BrinBrin: "What if Snow White fall in love to another Prince after she married with Prince Ferdinand (yeah, i call him that).She is 14, still a teenager. You know what teenagers think about love.
Sorry for the short length :( I don't have the energy to look up the politics of historical Germany so I'm pretending Snow is some typical fantasy kingdom and BSing my way through it. I also apologize, I struggled with this one a bit, I hope you enjoy it.
I looked around for signs that I was followed. My personal guard were a crafty bunch, but I was craftier. I had picked up a skill or two (other than cleaning and cooking) during my time with the dwarfs. They were away in the mines at this hour, so it left the perfect place to meet.
Four years into my marriage. I wished I could go back in time and tell myself not to marry the first prince to cross my path. I felt foolish in hindsight, marrying a boy I didn't know. To make it worse a boy who had kissed her while unconscious. Everyone called it "true love's kiss" but I was a child. He was a child. What did we know about love? Ferdinand's father was furious of course, that he forsake his prior betrothed for a girl no one knew anything about. At least until my parentage was discovered, then our wedding was hailed across the lands as one of the greatest royal marriages in a century.
It was for the sake of my people I felt guilty about my affair. But I just couldn't continue to pretend to be happy. I heard the sound of someone approaching and ducked inside the cabin, sure to stay out of sight of the window. I heard a specific knock on the door and knew that it was Daniel. A smile tugged at my lips and I went to the door. A part of me felt like a child again, having a secret knock. I opened the door quickly and got caught in his embrace before I could take my hand off the doorknob.
Like myself, Daniel had been married at a young age and craved genuine love. Politically motivated he could hardly even speak to his bride, for she spoke a language he did not. A proper lass, she spent most of her time in the company of her handmaids working on needlepoint. The little time they spent together was vainly attempting to produce a son. But in six years she had yet to conceive. Daniel wanted a wife with whom he could enjoy her company, who could bear him a son to carry on his name. But our affair could never yield what we both craved most. So we were relegated to meeting in secret.
I had met Daniel one day during a grand ball. The king was celebrating the birth of his youngest daughter, Ferdinand's third sister. The queen was thirty years his junior, and of childbearing age. Ferdinand was off talking to men of his cabinet, enjoying a mead with them while I sat with the other women. A young man approached and asked for a dance. My kingdom did not consider it inappropriate for a married woman to dance with another man, in fact it could give rise for conversational topics amongst the men which could lead to tactical political talk. The women of court were often seen as such pawns. It was belittling, but gave me something to do at these parties other than watch Ferdinand prattle on in the corner.
"I am Daniel, it is lovely to meet you my dear," I was glad he chose not to bore me by bragging about his titles and stations. Meeting so many people at these balls I could never remember one person from another, with the exception of the members of my own court. Most of the political squabbling was left to the men therefor it was not information I found relevant to memorize. I suppose this made me irresponsible, with Ferdinand being next in line for his father's throne, but that was what we had political advisors for.
"Snow White," I replied, introducing myself. No need to give him my station. My step-mother's actions against me were nearly legend. As was my retaliation. At my wedding she was given white-hot iron shoes in which to dance. I had thought the vile woman dead when she fell from a cliff but somehow the witch survived. None should have the power of immortality, and the kingdom lived in fear of her. So we put her in her place, to show the kingdom they would be safe and could trust their leaders.
We danced a waltz, and retired to the buffet table to continue our conversation. Daniel was pleasantly pleased to learn that I loved to hunt. We sat together, discussing hunting for much of the party. Ferdinand was lost in his own talks, leaving me free to talk the night away. It was a slip that led to Daniel admitting he was not in love with his wife, and that he couldn't even talk to her.
"Just makes me feel a bit lonely. I have no one to actually talk to. My advisers are just advisers, my wife can't speak my language, the men of my court are too busy kissing my ass to have a real conversation with me. Even the men I hunt with waste the whole time telling me what a great hunter I am, before I fire a single arrow," He explained, and I smiled at him.
