Chapter 1:

Enchanted Forest

Lonely.

Alisha could feel the isolation flow through her body, suffocating her in the intense emotion. She could especially feel the loneliness in her heart, constricting and pulling at her organ. It felt heavy, weighing her down in the small place she now called home. It wasn't much, there weren't even proper walls, and several thick iron bars surrounded her and entrapped her. The floor and ceiling below and above her filthy body were simple slabs of wood, thorny and coarse planks that cut into her flesh and assisted in the staining if the surface. She wondered if the next girl would question the stains, as Alisha had once done many months ago. The odd blotches of dull brown, fresh crimson and putrid tones of yellow and green had long before amused her almost, now they only served as a reminder of the cruel cycle. Reminding her there is no such thing as happy endings.

There was once a time, a time of happiness in Alisha's life. Moments were her and her father lived content and away from the pitiful system of life in the kingdoms. There had also been a time where Alisha felt she could trust people when she spoke, saying her deepest thoughts. If she lifted her mental fingers, stretching the cold appendages long enough, she'd be able to grasp at memories of her honest tongue.

"Father, do you ever grow tired?" A young Alisha had asked, standing in the magnificent castle gardens. She enjoyed helping her father weed the new flowers.

An older man, with gray hair and kind green eyes, looked over at her with a withering smile. "Tired of what, my dear?"

The young girl didn't notice the hesitance in his voice, wouldn't notice until many years later. She didn't see the way he sunk, each time she opened her mouth outside the safety of their home.

"Well, serving the palace of course!" She giggled, as if it was obvious.

His smile completely dwindled, hurriedly grabbing her by the shoulders and dragging her inside the small peasant shack holding the tools.

"Alisha, shush now, hold your tongue." He ordered in a whisper, looking back at the lingering castle guards.

She ignored him, continuing her vocal honesty. "You're such a good gardener, never complaining. Even when the stuffy king tramples on the yellow roses because his fat gut blocks his view of his feet. I still think those roses would look better in-"

"Enough Alisha Winifred!" Her old father shouted, having lost his patience. He grimaced as one guard began to walk toward them.

He grabbed at his thinning hair, looking away from her. "Just go to your corner, sit down and be quiet."

Alisha could still feel the hot tears drip down her face, the phantom feeling ghosting over dirty cheeks instead of clean baby fat cheeks. If she had been in the same mental place she was months ago, she would have been crying actual tears instead of distant memories. She felt detached now, accepting of her fate. Especially now that the traders were in a new jurisdiction with a new king. King Leopold was said to be a kind king, one that was very honest in his ruling. She doubted that, no good honest king took on bad people like her. A young female with too many opinions didn't belong serving the king, queen, and princess. Her imagination and poor habits would make her an unlikely candidate by themselves.

Yet, there she was. In her cage, seated in a cart, positioned outside the servants courtyard of the royal palace. She couldn't help herself when she wrapped her hands against the cool rusty bars, digging her knees into the rough wood to get a better glance of the magnificent structure. Even the dingy in comparison servants station held the most beautiful sight Alisha had ever placed her eyes upon. The warm breath in her lungs escaped her, the mixture of harsh truth and awe leaving her briefly immobilized.

"Get 'er up, s'taking too long." A gruff voice announced. "Bein' done a kindness, you are."

Alisha had no time to speak against that, scurrying away as two heavy set men collapsed a wall of bars. The thick fingers positioned on their hands grabbed at her arms, too happy smiles on their faces as they came in contact with her skin. Her empty stomach churned violently and her shoulders recoiled away from their sweaty bodies. She felt humiliated, as the porky men dropped her on the ground. They paid no attention to the limbs that had not been properly stretched and used in weeks, laughing when she could not pull herself off the pavement. She could see other servants and knights watch her, deciding to duck her head and shield her face with a curtain of matted and filthy hair.

"Is this her?" A thick motherly tone questioned.

Alisha still dropped her head, afraid to look up as the two men still chuckled.

"Eh't is, now where is our pay'ins?" The other man spoke this time, clutching his protruding stomach with a jubilant expression.

The sound of disapproving tusks could be heard. "Is this any way to treat a young woman? Hmm?"

That question sent the men into another fit of laughter, making Alisha feel like she was stuck to the ground with embarrassment. Who knew, maybe the grime on her body was keeping her there. She felt humiliated on another level, now that a woman had even taken notice and seen how the men didn't even consider her as such.

"'Er a woman!" Laughter clouded the distinct voices, making Alisha unsure of who was speaking. "She's a pig in a serv't dress!"

Alisha didn't even have a proper servant uniform, the only clothes covering her skin being a long ill shaped black tunic. Tears, stains, and scents had already marred the item before Alisha had been bestowed the cloth, now in an even worse condition.

