Chapter 6:
Enchanted Forest
The princess' room was in complete disarray. Her bed was unmade, decorative pillows strewn about the room. The cushions on her small seats had not been fluffed, the feathers sunken in. Her elaborate rugs were uneven and the corners were curled up. The details of the ornate tapestry were not carefully brushed in the proper way, messing up the sewn allusion. Her vanity mirror had streak smudges on the glass, a jar of perfume not put away on the surface of her dresser.
The princess, Snow White, was seated on one of the sunken chairs, watching her servant with interest.
"Tell me again!" She pressed, leaning closer to her friend.
Alisha blushed brighter, warm blood tinting her neck and face. The sun spots on her nose and cheeks were hidden by the cherry ruddiness. Her hair was frizzy, from running her hands into it over and over again. She dropped her chin in her hands, tucking her knees to her chest on the floor.
She had only just gotten back from the all day trip with the queen, finding Snow waiting up for her. The two had agreed to meet up upon Alisha's first step back into the palace. True to her word, Snow had been hiding under a sun star bush, the bright buds blinding anyone who looked at the bush- perfect for concealing a princess. Once the queen had walked back into the castle, while Alisha hid behind a wall, the two ran inside the castle using the servant hall.
Alisha wasn't surprised to see the rooms' state, Snow White-as kind as she was, was very messy when she was nervous. If Alisha looked closely, she could see pacing marks on one of the rugs.
"Well," Alisha cleared her throat, muffling her tale with her hair. "Once we arrived to the destination with the plants, I met someone there. Someone of the other gender."
"It's true love!" Snow White shouted out with unconcealed glee, not waiting for the story to end again. "I just know it!"
Alisha ducked her head down further. "It can't be, we've only just met. He doesn't even like me, he made fun of me."
"Because he likes you!" Snow insisted, reading between the lines. "Either way, you obviously like him! I can see it in your eyes."
Alisha didn't respond, slumping onto her backside. On the high ceiling of Snow's room, small detailed silver animals danced. As she focused on the detailed paintings, envy buried deep in her stomach. She felt embarrassed after feeling that way.
"Look, I understand true love." Snow maintained, falling to the floor beside her friend. "My father might have been arranged to marry my mother, but after the engagement broke they soon fell in love. They say it's instantaneous, you just feel it. I've read about the old magic in true love. One glance is all it takes."
Alisha sighed, she did feel something. Shameful, tired, disgraced, upset, and hurt. None of them seemed to lead to love. However, when she felt hard enough, deep down there was a fuzziness in her stomach, causing the urge to giggle. Her head felt heavy and her heart felt lighter as she thought about him.
Despite such feelings, she was adamant she didn't like him.
"You might not know it yet, but you love him. You will fall in love with him." Snow sat up suddenly, after speaking. "You just need to go with Regina again!"
Alisha groaned at the name of the queen. "She scares me."
Her eyes narrowed and her face pinched at the idea. Even if she did like him, she wasn't desperate enough to willingly spend time with the intimidating figure.
"Look, I understand my step-mother can be quite difficult sometimes." Snow told her friend gently.
Alisha knew disrespecting the queen in her own castle was a sure way to be killed, but she couldn't help the scoff and outburst.
"Sometimes?! The queen hates me!"
Snow rolled her eyes, ignoring her. "You're going for the name of love, not in the name of 'run away and hide because the queen doesn't like me'."
"I must admit, I'm surprised you volunteered to accompany me again." The queen stated, atop of her horse. However, not a glance of surprise graced her face.
Alisha had caught the queens' party, a week later, by chance while looking out the window of Snow's room. She had quickly stripped out of her uniform behind a changing screen, Snow happily tossing a dress over. She refused to listen to the princess' rambles on love as she changed, the words slipping over her head like the cap atop it.
The sun was shining down in their favor, allowing the absence of a riding cloak. Alisha knew the sun would warm the night, as it had been doing, keeping only a simple gray dress and white corset. Her hair was tied back with a white band, the mess out of her face.
The party was to be delayed, as the stable hand was sent out to gather another horse. She awkwardly stood beside the party, their figures towering over her. Some guards stared at her, but mainly they ignored her. She could feel the queen look at her, the strong gaze sharp in her back.
Soon enough, the stable hand was back with the same silver steed from before. Just as it had been a week ago, Alisha found it difficult to gather herself up onto the horse. The rest of the party held no restraint against laughing under their breath when she slipped off the other side of the horse.
