Snow-White and Rose-Red: Chapter 1 The Silent Man
Disclaimer: I don't own the Fairytale of Snow-White and Rose-Red
One morning Snow-White awoke before Rose-Red. This had never happened before, always had their eyes fluttered open at the same time to meet each others gaze. However, Snow-White spent no more than a moment pondering this before going to work in the kitchen. She would make Rose-Red a delicious breakfast of berries, freshly baked honey bread, and hand squeezed orange juice. Then after they would have a bath with rose petals of every color strewn across the water. Snow-White smiled to herself imagining her beautiful Rose-Red enjoying the meal, getting sticky from the berries, and then bathing together among the petals. Humming a sweet melody she set to work making the bread, squeezing the oranges, and washing the berries, making everything perfect.
Rose-Red awoke. She smiled then opened her eyes expecting to see the smiling face of her lovely Snow-White, but instead saw the crumpled bed sheets. Alarmed she got up and walked into the kitchen. There was her Snow-White, decorating the table with fresh mint and gardenias, standing in her thin white shift, and the morning sun playing in her hair.
Good morning, my angel. Rose-Red said smiling as Snow-White jumped slightly, but then came close to Rose-Red and kissed her lips.
I woke up and decided to make a special breakfast, just for you. Snow-White said, her sapphire like eyes sparkling. She kissed Rose-Red once more before going to check on the bread whose scent filled the room. Seeing it was done Snow-White took it out carefully and placed it on the table then beckoned for Rose-Red to sit. Rose-Red sat then sliced the bread so that it would cool quicker. Snow-White then busied herself with the rest of breakfast.
Then there came a rap at the door, that resounded throughout the small house. Rose-Red got up warily, not expecting anyone, and opened the door.
Who is i- Snow-White started, but turned around hearing that Rose-Red had stepped backwards. Before them stood a great bear of a man. He was tall and broad, but fit, and his hair was a deep brown and curled, his hazel eyes shone, but were sorrowful, or pained. His eyes made Snow-White and Rose-Red unafraid. They knew he meant them no harm. Rose-Red beckoned that he come in, it was then she noticed his hands, stained with blood; his blood. Snow-White and Rose-Red had been too- was it terror they had felt, or merely surprise?- distracted to notice. But they now set to help him, this man who was a prince, an actor, warrior, millionaire. Rose-Red helped seat him while Snow-White went to fetch water and a cloth.
When Snow-White returned the man had taken off his soiled shirt and sat there bare chested. Snow-White sat near him and tenderly washed the large wound on his side and the smaller ones on his smooth muscled chest and torso. All the while he looked admiringly down at her. Snow-White had never been this close to a man before, she had rarely even seen them. On occasion they were there in the market and she saw them from afar where she sat and watched Rose-Red and watched the men gawk lustfully at Rose-Red. Rose-Red reveled in their looking, Snow-White knew Rose-Red liked the attention, so she was happy. But now it was she, Snow-White, the pale and petite one that received the attention and she blushed in spite of herself and secretly loved it.
Rose-Red stared at the mysterious and handsome young man. She only broke this trance when Snow-White asked if she could get fresh water and more cloth. Rose-Red did so, leaving Snow-White and the quiet man alone.
The man did not speak yet Snow-White knew what he felt and thought, something she had only experienced with Rose-Red. Snow-White washed him everywhere; his chest, arms, back, face, taking in his scents. He smelled of nature; his breath of the woods, his hair of nuts and flowers, and his skin, his muscled body, of grass, new soil. She breathed him in like the mint and gardenias on the table.
When Rose-Red returned Snow-White washed him quickly, but gently, with the clean water, then bandaged him with the clean cloth. She then stood up and smiled at him. As he sat and she stood they were eye level, Snow-White looked deep into his eyes for the first time. They glistened and no longer showed pain, but something else -what was it?- perhaps just gratitude. Snow-White felt drawn to him somehow, she felt something for him, something unknown to her, she hoped Rose-Red would not notice.
The man turned his gaze to the table and Snow-White knew he was hungry. She placed a small plate in front of him and served him the largest slice of bread, which was still warm and perfect to eat. Snow-White then gave him berries and poured him juice. She then had Rose-Red sit and served her, all the while she felt the man's eyes on her, causing her face to go red.
It was not until Snow-White had sat and served herself that the man turned his eyes from her and began to eat. He ate hungrily and fast. The bread slice was gone in just bites and the berries just as fast. The fresh orange juice he drank in two gulps. Unable to control herself Snow-White's soft laughter like silver bells filled the room. The man smiled, amused, at her. She filled his cup and served him more bread to his lifted plate, their hands touching for a moment.
Rose-Red watched nibbling the bread. Snow-White had made the meal for her. It was her special breakfast. An emotion welled up inside of her, one she did not know yet, but it was jealousy. She put down the bread, it tasted stale and old, the berries sour, the orange juice too sweet, or not sweet enough. Snow-White had not looked at her once while they sat there, except once to ask for the bowl of berries. Rose-Red got up hastily, upsetting the table, and stormed into the bathroom.
Snow-White, shocked, got up to clean the orange juice that had spilled. She looked after Rose-Red as she rung out the towel she had used in the wash basin. She then looked at the man who seemed unaffected. He returned her look with his own that seemed to say Go to her. Snow-White nodded and walked to the bathroom.
She knocked on the door then opened it slowly. There sat Rose-Red in the full tub, her curly red hair in her face and tear stained cheeks. Snow-White knelt before the tub and held her beloved Rose-Red in her arms.
Dearest, She said, My beautiful Rose-Red. With that she kissed her and wiped away her tears. Snow-white then got into the large tub, still in her thin white shift and held her beautiful naked Rose-Red to her.
Rose-Red, calmed now by the sweet embrace of her Snow-White, turned Snow-White's face to her own and kissed her passionately on the mouth. Snow-White took the kiss greedily and wrapped her arms around Rose-Red's neck. Rose-Red kissed Snow-White deeper, slipping her tongue into her mouth. Snow-White moaned softly into the kiss, then fear flooded her. She was thinking of the man, if she had known his name she was sure she would have said it. Slowly she ended the kiss.
Let's go to the lake, Snow-White said, you can fish, and I'll make us a nice supper tonight. She got out of the tub and went dripping wet through the second door that led straight to their bedroom.
Snow-White dried and dressed in a white flowy knee length skirt trimmed with lace and a white blouse. She then brought Rose-Red, who had already gotten out of the tub and drained it, tan breeches and a thin cotton shirt that exposed both cleavage and midriff, a shirt that Snow-White loved on Rose-Red.
Snow-White then went into the kitchen to see that the dishes had been cleaned, dried, and put away. Snow-White smiled and looked into the den to see the man sitting there and looking fondly at her. She blushed and turned towards Rose-Red who had just come into the kitchen, her hair pulled half back and clipped.
Let's go, Snow-White. Rose-Red said then looked at the man, You may come too, you can keep Snow-White company while she sits on the dock, she never goes in the boat when I fish.
Snow-White shamefully feared he would decline, however, he stood, smiling, and bowed slightly, as if in thanks. Snow-White was ecstatic, but was sure to conceal her joy. If Rose-Red knew how happy this made her she was sure Rose-Red would find some reason for him to stay at home.