The
witches flew away and left the fairies and gnomes to ponder what they had just
witnessed. They loved the royal family and needed to think of a solution. The fairy
queen stood up and said.
“We
shall keep an eye on the family. If we see that old witch around we’ll sting
her ears”
“But
tomorrow will be a festival and a joust, which means the horses will have shoes made
of iron as well the knights’ suits of armor, the iron will burn us” said one of
the fairies
Right
you are, then we will stay where the iron can’t touch us. We can still go to
the christening party”
Enough
talk! It is a fine night. Let us dance!” said a gnome
The fairies gathered in a circle and used
their toes to burn a ring in the grass. Mushrooms suddenly sprouted from the
ring. The fairies danced in a circle holding hands around the fairy queen who
waved her wand and ordered music to be played. Some fairies took some strings,
reeds and bells and made a music meant only for the ears of fairies. The queen
choose eleven good fairies to be her entourage. They each looked and smelled
like a different flower. They danced till the sun started to show. The fairies
flew away into the trees. The gnome hurried down their hole underground before
the light touched them and turned them to stone.
That
day there was a fair on the castle courtyard. The Queen felt sick and stayed in
her tower. The evil witch queen disguised herself as a raven and parched on the
windowsill. She saw that the woman’s belly was already swollen with child. Down
below, there was lots to do and see. Wooden stalls sold goods and sweets to the
spectators as they watched the joust of the knights or enjoyed the merry men
dancing. There was also the queens garden, where the noblemen and ladies would
listen to minstrels sing while gazing into each other’s eyes and holding hands.
On
this day peasants and nobles mixed freely and enjoyed themselves equally. In the
crowded group of people was the evil queen’s spinner, Carabosse. She darted her
eyes looking for trouble, until she spotted Snow White watching the Joust. She looked
around and saw the prince and king as well. She went over to them and told them
that she was looking for work and was a spinner by trade. The king said.
“I’m
afraid we already have a spinner, five in fact and they do very fine work”
“Father”
said Snow White “I have always wanted to learn spinning, the others are always
so busy. Cant this woman be my teacher?”
“Very
well my dear if that is what you wish. Spinning woman what is your name?” the deceitful
witch was known far and wide for her wickedness, so she weaved a lie to cover
her tracks.
”Helga,
your majesty”
“Helga,
you will sleep in the chamber next to Snow White’s tonight,” The king turned toward
his daughter and said
“And
you must get to bed early, for tomorrow begins your training”
“Yes,
father.”
As
the day drew to a close, people hopped into boats and rowed down the clear and
beautiful stream that surrounded the castle like a moat. It was one last bit of
fun before the day was over. Everyone came inside for a nice supper. The queen
turned to her husband and said
“My
dear David, I must tell you something”
“What
is it my dear?”
“I
think I’m with child”
“A
child?”
“Yes,
it’s the fairies’ blessing”
“Are
you sure you should play with fairies? They can be tricky”
“I’ll
be alright, everything has been going so well, maybe when the child is born they’ll
give it a blessing”
“Very
well, I trust your judgment, as long as all this joy and merriment doesn’t come
at a heavy price.”
Everybody
ate well, even the wicked Carabosse. She and everybody else found their room
and went to bed. Tomorrow would be a big day. It had been two days since the
queen touched the magic flower and the baby would be due the following morning.
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