She lifted her face up, her jaw shaking with unshed emotion. The servant in front of her wore a shapeless gray dress with a white apron over it, a white bonnet decorating her gray hair. The woman was glaring at the two men, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

The woman servant turned her head towards Alisha, "Now then, let's get up and towards the bathing tub."

It was then that a blush finally took place on her face, uncomfortable warmth smearing on her flesh and squirming under the dirt. Deep inside she felt hopeful, ready to leap into a new opportunity and bathe away the old. It didn't seem like much of a life, now that she was finally at her destination. Alisha was to be dedicated and given to this life, just as her father was until his own demise.

Her face ducked once more, in mourning. Four months ago, her father had met his untimely death, the rest of his contract falling to her. The castle he had been working at saw no need for a weak inexperienced female as a replacement for their strong sun worn landscaper. It was within her luck that King Leopold had an associate in that castle at the moment of her fate, otherwise she would have been spending her time in a dungeon. Alisha constantly reminded herself of her own luck in finding merciful work at the royal palace.

Two coarse hands grabbed her shoulders and heaved her up with a frustrated sigh.

"Already lazy and it ain't even your first day." The old servant tsked.

Alisha moved her tongue around her mouth, trying to speak through the coarse pain in her throat.

"I'm sorry, m'am." She attempted to rasped out, her words being heard as gibberish.

The woman simply shook her head in disappointment, dragging her body along the stone floor.

The halls weren't as cold as Alisha expected, the stone pavement and walls warmed by the kitchens and bustle of working men and woman. There were no windows on the walls, servant halls kept hidden from the towering palace and allowing easy access around the large space. As a young child, Alisha would play in similar halls.

She had never been allowed in the bathing room, however. There were several basins lined against the walls and in the middle of the room. Curtains could be drawn around the tubs to keep modesty. The floors were covered in slick water and soap, leaving a film on the bottom of Alisha's bare feet. The soap irritated the raw cuts on the soles of her feet, causing her to cringe her eyes.

"Alright, in ya go." The woman deposited Alisha's body into a basin at the furthest corner, drawing the dingy and sheer beige curtain around the small tub. "I'll leave ya be now. Find me outside in the hall."

Before leaving, she dropped a small cup full of water down beside the basin, Alisha assumed this would be her only food until the night hours.

In the tub the water that reached her knees if she slouched was cold and looked used, but it felt like the best wash she had ever had. Months with small chances of even taking a wash cloth to her face had left her with a film on her skin. She dipped lower, slumping on her side like a bug in the water. Her hair released a murky and dark plume of brown into the water, her skin still remained filthy. There were small lumps of soap on the floor next to her, which she quickly took into her hand. The small soaps were all too quickly used up, resting a soapy film over the water. She could see strands of her long pale blonde hair, not hued as brown anymore. Her skin didn't look sun tanned anymore, revealing the pale sun starved pigment, paler and whiter than her hair. Alisha wished the water was clearer, wanting to see her own reflection.

She quickly got out, remembering the older maid waiting for her. On the wall closest to her, uniforms similar to the woman's were stacked. She grabbed the smallest one she could find, seeing that the hem was still too long and baggy on her short and thin frame. Her hair began to dry in its thick curls, making it difficult to fit the bonnet on her head. She thought about braiding the strands back, but the only items of cloth she had belonged to the old tunic she arrived in. She didn't want to touch the thing again, preferring the thought of someone tossing the infested garment away.

She slipped her feet into the plain slippers, loving the way they feel against the ground. A small smile slipped onto her dry lips as she opened the door. The older servant looked up at her, standing up from the ground. She didn't say a thing, grabbing Alisha by the wrist and dragging her down the hall.

"Your first assignment is with the Princess, good luck."

Alisha stood, stunned, in a beautiful room. The elder maid had already left, leaving things to Alisha. Unfortunately, Alisha had no idea what she was doing. She hadn't even had an actual room for months and now she was expected to clean another person's room? She felt helpless. As she turned to leave, her fingers poised over the extravagant door knob, the door swung open. The polished wood slammed into her face, causing her to release a hard shout. A feminine voice near her released a shrill apology.

"Sorry! Sorry!" The voice continued, as Alisha held her face in her hands. "I didn't mean to slap a door in your face!"

Hands, soft hands unlike her own, pulled away her fingers and started poking at her nose. Alisha let out a hiss when they ghosted over her face. Backing up until she reached a piece of furniture to sit on, presumably a plush chair. She quickly jumped up, however, once she noticed the gown the other girl was wearing.

"I-I'm so sorry your majesty!" Alisha dropped her body into a sloppy and unpracticed curtsy.

The girl in front of her, looking to be the same age, only smiled. Not unkind in the slightest, but a bright happy smile.

"Don't worry, I won't tell." The girl continued her smile. "I'm Snow White, by the way."