"I can relate to that," I felt the same. The women of the court were to afraid of me after how I punished my step-mother. With Ferdinand as first in line to his throne I was in a position of power. Everyone was afraid to get on your bad side. No one was genuine. It led to a very lonely life. I at least had the Dwarfs to visit, as I had their land declared protected, but I could only steal way to visit them so often. The stagnation of a marriage to a man who I hardly knew at the time of my vows.
"Daniel," I smiled.
"Snow," It was so nice not to be addressed with fancy titles. I showed him to my old attic room and we collapsed onto the bed that was far more familiar and comfortable than the lavish palace in which I lived now. We made love urgently, it had been an agonizing two months since we were both able to steal away. We took great caution that I would not return to Ferdinand carrying another man's child. I wished I could bear Daniel's son. I didn't want my stagnant life. I was a spoiled child, until my step-mother drove me away. But when I lived the humble life amongst the dwarfs I learned humility, and appreciation. I enjoyed everything more because I worked for it. Returning to a life of luxury seemed like a fantasy, until I lived it.
Every day was boring, the same old grind. Wake up, be fussed over by my hand maids. Take a hot bath, regardless of weather. My hair pulled and prodded into whatever style was popular that month, my clothes picked for me, my daily schedule made for me. Many of my days spent sitting doing needlepoint with the other women. I had wished to join Ferdinand in his political meetings, so I could learn things about ruling a kingdom for when I would become queen. It would have given us common ground on which our marriage could have blossomed. But rather we led separate lives, had little to say to each other.
That is what attracted me to Daniel. He would talk to me. We could talk for hours. About hunting, food, dancing, horseback riding, stories, music. I could be lost for hours in conversation with him. And so we talked. We talked for hours, both losing track of the time. I saw the sun kissing the horizon through the western window and frowned. He would have to depart soon. I couldn't, I wouldn't return to my life. I just couldn't bear another two months away from this man whom I had grown so fond of. I couldn't return to a man whom I had nothing to share with. To mingle with women who were not genuine. To be surrounded by an entire palace of people with ulterior motives. I wanted this. To lie next to a man I could honestly say I loved. Someone with whom I could talk, lie next to, read next to, ride horses with, hunt with. A man who's company I cherished.
"It's sundown," He broke me from my reverie.
"What if we don't go back?" I cut in suddenly, surprised I wasn't able to restrain the words.
"What?!" Daniel sat up on his elbow, looking at me like I had sprouted another head.
"I can't go back. I can't take another day of the same fuss. I can't go back to spending every day thinking about you, counting down the days until you can sneak away from your duties. Another day to lie with a man who I don't love. Another day of routine, pampering, and insincerity," I explained desperately, in too deep now to stop. "We can't keep doing this Daniel. We can't keep meeting in secret and spending these rare days together in a cabin in the woods. Someone will catch on eventually, and what then?" I postulated.
"We'll cross that road when we come to it," Daniel offered. He was much more dedicated to his duty to his kingdom than I. Perhaps having the chance to meet with advisers and participating in ruling his land gave him a sense of dedication. But I had no such discipline.
"I can't keep doing this. It's killing me!" I sat up, hugging my knees. "I've only been married four years and already I want to run away from it. How can I be expected to carry on this charade for another thirty years?" I asked. "We've both already broken our wedding vows, we're in too deep. Just run away with me," I begged, feeling tears mounting on my eyelashes. I felt like a hyper-emotional impulsive child again. The same impulsive fool who married a man simply because he kissed her. Everyone believed in my fairy tale ending except for me, and Ferdinand.
