Part 8
Abigail stood off to the side and watched as Prince James walked all the way around the gold shrouded form of her beloved Fredrick. He had been in full armor when he had been accidently turned to gold by her father's hand. To the uninitiated eye the golden form which stood in a small wooden gazebo could easily be mistaken for a gold statue. Abigail knew the horrible truth, that statue was Fredrick. She tried not to think about whether he was conscious or not. She wouldn't be able to bear it if she believed that he was aware of his fate.
"It is amazingly lifelike. Is it some kind of monument to Fredrick?" Charming asked with astonishment in his voice.
Abigail rolled her eyes.
"That is Fredrick. I told you he was encased in gold. I swear sometimes I wonder if you listen to me at all." She gave him a disappointed look.
"How is it possible? Are you sure that he still lives inside that gold encasement?" He asked as he stared at the living statute.
Abigail gasped. It had never occurred to her that Fredrick might not have survived.
"He has to be alive because I cannot live without him." She declared with more feeling than he had seen her display in all the time he had known her.
He understood that sentiment because he fully believed that he would not be able to live without Snow White.
Without another word he handed her the canteen with the restorative water. Cautiously she approached the encased form of her true love and poured the water over the gold form. Slowly the gold began to melt and the armor clad flesh and blood form of Fredrick appeared. When the golden shroud had completely dissolved Fredrick crumpled into Abigail's arms. She removed his helmet and after several tense moments his eyes fluttered open. Charming realized that he had been holding his breath and expelled the air from his burning lungs. He stepped away from the happy couple in order to allow them to have a private reunion.
After several minutes Abigail called him back.
Fredrick held her tightly in his arms and looked as happy as any man could possibly be.
"James, this is Fredrick." Abigail introduced. "James helped me to rescue you and he vanquished the dragon that had plagued our kingdom." She announced with gratitude in her voice.
Fredrick reached out to grasp the hand of the other man. He was fair haired and athletically built with a firm and strong grip. He was the type of man who was a natural warrior. But, hid blue eyes twinkled with kindness and honor.
"I am eternally in your debt. If there is anything that your need do not hesitate to ask." He vowed.
Without hesitation Charming asked, "May I borrow Abigail for the rest of the evening?"
Fredrick reached for his sword. "How dare you suggest bringing dishonor to the woman I love?" He replied in an angry voice.
Charming grinned and placed a restraining hand on the blade of the angry man.
"I am suggesting no such thing." He promised. "I just need Abigail to pretend to be my finance for a little while longer while I make plans." Charming replied.
Fredrick turned to Abigail for an explanation.
"You are betrothed to this man?" He asked under his breath. The eyes that had held kindness before were now filled with hurt.
Abigail turned to him and gently explained. "After James killed the dragon my father felt that he was noble enough to be my husband, but I never stopped loving you or hoping that there was a way to save you. James loves another as well and I suspect that he has a plan to be with her."
"Is that true?" Fredrick asked.
"Yes, True Love is not easy, but it must be fought for because once it has been found it can never be replaced. I need Abigail to pretend that we are still planning on being married for one more day. That will allow me to make plans to run away with Snow." Charming explained.
"King George is not going to be happy about this turn of events." Abigail reminded him.
"I can handle King George." Charming promised. "What of King Midas though? Will he accept your union with Fredrick?" He gave them a worried look.
"My father loves Fredrick like a son and he wants me to be happy." Abigail stated as she gazed lovingly at Fredrick.
"Why did your father not send someone to the lake to bring back the water to free Fredrick?"
"He did and they all failed. You are the only one to succeed. You haven't explained how that happened."
Charming thought about how Snow had come to his rescue by throwing herself into the lake and running the siren through with his sword.
"I guess the other men did not have True Love on their side." He replied wistfully. "So, it is settled. Abigail and I will continue as if our marriage is still staking place while I make plans to leave the kingdom with Snow."
Part 9
Snow and Red stood before the village dress maker while she examined the dress that Red had handed back to her. The dress that Red had borrowed was in perfect condition. They had informed her that the other dress had not fared well. The dress Snow had been wearing when they had snuck into King Midas' castle had been left by the muddy banks of Lake Nostos. Needless to say, the dress maker was not happy.
