Chapter 5

by Starsinger

Good news, Lorrie is all right. She is also one of the sweetest people I know. She passed on some gifts to me that were once Renee's. Snow and Rose venture off to their jobs at the castle, and we meet their neighbors Brad/John and Summer/Gail, and Jordan/Michael. Actual friends in my life, yes, even though John has passed as well, the others are still very sweet people in my life. Not Catholic, but I used to be Episcopalian, very similar, if you recognize some of the motions in this chapter. Don't own them.

Brad and Summer sat at the table. Summer had a slender build and light hair, she also had pretty blue eyes that matched her blue dress. Brad was a little chunkier, and similar coloring, but had a ready smile and always tried to make people laugh. They lived on a neighboring farm and promised to keep an eye out on Margie.

"I don't like either of you going to work for the Queen. How do you know she won't treat you any differently than that of her own stepdaughter?" Brad asked, the concern of a brother coloring his voice.

Brad's brother, Jordan, who looked much like his brother, only taller. He had a slight stutter, but had agreed to also stay with Lorrie while the girls' were at the castle. "Y-you can't trust her!" he exclaimed. "Why did you agree t-to this."

"We need the money," Rose answered simply. "Since Papa died, we've struggled to keep up the farm and pay the taxes." Snow silently finished packing enough clothes for the week. They were allowed to return home on the weekend. They both pulled on their cloaks and prepared to venture out into the early morning light for the long walk to the castle when a black coach pulled up in front of the farmhouse.

Margie stood behind them silently. "I love you, girls. I'll see you this weekend." They both turned around and hugged their mom. They entered the coach and, as the coach drove away, waved to their Mother and neighbors. Summer put her arm around Margie and guided her back into the house.

The girls were used to a three room farmhouse, so the huge castle that came up over the horizon almost overwhelmed them in sheer size. The village, however, seemed listless and wary of the carriage. They had seen it in villages and farms as they came closer to the castle. The Kingdom was not thriving under the Queen. It was barely subsisting. The hollow eyed women and almost mechanical men added to the hopeless atmosphere, and the lack of children playing in the streets seemed almost eerie. The further you moved from the castle, the more life the people seemed to have.

Snow and Rose looked at each other as the small, poor church came into view. The priest stood outside sweeping the wooden front porch and appeared to be the only one who smiled as the carriage came toward it. "Stop the carriage, please," Snow called out.

The carriage slowed to a halt and Snow climbed out. After a moment, Rose followed. As they walked up the steps the Priest's smile widened as he saw the two. "Welcome to my Parish, I'm Father Christopher. May I help you?"

Snow spoke up, "I'm Snow White, and this is my sister Rose Red."

"Welcome, would you like to come in?" Father Christopher asked as he leaned the broom against the front of the church. They entered the sacristy and placed their fingers in the Holy water making the sign of the cross over themselves. They followed the priest into the sanctuary and genuflected next to the pews before entering and seating themselves in a pew. Christopher sat in a pew in front of them. "How may I help you?"

"What is it that this town needs?" Rose asked.

"Food and a place for the homeless would be a start," he responded after some thought. "Ever since the King died and Princess Snow White fled, it's like a dark cloud has fallen over this kingdom. I've heard the Queen say that if the people really knew the Princess, she wouldn't be as loved by them, but the Queen hasn't been a ray of sunshine either."

"All the King wanted was for everyone to be happy," Snow mused. "It's funny, the same day word came down that the King died Papa was kicked in the head by a mule and died." Father Christopher looked startled at her words. "If there's anything we can do to help we're working for the Queen, please, let us know." The Priest nodded as he followed them out. The girls hadn't missed the wooden alter, and rough-hewn pews. The crude stained glass windows and crumbling plaster showed the sad state of disrepair that the church shared with much of the kingdom.

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John stepped outside the townhouse as he and Gail prepared to go to church. He watched as Michael joined him and Lorrie exited her own home next door with Charlotte and Renee followed her out. They walked to the church down the street as Father Herbert greeted them and the rest of his small congregation. One of his acolytes walked over to the bell standing atop a poll and began to ring it to call the faithful to worship. Mary Margaret walked down the sidewalk and greeted everyone.

Today's sermon was one on the sin of pride. The town was changing, and the danger of pride in one's possessions and accomplishments lay as a danger in everyone's path. "Regina should be here to hear this," Renee heard someone mutter. She heard someone else shush them with a nervous twitter.

They all filed out and past the Priest to join the Hostess at Parish Hall for Coffee Hour. The gossip of the day surrounded the awakening of David and his wife Katherine. There was a new face, a young blonde who looked a little uncomfortable there. Father Herbert did his best to help her feel welcome. Renee murmured to her little group, "That's Emma Swan. She's the one who's been giving Regina fits."

"Henry's Mother?" Gail asked quietly as she sipped coffee and ate a donut.

"Ms Swan," John called amiably, "Why don't you come over and join us?"

Emma wandered over with a tentative smile. "I know you," she said to Renee. "You're the Mayor's secretary, right?"

"Yes," Renee said with a sad smile. She watched as Jimmy came over and put his arm around Charlotte.

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Margie handed Derek a hot cup of tea, "It's a good thing you came in, the wolves are in hiding."

He nodded, Margie had explained that the girls were gone, "Why do I need to avoid the woods tonight."

She gave him a long look, "It's a full moon."