Life was very different. I went from being a simple peasant girl to the Queen of the country. It was a luxury to not have to make my own clothes, or cook my own meals. I was in paradise. The King and I had just celebrated our one year anniversary, privately. In that one year, that small span of time, I had fallen head over heels for the King.

It is silly; to think that not until after you are married you fall in love. Then, thinking of arranged marriages, maybe not. But that was the case with the King and me. I found his little habits charming, and he voice soothing. He was clever, funny and kind, all the qualities so loved in both a husband and a king. We adored each other.

Maeve stayed away from me and my wing of the castle as much as possible. During council sessions, she would cast me dirty looks. I tried my best to ignore them. At first I was distressed, but then I realized, no one could match my beauty and power, so I forgot about her.

I was in my room when Lasarina entered. She had been promoted to head maid, which had thanked me for endlessly. She was even given a choice to return home, which she did. Soon she returned, for which I am ever grateful. Of the whole castle, she was the only person I felt I could trust.

I was hanging up my last mirror, the mirror Epona had given to me almost a two years ago. It hung over my bed, and was surrounded by empty space. Every other wall of the room was covered in mirror, but I felt this one needed to be kept separate from the normal mirrors.

She sat down on my bed looking somber. I turned my attention towards her.

"Are you all right?" I asked, sitting down next to her. She nodded. She didn't look like she was all right, so I shrugged it off.

"Maeve has threatened me." She said quietly. Alarmed I turned back towards her.

"What did she say?" I asked, fearful.

"She said she would kill my family if I didn't stop serving you." She replied, and began to weep quietly.

"You can go home to your family. I will deal with Maeve." I said determined. Lasarina nodded weakly, and I dismissed her. Then I faced my mirror and summoned Epona.

"How can I defeat Maeve?" I demanded to know when Epona's face appeared in the mirror. She shook her head.

"You can't just defeat Maeve. Haven't I taught you anything? Maeve may be immortal, but she is closer to you than you think." Disgusted, I cut the image off. Haven't I taught you anything? What a ridiculous question to ask!

Angry, I focused the mirror on Maeve. I had been experimenting with the mirror, and discovered I could cause it to fix and "eye" on whoever I choose.

Maeve was in the King's den, the same one he had proposed to me in. Anger swelled inside of me. Why was she in there? The King entered, and this time I could hear what she was saying.

"You must be rid of Redynvre. She is a hazard to the kingdom. Sorceresses are always temperamental. Look at me!" she smiled wryly.

The King smiled, but shook his head. "I am in love with her, and cannot just send her away!" he protested.

"She will be your destruction! She will bring your ruin. The kingdom will fall into shambles." She rose from her chair outraged. "I have foreseen it, and I will make it come true!" she declared, and stalked out of the room. The king stood in front of the fireplace, looking dazed.

Someone knocked on the door, and I quickly let the mirror go blank. "Come in!" I called.

The door opened, and Lasarina came in. She was carrying a small leather sack over her shoulder, and had changed into traveling clothes.

"I wanted to say thank you." She said, and threw her arms around me. I hugged her back. "Take as long as you like." I whispered in her ear. She nodded, and then rushed out the door.

I checked the grandfather clock next to the window. I had a few hours before supper. I decided I would see if Eirwen wanted to go for a ride with me.

I changed into a pair of men's breeches and a blouse. It was uncomfortable riding in a skirt, and no one would see me. Well, no one of importance anyway.

I was locking the door behind me when the King came down the hallway.

"Redynvre!" he called. I froze. Was he going to dismiss me like Maeve said he should? I waited for him to continue. "I just got an urgent call from the borders. There is a dispute with a King of a neighboring country, and I must attend a hearing. Maeve will be coming with me. I am leaving you in charge."

I took this all in, and contemplated for a moment. "When are you leaving? How long will you be gone?"

"It should only take about a week. We are leaving tomorrow, along with the high chancellor and a few others." He paused and winked. "Still one night until I leave. I expect you in my bedchamber promptly after supper." He whispered mischievously into my ear. Then still smiling, he continued down the hallway.

I decided I did not want to go for a ride, went back to my room. There I experimented with a bundle of new dresses that had arrived that morning, admiring my image in the mirror.

By the time I had decided on a favorite, it was time for supper. I quickly slipped into the dark green velvet gown. It draped gracefully over my shoulders. I stood in front of a mirror, my dark brown hair framing my face elegantly, while the green velvet made my hazel eyes glow. Then I went into the dining hall, where Fionn, Maeve, and Eirwen were waiting.

I nodded my head as an apology as I slid into my seat as Queen, opposite the table from the King. He smiled, and motioned for a near by servant to fill my wineglass. Then he made a toast.

"To my safe passage to the borders and home, to my lovely wife in charge of the household, and my beautiful daughter as she grows into a fine young woman."

I was stung. I am only lovely? Of all the people in the royal household, the one's acceptance and compliments I needed was Fionn, and he called me lovely? I held in my annoyance. It was his last night before the trip, and I must to gracious. He had asked me to be his wife after all.

