A/N: I'm so sorry for the lack of updating. I had a major writer's block, so bad it wasn't funny! I couldn't even write an e-mail without writer's block hitting me like the plague. So sorry everyone!
Oh, and if you don't like my story, please note that I didn't ask you to read it. I can't please everyone, but if this is not your cup of tea, then it's not. Oh well.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Snow White story plot, but I own this story. I own nothing of G.C. Levine's, and anything that is noticeably not mine. But I never stole lines out of any story.
Claimer: I own everything but the stuff in the disclaimer. This chapter is not meant to be historically correct.
Short, scribbled chapter, not one of my best…
From now on my chapters will be a little shorter…
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The next day, I woke up troubled. I would never return home, even if my life depended on it! I laughed bitterly. I couldn't believe the king's army, not being able to find me, though I was only in the town of Ralene, a mere state away!
Dragging myself out of bed, I exchanged a quick hello to Cerdames before running out of the door for a walk.
A trunks worth of food and groceries later, I checked my money supply and found I was low on both gold and silver. I needed a job.
I had never had a job before, because we had servants. My only talent was making cakes, fit for even Desdemona, except for the fact that they were too small for her.
So that was how the idea of working at a bakery came to me.
Coming upon the first bakery that I saw, I shyly walked in, and up to the –who I assumed- was the main baker. He was a big, burly man who wore a beret and traditional giant's clothes, consisting of a glittering apron and a ragged doublet. I didn't think he was a giant though. Tall- yes. But he was no giant, because giants were the same width as humans- but twice as tall, though I had never seen a real giant before, not even in illustrations.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if there were any job openings here?" My voice grew smaller with each word.
The man eyed me carefully as if by looks alone was the only way I would qualify for the job.
"Yeh look f'miliar missus." He sniffed gruffly.
"Heh." I laughed nervously, eyeing the place warily. The building was a rumbled old wooden building, looking capable of collapsing if a butterfly landed on it. The floor was littered with cemented-on pastries, sticky with fruit jams, and dusted with grime and flour. The lighting was poor and pitiful, but I said nothing, in hopes of being hired.
"I can make cakes," I piped up. A little too earnestly.
"Yeah, I betcha you can, missus." He drawled. What does he need to call me 'missus' for?
"Yes, sir. I can make lure's lemon, angel food cake, ogre lover's pie, fairy meringue, berry sur-"
"Ah, thought so. D'you know my bakery was built during the Calm War?" He interrupted and laughed. I was starting to dislike him. Just a little.
"No." I mumbled. I stared down at my hands uncomfortably. Why is this strange man telling me this?
"Ach. Yes, my shop was open every day, even when Ralene came in times of trouble, she did." The large, unattractive man rambled effortlessly.
"Oh." I nodded slowly, and took a step back.
The man grinned evilly. "Come here, missus. Lemme take ah look at yeh!" I turned away, but then he grabbed me by the arm and started to pull me back.
"I'm- I'm fine thanks!" I squeaked. I finally twisted my arm free, and ran out of the shop.
"I'm not a' finished with yew, milady!" The man gruffed, glowering at me. I stopped running and stayed frozen to the spot.
He grinned at me and all of a sudden, I forgot his flaws. He was wonderful. Why was I running?
He advanced towards me. I didn't run, but I didn't step closer either. I cocked my head to the side as I saw how much more handsome he became.
"Stop!" A male voice called, and the spell was broken. The baker was an ogre using enchantments on me!
I looked around to see the voice. I believe the ogre was surprised too, because he immediately let go.
"Get away from her!" The rather attractive young man shouted. I shuddered and hastily stepped back a ways from the two men.
After that, I found myself berating myself for falling into an ugly trick, as the man and the ogre argued. I looked closer at the baker, and despised him instantly. Greasy hair. Dirt-filled nails. Browning teeth, steaming with spit. I hope he marries Desdemona.
They deserve each other.
