Neverland

Chapter 32

I walked down the path timidly, looking over my shoulder, just waiting to be jumped by bandits. From the stories I'd heard of the Enchanted Forest, I'd deduced that it wasn't exactly safe to travel alone, especially for a teenage girl. My hand drifted up to my neck where the leather cord held the wooden whistle. My nerves eased considerably as I ran my fingers over the smooth wood work. No matter what happened I'd be ok. My guardian angel was watching over me.

As I continued to walk, I gradually began to feel as if I’d made a huge mistake, who was I to think I could handle life in the Enchanted Forest? Neverland was one thing. There were the lost boys, and Peter to take me in and show me the ropes, plus I’d had months there. Here I had no experience, no contacts, and no idea where the hell I was. I began to worry that I should have chosen somewhere in the past of my world. There at least I’d know how things were done, and where to go, but here I was lost. This was an alien world to me, and I didn’t know if I’d be able survive.

I managed to make it to the small house without any incidents. The most contact with another human, was a carriage that passed on the opposite side if the road. Paranoia sent my hand to my whistle, but the horses simply trotted past, and pulled the carriage along with them.

The house itself was small and quaint with a vegetable garden outside. It seemed to emit a sense of welcome, and I breathed out a sigh of relief. As I approached the front door, however, a slight sense of unease began to creep up on me, sending a tingling chill down my spine. While the house continued to appear friendly and hospitable, it also seemed to be covering something up, hiding a secret. So it was with an apprehensive hand that I rapped twice on the wooden door.

The hinges didn’t creak as the door swung open, but the sweet smell of wood fire washed over me from inside. An old woman appeared in the doorway, beckoning me inside hastily. “Get inside, get inside,” she said, “It’s not safe to be out here alone anymore.” She had a stern look about her, and at one glance I knew this was not a woman I wanted to cross.

I spent ten days at Granny’s house. She was a tough woman, but she had a kind heart and didn’t ask too many questions. I felt safe there. I hardly saw her granddaughter, Red. She would pop in and out, whispering hurried explanations to Granny. From what I picked up, a young woman named Snow who was on the Run from a queen who didn’t sound like the greatest person.

I helped Granny in the kitchen on the tenth ninth night, and decided to break comfortable silence that usually fell between us. With a rag in my hand, I glanced up at her and sighed, “Troubled times, huh?” I asked. She shook her head, a frown etching across her face, “You must be for seriously far away if you haven’t heard about the queen’s vendetta against Snow White.”

I laughed without humor, “You have no idea.”

Granny smiled slightly, but worry was still eminent on her features, “Red’s going to get herself into big trouble these days. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m damn well proud of her for sticking up to that terrible woman, and helping out her friend, and I know she can take care of herself, but I still worry…” she trailed off. “Who is Snow White, anyways?” I asked, my gaze focused on the plate I’d been scrubbing for the last five minutes. My mind was unwaveringly fixed on this new found information. Before Granny had a chance to answer the door flew open. Standing in the doorway was Red, and a very angry looking young woman.

            “Kate,” Granny said, stoically, “Meet Snow White.”

It took a moment for me to realize what was going on. Snow marched across the room, slamming a sword onto the table. Her expression was livid, but I couldn’t deny that she was still stunningly beautiful. I listened to her rant, understanding only bits and pieces of her story.

From what I picked up, she had been under an enchantment, which had been lifted just in time for her to watch someone called “Charming,” who, from the way she said his name, was most definitely in love with her, and vice versa.

Now she wanted to launch a rescue party to save him before the unimaginable happened. Granny seemed hesitant at first, but seemed to realize that there was no changing this woman’s mind, so instead she simply sighed and said, “Alright, Snow, but you need to calm down a bit before we make any real plans.”

 “There’s no time!” she cried in exasperation, “Any minute now, the queen could do something terrible! We need to act as fast as possible!”

Granny stared her down with a look that silenced even this spunky woman. “And how exactly, do you suggest we save him? Just march up to her castle and demand for them to turn him over,” Granny scoffed, “yeah, that will go over well.” Snow sighed and slumped down in a chair at the table, “So what do you suggest we do?” Granny brought her over a steaming mug of tea, and Red sat down next to her. Granny shrugged, “I suggest we calm down, get the dwarves over here, and plan rationally.” Snow nodded and Red stood up, giving Granny a knowing look, “I’ll go get the dwarves, and whatever other help I can find.” Granny nodded, “Be careful.” With that Red left the house, and Granny went upstairs to fetch something muttering something under her breath, leaving me alone with Snow.

She seemed to notice me for the first time, and smiled at me. She seemed to have calmed down just a little bit. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” she said, extending her hand, “I’m Snow White.” I shook her hand and returned her smile, “I’m Kate.”

“So, Kate, what brings you to the Enchanted Forest?”

I paused for a moment, but something about this woman made me feel as if I could trust her, and I had been dying to tell someone something, anything. So I took a deep breath and began, “Well, I was living in—honestly I have no clue for how long; time is… difficult there—another land called Neverland. I had a… friend… there named Peter, but he decided it wasn’t safe there for me, so he sent me here.” Snow looked shocked, “He sent you here? To be safe?” She scoffed, “Wow, some friend he was.” I winced and it did not go unnoticed. She frowned, “Oh, but he wasn’t just a friend was he?” She reached for my hand across the table. Squeezing it reassuringly, she looked me in the eyes, “If I have learned one thing, it is that true love wins out over all, and if you truly love him, you will find your way back to him.” I searched her eyes for any sign of doubt in her words, but there was none. She truly believed what she was telling me.

Granny came back downstairs, arms laden with scrolls and what appeared to be maps. She gave me a kind, yet slightly patronizing look as she said, “Kate, dear, maybe you should go to bed.” I took this as my cue to leave, and I did not argue, for this was not a matter that concerned me. I bade Snow and Granny both goodnight, and retired to my room where I would lay in hopes that sleep would find me.