Chapter 1 narrative
It was on this night and this night alone that Gabrielle knelt down near the
rail of the upstairs landing of the grand ballroom; her tiny rounded face
pressed between two pure white balusters looking down in bewilderment of the
scene below. The older gentlemen and officers meandering and chatting with
drinks in hand while their wives gathered in gossipy clusters, cackling like
hens.
The young men in uniform seemed constantly in pursuit of a dance bowing to the
beautiful young female attendees of the gala, hoping to be worthy, of one of
them. Gabrielle's curious eyes drifted to the large double doors of the
ballroom which were wide open, to let the heat of the room out and down the
entry hall that was lined with guards standing at attention. The servants
worked in pairs keeping the glasses full of the finest wines and
spirits. Gabrielle knew that among those servants was her aunt Johanna
fluttering about the room in her usual tizzy. Oh the scolding Aunt Johanna
would give her if she saw little Gabrielle up at this late hour; for not even
the princess was up this late!
The noise of clinking glasses and laughter filled the air; reminding Gabrielle
of how little life these rooms had in other times of the year. For any other
time of the year a mere footstep would echo almost endlessly through the halls.
Thinking about this silence it was only natural that she nearly jumped out of
her skin when there was a tap on her shoulder and a giggle from another party
soon followed. The girl looking back at her was enviously beautiful for
age seven with hair of ebony black and skin of ivory that hardly contrasted
with her sky blue night gown. Princess Snow White's laughter died down as
Gabrielle tried to gain her wits. "Surprised to see me, Rose Red?" the princess
mocked. Gabrielle
scoffed at the nickname as her entire face became indeed as red as a
spring rose, including her ears which Gabrielle soon covered with her hands
resulting in the young Snow White doubling over in laughter again.
Gabrielle quickly clamped a hand over the girls mouth. "Shush! Shut up! We'll
be killed if they catch us." She gave Snow a look of seriousness and she
stopped, after a moment they gave each other a hug. "Merry Christmas Eve Snow."
"Merry Christmas Eve Gabby." Both girls then returned to the scene below; King
Leopold rose from his thrown leading his dazzling queen Ava to the dance floor
incasing his beloved in a waltz. "Oh!" Snow ogled dreamily. "Look at mother and
father dancing! Do you think men will dance with us like that when we get grown
up Gabby?"
"I hope not!" said Gabrielle. "Auntie says men are boys and boys have cooties."
The girl stuck out her tongue in disgust.
Gabrielle was quite the opposite of the fair and quiet princess; her hair was
the color of ash brown with round eyes the color of rich whiskey. Though her
skin too looked as if it was fashioned from a darker ivory it often became red
with a blush thus earning her the nickname of Rose Red. While Snow was
contently set to be quiet, obedient and royal, Gabrielle was set to be plain,
little and a peasant. Gabrielle was not an unattainable child just simply more
outspoken. Yet like princess she had a heart of gold and the strength of a
warrior.