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“Please, forgive me, dear,” said the King. “You mentioned the battlefield earlier. You were correct, it does change you. It turns you into something more than a man…and at the same time something less. I was not myself.”
The Queen saw this was true. She saw it in his eyes, and written on the scars on his face, and in the wildness of his unkempt hair.
“I will go check on Snow,” the King said, clearly processing everything he had just learned of the Queen’s early life.
“Of course, my darling, kiss her for me. I’m going to change for bed.”
The King kissed the Queen, leaving her sitting on the edge of the massive four-poster bed. He kissed her again and went off to lay eyes on his sleeping girl, no doubt with the hope of easing his guilt-ridden conscience.
The Queen was utterly spent. She lay back on the feather bed, without the energy to change into her nightclothes. She heaved a deep sigh, rubbing her temples.
“Good evening, my Queen.”
She sat bolt upright, expecting one of the guards with news of the sisters. But no one had entered the room, at least it didn’t seem so.
“Over here, my Queen.”
She directed her gaze to the opposite end of the room, where the voice seemed to be coming from.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Show yourself then. And state your business, man.”
She approached the hearth.
“Up above you, my Queen. There is no need to fear, my Queen.”
The Queen looked above her, all around the chamber, even within the fiery hearth, but she could not see anyone.
“I am your slave,” the voice said.
“My slave? This kingdom keeps no slaves.”
“It is my duty to deliver you news of the kingdom, anything you wish to know; I see far, I can show you anything you desire.”
“Can you?”
“I see all, my Queen, into the hearts and minds of every last soul in the kingdom.”
“Tell me then, where is the King?”
“With his daughter.”
“You just heard him say as much before he left the room. What is happening now?”
“He is crying. He is deeply shamed by his treatment of the girl and how profoundly it hurt you.”
The Queen felt dizzy.
“What is this lame trickery? You must have been in the room the whole while. Heard everything the King was saying. Now show yourself!”
“Please don’t be frightened, my Queen, I’m here to assist you in all things. I am not the man you perceive me to be in your dreams, I cannot hurt you.”
“You know of my dreams?”
“Indeed, my Queen. And though you have been looking all about the room, you have not looked in the one place where you know you can find me.”