"That dress was to be the wedding dress of Princess Abigail when she married Prince James in two days. I won't have time to make another dress!" The seamstress was in a state of great distress. She had her face in her hands and she looked like she wanted to cry.
Snow snorted in disgust at the mention of Abigail's name.
Red gave her friend a quick glance. So, Snow was jealous of Abigail. She had no reason to be threatened by the flaxen haired princess, but Red was not sure that reason entered into the equation when it came to love.
"I don't think that Princess Abigail will need to use that dress." Red informed the woman in an off handed manner.
"You don't understand. I will not get my commission and my reputation will be at stake. How can anyone trust me again?" The woman wailed letting loose a stream of tears from her eyes.
Red felt bad for the woman even though they had given her the coins. It was partially their fault that the woman was losing out on a sale. A thought occurred to Red on how make sure that the woman's reputation did not suffer and take her mind of the failed royal nuptials.
"You can have the exclusive on the whole wedding party including the groom when she marries Prince James." Red promised the woman as she indicated Snow.
Her friend rolled her eyes.
"She is marrying Prince James as well? He sure gets around. Is polygamy legal in his kingdom?" The woman asked suspiciously.
"It is a different Prince James." Red corrected quickly.
Snow gave her friend a desperate look and shook her head in the negative.
The woman eyed Snow with delight and walked all around her. It should be pointed out that Snow had her leather and fur bandit outfit back on and did not look like the delicate blushing bride this woman was used to seeing. "I am envisioning feathers. You are an ugly duckling and I will turn you into a swan." The woman proclaimed proudly.
Snow was about to raise her objections but Red ushered her out. "We'll come back to work out the details." Red promised
"I am allergic to feathers!" Snow sarcastically informed her friend once we were outside the shop.
"You are not!" Red corrected. I happen to know that you spent more than one night sleeping in a chicken coop before you turned up in the one attached to Granny's cottage. We owe the dress maker big time for lending us the dresses to sneak into the palace."
"She called me an ugly duckling, besides There isn't going to be a wedding for me. Charming is marrying Abigail."
"He can't now. You ruined her wedding dress. He loves you Snow and once you read his letter you are never going to doubt his love again."
Part 10
By all accounts Ruth should have been a very happy woman. Her farm was thriving, she had a horse to help in the fields and she was being well taken care of by King George. Of course it had come at a steep price because for the second time in her life she had lost her son. The first time she had given up a son in the hopes that he would have a better life. This time it was different and she was not at all sure that David would live a more comfortable life living in a palace with a wife he had acquired due to an arranged marriage.
"Mother I need you to pack your things!" A voice called to her and broke into her thoughts.
She looked up and was surprised to see her son standing in the doorway. He looked much the same as he had when she had last seen him. His hair was still short and he was still wearing the close of a nobleman. The closer she looked though it became clear that he wasn't the same. A wonderful change had overcome her son. He was clearly in love.
"I thought you told me the last time that you were here that we could never see each other again." She reminded him.
"Things have changed, but you are going to have to take everything you can carry on the horse and leave the farm."
"Am I going to the palace to live you and Princess Abigail after your wedding?" She asked.
Was it possible that he had actually fallen in love with Abigail?
"I am not marrying Abigail." He simply stated as he started to help her pack.
A smile spread across Ruth's face. "You have found your True Love." She beamed.
A slight blush crossed the face of her son. "I have found True Love with the most wonderful woman in the world." He admitted as a wistful look lit up his face.
"What did she say when you gave her the ring." His mother asked anxiously.
He thought back to that moment when he saw the ring on her finger and realized that was where it belonged. She had told him it wasn't for her and his heart had broken for the first time in his life. He couldn't tell his mother that though.
"I haven't had a chance to formally propose yet." He admitted shyly.
"When you do I have no doubt that she is going to love the ring. Who is the lucky woman who has won the heart of my son?" His mother asked.
He hesitated for a moment before replying, "It is Snow White that I love." He exclaimed excitedly.
A surprised look crossed the face of his mother. She undoubtedly recognized the name.
