Poison (13 page)

‘Yes,’ she said. The first time she said the word so quietly it was almost lost in the crackle of the fire.

‘What?’

‘Yes.’ She looked up at him. ‘Yes, I will marry you. Why not?’

The dwarves were on their feet and hugging the breath from Snow White before her answer had sunk in, and then his hand was being shaken so hard by Grouchy that he could barely speak.

‘Enough, enough!’ She broke away, laughing. ‘Let’s do it straight away. Tomorrow. Why wait?’ Her face was shining with a wild excitement and he leaned forward to kiss her again. Her lips brushed his and then she pulled back. ‘Not until our wedding night,’ she said. ‘I’m a princess, after all.’

The prince’s heart almost burst. Beautiful, kind and demure. Exactly what he’d always wanted. A perfect princess. After everything that had happened
before
his injury he’d lost faith that such a creature existed, but after all his trials, the loss of his companion and the days of nightmarish delirium, here she was.

‘Tomorrow,’ he said, grinning like a child. ‘We’ll wed tomorrow!’

‘Let’s get married’

D
reamy and Grouchy had mended the cart and reloaded it as the young couple slept. The dwarves hadn’t slept much, guarding the fire and their precious human company throughout the night, but they were both happy in their work. ‘Sometimes things happen for a reason,’ Grouchy said. ‘If the crone hadn’t given her the apple, who knows if these two would have found each other.’

‘Have you been reading one of my story books?’ Dreamy teased as they harnessed the pony. ‘You’re sounding almost romantic.’

‘Fuck off with you,’ Grouchy said, but a small blush crept across his gnarly face. Dreamy smiled. It was a happy ending. They’d be able to leave tonight knowing she was finally safe. The weight of their guilt had been lifted. There would be no awful fate awaiting them for not being able to keep their word.

‘I’ll miss her though,’ he added. It was true. Snow White was a light in their otherwise dull lives, and as the kingdom was sinking into the dark mire of the queen’s magic, there would be very little pleasure to see them through the winter and to the king’s eventual return. She had always been there for them, and now she would become part of another kingdom.

‘She’ll be back,’ Grouchy said. ‘I’ve got a feeling in my bones about it.’

‘At least she’ll be safe and happy.’

They smiled at each other and finally woke the sleeping beauties.

After the chill of the dawn the day broke into sunshine; a final war cry of summer, or perhaps just that the queen’s winter hadn’t stretched this far out into the kingdom yet. Either way, the sun was warm on their backs as they finally broke free of the forest.

‘Look,’ the prince said. Ahead, where the land dipped into a valley, a higgledy piggeldy town was visible, smoke rising from chimneys as the day started. The royal crest flew from the top of the town hall, the bright colours standing proud against the white stone of the buildings and the blue sky above. Next to the pennant was a smaller one, and although none of them could make it out exactly they knew it was the queen’s mark.

‘Not short of ambition then, your step-mother.’ Grouchy muttered as the road widened beneath them.

‘No,’ Snow said. ‘She’s certainly unique.’ She was holding Dreamy’s hand and he gave it a squeeze.

‘Well, she can’t hurt you now,’ he said. ‘You’re safe from her.’

‘I suppose I am.’ Her voice was soft but sadness gave it weight.

‘We can’t be sure of that until you’re across the border,’ Grouchy added.

‘There’s a chapel,’ the prince cried. ‘There! I can see the steeple!’ He smiled down at Snow White. ‘Let’s get married.’

* * *

Dreamy was as close to tears as dwarves got before Grouchy had even started to walk Snow White down the aisle. It hadn’t taken them long to find the priest, and even though he’d raised his eyebrows at the young couple’s urgency to marry – no doubt suspecting it a sudden necessity rather than a romantic act – it had only taken a couple of the prince’s gold coins to persuade him to get dressed and meet them at the chapel. It was still quite early and the streets were relatively quiet. Dreamy had picked the last of summer’s wild flowers and threaded them together into a headband for Snow White, the pinks and reds picking out the lilac hue of her beautiful eyes. The prince had beaten at the door of a dressmaker’s until they too had opened up and their initial anger evaporated when they sold a fine white dress to the beautiful girl and her beau.