Dinner flew by quickly. It was silent, and it was all for the better that it was soon over. I went straight to my room, so I could prepare myself to share the King's bed.

That night was one of the most wonderful nights of life, and forever shall be. The next morning he was off early, and I retreated back to my room after wishing him a safe journey. I planned to watch his progress in my mirror.

That day I spent rather idly. I was not sure of what I supposed to do, with the King away. Days passed by like this, then I got the idea of what I supposed to be doing, like making sure the servants were in order, and basically keeping everyone happy.

The weeks passed by slowly. As the fifth week passed by, I began to worry. The trip was supposed to take only a few days. It was only a conference.

At first I watched in the mirror, those first few days I was alone in my room. Then as I grew busier, I had no time to gaze in the mirror. Even nights I dropped bone weary into bed, where I had nightmares of the fate of the King.

Almost a month after the King had left; I set myself aside from the hustle of the castle, and observed in the mirror. It showed the King shaking hands with someone, and giving orders to begin packing up. I was ecstatic. He was coming home.

First he sat down, and composed what looked like a letter. I asked the mirror to show me what the letter said.

It read:

My dear wife. I am dreadfully sorry of the delay in coming home. It took much longer than thought to arrive, after being held up at the borders, to be sure we were not military or carrying any diseases. The meetings and consultations were long and tedious, and I miss you dearly with all my heart. An agreement has finally been reached, which I will tell you when I return. I fear this will be intercepted, and will say not much more.

Your loving husband,

Fionn

As I was about to let the mirror go blank, I heard footsteps go running down the hall. Turning quickly, I noticed my door was slightly ajar. I could have sworn I had locked it. Puzzled, I went over to it, and looked at the lock. It was whole except for a little scratching and a small sideways X. I shrugged, and figuring it was my imagination.

I turned and made sure the mirror was blank, before I returned to my chores, with a bounce in my step that had been missing for so long. He would be home in a few weeks!

I waited for weeks, but nothing, no even the letter arrived. It was unlike Fionn to take so long after he had given a promise. Worried, I turned to the mirror again.

Just as I was about to direct the mirror, a knock came on my door. Sighing, I opened the door. To my surprise Lasarina stood as at the door holding a letter. She looked frightened. I invited her in and took the letter out of her hands.

At first I thought it was Fionn's letter finally, or another letter explaining his long absence. Then I realized it was addressed to the Queen, and with a sinking feeling I opened the envelope.

Pulling out the letter I began to read:

To your majesty,

With the deepest sympathy and regret, I must inform you, as your husband's high chancellor, what has occurred. I fear your husband shall not be returning. At those words my heart flew to my neck and my fingers trembled. I forced myself to continue reading. We had just left the border, and were on our way home. The King was most eager to get home to you, as he missed you dearly. Nightfall was approaching when we were raided. You husband fought bravely, and saved my life, as well as the lives of a few others. Sadly, he lost his own life in the fight.

I could not continue. I dropped the letter and fell on my bed, sobbing. Lasarina put her arm around my shoulders, and smoothed my hair. Then she forced me to look her in the eye.

Then quietly she said, "I think it was Maeve." I was shocked.

Why in the world would Maeve kill the King? From what I knew she did not hold anything against him. She hated me, but she seemed to adore Fionn. I turned towards Lasarina.

"What makes you say that?" She swallowed and looked away, as though she was ashamed.

"My mother was a seeress. Before she died from the illness she made one last prophecy." She paused, as though unsure how to get the words out. "It is a complicated prophecy, but the first part was that, that the king would die by a trusted friend bearing the mark of the raven. Then she died." Lasarina looked up at me, her face streaked with tears.

"I left soon after. I could not bear to watch my family pack up their things and move. Along the way I met up with the King. He was traveling as a peasant, and I almost didn't recognize him. I spent the next few nights traveling with him. We were about a week away from the palace when we were raided." Her voice became choked, and she paused. I offered her a tissue. She blew her noise loudly, and then continued her story. "He fended off the raiders for a while. He saved my life, and those traveling with us. But there were too many men and he was overwhelmed. He died with his head in my lap." The tears were flowing swiftly now, and I was getting teary eyed.

"His last words were of you." She said softly, as though trying to reassure me. I was speechless. I decided I could trust Lasarina could keep my secret.

"There is something I want to show you." I said quietly. I led her to my mirror, which hung over my bed. I concentrated on bringing up an image of Maeve. Nothing happened. I was astounded, and puzzled. I tried again, and nothing happened.

I took the mirror off the wall and inspected it closely. The mirror surface was smooth and there were no scratches. I could not figure out what was wrong. Lasarina gazed at me with a puzzled expression on her face.

Then I remembered a fairy tale I had read to Merlyn when she was just five years old. It included a mirror and an evil sorceress. To speak to the mirror, she used riddles and rhymes. I decided it would not hurt, even if it made me look a bit crazy.

