Now the Dark Queen Leblanc, believing Lux Crownguard to be dead, could only think that she was again the most beautiful young woman of all. She stepped before the magic mirror and said:
"Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who is the fairest one of all?"
To this the magic mirror answered:
"You, my Dark Queen, are fair tis true,
But Lux Crownguard, beyond the mountains,
With the Seven Yordles,
Is Still a Thousand Times Fairer Than Thee"
This startled the Dark Queen Leblanc, for she knew the magic mirror would not lie, and she realized that the hunter had deceived her and that Lux Crownguard was still alive.
"Lux Crownguard must die," she said to herself. "For as long as she lives, I may never be the fairest in the land."
The Dark Queen Leblanc summoned the hunter. She said to the hunter:
"I commanded you to kill Lux Crownguard and to bring forth her heart. You, my hunter, chose a different path. You have chosen a path to betray me."
Upon hearing this, the hunter was filled with fear and terror. He attempted to flee. But the Dark Queen Leblanc cast a spell upon the hunter.
A magical necklace appeared around the hunter's throat. The necklace tightened around his neck and it would not be removed. He was unable to breathe and in this way he died.
…
During the day, Lux Crownguard was at home alone, for the Seven Yordles went forth to work the mines.
The Dark Queen Leblanc arrived before the cottage. She knocked on the door and called out: "Beautiful wares for sale! For sale!"
Lux Crownguard opened the door. When she saw the Dark Queen Leblanc standing before her, she realized that she had been Deceived.
Upon seeing the Dark Queen, Lux Crownguard took out her magic wand but the Dark Queen was prepared, she had with her a magical staff, and with it, all the unholy powers of the land.
Before Lux Crownguard could raise her wand, she was struck by a dark spell.
A magical necklace appeared around Lux Crownguard's throat. The necklace tightened around her neck and it would not be removed. She was unable to breathe and in this way she died.
Upon seeing her in this state, the Dark Queen Leblanc was satisfied. "You used to be the most beautiful one. Now you are no more." Her work being done, the Dark Queen Leblanc hurried away.
When the Seven Yordles came home from the mines they grew terrified and sad for they found the beautiful Lux Crownguard dead.
"The Dark Queen Leblanc must have come during the day," they said amongst themselves."This is her work."
The Seven Yordles carried the corpse of Lux Crownguard to a magical elder who lived by a waterfall. The magical elder performed a miracle, and Lux Crownguard was brought back to life.
…
When the Dark Queen Leblanc returned she said to the magic mirror:
"Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who is the fairest one of all?"
The magic imrror answered once again:
"You, my Dark Queen, are fair tis true,
But Lux Crownguard, beyond the mountains,
With the Seven Yordles,
Is Still a Thousand Times Fairer Than Thee"
When she heard this, all of her blood ran to her heart for she knew that her curse had failed. She was filled with envy and rage and she could not rest.
"Lux Crownguard must die," she said to herself. "I shall make her dead."
During the day, Lux Crownguard went out into the fields to collect some flowers.
From a mountain top, the Dark Queen Leblanc watched her.
"This time," she said. "You will not survive."
She raised her magical staff, and with it, called upon the unholy powers of the land. At once the the skies were covered with a terrible darkness. A dreadful rainstorm poured down unto the fields where Lux Crownguard stood.
As Lux Crownguard hasted to return to the cottage, a bolt of lightning came down from the skies and struck her entire form. Thus struck, Lux Crownguard fell to the floor.
Having seen her die, the Dark Queen Leblanc was satisfied. "Now you are finished," she said. Her work being done, the Dark Queen Leblanc hurried away.
When the Seven Yordles returned home from the mines they grew terrified for they found that the beautiful Lux Crownguard was missing. They went forth to look for her and found her corpse in the fields.
"The Dark Queen Leblanc must have come during the day," they said amongst themselves."This is her work."
The Seven Yordles carried the corpse of Lux Crownguard to a magical elder who lived by a waterfall. However, this time the magical elder could not bring Lux Crownguard back to life.
The small-figured Yordles grew sad whereupon the magical elder said to them:
"By my own magic I cannot restore her back to life. The Dark Queen's magic is too great. But you my Yordles, thou art her friends. If thou stand with me and call upon the powers of Friendship, perhaps there be Hope."
The Seven Yordles formed a circle around Lux Crownguard's corpse. They called upon the powers of Friendship as the magic elder practiced his magic once more.
When they had finished, they found that Lux Crownguard had been brought back to life. Her burns had dissappeared and she appeared more beautiful than ever.
