A/N: A certain bird requested a new Princess story and this one had been tumbling around for a bit. So here it is, enjoy!
Snow White was aware of her image; exceptionally beautiful, empty-headed, endlessly cheerful and ignorant of the Queen's evil. For years she felt like it was the only thing keeping her alive.
Then it did just that.
When the Huntsman broke down and let her go, the exhaustion of keeping up the facade was justified.
It was dangerous to sleep in the unknown cottage she found in the woods, she knew that but it was more dangerous to sleep in the woods themselves. Adrenaline had taken her only so far and now her body and mind demanded rest. She told herself it would be a quick respite, just enough to regain her energy and continue on.
When Snow woke surrounded by the seven strange, dirty little men it was all she could do not to scream and dash outside. Fortunately living under the suspicious eye of the Queen had taught her to control her emotions, so she stretched, yawned and feigned shock.
She was surprised by their kindness and intelligence; however they were still men who obviously hadn't been close to a woman in a very long time. So she played the loving mother to them; dancing, cooking, cleaning and laughing not because she felt like it but because she wasn't stupid.
Each day when they left for the mines she would tidy up and let her mind wander, she needed a plan and more support than what the little miners could offer.
Her step-mother thought she was dead but Snow didn't know how long that lie would last; the Queen had a way of finding even the most deeply buried truth.
She knew there were other kingdoms that would help her but she was so deep in the forest that getting to them would take weeks and could alert the Queen. The dilemma weighed heavy on her but no matter how hard she thought no solution presented itself.
Weeks passed and Snow simply lived, the same routine every day until it dawned on her; if she could convince one of the more intelligent miners to go in her stead and with proof it was indeed her, they could get word to a neighboring kingdom.
The miners' would be back in a few hours and she felt confident in the plan. It would take a while for help to arrive but it was the best chance at saving her kingdom.
She smiled, a genuine smile, for the first time in months when a knock on the door startled her. Still formulating the details of the plan she turned to the door, feeling positive everything was about to change.