I was never very good at rhyming, so I improvised, and tried to at least make it sound like it could rhyme.

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall, I the fairest of them all, demand to see, the very one whose vengeance seeks me." To my surprise, it worked!

The mirror began to cloud over, and Lasarina breathed in sharply. "It's like in the fairy tale." She said amazed. "Only you are not an evil sorceress." She finished, her eyes glued to the mirror.

I thought that statement rather crude, but kept that opinion to myself and continued watching the mirror.

It showed an image of a lavishly decorated room, which I assumed was someone's bedchamber. The carpet was a deep crimson, and the walls gilded in gold and silver. The door opened, and Eirwen entered, followed by Maeve. Maeve whispered something in Eirwen's ear, and she smiled. Maeve walked over to a large painting of the King Ruben, great grandfather of the late King Fionn. Maeve paced in front of it as Eirwen watched.

Approaching the painting Maeve mumbled something, and then knocked three times on the door. The painting swung open, revealing a dark stone passage, dimly lit by torches on the wall. Maeve motioned for Eirwen to follow. Taking a torch from the entrance, Maeve stepped into the passage, followed closely by a considerably paler Eirwen.

The passage led down a stone corridor, then up a few flights of steep crumbling steps. Eirwen looked as though she was going to faint, and I don't blame her. Soon the passage came to a landing. Maeve began searching the wall carefully with the torch, and then pressed a few stones.

The wall spilt revealing a dark room. Maeve hung the torch on the wall, and then lit some other candles. The room was depressing and sinister. The carpet was made from a plush black material as dark as midnight. Lining one wall was a large black wood table, which various dangerous looking brews bubbled and emitted steam.

In the back of the room was a mirror that covered the entire height and width of the room. Black ebony framed its silver surface, which vaguely reflected the torchlight. Turning to Eirwen she issued an order, and Eirwen ran to close the entrance they came in.

Maeve motioned for Eirwen to come stand next to her in front of the mirror. Eirwen walked over timidly and looked up at the great mirror.

Maeve made a great motion with her left hand, an intricate motion I could not follow. The mirror clouded over, and a mask like face appeared. Maeve spoke to the face, and it replied. Then it clouded away and was replaced by an image. An image of me looking at my mirror! Frantic, I wiped the mirror, and sat on the bed. Lasarina looked about, confused. There is no way I can cover this up. I thought miserably.

Maeve was infuriated. Damn that sister of hers. Eirwen trembled in the corner, a weakling. Maeve wondered how she could ever be Queen. Ignorant princess, she thought.

Maeve knew her sister must have played some part in that mirror this sorceress girl had. When they were children, there mother had given them each a mirror. A gold one for Epona, because of her golden hair, and an ebony one for Maeve, because of her black hair. She could recognize Epona's mirror anywhere.

"Up!" she screamed at Eirwen. Quickly she obeyed, her skirts flying up. A loud rip echoed through the room, and Eirwen tried to hide her terror. To her surprise, Maeve simply smiled at her.

"Dear Eirwen," she began her voice sweet as honey. Eirwen attempted a smile, and then whimpered at Maeve's hard stare. "You hate the Queen Redynvre, do you not?"

Eirwen nodded meekly before speaking. "That mirror, I saw her looking at it before. In her room. She was looking at my father." Maeve turned around sharply, and Eirwen closed her mouth quickly.

"You saw her using the mirror?" she said quietly, her voice a double edged blade. Eirwen simply nodded, her voice caught in her throat.

Maeve turned and smiled again. This girl was ignorant. Perhaps not stupid, but definitely too trusting and gullible. Then Maeve had an idea.

"Perhaps you could follow a plan to bring about the demise of Redynvre." She said gently. Eirwen looked at her in confusion. "Kill her." Maeve flatly stated.

"Oh, no I don't want to…" she stopped short when Maeve glared at her.

"I'll take that as a yes." Maeve said smoothly. "Simply follow these instructions. They are not too difficult. First, wait about 6 months. Then run way into the forest. I will cover for you. Stay there until I send a raven to let you know it is safe to come back and take your place as Queen."

Maeve whistled, and a loud caw came from somewhere in the corner. Maeve walked over to a window of the tower, and opened the black shades. A large black bird perched on the windowsill, and Maeve gently stroked its back. "This bird." She said smiling.

Eirwen nodded. "Now go." ordered Maeve. Eirwen nodded again, and tripping over her skirts, she left the way they came.

Brainless child. Maeve thought slyly. Poor "Snow White" would never be Queen!

A/N: I know that the "Snow White" confused earlier readers when i first posted this, so here is my explanation. Eirwen, as a welsh name means literally "white as snow". So there ya go.

My Reviewers:

Metaphorical: i am glad you like the story, and the mirror is pretty cool.

Moonlight Enchantments: Love your new name, by the way. and how to pronounce redynvre: Red - in - vray. Hope that helps!