Mirror, Mirror Page 18

  Katherine began to take shape in the corner of the room, but this time she did not appear droll.

  Let her spirit come, Ingrid thought as her eyes fluttered and she forced them to stay open. She was so tired. I have won.

  The mirror spoke. “Lips red as the rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow. Snow White still lives, and soon all will know.”

  “No!” Ingrid choked out, but her voice didn’t seem to work. Neither did her limbs.

  As Katherine stood watch, Ingrid succumbed to the pain and fell into a deep sleep on the cold floor.

  When the debris finally stopped falling, the only thing Snow heard was deathly silence.

  “Henri?” Snow called out frantically, coughing hard as the dust settled around her. Her right shoulder was throbbing, but she was in one piece.

  “Snow?” Henri was coughing hard, too. He stumbled toward her and she noticed the gash on his forehead. He fell into her arms and the two held each other.

  We’re alive! Thank you, Mother! Snow thought before she saw the wall of rock in front of her.

  Henri began trying to pull the rocks down, but most of them were small and he barely made a dent. He tried a different tactic, pulling hard and grunting against the weight of a larger boulder, before finally collapsing against the wall.

  They were trapped.

  “Grumpy?” Snow frantically searched in the darkness, tripping over the rocks that lay at her feet. “Doc? Sleepy? Sneezy? Bashful?” Her voice grew more and more urgent.

  A light suddenly illuminated the wall ahead, and Snow realized Henri still blessedly had his lantern. It lit up the small area of the cave they stood in. Otherwise, they were surrounded by darkness.

  “Where are they?” Snow was beginning to feel as if the walls were closing in. “Dopey? Dopey, where are you?” But Dopey, of course, wouldn’t speak. He couldn’t, as far as she knew.

  The men were missing. She and Henri were trapped in a darkened tunnel. The entrance to the cave was on the other side of that rocky wall. Her father had no clue where she was and would never know why she didn’t return. She took a shaky breath, trying not to let an overwhelming feeling of failure consume her.

  Henri took her in his arms again. “Snow, it’s okay.”

  She gripped his shoulder. “We don’t know these tunnels. We have to find a way to get back to them.”

  The two of them started to feel around the collapsed tunnel entrance for anything that might indicate loose stone or rubble that could be cleared for a path.

  Henri suddenly had another coughing fit.

  “Henri, please,” Snow said, reaching toward him. “Sit. I will continue looking. But you must rest.”

  “If we cannot get out . . . then at least my life was not lived in vain,” he said softly.

  She looked up at him in the low lantern light. “What do you mean?”

  “When Kristopher died, I felt a certain burden to take his place in the family, and yet, no matter what I did, I couldn’t step out of his shadow.” He smiled sadly. “Going on this journey with you, and helping you try to change your kingdom, has given me purpose. If this is where I die, I want you to know that.”

  “Henri,” she said, feeling overcome. Suddenly, she became aware of her arms wrapped around Henri’s neck and his arms around her waist. She was close enough to see the soot and the dirt in his hair and the smudge on his left cheek, and yet he’d never looked more beautiful.

  Henri brushed away the tears trickling down her cheeks and leaned in closer. His lips were inches from hers. She closed her eyes and waited for their lips to touch. Instead, she heard a clinking sound. They both jumped back in surprise.

  The clinking became louder and louder until a boulder in the wall began to wobble and a hole appeared, letting in light from the other side. Half of a face came into view.

  “Dopey!” Snow cried, reaching her fingers through the small hole to touch him.

  Suddenly, he disappeared from view and Grumpy’s familiar scowl appeared. “Are you all right? Is Henrich?” he shouted.

  “We’re fine!” Snow cried with relief. “Is everyone all right on your end?”

  “Everyone is banged up but fine,” Grumpy said. “We’re lucky Dopey grabbed his pickax when the sky started falling. His is the only ax we can find. The entrance to the cave is closed in. It’s going to take a while to dig ourselves out. But I think you and Henrich can get to the back entrance.”

