugged her back. "Thank you, Snow."
"If you need anything, just let me know. You know I'm always here for you."
Ferdinand stepped away from her, but kept his hands on her shoulders. "Please don't tell anyone about this. We don't want word getting out before we know what's going on."
Snow White nodded. "Of course."
Ferdinand looked around, then pulled Snow White further into the shadows so he was sure no one could see them. He brushed a strand of her black hair off her pale face, then kissed her.
"I love you, Snow White."
