Fairy tales for young and old ~ English version

Snow-white and the Scarred King

(My own version of Snow-white, and sequel of "The Lost Prince of Olesian")

Far to the east of Olesian, where the sun rose over rolling golden hills and glittering rivers, the queen—still as cunning as ever—had found refuge. Posing as a noble widow, she charmed the grieving king of a prosperous realm with her beauty and wit. The king, lonely and vulnerable after his wife's death, fell for her spell. Their union was sealed with a lavish wedding, and among the gifts was a peculiar mirror, enchanted by a court sorcerer at the king's request to always show his queen her loveliest reflection.

But the queen saw far more in the mirror than her beauty. It became a source of power and paranoia, feeding her obsession with remaining the fairest of all. She slowly poisoned the king, feeding him elixirs under the guise of healing tonics. Her stepdaughter, Princess Snow-White, just fourteen when her father died, became the queen's target.

Snow-White was a girl of unearthly beauty and gentle spirit, her heart full of kindness that mirrored Shaan's own youthful self. The queen, jealous of her stepdaughter's radiance, relegated her to a servant's life, forcing her to scrub floors and sleep among the ashes while she ruled with cold authority.

One crisp autumn morning, a young prince named Nicholas arrived in Olesian. He requested an audience with King Shaan, who had become renowned across kingdoms for his wisdom and compassion. The prince, an adventurous soul from one of the neighbouring kingdom who helped before, had traveled far and wide and brought troubling news.

"Sire," Nicholas began, bowing low. "On my journey, I visited a kingdom in the east. There, I saw a queen I believe you know—your mother."

Shaan's chest tightened, though he masked his emotions with a calm expression. "Go on."

"The queen has remarried. Her new husband—the king—fell mysteriously ill and died. But it's not just that," Nicholas said, lowering his voice. "The late king's daughter, a young princess named Snow-White, is treated as little more than a servant. I fear for her safety. She is... remarkable, radiant in every way, and I fear the queen's jealousy grows."

Shaan's heart ached. Though he had never met Snow-White, he felt an unshakable bond with her. She was a victim of the same cruelty he had endured. "We must protect her," Shaan said firmly, summoning his council. "Dispatch spies to the kingdom immediately. She will not suffer as I did."

He summoned his spies, including an unusual group—seven dwarfs who had long served the crown in secret. Each dwarf had a unique skill: Grizzle, the blacksmith; Merrik, the herbalist; Jory, the tracker; Tully, the scribe; Bram, the tinkerer; Noll, the cook; and Wren, the scout. Together, they were an unstoppable team, small in stature but mighty in resourcefulness.

The queen's jealousy grew unbearable. When her mirror confirmed that Snow-White's beauty surpassed her own, she resolved to eliminate her stepdaughter. Summoning the royal hunter, she ordered him to kill Snow-White in the woods and bring back her heart as proof.

But the hunter, a spy loyal to Shaan, could not commit the heinous act. As he led Snow-White into the forest, her innocent questions and gentle demeanor made his heart swell. When they reached a secluded glade, he dropped his knife.

"Run," he said, thrusting a pouch of food into her hands. "Run as far as you can and never come back."

Snow-White fled, tears streaming down her cheeks. The hunter turned around the forest and found a doe to kill, bringing its heart to the queen instead.

Deep in the forest, Snow-white stumbled upon an abandoned cottage. Exhausted and frightened, she knocked on the door before collapsing inside.

When she awoke, she found herself surrounded by seven kindly faces.