  “The back entrance?” Henri came in closer to hear what Grumpy was saying. “This tunnel has a way out?”

  “Yes!” Grumpy said. “You don’t think us miners come down here without having a backup plan, do you? Just follow the path down till you hit the lake. You’ll see the tunnel of light that leads you back out the other side of the mountain.”

  “But what about all of you?” Snow asked.

  “This tunnel is closed up tight,” Grumpy said. “It would take us longer to dig a way to you than to dig a way out the way we came in. You get out of here and we will meet up with you again. Get to Fritz and Kurt’s village. It won’t be far from that side of the mountain.”

  Snow reached her fingers as far as she could to touch Grumpy’s hand. She hated the idea of leaving them. “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, I’m sure!” Grumpy said, sounding annoyed. “Now go! Before the Evil Queen makes another tunnel cave in. And make sure that prince of yours takes good care of you.”

  “I will,” Henri said. “I promise. Till we meet again, friends.”

  “Till we meet again,” Snow and Grumpy repeated, and then they let go of each other’s fingers.

  Henri held up his lantern and offered Snow his free hand. She took it, and together, they once again made their way out of the darkness.

  When she finally awoke on the floor, she let out a scream so loud she thought she’d wake the castle.

  Too bad. Let them wake during the dark of night. She was awake. She would not sleep, would not rest, would not stop till the girl was dead.

  She pushed herself up on her veiny arms and slowly rose to full height. Katherine was still there, watching. Always watching. As was the mirror. It came to light, showing her an image of the girl walking with the prince by lantern through the darkness.

  “While you slumbered, the fairest and her prince found a way out. Gather your strength, or your future will remain in doubt.”

  The mirror’s words only made Ingrid want to scream louder. This time it came out as a deep, throaty cough.

  She couldn’t believe this. She’d given the last of her lifeblood to the mirror and the girl was still coming for her? How had that monstrous storm or a cave-in not been enough to stop her? But there was the girl in the mirror, walking through a tunnel into the light and heading off with the prince on foot. Where were the little men? Had they perished? She didn’t see them. Well, good. At least her storm had done one thing right. Snow and the prince seemed worried.

  “Tell me what they’re saying!” Ingrid croaked at the mirror. But by now, she already knew its response.

  “My queen, that I cannot do,” the mirror replied. “But her purpose is clear as the face on the glass. She will not rest till she comes for you.”

  “You keep saying that, but never how I can stop her!” Ingrid knocked several potions off the nearest table in disgust. Katherine moved in front of her, and her master appeared then, too. Both of them watched her pace. Ingrid looked seemingly through Katherine back to the mirror. She needed to control her anger and think.

  The mirror continued to smoke. Its masklike face was solemn. “Thy heart and head have resisted my aid. My powers only reach so far, and only ever when you bade.”

  “Enough!” Ingrid shouted. The girl could not have her crown. She wound up her arm, prepared to destroy more of her things. Then she stopped. “Rain and wind may not deter the princess, but I know something else that might.” She smiled wickedly, thinking about the little she knew of Snow’s pitiful everyday life. What she did know, though, might be en
ough. She rushed out of the cavernous room and through her bedchambers. She opened her door a crack and yelled to the guard outside her door, hiding her face behind her hood.

  “Guard! I have a royal decree that must be issued at once.”

  “Yes, my queen,” the guard said, appearing bewildered. Her voice sounded different, but he wouldn’t dare question it.

  “Summon the royal court and have them issue this news at once,” she said. “The princess is not missing. She is on the run. She is a coward, like her father was before her.”

  The guard’s eyes widened.

  “Tell them to issue a decree that the traitorous princess, and anyone who pledges their allegiance to her, shall pay with their lives.” She smiled. “And offer a reward to anyone who brings her—and her companions—to me.”

  When Snow and Henrich emerged from the cave, the storm had ended and the air smelled like pine. Their horses—if they had stayed, which she doubted—were on the other side of the mountain. They’d have to make their way to Fritz and Kurt’s village on foot. Without food rations, the journey felt particularly long. Finally, as the sun was beginning to dip below the mountains, they saw smoke. This time, however, it wasn’t apocalyptic. It was billowing out of an actual chimney.

