Chapter 9: Snow White
The white lace felt crisp and soft against my palm. I looked in the mirror; my reflection was one of searing beautiful. In my lifetime I had worn rags, cleaned and scrubbed floors. I had cooked while wearing heels; I had danced and sung with dear friends. My life was one of a journey. I had been a slave to fate for to long, watching others fight my battles. And by the time I had learned my lesson, by the time I had woken the slumbering dragon of my soul- it was almost to late. My happily ever after was slipping down the drain. I had clutched Princeton's hand for hours, tears dropping on our hands as I prayed for his life. Our salvation had come in the form of my dear friends. Grumpy had seen the storm and was worried. So on his way to work he had gone up the path to the castle. His face, with that sour scowl set across his lips, and his eyebrows crushed together. That was what Princeton woke up to. Happy almost fell off his chair when he heard Princeton holler. Thankfully Princeton healed spectacularly, and about 2 months after I had been awakened I was walking down the isle.
My dress blended to my skin like milk on snow. The lace collar and the sweeping skirt only seemed to heighten the smooth silk of my bodice. Everything I wore was a pure white, that was everything but the ring I would adorn in only a few moments. I heard the first trickling notes of the organ and flute: played by Grumpy and Sleepy. Happy was clearing his throat before he piped in with some Barton cords. All the other dwarfs sat in the front pews, surrounded by many other guests from Princeton's kingdom. I took a deep breath and stepped forward into the church. The isle had been given a glorious makeover, white flowers were hanging from ceiling to floor on the walls on my left and right. But tears stung my eyes as I took in the wave of color on all sides of me. Primroses- simple beautiful and exquisite flowers. They were one of the most common wildflowers, but red primroses were as rare as a blizzard in June. But yet each wall, pew and even the ground was bathed in red primroses. I turned my gaze up to the man standing at the end of the isle. He stood his rustic brown hair combed perfectly, his cream skin set into relief by his luscious lips that mouthed the words I had waited my whole life to hear "I Love You" but that's not where his beauty ended. He was wearing a white tunic and white boots and tights to match. But I think that my favorite part of his attire was the sparkle in his eyes. I knew my own reflected back that glorifying smile, along with the half hidden smirk. We had both shared some stolen moments the night before.
His words had spilled over me like molten lava; he had shared the truth of my mothers life. That she had loved two men, one being Princeton's father. Of course that had been a crush when they were young, it had grown to be just a strong friendship. She had married my father, and the King had married too. But on my birth my mother had betrothed me to a boy, Princeton. But upon her death and later my father's new marriage, the documents were burned. No one knew of my betrothal except the boy. And the day Princeton had seen me near the well, he had come to rescue me from the queen. But instead he was captured, and ransomed out to his mother. So by the time he could once again search for me, I was already in a deep slumber. But what ever my past-I was staring at my future.
I walked the last few steps to stand across Princeton, gazing into his eyes, somewhat oblivious to the Minister who was now talking. "We are gathered here today to join these two people in holy matrimony. Not only do we join a loving couple but two families and two countries. This marriage marks the beginning of a new dynasty." His voice sure and strong continued but I was lost in thought. Images of the future flashed forward in my eyes. Images of me and Princeton together forever, little girls squealing as they're chased by their older brothers, a baby held close to my heart. Waking up everyday to Princeton's eyes, and going to sleep each night with Princeton's strong arms around me.
"And do you Princeton Ferdinand Habsburg take Snow White to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the ministers words left a ringing in my ears but my heart leapt as I heard Princeton speak "I do" Princeton's smile was broadening as the moments crept forward. "And do you Snow White take Princeton Ferdinand Habsburg to be your lawfully wedded husband?" I smiled and nodded my head "I do, but Princeton I take you as more then a husband but also as my soul mate." My voice echoed around the church only to be out done my the Ministers proclamation " then I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
The music played by a now exuberant group of dwarfs did nothing to dull my senses as Princeton enveloped me in his arms, turning my world upside down as his lips brushed mine. The kiss was nothing like the one shared months previous. This kiss was filled with more then longing, it was filled with wondrous hope. It held not only the pleasure of two people but the destinies of countries. When we finally broke apart I looked Princeton in the eyes and smiled wide, I was looking at my husband.