Chapter ElevenAnd so, at the request of the Queen, a grand new castle was built, one to rival any other in its majesty. It was set in the mountains to give it a defensible position. This had never been necessary in the peaceful kingdom before, but the Queen insisted.
The new castle is nice, dear, but I do wish it had been built with grey stone. The yellow walls clash with the landscape.The queen did at least decorate the interior of the castle to her liking, all in grey, black, and red, with plenty of mirrors.
Despite the new unfamiliar surroundings, Snow found comfort in her old fairy bear. When she felt lonely she would snuggle the bear and sing it songs she remembered her mother singing over her own cradle.
The queen sensed Ellis' distrust of her and set out to secure his allegiance.
Do you not adore your queen, Huntsman Ellis?Of course, your majesty. No one is greater to me than the royal family I loyally serve.I am pleased to hear that, Hunstman Ellis. I trust you will serve me well.************************************
The day came. An important day indeed. The day of the birthday celebration for the young princess. The queen was less than pleased. She was jealous of the attention focused on the princess, and the fact that it was a celebration of the passing of time was unpleasant to her. She preferred to believe that her own beauty was unchanging over time, but she felt compelled to check constantly.
The king brought his little daughter to her birthday cake.
In attendance were many of the same dignitaries that had attended the wedding of the king to the witch. As in any situation with so many diverse people of great importance, there were both conflict and intrigue.
None of the guests seemed very focused on the princess. They were more interested in their disputes with each other. In the absence of the peaceful influence of the kingdom, their tentative treaties with each other were falling apart. Of course, Ellis the ever faithful showed his support.
The queen did her best to conceal her displeasure, but the effects of not being the centre of attention were taking their toll.
The king set Snow White on the ground, and with a kiss on her forehead, let her go. Very quietly he whispered,
I love you, baby.No, Daddy! Don't go!It was so seldom that he spent time with her. He was mostly occupied by the queen. Only rarely did he break through the bewitchment and remember his love for his little daughter. She didn't want the moment to end.