  “We made it,” said Henri, his voice relieved as he pointed out the row of cottages just over the next hill. “Let’s hope these friends of the men are hospitable. We need water.”

  “I’m sure they will be,” said Snow, bending down to gather a bunch of wildflowers.

  “What are you doing?” Henri asked, amused.

  “Bringing them a gift,” Snow said. “One should never show up somewhere without an offering of some kind. Unfortunately, the cured meats we packed are lost, but flowers are always nice.” She bunched the purple flowers together and held them up for Henri to sniff.

  He took a whiff and looked at her in surprise. “They’re lovely.”

  They stared at one another awkwardly and Snow could feel that familiar rush of color come to her cheeks. Her heart seemed to beat harder the closer she stood to him.

  “You there!” a man called. They looked over and saw he was leading a donkey loaded with supplies over the hill. “Are you looking for someone?”

  “Yes,” Snow said, rushing forward. “We’re here to see Fritz and Kurt. They should be expecting us.”

  “I’m Kurt,” the man said. He was not as short in stature as the dwarfs, but he was diminutive. He also had a splatter of freckles across his nose, and bright red hair. “Where’s Grumpy, Doc, and the others?”

  “I’m Snow,” she said, rushing forward and presenting him with the blooms. “And unfortunately, it’s just us.”

  “You’re the princess?” Kurt raised one eyebrow, and she nodded.

  She could only imagine how the two of them looked—Henri with the cut on his forehead, and both of them covered in dirt. Neither looked much like royalty.

  “Why aren’t the men with you?” Kurt asked. “They said you were traveling together.”

  Snow frowned. How could she explain this without scaring him off? “They couldn’t make it, but we have their blessing to come on our own to speak with you.”

  Kurt seemed to consider this. “Where’re your horses?”

  Henri and Snow glanced at one another. Neither wanted to say exactly what they’d just been through.

  “They ran off,” Henri explained. A rumble of thunder in the distance jolted them, and Henri and Snow exchanged looks again. Was another storm coming? “Unfortunately, our time is limited. Is it possible for us to speak?”

  Kurt looked at them for a moment, then nodded. “Follow me.”

  He wasn’t the most talkative man, so Snow didn’t prod. Instead, they followed him the rest of the way into the village. It was quite small, with only one farm in the distance and a cluster of cottages that had seen better days. As they walked, Snow could see people peering out their windows or in doorways. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she just smiled. When she did, people seemed to drift back into the shadows, which she supposed she could understand. It was a technique she had used herself, especially when she was uncomfortable. But now things were different. She had to be the leader her people needed her to be. And she was this village’s potential leader. At least, she could be, if they let her.

  Kurt turned to them. “I will gather the others and

  we will meet you in that barn over there.” He pointed to the farm in the distance and his expression hardened. “It’s the only place large enough for us to gather unseen. The Evil Queen’s guards burned down the two other farms in the area when we failed to produce enough crops to sell for her.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Snow said.

  Kurt looked away. “We do our best to avoid her now.” He pointed again, and there was another rumble of thunder. “You should get going before you’re seen. She has eyes everywhere, and the weather today has been unusual, to say the least.”

  “Oh, yes, we know,” Snow said without thinking, and Kurt waited for her to say more. She didn’t.

  “Thank you for your hospitality. We will wait for you there.” Henri pulled up his hood. Snow did the same.

  The weather held off till they were inside the barn. In a corner, a few cows munched quietly, seeming less concerned with another storm than the people were. Several horses pawed at the ground nervously in stalls filled with hay. There was also a coop where chickens clucked quietly, and next to it, a water jug. She and Henri went to it, grabbing two tin mugs from a nearby shelf and drinking thirstily before collapsing on some bales of hay. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and after a while they heard the sound of light rain hitting the roof. Time passed slowly, and Snow’s eyelids felt heavy. She willed herself to stay alert, but the exhaustion of the day seemed to have caught up with her. When she awoke a short time later, she realized her head was on Henri’s shoulder. He opened his eyes when she sat up.