Teeth chattering as I intensely watched the argument scene, I saw as the baker; push him to the hard- packed dirt. To my relief, all the man did was get up and glare at the ogre, as the haughty baker walked off, without so much as a punch near his face.
The man stumbled towards me quite quickly.
"Um… Are you okay?" We asked in unison. I smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay. You?" He grinned, showing off-white teeth, and blue eyes. Besides the black hair and blue eyes, he looked a lot like…Chenate?
"I'm…Snow…" I grunted my pseudonym, but with hesitation for either I didn't want to lie to him or the name withered on my tongue from disuse. I seemed to think it was the latter.
"I'm Darren" He nodded and toyed with his earring, a new fashion for men. I particularly found it strange and inscrutable, but …t'wasn't my ears. "Not a common name 'ere, are you related to the royal f'mily then?" I looked at him, hiding my well-bred English.
"Aye, me Da's twentieth in line for the throne, the Duke of Fleuras, but he's straightly set on the humility virtue, 'e is. I live and work at the Verdanina Inn" Darren dusted off his well- toned arms. I widened my eyes in surprise. Fleuras was a small, near insignificant province, housing the town of Ralene.
But what surprised me, was that we were both from a family of dukes and duchesses, though his English was ragged and slanged.
"You're Riccia's brother, no?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Aye" he answered.
"Nay! Neither of you look alike, and her accent is elfish, though your accent is English tongue!" I reasoned. I almost added commoner's English, but I held my tongue as best as I could.
Darren laughed, not unkindly. " 'A grew up in Lataire, but m' family moved to Penepia when 'A was thirteen, and Riccia was merely eight."
"Oh." I squeaked.
For a while, Darren and I walked around town, I, nearly forgetting there were other townsfolk around, until we came to the Verdanina Inn, where there was a disheveled man cross the street, crying out at the top of his lungs.
"The Earth is round! The Earth is round!" I snorted at his idiocy, and dropped a shilling near his feet, as to hope that he would take the money as a token for him to shut his trap.
Darren walked up to the inn, opening the door and holding his arm out.
"Would the beautiful lady join me?"
"That, I will." I said, in a fake, prissy accent, making him snort with laughter. I took his arm, where he led me to the inner part of the inn, where guests weren't allowed to go.
Riccia poked her head out of a doorway.
"Your lady sent another letter today, Darren. Ask her to stop sending letters. The carrier will not stop asking to court me, and he's forty, at least!" She grumbled, in her elfish accent.
"Witch blood!" He muttered. "I'll talk to 'im when I get the chance" Darren was courting a lady? I was curious already. I wasn't attached to him, but what about the girls who 'stalked' him? Bt then I decided to stay quiet, knowing Darren for only the better part of two hours. I took this as my cue to leave for the night.
"I- I better head up to my room now." I coughed, breaking the scratchy silence, before it settled.
Darren looked at me, confused. "Your room? Are you staying 'ere?"
I smiled and mocked his rough English. "Aye, your highness," I curtsied in my muddy dress, making fun of him for his connection to Tantua's throne.
He mock- smiled, and rolled his eyes, and then snorted. I bid farewell to Darren and Riccia, who waved soberly before turning back to her … whatever it was. Sewing or embroidery, I think it was.
I trounced up to my room and fell asleep dreaming of Chenate.
But it soon turned into a nightmare princess Tavetina, Chenate's new wife, passionately kissed Chenate, and then killed me with my own dagger.
I woke up dying in my sleep. What a paradox! I shook my head from the sleepiness, and faced the borning sunrise. I smiled and chuckled as the man I tossed the coin to the nigh' before, calling out at the top of his lungs again. Why so early was a mystery to me, but I enjoyed his abrupt insanity. He was shouting something different this morn though.
"The Earth actually revolves around the sun! Our entire solar system revolves around the sun!" He looked woebegone, but diligent in his news.
I chuckled again, actually considering that what the man said might be true.
Ha! Right…