"I-I must have not secured the saddle right." The stable hand, an older man, told her as he rushed to the other side of the horse.
Alisha felt dizzy, and lucky as she only fell into a bush of wild flowers positioned near the palace entrance. The cushion of the leaves didn't stop the jagged stems to stick and poke at her body, thankfully leaving few rips in the fabric. The new addition to her clothing added more embarrassment to her emotions. The quiet and hushed amusement of the group grew in volume, the noise surrounding her and boxing her in. Alisha could hardly feel the stable hand pick her off the ground, her own two feet feeling loose and unsteady.
"Are you alright?" The queen spoke her words slowly, her own laughter spread out on her face.
Dumbly, Alisha looked up and couldn't hear any words spill out of her mouth as she spoke. "I'm fine."
"Good." The queen smiled, widely as all her teeth were shown.
Pushing away the hands of the old man, Alisha slipped her foot through the stirrup. The white boots she wore had scuffed away any design that had once been there. As she did before, she rode sidesaddle. She never felt comfortable wearing riding pants, feeling silly when Snow proposed the idea. With her body positioned on the seat and the reins grasped in her hands, she was ready.
The journey was no less of a bore, Alisha found, and this time her own voice provided no amusement. The queen didn't offer any words, not that she expected nor wanted her to, and the guards were under strict orders not to speak again after a comment made when Alisha spoke.
Alisha still maintained a fear, one that grew and wouldn't stop developing. Especially after the queen's previous warnings, she was afraid that the slightest wrong move would anger the queen. She'd only been alive for sixteen years; she didn't want to end life so suddenly.
The dirt beneath the horses' feet left a dull sound in the air, almost thickening the humid conditions they found themselves in. The plants around them shielded any of the cooler air, the path they took being the thickest lined. The queen, Alisha saw, didn't seem bothered, even though she was dressed in tan and white leather. Her makeup was still coating her face, not a glimpse of sheen of sweat was shone. Alisha, herself, could feel the craziness in her hair, frizz and tangles messing the pale strands. She was lucky to have such curly hair, masking the locks tendencies. Her simple dress was dirtied and torn at the hem, making her wish that despite such weather that she had brought her cloak. She felt worse for the guards accompanying the queen alongside Alisha, ignoring their taunting words and acts. They were heavily coated with armor and face mask, the metal tones taking in and radiating most of the heat.
It seemed that unlike last time, there was no specific goal for this trip. The queen didn't glance down at the forest floor once; her head was held high above the others. Her steed placed her above them as well. Alisha noticed her horse seemed to go slower, or maybe it was her control over the silver animal. Every few paces, the creature would stray from the path, crossing over bushes and tree roots, devastating the flora. Despite her best efforts to calm the steed, the horse wouldn't listen to her orders.
Alisha could feel the others eyes on her, the queen even spared her a sideways glance of disdain.
"Please, please, don't- " Her hushed pleas were cut off by the loud snap of a tree root.
A harsh outtake of air, took her attention away from her horses stomps.
"Could you please take some control over that animal?" The queen spoke slowly, with a sharp edge to her words.
Alisha could only stare at the royal, dumbly with her mouth open.
"Even a child rides better than that." The queen finished, harshly snapping her reins and galloping ahead of the party.
Without hesitation, the rest of the part followed, snaps of leather against tough skin pecking at the air. The noise clattered, Alisha covering her ears without second thought.
Her ears rang form the thunderous sound, the noise leaving traces in her chest. When she could finally steady herself, she picked her slumped figure back up. The dirt path left lingering clouds in the thick air, bursts of dirt seen as far as her eyes reached. Within seconds, the dirt clouds dispersed, leaving no sight of the queens traveling companions.
Chills ran over her body, as she was reminded of being a child who lost their parent in a crowd. Her head whipped all around, the horse sent into a frenzied movement. As she looked crazily around her, she slipped her hands away from the reins. The moment the leather slapped against the steeds skin and fell loosely, her horse began to jump widely. Short bursts of air left her lungs, coughs leaked out as she breathed in the dirt her horse kicked up. With a deafening neigh, her horse tossed her thin form to the ground. With narrowed eyes, Alisha could only watch as her horse ran away.
Review for my poor attempt at a cliffhanger.