Snow hadn’t stopped laughing all morning; a wild carefree sound that Dreamy normally associated with some crazy adventure or prank, but as she went with Grouchy to get rooms at the inn and change into her dress she became calmer. It was her wedding day, after all. It needed to be taken seriously. Even by one so wild as Snow White.

Dreamy went to the chapel with the prince and they waited quietly with the priest for her to arrive. It was no ornate royal church, but the small building had a charm of its own. The high arched windows were clear of decoration. The cool air sang with the scent of the lilies that filled huge vases on either side of the small altar. The wooden pews were plain but well varnished. It was a peaceful place, Dreamy decided. A good place. He couldn’t imagine a royal wedding, with all its sumptuous glory, could be more meaningful.

He remembered the parades and processions when the king married his ice queen. The kingdom had been filled with pageantry for days, and what did that marriage have? A man in thrall to a beautiful woman, perhaps, but that was not a union of love. No woman became that wicked when she’d fallen in love. But then, his knowledge of these things was limited. Dwarf women were rare and always died in child birth, producing at least five small babies at once. No dwarf ever knew their mother. Waiting in the chapel he said a quiet prayer for his own lost mother. He didn’t believe in any of the gods, but neither did he know what else to do with his sudden maudlin thoughts. This was a happy day. Snow White would be blessed with children and she would know them and love them. Her life would be perfect. It
had
to be.

Finally, the doors opened and Grouchy and Snow White began the walk to the altar. There was no organ, but Grouchy was singing a dwarf song, a slow end of the day marching tune. His deep voice echoed and Dreamy’s throat tightened as he watched them pass him. Like a true princess, Snow White kept her head up and focused on her waiting husband ahead, and Dreamy thought that dressed in the simple white shift, and with her dark hair flowing free around her shoulders beneath the crown of flowers, he’d never seen her looking so beautiful.

Sunlight cut through the church, dust dancing in it like fireflies, and framed the pair as they quietly took their vows. The prince, so tall and handsome, didn’t take his eyes from the princess throughout the whole ceremony, and when the priest finally declared that he could kiss the bride, even he smiled happily as the young couple did as they were bid. There was something special in the moment, something magical, and outside birds began to sing.

They were man and wife. Prince and princess. And they would live happily ever after.

* * *

‘I think we should keep it,’ the prince said. ‘As a souvenir of how we met.’ He stroked the glass coffin on the back of the cart.

‘Technically, we didn’t meet that way,’ Snow White said. ‘I wasn’t exactly there. But if it has sentimental value to you then why not. I love that the dwarves made it for me. That they didn’t bury me.’ She smiled at Grouchy. ‘You saved me, really.’

The day was getting hotter and after a quick wedding breakfast at the inn, the dwarves were getting ready to say their farewells and head back into the forest. Dreamy wasn’t looking forward to it. It had all happened so fast and now Snow White was heading off to live in a completely different kingdom. It was for her own good, he knew, but he wished he and Grouchy could stay too. Not that it was possible. Dwarves belonged in the mines, and if they didn’t return the rest of their team would suffer.

‘Here,’ the prince reached into his money pouch and pulled out several gold coins. ‘To replace your cart and pony. If you don’t mind us taking them.’ He stroked the pony’s mane. ‘She’s worked hard. She deserves a good retirement.’

‘Then you take her,’ Grouchy said. ‘You’ll give her a better life than we can.’ The prince pressed the coins into Dreamy’s protesting hands. He could smell sweet apples on the metal from where they’d shared space with the crone’s cursed gift to Snow. Was this now poisoned money, he wondered. Why did that thought give him such a chill? He shook it away. Grouchy was right. He spent far too much time with his head in books. His imagination was getting too able to carry him away.

‘But we should buy ourselves some horses to ride home on,’ the prince said. ‘I can’t walk back into the castle. I need a proper horse and mine is lost.’

