I won't let her continue to harm my people," Snow declared again, her voice commanding. "If you help me, I will work hard to bring peace and prosperity back to this kingdom, as it had once before." She looked at Grumpy. "I know I've let you down, but I won't anymore. You don't know what I've been through. All because I've been afraid." She straightened her shoulders and looked at them with steely determination. "I'm not anymore.

No matter how hard she had tried to keep the girl hidden away and keep her from the finer things a princess should be afforded, the girl's beauty and nature shone through. No rags, no dirt could hide Snow's luminescence. That child was a perfect rose. Now that she was of age, there was no hiding that.

Flakes fell softly, covering the already frozen castle grounds. When she stuck out her tongue, she could feel the flakes land on it. The little droplets of frozen water had the same name she did: Snow.Was she named for the snow or was the snow named for her? That's what she wondered. She was a princess, so the weather could have been named after her.Then again, snow had been around a lot longer than she had. She was only seven.

A few moments later, a group of white birds landed on the steps to watch her. "Hello there!" she said and removed some birdseed from her pocket, laying it on the steps for them to eat. When they were finished, they stayed to watch her work. She didn't mind. It helped to have company, even if they couldn't talk. She found herself talking to them sometimes. True, some might call her mad for conversing with animals, but who was paying attention?

Would you please come out?"now looked down at her tattered dress and hesitated. That's when she heard her mother's voice in her head again, another memory from long ago. They'd encountered some beggars in the village and she recalled asking her mother why they dressed so differently. You must look past appearances, Snow, she remembered her mother telling her. A person's true worth is always found within.

Mila held out a dress so lovely that Snow gasped. She lovingly touched the blue bodice with the cap sleeves that had red accents woven throughout and the shining yellow satin. She hadn't had anything new to wear in a very long time. She almost hesitated to put the dress on- what if she ruined it in the woods? But when else would she have a chance to wear such a fine gown? She slipped into it with glee.

The thoughts could easily paralyze her, and she needed to be sharp. She needed a plan. For now, it was easier to do something useful with her hands. Cleaning had kept her busy all those lonely years in the castle. It could keep her busy again for another few hours.

I told him of the queen's refusal to see me, and"- he hesitated, his cheeks coloring slightly- "about the beautiful maiden I met in the castle gardens.""You did?" she asked, unsure why she was so taken with the fact that he'd mentioned her. "Yes," Henri smiled shyly."Oh, brother," she heard Grumpy mumble.