For three days I was glued to the mirror, unable to tear myself away from it. I watched as the little men built a glass coffin for Snow. They didn’t want to say goodbye to her and she didn’t seem to be decomposing, so they insisted on the walls being glass.
She looked to be just sleeping peacefully, still as beautiful in death as in life. Her cheeks kept their rosy glow, her lips still ruby red. I wished she would just wake up, like it was just a terrible dream. I knew she couldn’t because of what I had done but it didn’t stop me wishing.
After her funeral, I stopped watching. I covered my mirror with a red velvet cloth, refusing to peek any more. No matter how long I stared at her, it didn’t change anything. I vowed never to look in that mirror ever again.
The news of Snow’s death had filtered through the kingdom. I didn’t know what to say to my people so I let the gossip tell the story. The Huntsman told me I should set them straight but I couldn’t. How could I convince them I wasn’t evil when I couldn’t even convince myself? My actions had caused her death, there was no denying it.
At least while everyone thought I was evil, they kept away from me. The maids all did as they were told, my advisors agreed with everything I said. It was much easier getting things done when they were scared of me. Little did they know how much I cried in my private chamber, away from their prying eyes.
I knew I had to go on, my kingdom did need me even if they thought I was evil. I had to wear the burden of my sadness in private so I could reassure them the kingdom would continue on. The problem was, we no longer had an heir. If I didn’t remarry and then bear a child, the kingdom would stop with me.
But who would want to marry an evil queen? I had no chances of finding anyone who would love me like a husband should. And no-one would compare to my wonderful late husband. Nobody would even come close.
The days that passed soon turned into weeks. Everything went back to a type of normal but my heart was shriveled. I went through the motions for the good of the kingdom but that was all. Anything else was just too much to bear.
One day, I was seated in my throne room, staring out the window when one of my most trusted advisors ran into the room like his pants were on fire. They weren’t, but he did hold a note in his hand.
“What is it?” I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me
“We’ve had word of a royal marriage,” he panted. He had obviously run quite a way to bring the news to me.
“A royal marriage? Between whom?” He had my full attention now. I hadn’t heard of any courtships occurring in the kingdoms.
“Snow White and Prince Charming.”
At just the mention of her name, it felt like I was falling. I gripped the side of the throne so I wouldn’t slide off onto the floor. “Is this a joke? Is someone deliberately trying to hurt me?”
My advisor shook his head fervently, I think I saw a little bit of fear in his eyes. “No, my queen. It is true. Snow White is marrying Prince Charming this afternoon. She’s alive.”
I still couldn’t believe it, it felt like I was now dreaming. “How is this possible?”
“I don’t know, my queen. But Snow White is alive and well.”
“Everybody leave,” I commanded. I needed to process what was happening and I couldn’t do that with an audience and a room that was spinning in my head.
I paced back and forth, still unable to believe what was happening. How could she still be alive? I had seen her choke to death. She had been placed in a glass coffin, never to awaken again.
Perhaps they had got it wrong? Perhaps this girl who claimed to be Snow was just an imposter? If she looked the same, perhaps people would want to believe it was really her? Anything was possible when people wanted to believe hard enough.
There was only one option for me and the kingdom. I had a wedding to go to.