‘Let me get changed first,’ Snow White said. ‘I want my normal clothes on.’ She reached up and kissed her husband on his nose. ‘Wait here.’ The prince blushed and Dreamy felt better. Money could be washed. There was nothing tainted here.

The prince had bought her several fine dresses from the seamstress, but when she emerged she was wearing her riding breeches and white shirt, and her hair was pulled back in an untidy knot. Natural beauty shone from her and she took the prince’s hand and dragged him to the horse merchant. The prince looked surprised at what she was wearing, but it made Dreamy smile. It was her, their princess, earthy and passionate and back with them again.

After picking out a fine steed for himself, the prince chose Snow White a grey pony with plaits in its mane and that pranced around the corral as if it were dancing. She laughed and shook her head, her hair shining in the sunlight. ‘That’s no horse for me. I’ve always ridden a stallion. Let me choose.’ She pushed past him and walked along the line of stalls until she reached the furthest. Inside, a black beast pawed at the ground, eyes burning with rage at his captivity.

‘This one,’ she said.

‘Are you sure?’ Dreamy peered over the edge of the door. ‘He looks a little dangerous, even for you.’

‘That’s no lady’s horse,’ the prince said.

‘I’m with yer man,’ the horse dealer cut in, spitting tobacco into the sawdust. ‘That one won’t break.’

‘Let’s see, shall we?’ Ignoring them all, Snow White undid the gate and stepped inside the stable. The horse stamped his feet and shook his head, snorting angrily, but the slim girl stood beside him and stroked his neck, whispering quietly into the beast’s ear. After a moment, she gripped the thick mane and pulled herself effortlessly onto his back.

The beast reared and snarled but she stayed on, urging him out of the confined space and into the sunlight. She laughed as he tried to throw her, her face glowing with the sheer energy of life.

‘He’s going to throw you!’ the prince cried out. ‘Get down!’

‘I’m no chicken!’ Snow White called back. ‘Just watch me.’

And watch they did. It was all they could do as the horse and rider took to the corral and began their battle for command. Dreamy was in awe. She was so fearless; so alive in the moment. She had her father’s strength and her mother’s grace and beauty. She and the horse were as one.

‘She rides like a man,’ the prince said, as they watched her finally tame the beast to a canter, her thighs controlling him as they turned this way and that, her hair falling free from the loose bun. ‘What woman rides like a man?’

‘Oh, I don’t think there’s another woman like our Snow White in all the kingdoms,’ Grouchy said, pride clear in his voice. ‘You’re a lucky man.’

‘That horse is more powerful than mine,’ the prince said. He looked a little stunned and Dreamy squeezed his arm.

‘She’s a force of nature. You’ll get used to her.’

‘I suppose I shall.’

The horse came to a halt in front of them and whinnied as Snow White dismounted. She was breathless and flushed with excitement and she flung her arms around the prince’s neck. ‘What an amazing ride.’ Her voice was so sweet and warm that Dreamy could see the prince melting in it.

‘If you want the horse, he’s yours.’

‘We should leave,’ Grouchy said. ‘You’ll be safe here and the border is only a mile or so north.’

‘Don’t go yet.’ Snow White turned, crestfallen.

‘But it’s your wedding day. Tonight’s your wedding night. It’s a time for you two to be alone.’

Dreamy blushed and kicked at the earth. Sex wasn’t something dwarves had a lot to do with.

‘But that’s tonight,’ Snow White said. ‘Leave tonight then. Today’s our wedding day so celebrate with us. I know what.’ She grinned. ‘Let’s have a beer.’ She strode off ahead, and then turned, one hand on her trousered hip. ‘Come on, what are you waiting for?’

The prince was staring after her, dumbfounded.

‘She’s probably just nervous,’ Dreamy said, suddenly feeling as if he needed to make an excuse for her behaviour. He’d read that women got nervous before their wedding nights. He didn’t really want to contemplate why.

‘Yes, that’s probably it,’ the prince said, and finally they followed her.