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“What is it, Tilley? Come out with it!” the Queen barked at her.
“It’s just that Snow White mentioned wanting to have breakfast in the morning room. She thought it would be a nice change.”
The Queen smirked, and she asked the poor girl, “Is Snow White queen of these lands?”
Tilley looked nervous, “No, my Queen. You are, of course.”
The Queen went on, “Then please have my meal brought to the great hall and tell Snow White she is expected to break her fast with me.”
“Yes, my Queen. I will have one of the women bring in your bathwater now.”
“That will be all, Tilley, thank you.”
The Queen wondered how she could be surrounded by such featherheaded women. Surely she wasn’t so insolent when she was young. Breakfast in the morning room, indeed!
The Queen emerged from bed, opened her curtains, and looked out on the courtyard. Snow was sitting at the well—the Queen’s well—feeding the bluebirds. She had become a beautiful young woman. Snow didn’t seem to notice, but a handsome young man was riding by on the grounds and stopped his horse so he might look upon her. He seemed spellbound by her loveliness. Indeed, he looked as though he was falling in love right there and then. The Queen shut the curtains with a firm pull and went to her mirror.
“Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”
“You, my Queen, are fairest.”
The Queen smiled, but something within her felt cold and icy. Something disturbed her about this man approaching Snow White. Jealousy? Was that what had compelled the Queen to rush to the mirror? Was she resenting Snow for her beauty? Her youth? Or was it more benevolent? Was she protecting Snow from love? After all, look where love had left the Queen.
The Queen made her way down to the great hall. She had come to love this room for the very things that caused her discomfort about it when she had first arrived—it was cavernous and commanding. She felt like a queen here, and it pleased her to sit regally on the throne while the arched stained-glass windows cast a lovely blue light in the chamber. Snow was sitting to the right of the head of the table looking pure, innocent, and beautiful.
The Queen made her way to her seat and stood staring at Snow, who was already seated. She gave the girl a look and nodded to motion that Snow should stand to greet her mother.
Snow hesitated, and then stood, “Good morning, Mother.”
“Good morning, Snow.”
The Queen took her seat and motioned for Snow to do the same.
“So I hear you would prefer to break your fast in the morning room?” she said.
“Yes, I thought it might make for a nice change; this room is so large just for the two of us. I remember when I was a little girl we would have family meals in the smaller dining hall or in the morning r—”
“Enough!” the Queen snapped.
But inwardly, the Queen recalled how happy those days were. She couldn’t bring herself to dine in those rooms now. It hurt her too much without her husband. And Snow, all grown up—the innocent girl becoming a beautiful woman. The Queen looked up at the stone beauty above the mantel. She looked stern and disapproving, as if she were reading the Queen’s thoughts.
“I prefer this room, Snow. We have gone over this before. If you’d like to take your meals in the morning room then by all means do so; it matters not to me where you break your fast. But I will not be joining you.”
Snow looked disappointed. “I would never see you at all if we took breakfast in different rooms,” she said.
“Indeed.”
Snow just shook her head.
“I am growing weary of your attitude, Snow White. I won’t have you casting such looks at me. I said you could take your meals in any room you desire. What more do you want from me?”
Snow White looked at her mother with sad eyes.
“Nothing, Mother. Never mind.”
“Very well then, there is something I’ve wanted to mention for some while now, I think it is time you take on responsibility. You have no skills to speak of, and as you don’t seem to have any suitors we cannot assume you will be married.”
Snow looked confounded.
