The Fault In Fairytales

~Fair~

  Neve was a beautiful girl. But, lips red as a rose was the only thing the fairy tale seemed to get right. Her skin was a rich brown, and was never seen without her hijab, which was white like fresh snow.

She was the spitting image of her mother.

Her stepmother on the other hand, was a tall, brittle woman, with wisps of what used to be black hair. Her eyes, once bright and youthful, were now dull, lifeless. So, as Neve grew, her beauty did too. Making her the fairest person in the land. The queen could not grasp how a girl with dark skin could be the most beautiful. Because, for centuries, it was taught that pale was the goal.

The queen, unable to accept the fact that she was now scorned, needed a plan. She decided to enlist a huntsman, of sorts, to kill the girl.

Oringo had spent his days hunting small animals, sometimes deer if they were around. So the task of hunting a young girl confused him. But he needed the paycheck, his mother was sick, leaving him to fend for himself. He stalked behind the girl, as she moved closer, he readied his bow. His hands shook as he raised the bow to her chest, he couldn't do it.

Neve often spent time in the forest, but upon seeing an unfamiliar boy, she stopped in her tracks. "Is someone there?"

Her voice was velvety and innocent. Oringo lowered his bow, walking toward her. "Who are you? I've never seen you out here before.." he sighed. "Look, I don't have time to explain.. You just need to get as far away from here as you can. Please."

Neve confusedly, but quickly took the boy's orders, running so fast that her skirt ripped at the bottom, loose pieces of white thread littering the path.

The queen was pleased to see a heart in the small, velvet box. But, this wasn't the heart she was looking for. It was a deer's heart, and she quickly caught on. She dismissed him, getting a sinister idea.. She would poison her.

Neve looked up at the old cottage and knocked cautiously. She could hear footsteps and the door unlatching, as a girl a few years older than her opened the door. Dark cloud-like hair formed a halo around her face, her smile warm, inviting. The girl ushered Neve inside, handing her a glass of water.

The queen followed the trail of white threads to the cottage, setting the basket of apples, laced with poison, on the doorstep.

Aaida curiously brought the basket inside, taking an apple for herself and offering one to Neve. She declined. Aaida shrugged, taking a bite. The room seemed to spin as she slowly collapsed. Neve stood up, in attempts to catch her and failed miserably. Attempting to give the girl CPR, Neve cried quietly. Aaida coughed, taking Neve's hand in hers.

They eventually found that the queen was to blame. The townspeople, appalled at what she had done, had her thrown in the local jail. Neve and Aaida became close friends, moving in with Oringo to help with expenses. And remained the fairest of them all.