  “Hello.” He smiled.

  “Hello,” Snow replied. “We fell asleep.”

  “We did.” Henri looked around. Rain was still falling and the barn was dark. Evening had come. “And we’re still alone.”

  Snow frowned. “Where could they be?”

  “I don’t know.” Henri stood to go to the barn doors.

  As he did, a group of people with lanterns entered with Kurt. There had to be a dozen or so men and women, as well as children, who hid in the folds of their mothers’ skirts. All eyes were on Snow and Henri.

  She rose to greet them. “Hello! Thank you so much for coming.”

  Kurt held out his arm. “This is the princess and . . . ?”

  “Henrich,” Henri told them. “I’m the princess’s traveling companion.”

  “We thought Grumpy and his men were the princess’s traveling companions,” another man said. He was small in stature as well, and had jet-black hair and a long beard. Snow suspected this must be Fritz. The glow of the lanterns in the darkened barn illuminated his face. He looked angry.

  Snow took a step forward. “Yes, that’s true. Unfortunately, we were separated during the storm and they asked us to go on without them. We will meet up with them again near the castle.” Fritz didn’t reply.

  Just then, a woman holding a small baby rushed forward. She held out a few blankets. “Here, Your Highness. These are for you. You must be tired from your journey.”

  “Thank you for your kindness,” Snow said to her and the others. “We are so grateful for this barn and to all of you for agreeing to meet with us. I know Grumpy and the others aren’t with us tonight, but it is important that I speak with you about the queen.” The room was silent, so she decided to go on. “I know times have been difficult. I’d had no idea how much so till I left the castle. But now that I’ve learned so much about the queen’s behavior, I know I must take back the kingdom.” Still there was no response. “But to do so, I will need help.”

  “Help?” Fritz questioned.

  “Yes,” Snow said, and Henri squeezed he
r hand encouragingly. “I am prepared to lead my people. The queen was only supposed to reign till I was of age anyway. I don’t believe she will go quietly, so we feel there would be strength in numbers. We are hoping to force her out and take over the castle.”

  Fritz stepped forward. “You expect us to lay down our lives to save yours?”

  “No, that’s not what I want to happen—” Snow started to say.

  “We should trust in your leadership when you’ve never led?” Kurt asked. “What if you’re just like your father?”

  “I pray I am,” Snow said fiercely. “He was an excellent leader.” They started to laugh, preventing her from explaining her father’s situation.

  The crowd of men moved in closer, and Snow realized she and Henri were actually surrounded. A baby began to cry, her wail barely audible over the thunder.

  “Good people,” Henri interrupted. “This is the princess. Please show some respect.”

  “Respect?” a man asked. “Like she had for us? She has abandoned her kingdom. She doesn’t want to help us!”

  “I do!” Snow protested.

  The man raised his knife. “Liar!” Snow flinched as Henri pulled her closer. “You show up here without the dwarfs, on foot, and in the middle of another storm—perhaps it is you who curses us! Where are the other men? What have you done with them?”

  “They are safe,” Henri said. “We assure you.”

  “Then why aren’t they here to vouch for you?” Fritz questioned.

  Kurt pulled out a scroll from behind his back. He let it unravel, and Snow gasped in surprise. There was a painting of her on it. Above her head it said wanted. “There is a bounty for your capture, Princess. You have abandoned your people, hurt our friends, and refused your crown. You’re coming with me to the queen before she blows down this whole kingdom trying to find you! These storms are no coincidence. They’re happening because you are here in our village!”

  “Let me explain,” Snow said as they moved in closer. There was nowhere for her to go. “It is the queen who deceives you.”

  “The queen is the one in charge in this kingdom!” Fritz thundered. “Your father allowed that to happen, and now we are under her rule. Don’t you know she has dark magic? We cannot spare you and hope to live. Grab them!”