"David, you know that I want you to be happy, but have you thought about what you would be giving up. King George has made us a wonderful offer. You don't even know if Snow White feels the same way about you. She is a Princess in exile. Maybe she doesn't want to marry a Shepard." His mother insisted.
In between saving each other's lives repeatedly he and Snow had a chance to talk at length. The first time had been that night after that Regina had tried to burn her alive and again on their long walk back from the troll bridge. It was not just idle talk either. They had long soul searching discussions and found that their world views were very similar. They both believed strongly that good would triumph over evil every time and that love was the most powerful magic in all the realms. They also agreed on how many children they wanted, as many as possible. Although at the time they didn't dare dream that they might have them together.
"Snow knows that I am not a real Prince and she doesn't care. She has saved my life on several occasions and our paths keep crossing. Which I am convinced is the universes way of saying we are meant to be together. On the way to the cabin I will tell you all of the reasons that I love her and I am sure that by the time we reach your new home you will love her as well." Her son vowed.
By the time that they were halfway to the cabin that Charming intended to use as a refuge for his mother he had convinced her that Snow White was the woman for him. It was not hard to convince Ruth, when she saw how his face lit up when he talked about Snow White, she became an instant believer. It was clear to Ruth that her son and Snow White shared a very powerful love and nothing could possibly stand in their way.
Part 11
Snow walked along the forest path with the note from Charming clutched tightly in her hand. She had read it over a dozen times since Red had shown it to her and she now knew it by heart.
Dearest Snow,
I have not heard from you since our meeting and can only assume you found the happiness you so desired, but I must let you know not a day goes by that I have not thought of you. In two days time, I am to be married. Come to me before then, come to me and show me you feel the same and we can be together forever and if you don't, I'll have my answer.
Of course they had seen each other several times since he wrote the note, but that was beside the point. The sentiment remained the same. Charming loved her and he wanted to run away with her. Right after she read the note she had started making plans to be with him. She and Red had decided that he probably would not return to the castle of King Midas. So, Snow had set out for King George's castle alone. Red had wanted to go with her but had been called back to the village because her grandmother was unwell. Snow was not alone for long because she soon met up with her friend Grumpy and his 6 brothers. She stopped to embrace her friend.
"You made it out of the castle of King Midas!" She exclaimed happily.
"It wasn't easy." Grumpy admitted.
Snow looked around at the 7 little men.
"Where's Stealthy?" She asked.
"He didn't make it." One of the others replied sadly.
Her hand instinctively went up to her mouth to cover a look of surprise.
"Oh! I should have stayed with you. We never should have split up." Sadness filled her heart.
Grumpy shook his head in the negative.
"No, you were right. Crossing the courtyard was a bad idea, but Stealthy was greedy and he wanted to steal some of the gold that he had seen on a table in the courtyard. That cost him his life and it nearly cost me mine as well." Grumpy replied. "Did you ever make find that guy who you are in love with?" He added.
Snow smiled shyly. "I am on my way to find him right now." She replied. "He is at the castle of King George."
"We are going that way. We will keep you company until we reach the castle." The men promised.
She noticed that the men were carrying pickaxes and walking with a purposeful gait.
"Where are you going?" She asked with a tinge of worry in her voice.
It was Grumpy who answered. "Losing Stealthy made me reevaluate some things. I realized that nothing is certain in this world except love. Why should I allow the Blue Fairy to dictate who and when I am in love?" He stated firmly.
"We are going to skin the Blue Fairy alive!" One of the Dwarfs added in a calm voice.
"Then Grumpy and Nova can be together!" This answer was from another of the Dwarfs with determination in his voice.
Snow's eyes grew large with fear. "You can't murder Blue in cold blood. Revenge and murder is not what True Loved is based on!" She pleaded.
They had stopped at the entrance to the lower levels of King George's castle.
"Let me go talk to Charming and then we will all find a way for Nova and Grumpy to be together that does not involve murder. " She promised.
Snow was determined to find a way for Grumpy to be with his true love just as she was determined that her and Charming would be together. She would let nothing stand in the way of her own happiness and she wanted the same for her friend. Now all she had to do was convince the Blue Fairy.