"Snow... I can't walk away from my kingdom. And you can't walk away from yours. Ferdinand's father is elderly, he may have just had another child but he won't rule forever. Then the kingdom will need you, and Ferdinand," He tried to explain, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"They'll need Ferdinand. Not me. What do I even do? Sit there and look pretty while everyone talks about my fairy tale life," I replied bitterly. "I can't even seem to do what I'm meant for. I've yet to conceive a child," I added, feeling a hot blush rise to my cheeks. Admittedly much of this problem was how little time my husband spent with me. We hadn't been trying very hard to conceive, but it was dwindling my confidence more. Admitting it was even harder, what if Daniel didn't want me because I was as barren as his own wife? "He'll remarry someone, he won't even miss me. I'll just continue to be a story he can use to awe people like I am now."
"What about my kingdom? I hold an important title, I can't walk away from it. My people need me," Tears filled my eyes.
"But I can't keep doing this." I explained. "It'll lead to nothing but heartbreak or worse. Ferdinand will eventually figure out I'm not out hunting every time, your kingdom is bound to figure out the real reason you vanish every several weeks. Daniel I love you, run away with me," I repeated. He sighed, refusing to meet my gaze.
"Snow... not everything works out the way we want," He explained sadly. "I love you, and I would love for nothing more but to run away with you. But I have a responsibility,"
"You don't think there aren't one-hundred men vying for your title? You don't think another man couldn't just fill your position so you can run away with me? Our kingdoms won't miss us. The constant power struggle means there will always be someone to replace us," I avoided his gaze, but I could see he was looking at me, knitting his fingers.
"Angelina has conceived," He blurted suddenly. "I can't run away from that," he said sadly. "It's why it has been so long until I could find the right time to sneak off,"
"What?" I asked, my voice catching.
"You were right. There will always be someone to fill a position of power, my kingdom would never miss me in the end. But I will not walk away from my child. I'm sorry Snow," He sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair.
"I..." What could I even say? Beg him to abandon his unborn child now? Ask him to continue this affair when he was to be a father? I was lost for words. Daniel reached for me, pulling me into his arms,
"Shh..." he whispered, running a hand through my hair. I failed to restrain my sobs. "I'm so sorry Snow. We stayed in silence for a short time before I was able to find my voice.
"They'll be back soon... we need to leave the cabin," I suggested, realizing our parting was bitterly close. He nodded, and we both dressed quickly. We left the cabin, careful to leave no trace of our liason. We walked roughly a mile through the woods, leading our horses to a small clearing. "I..." my voice caught again. "I need to head back, they'll notice my absence if I do not return soon. They probably are already worried," I explained.
"Snow, I am so sorry. I want nothing more but to run off with you, live in some small cabin somewhere far from here. Forget about money, power, heirs, and all that. But I can't abandon my unborn child..." He pulled me into his arms, and I could feel him trembling with silent sobs.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you Snow," he replied. "If anything changes, I promise, I will write you. I smiled at this, and we exchanged more words and devotions before I watched him vanish into the trees. I hugged my arms, trying to control my sobs. I couldn't go back He promised to write a letter but I knew it was one that would never come. His wife with child we could never continue what we were doing. We never said it, but I knew I would never see him again. But I couldn't go back to Ferdinand.
It took me well into an hour before I was able to settle myself. I grabbed my horse's reigns and carefully removed them, they were far too lavish, they would gave away my station. I knew there was a small farmhouse five kilometers south of the dwarf's cabin. If I could sneak in I could steal a set of peasant clothes. I had a bag of gold on me, I would leave it as payment. Disguised as a peasant I could follow the Southern road as far as it would take me. Follow it until I was well beyond the influence of my kingdom, away from my station, away from my loveless marriage. They would surely search for me, but I had managed to stay hidden from my step-mother for many months. I could hide from the fools of my kingdom. I mounted my horse, grasping his mane, and began to travel south.
This was far from my best work, I really did try. But I just struggled with this one for some reason. I couldn't seem to get personalities down. I don't think Snow would retain her innocence after living a stagnant posh life and started to slip into the grips of depression. Maybe I'll revisit this at some point and try to do it better justice. But for now, I apologize for the poor quality work on this one. Next one will be better, I promise.